At Padua Academy, many students rely on flex, a 45 minute free period in which they can do whatever they’d like. Flex is a time for students to visit teachers, catch up on homework, or simply finish anything that may need to be finished. “Flex is a good time to catch up on homework,” says Caroline Bursler, a Padua Academy freshman, “and also get food.”

One  of the many things girls can do during flex is go to the Cafetorium. Here, students can talk with friends (although that is not recommended), catch up on homework, or eat a snack. Opposite from the noisy cafe, the Learning Commons is a good place to get work done.  Isabelle-Grace Campbell says, “During flex I spend my time at the Learning Commons doing homework.” Even though there is whispering, it is a great quiet space to work on homework.

Athletes who play volleyball must be in the gym during flex. Even though volleyball players must be in the gym, other students are allowed to spend their flex time in the gym as well . The gym is a popular spot, much like the cafe and the learning commons. Weekly flex schedules are e-mailed to students on Sundays, letting students know where they can go in the upcoming week. Oftentimes there are class meetings which are listed in the emails. APS also takes place during flex, typically on Thursdays, for small groups to gather with various faculty members and talk about ways we can strengthen our community and do activities related to that week’s topic.

Room 316, another common area, is called Homework Haven. Homework Haven is a place where students can go and do homework. Although it is a very useful resource, not many freshmen go there. There is also a silent room for studying/doing homework and another for making up tests. There, students can find tests and quizzes that they missed due to absence. Teachers take turns being in charge of Silent Study/Testing.

There are many other spots students can go to during flex, but those are just a few of the more popular places. Students love flex for many reasons; it is a good time to wake up and get yourself together for the rest of the day, along with getting work done and meeting with teachers. With so many places to go and so many things to do, it is a very useful period for all of the girls at Padua Academy.