Since tutorial switched from  after-school to every Tuesday morning, an average of 202 students have attended each tutorial this year, according to the sign-in sheets collected by the administration.

Students have access to 33 tutorials this year, which has increased the number by 13 tutorials, according to Assistant Principal Mapes. Students had access to 20 tutorials during the 2013-2014 school year and 27 tutorials during the 2014-2015 school year, according to the PHS website.

Mapes hoped to provide students a more productive tutorial experience by improving the bell-schedule.

“The shift was focused around the well-being of students,” Mapes said.

The administration hoped to increase the likelihood of students attending tutorial, or at least allowing students some much needed sleep, which improves cognitive functions and reduces stress, Mapes said.

“Tutorial is valuable for many reasons,” Mapes said. “It boosts performance in academics, builds community between teachers and between fellow students and reduces stress to improve students’ well-being.”

The changes in tutorial, as well as the changes in the schedule as a whole, were spurred by students’ communication with the administration.

“We heard students’ feedback during Site Council that they prefer tutorial in the morning, and that they didn’t like mandatory tutorial,” Mapes said. “That’s the real reason we switched: for the students.”

Social studies teacher Allison Cota noted that having tutorial before school allowed students to get more sleep if they did not need extra support, whereas having it after school ultimately led to wasted time. Cota also appreciates the new schedule because it allows her to assess all of her students’ needs on Monday and offer extra support during tutorial to those who need it, Cota said.

“Having tutorial before school means that the students who need the help are more likely to use it,” Cota said. “When it was after school, students would get burnt out after a day of classes and go home instead of getting help.”

Senior Allie Frankel uses tutorial to get additional support on difficult concepts, as well as a chance to make up tests or activities due to absences.

“I’m not more likely to go to tutorial if it’s after school or before school, but I like that I’m able to sleep in if I don’t need to go to tutorial,” Frankel said.

Senior Daria Mohazab attends tutorial once a month, and says having more time to sleep in the morning makes her much more refreshed and able to perform better in school. She also found that having tutorial after school often interfered with sports, which now never happens.

“I had awkward gaps between school and sports practices,” Mohazab said. “I also remember days when I needed extra help and I couldn’t because of a game or a meet. ”