Pleasant Valley’s motto is “Committed to Excellence.” The district strives to produce the most exceptional academic and extracurricular programs in the state – not in some things, but in all things; not for some students, but for all students. 

PV is home to multiple state champion sports teams, All-State musicians, dedicated club members and much more. There is no doubt there is distinguished talent in all areas. 

But in order for these achievements to be accomplished, some school days have to be missed. 

The volleyball team took on the 5A state championship last week, and the result was none other than bringing home the well-deserved state title. These girls poured their hearts into the game and displayed their strength on the court. Competing in the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals, they were absent for three days of school. Missing that much classroom instruction resulted in significant make-up work. 

Finishing schoolwork can be a low priority when students are actively working to win a state championship for their school. “It’s hard missing so much school and having tests, speeches and homework to make up when I don’t have the time nor mental and physical capacity to complete the assignments,” stated senior volleyball player Gabi Ragins.

The burden of quickly keeping up with schoolwork was disappointing after the high of winning state. “Winning a state title feels like being out of reality for a while, so when I still stress about my responsibilities with my regular life, it brings me back down to reality,” added Ragins.

Along with that, students are less likely to participate in field trips and valuable experiences due to the fear of missing school. Students are missing out on other beneficial opportunities to avoid the stress of making up homework assignments or tests. 

PV students in journalism and publications were invited to attend the Iowa High School Press fall conference, but some were unfortunately unable to participate due to the worry of missing school. “I knew I had at least one test that day I couldn’t miss, and because of my prior commitment to All-State auditions that upcoming weekend, I didn’t want to give up any more time doing an extra activity,” shared senior Sydney Smith. “I wish I could have experienced the conference because it would have provided me with more exposure to journalism.”

Some students feel obligated to say “no” to certain field trips or opportunities because there are too many potential consequences for missing the school day. 

Students are still constantly improving skills and gaining knowledge while partaking in these experiences despite missing a day of school. Some may think these opportunities sacrifice academic attention, but students are instead expanding their capabilities in other activities that will translate into them being more productive in the classroom. High schoolers are athletes, musicians, artists, creators, writers, scientists and more, so sometimes other opportunities present themselves. 

Whether it is a state tournament, journalism conference, Ethics Bowl competition, college campus visit or choir caroling performance, teachers need to allow flexibility for students to reach their full potential in those areas. Personal growth extends beyond the four walls of a classroom.

PV teachers aim to support their students in exciting endeavors outside of the classroom, and they can meet with students outside of class to provide additional help. “I have the responsibility to make up for the schoolwork I miss when I am gone regardless of what I am doing. Thankfully, my teachers are very understanding and happy that I am competing at this level, so they are considerate of the situation and allow for extensions on some work,” shared Ragins.

But this generous support isn’t the case for all students.

Students who attended the state championship to cheer on the talented PV volleyball team felt overwhelmed returning back to school due to the rush of finishing assignments. “Some classes used class time for studying and independent worksheets since a good amount of students were going to be gone at the volleyball games, but that also caused there to be a lot of tests the upcoming week,” remarked junior Ava Barsness. “I felt unprepared for those tests since I missed multiple days of school in a row, and it’s hard to learn and remember all of that missed information in such a short amount of time.”

While it is necessary for students to be held to certain standards and make up tests, coming back to a pressuring academic environment with limited grace periods can produce anxiety. So much instruction is packed into one day of learning that it can be difficult to allow for alternative make-up plans. Heavy workloads consume a significant amount of time, which is overwhelming, especially for these busy students. 

To avoid future conflict, teachers should consider aligning their test dates with scheduled events impacting multiple students. If sports teams, music groups or clubs have known commitments, it is best to adjust to those situations and provide as much assistance as possible. 

Regardless of the reason for missing school, returning to school can be a hassle. Students should be able to be committed to academic success while still thriving in their element. In order for PV’s academics and extracurricular programs to achieve statewide success, students need to be able to pursue other valuable opportunities without consequences or regret.