By: Brendan Townsend ’25
Community Time is a time where the whole upper school comes together for an event such as an alumni speech or award ceremony. Some students sit in the pews struggling to stay awake, some worry about quizzes and tests, and others sit hiding in upper school classrooms getting homework done before next class starts.
As someone who may or may not have experience in this situation, I will reveal tips and tricks to minimize your chances of getting caught skipping a school event, so you can get your homework done on time.
Whatever the reason, if you’re going to skip, you might as well do it right.
Rule Number One: Be Quiet.
Stay as silent as possible. Seriously. Even something as minor as zipping your backpack or typing can echo through the halls when the building’s empty. The last thing you want is to get busted because your laptop keys sound like a tap dancer.
Now, if someone does catch you, odds are high you’ll be spending your next Saturday morning back in that same building, probably picking up trash or organizing textbooks. But hey, if you’re feeling bold, here are a few maybe-they’ll-work strategies to try:
Strategy 1: Act Like You Belong
If someone walks in, look up and act completely unfazed. Say you’re supposed to be in that room working. Act confused if they mention community time. Maybe throw in something like, “Oh, I thought we were allowed to work independently?” Chance of working: 1/20
Strategy 2: Claim You’re Sick
Say you’re not feeling well and waiting for a parent to pick you up. People tend to keep their distance when illness is involved, and they’ll be less likely to grill you. But this only works if your parent is in on the plan and can back you up. Chance of working: 1/5
Strategy 3: Ghost Mode
Don’t say a word. Just calmly pack up your stuff and walk out like they’re not even there. You’re a shadow. You never existed. Is it awkward? Extremely. Will it work? Probably not. Chance of working: 1/100
Strategy 4: Run
Don’t do this. But if you do, know that your odds are basically zero and your dignity will be somewhere back in the hallway. Chance of working: 1/500
Final Thoughts
Honestly, the best way to handle getting caught is to just tell the truth. If you needed the time to get something done, say that. You’ll probably still face some consequences, but they’ll be less severe—and people will respect you more for owning it.
Skipping community time is a gamble. It might seem easy, especially for upperclassmen who can leave campus, or for underclassmen who’ve mastered the bathroom stall hideout. But if you’re doing it to be productive—not just to dodge programming—this guide might just help you get the work done and stay out of trouble.
Or at least… minimize it.
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