Watkins Mill High School has implemented two new policies for the 2024-2025 school year: wearing your school-issued ID at all times and a new morning tardy policy.
Starting this week, students and staff must always wear their school-issued IDs while on the school’s property, whether on the lanyard provided or on a clip, keeping the ID visible at all times.
The Head Of Security at Watkins Mill High School, Nick Moore, says that “ it [wearing school IDs] teaches student individual responsibility. Post-high school may require an ID, but this is something, no matter where you end up… having to use and get used to the responsibility is important…along with checking IDs, the main reason is to identify students who belong and don’t belong.”
Additionally, a new tardy policy has already been introduced. Students who do not arrive by 7:45 am will receive a tardy pass (colors will vary) and be marked tardy on their attendance record. This policy aims to encourage punctuality and ensure that students arrive on time to maximize their learning opportunities.
This school year, being on time, taking responsibility for punctuality, and developing good time management skills are important core values at WMHS. Principal Vilma Najera says, “It [the IDs] promotes safety to who’s ours. It is easier to identify us [staff and students at Watkins Mill] and lets us know who does not belong to us[staff and students at Watkins Mill].”
While this might be inconvenient, it is all to keep the students and staff at WMHS safe. Junior Leandro Fernandes-Ramirez says, “Last school year…[there was a] fight [that] involved adults who were not part of the school ecosystem. These new ID necklaces could…make sure events like these don’t occur again.”
Additionally, Senior Sietse Venema says, “To me, it’s just a…addition that was added almost entirely out of the blue, …it’s not something that changes [the school’s environment]… I just have to wear some accessory…I …don’t think many people will care past asking why or complaining about how they look in their IDs.”
