Start School Later

1. The "Napping Cardinal" was a mascot used by the Start School Later group to highlight adolescent sleep needs, contrasting with the district's frequent shifts to earlier bells, including the recent move to 7:45 AM from a previous 8:30 AM start. 

The Napping Cardinal 

The initiative aimed to teach middle- and high-schoolers about the importance of healthy sleep habits by asking them to post on Facebook and Snapchat selfies of themselves with students dressed up as Greenwich High School’s Cardinal mascot, with captions that explain why they need another hour of sleep.

The Cardinal took “naps” at popular teen hangouts including Starbucks and Greenwich Library throughout the contest and the challenge was for the kids to find the sleeping bird. Once they found the bird, they filled out a sign with why they needed another hour of sleep and posted the photo to social media.

“This is a fun campaign for teens to raise awareness of good sleep habits,” said Start School Later Greenwich intern Greg Goldstein. “Adults preach to us all the time, telling us to study and what to eat — and we zone out. We are hoping this Give Me My Hour Back contest will open teens’ eyes, literally, about how important good sleep habits are to ensure good health now and in the future.”

Give Me My Hour Back’s Cardinal will made an appearance during a kick-off event for the initiative at Duxiana Greenwich, a bed store on in Greenwich that sponsored the contest. The store also held a raffle with prizes including store merchandise.

“The mission of Duxiana is to help people sleep better,” said Duxiana Greenwich owner Laura Rajovic. “It was obviously natural to support this community effort to educate families and teens on the importance of sleep. Duxiana wholeheartedly supports their effort and as the owner with teenage children I personally understand it.”

Throughout the contest, students earned gift cards to local businesses for photos that earn the most Facebook likes each day. The teenager who posted the photo that garnered the most likes among all the pictures posted during the contest won the grand prize, a redesign of his or her bedroom by The Local Vault, an Old Greenwich-based home décor and furniture consignment business, and a gift certificate from the store.

"Your bedroom should be a restful sleep haven which includes a design that reflects your personality and takes into consideration colors that create a calming and soothing environment,” said The Local Vault co-owner Betsy Perry.

The Teens Wanted More Sleep!

Greenwich High School and the district’s three middle schools respectively start at 7:30 a.m. and 7:45 a.m., but a number of health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommend that secondary students not start their school days before 8:30 a.m.

The issue had been the subject of often-heated debate in the school district for more than a year. Students and parents frequently spoke at Board of Education meetings calling for later start times, and some 1,500 signed a petition calling for school officials to implement later schedules for the 2017-18 school year.

Greenwich Board of Education Shifts Middle and HIgh School Start Times Later

Greenwich Public Schools did change school start times in 2017 for the 2017-2018 school year, shifting middle and high schools to later starts (around 8:00-8:30 AM) to align with health recommendations for teen sleep, while elementary times stayed largely the same, though the process involved debate over bus logistics and sports. The Link: Greenwich High School began at 8:30 a.m., with middle schools starting at 8:00 a.m., a move strongly supported by medical groups but met with some logistical concerns from parents and staff. 

Key Changes in 2017:

• High School: Started at 8:30 a.m. (previously earlier).

• Middle Schools: Started at 8:00 a.m. (Central, Eastern, Western).

• Elementary Schools: Start times were adjusted but generally remained similar, with some elementary schools starting at 8:00 or 8:30 a.m.. 

Why the Change?

• Student Health: The main driver was research showing the benefits of later starts for teen health, well-being, and academic performance, supported by organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics.

• Research-Based Decision: The Board of Education's School Start Time Committee studied the impact, leading to the adoption of schedules closer to health professional recommendations. 

Impact & Discussion:

• Positive Feedback: Many students and parents reported better attitudes and more sleep, aligning with research findings.

• Logistical Hurdles: The change created challenges for busing and after-school sports scheduling, leading to community debate, but the district moved forward, viewing student health as paramount.