European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 21, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Schools add extra period to schedule by Jimi Jones education writer the controversial seven period Day. Officially plugged into military overseas High school schedules in March will begin or Germany Region students on monday. John Stremple department of defense dependents schools director announced the two phased program in March targeting the Germany Region for the first phase which called for implementation this school year and other regions for the second phase beginning with school year 1992-93, the March announcement left the Germany Region with less than five months to prepare for the change. While most educators were receptive to the seven period concept others criticized the sudden mandate. The new program requires five periods of instruction from full time teachers and a minimum period length of 50 minutes except in cases where a 48-minute period would significantly reduce transportation costs. When the announcement was made Jan Pepelnjak spokeswoman for the overseas education association Volunteer registrar Beth Kurtt helps Debby Doig Register her two children Tenisha and Deshawne right for classes at Darmstadt Germany. Said consideration should have been Given to issues like bus schedules and graduation requirements. Longer Days for High school students would dictate longer Days for elementary school students As they share buses. And under the seven period concept a student could graduate As a Junior. Several administrators had voiced concern Over bus schedules. However schools seem to have solved that problem. A the initial planning is done a Pepelnjak said last week. A by the end of the school year most schools had schedules in place. A there were a co Siple of conflicts but most schools were Able to make adjustments either within class periods or break periods to accommodate the schedule a she said. Some were As simple As route reversal dropping off High schools students before elementary students she said. Whether the seven period Day will remain in the system and offering a greater variety of courses Are problems of the future Pepelnjak said. Meanwhile a Well just have to wait and see How it goes a she said. The change reinstates a program that Stremple axed More than two years ago primarily because Congress denied funds to hire More teachers. It ended a five year Experiment begun by Stremple eds predecessor Beth Stephens to give students More flexibility in choosing courses. Lunch prices increase the Price for lunches in overseas school cafeterias this year will go up by 15 cents a Day to $1.35, said a spokeswoman for the army and air Force Exchange services european Headquarters. The increase due mainly to higher food and labor costs wont affect children who qualify for free or reduced Price meals under Federal income guidelines spokeswoman Barbara Kirch said in a written release. The Exchange system runs the school lunch program in department of defense schools on a break even basis Kirsch said. This year it will Cost $2.23 to prepare and serve each meal in school cafeterias. The difference Between the Cost of the meal and the Price that students actually pay is partially offset by Price Breaks on products from the . Department of agriculture Kirsch said. Quot we Are trying to obtain additional commodities from the us a and Federal funding to help offset some of the increased costs Quot maj. Gen. Jeffery d. Khala cafes commander said in the release. Cafes Europe serves 30,000 lunches a Day in nine countries Kirsch said. Wonder years not so wonderful Oby Cindy Chambers a those wonderful Carefree teen age years those joyous Days of sock hops and Promise rings and ski eruptions so intense that even today your senior picture is being passed around at dermatology conventions. Memories so poignant so fresh that reunion questionnaires Are routinely returned marked a she is dead now but was extremely successful before she passed  no i Wasny to the Homecoming Queen. I was a Lone Wolf. An iconoclast. An individual. A Dork. Unfortunately even our High school bus was divided by popularity. The More popular you were the further Back in the bus you sat. The closer you sat to the front the More of a social misfit you were i sat on the bus Driver s Lap. Part of the problem a and ill probably file suit against the . Military because of it a is that being an army brat i attended three different High schools. Predictably this gave me a classic inferiority Complex that manifested itself in a variety of bizarre symptoms including cat Eye glasses. Looking like something from a far Side cartoon i wandered High school hallways trying desperately to recall the name of the football team so i could act concerned about it at Pep rallies. That a another weird thing about High school stupid stuff like moronic jocks bashing their brains out on a football Field take on monumental importance while things like War and global ecological disaster Are considered a huh really  similarly people like Sandy Kunkel a blonde Bimbo cheerleader with an in slightly smeller than her Bra size won the undying admiration of the entire student body and most of the male faculty by virtue of her cute sneeze whereas those of us with brains and morals were completely ignored. Yes even shunned by everyone except the vice principal. But Don t  m bitter. After All things do have a Way of coming full Circle. According to Pur last alumni newsletter Sandy Kunkel is a fat divorced and flipping burgers at a Bettendorf Iowa Hardee s. I on the other hand am living in overseas housing with a toddler a teen Ager and a Soldier husband i see approximately three times a year. So i be written to Sandy and suggested we get together for a Little Bonfire just like old times. A couple of High school yearbooks and a touch of lighter fluid should do the trick just Fine. Cindy Chambers is a military family member in Schweinfurt Germany. Page 4 a the stars and stripes wednesday August 21, 1991