This column is part of our student opinion series, “A thousand hands, a thousand voices.”

In order for a student to leave campus, they must first create a leave request in the REACH app, giving all the information about where they’re going, when they’re leaving, who they are leaving with, etc. Next, they must wait for the request to get approved by their parents and a dean. Once they’re ready to leave, they need to call a dean on duty or dorm parent and sign out with them, then they can finally leave. This current campus leave process is long, aggravating, and unnecessary, especially for those students who are already adults, age 18 and over. It should be reconsidered and adjusted by using sign-out sheets to make it easier, quicker, and more appropriate for each student’s age and form.

This seems like a normal procedure for any preparatory school nowadays. However, not too long ago, the sign-out process was not like this at all, and was much quicker, easier, and got the same job done.

History instructor and former Hill student Catriona Miller ’08 reflected that when she was a student here, the process was similar, but easier. “You left on the weekend, there were sign-out sheets in the halls. So, like you just signed out and said, ‘Catriona Miller, Home, 2 p.m.’”

This process was way less excessive and easier. With simple sign-out sheets, students were able to leave campus more easily while faculty still knew where the students were going. The current leave system is just more steps and assumes more steps equal more safety, but that is just not true. Instead, the added steps often cause more frustration and delays, even for short, quick trips.

This may seem safe and necessary for young high school students, but what about students who are already legal adults? At 18, students are legally adults and trusted with major responsibilities outside of school, like voting for our president, paying taxes and joining the military. Yet, they are required to follow the same rules as 14-year-olds and 3rd formers.

Supporters of the current Leave system may say the app improves safety and keeps parents informed of what they are doing. “With my mom being all the way in Texas, it’s important that she is aware of where, when, and with whom I am going places,” 5th former Jeb Grandberry said. While the communication is important for safety and knowledge, with parents who are in different states or countries, safety does not require inefficiency.

Also, the Leave system puts a huge strain on the faculty. The deans on duty are always interrupted to look over and approve leaves and sign students out in a quick manner. This takes away time from them doing other responsibilities they may have. Ben Bala ‘16, Hill School dorm parent, said, “Students who are trying to leave campus quickly always give me a hard time because it takes a while for me to get them signed out when I am already doing other things in my actual life”.

A sign-out sheet system may seem more traditional, but it is still effective. A monitored sign out sheet by a dorm parent would reduce all these interruptions while still providing information and safety.

Giving students this freedom and independence will prepare them for college and life beyond, which is a preparatory school’s job. College campuses expect students to manage and be smart with their time, schedules, and decisions. Allowing students, like the 5th and 6th formers, more independence will get them ready for that change in college. Max Menkowitz ’26 reiterated this point, saying, “I am 18 years old, a grown adult, and I can’t go where I want when I want”.

The school needs to go back to its old sign-in sign-out system with sign-out sheets in the halls to make the process easier and quicker for students. This will also give students more independence and freedom that they will need for college and later in life.