OC HIGH: STUDENT NEWS AND VIEWS : OC High asks: What’s your idea of a good day at school?

“When the lockers open on command, there is no gum on the hall floors to step in, and teachers don’t give homework.”

Jeremy Nelson, 17, senior, Orange Lutheran

“When I stay awake in class.”

Brandi Lynn Witham, 17, junior, Westminster

“Not getting picked on by seniors.”

Katie Liu, 14, freshman, Valencia

“Having no homework assigned and not having to deal with any tests that day.”

Amy Hogan, 17, senior, Cypress

“A good day at school, which in itself is a paradox, would be one in which I completely lack a feeling of claustrophobia when walking through the halls and one in which I discover that I speak the same language as my teachers. This day, being close to impossible, has yet to happen.”

Tracey McCalley, 17, senior, Capistrano Valley

“A day with little homework but a lot of subs.”

Ryan Shipley, 16, junior, Trabuco Hills

“A no-school day!”

Elizabeth Kent, 15, sophomore, Newport Harbor

“When things just seem to go my way--perhaps by getting good test grades or simply understanding everything that is going on in my classes. If I don’t get much homework, I consider that a great day, because I can actually continue having a social life.”

James Eidohuber, 16, junior, Los Amigos

“Staying awake in American government and not having a headache.”

Dora Ayala, 18, senior, Valley

“A good day would start with energy. Not tired. Everybody around me would be in a good mood, and classes would go by fast, so the day would be over before I knew it.”

John Jones, 17, senior, Fountain Valley

“No tests and no homework.”

Jeff Leitner, 17, senior, Los Alamitos

“When all my teachers are gone, and I have all free blocks.”

Jessica Oliver, 18, senior, Cornelia Connelly

“If I don’t get caught doing anything bad.”

Sanjeev Sriam, 15, junior, Irvine

“When you don’t do a lot in your classes, and the teachers let you get away with everything.”

Stefanie Ward, 15, sophomore, Troy

“Substitutes all day long . . . nonstop.”

Abigail Frausto, 17, senior, Brea Olinda

“That’s an oxymoron.”

Whitney Cohen, 17, senior, Laguna Beach

“When you go to your locker and there’s not a crowd gathered, preventing you from getting your stuff. Also, having a substitute in every period is cool.”

Tong Lee, 16, junior, Saddleback

“The very last day before summer when everyone is really excited for the upcoming two months of freedom.”

Marni Dyer, 15, sophomore, Villa Park

“When I feel good about myself and I have a positive attitude. If I feel I make any kind of accomplishment in any of my classes or if I have a good practice, then I have a good day. The biggest influence on my day is my friends. If I have fun and get along great with them, then my day is great.”

Kimberly Viner, 16, junior, Western

“If I don’t have a last quiz.”

Ray Lee, 17, senior, Valencia

“When it’s declared a national holiday, or a fire/emergency/earthquake drill.”

Kerri Gipe, 15, sophomore, Westminster

“When the teachers’ lectures are interesting, and I have fun with my friends.”

Bobby Lane, 18, junior, Cypress

“When the principal cancels the whole year, requiring students to take a vacation for all the hard work.”

Faye Teppang, 18, senior, Valencia

“When all of your friends come together without fighting, when you have time to go home after school to relax, when you get the lead in the play and when you get accepted with full scholarship to your No. 1 choice college, and, what the heck, the guy you have liked for four years asks you out.”

Sarah Kalas, 17, senior, Capistrano Valley

“Getting an A on a test in every subject.”

Rich Holder, 16, sophomore, Newport Harbor

“When I am not piled with work, of course. I also want to be on task, finishing all my homework. Getting good grades is also part of a good day. What might make a good day even better would be if someone I like or think is cute smiled at me.”

Yvette Lee, 16, junior, Los Amigos

“All my favorite classes would go by very slow, and the boring ones very fast.”

Xochilt Gavidia, 17, senior, Valley

“A good day would consist of mentally stimulating subject matter and discussion. We would participate in ‘hands-on experiments.’ Teachers would never be moody, and students would come ready to learn. On an ideal school day, teachers and students would work together to promote an atmosphere conducive to a learning environment.”

Dan Hoag, 17, junior, Fountain Valley

“You forget to do your homework, and the teacher postpones it to another day.”

Jason Woda, 15, sophomore, Los Alamitos

“If no homework is assigned.”

Minal Patel, 14, freshman, Cornelia Connelly

“No tests and the day goes by fairly quickly and pretty smoothly. Also, getting along with your friends.”

Alyssia Wagner, 15, sophomore, Irvine

“Not getting frustrated and having a lot of my friends happy.”

Kristin Matas, 15, sophomore, Troy

“Waking up on time, having a good hair day, knowing all my homework from the previous day is finished and having all my teachers in good moods.”

Jessica Lanzisera, 15, sophomore, Brea Olinda

“When I come home knowing that I learned something.”

James McGrath, 16, junior, Saddleback

“Field trip.”

Brad Reeves, 16, sophomore, Villa Park

“I have all my homework done; I like the teachers, and I don’t get bored in class.”

Diane Sheeler, 15, sophomore, Huntington Beach

“Classes would have to be interesting and not the same old lecture format. Tardies would not matter, and half the day would be held outside to play in the rain.”

Erica Easton, 17, senior, Orange Lutheran

* Responses gathered by Ling Lu, Valencia; Samantha Wood, Trabuco Hills; Koreen Kalie, Westminster; Roxeanne McGraw, Cypress; Joslin Gemsch, Capistrano Valley; Katrina Tangen, Newport Harbor; Linda Dao, Los Amigos; Jorge Gutierrez, Valley; Tricia Michels, Fountain Valley; Amber Pierce, Los Alamitos; Gina Tercero, Cornelia Connelly; Robert Wenzel, Irvine; Corey Griffin, Troy; Amy Chen, Brea Olinda; Craig Hammill, Laguna Beach; Michelle Tran, Saddleback; Jennifer Tobkin, Villa Park; Amy Woo, Huntington Beach; Lisa Lobo, Western; Lauren Dunn, Orange Lutheran.