Taking a Break: Bananagrams in the MRC

Taking a Break: Bananagrams in the MRC

by Hayden Denmead

9/25/2026

School days can feel long, especially by the time eighth period comes around. After classes, assignments, tests, and everything else students have going on, sometimes you just need a break.

Lately, students have been finding that break in the MRC.

During eighth period, Bananagrams has become a pretty big thing. What started as a few people playing a quick game has turned into something students look forward to. People gather around the table, grab their letters, make words, and try to be the first to use all their tiles.

And it gets competitive pretty quickly.

Mrs. Tafuri says one of the best parts is the competition. “It’s fun to compete and argue about what is a real word,” she said. Those arguments are definitely part of the game. Someone puts down a word, someone else questions it, and suddenly everyone has an opinion.

Senior Brendan Coombs enjoys the social side of the game. “It is fun to play with friends and teachers,” he said.

That's what makes it a good break during the school day. You're still thinking, but it doesn't feel like an assignment. It's also a chance to put down the Chromebook or phone, talk to people, laugh, and take your mind off schoolwork for a little while.

Taking a break during the school day is important. Sometimes a few minutes doing something different is all you need to reset and be more focused when you get back to work.

The MRC is a place to study, research, read, and get work done, but it can also be a place to take a break.

And right now, during eighth period, that break usually involves friends, teachers, letter tiles, a few arguments over whether a word actually exists, and eventually someone yelling “Peel!”