Many students at RCMS have been losing their belongings these past few months. The lost and found bins are one of the most recommended places to check. But how did these lost items actually get there?
There are many items in the lost and found. Sometimes students find their lost item within a week or two. Other times, it can take much longer.
Mr. Daniel Patterson, RCMS’s Safety and Security Assistant, said, “I came here last year and there was a laptop. I found the owner even though he graduated.”
This student had his laptop in the lost and found for about two years. There are many lost and found bins in the school. So if you don’t find your item in one of them, it is suggested to check the others.
“The lost and found is pretty busy. Most kids lose their items,” said Mr. Patterson.
According to a poll taken by 62 RCMS students, 66.1% have lost something at RCMS. The other 33.9% have not. Some of these students claim they have lost their items because it fell out of their pocket, or because their bag was unzipped. But Nathan Cunanan, 14, of the Explorers team, said he had his charger stolen.
“I did know who it was but was unable to contact them and tell them about my charger,” said Nathan. “To counter this, me and a teacher searched the titular lost and founds for the charger, or at least a charger.”
Even though stolen items don’t go to the lost and found, it can still be used to find replacement items. Students say it helps to look at the lost and found bins in all of the pods, multiple times before giving up.
“I have lost a water bottle. I found it in the lost and found while walking to my locker,” said Nethra Nair, 12, of the Champions team.
Nethra had lost her water bottle for about two weeks. She had checked her team’s lost and found every other day. For her, the lost and found was a helpful place to look and eventually, she was able to find her water bottle.
According to the poll, 41.5% of students find the lost and found helpful, while the other 58.5% do not.
Athmika Sivaramakrishnan, 12, of the Legacy team, said, “The lost and found was not helpful at all!”
Athmika had lost some of her money in a container about a month ago. She felt scared when she lost it, due to it being very important to her. She checked the other team’s lost and found. She checked the lost and founds anytime she had a chance. But she never found her money.
“I would just make sure that nothing can fall out of your pockets or anything because you don’t know where it will end up being,” said Athmika.
Some students are on the neutral side. The lost and found helped them, but not too much. Priya Deshpande, 12, of the All Stars team, had lost three of her hats a few months ago. During these months, Priya had checked the lost and found every once in a while. Recently, she had found two of her lost hats.
“I checked in the lost and found and found one,” said Priya. “The other I found randomly in the health room.”
Since items are always going missing, students claim that you might forget where you lost your item.
“Most of the time, your teacher will keep an item you misplaced with them so that you will find it. If not, it’ll reach the lost and found eventually. You should keep checking,” said Nethra.
It is recommended that anything expensive should be kept at home. It’s more safe for your belongings.
Mr. Patterson said, “If it’s something expensive, like $100 or above, keep it at home.”
