Students stroll through the Upper School (US) hallways balancing trays of Starbucks refreshers as they return to class from off-campus trips. But, first, these students must visit Assistant to the Dean of Students Kerri Anne Shea’s office.

 US students who leave campus are required to sign out and sign back in upon their return.Ms. Shea explained the reasoning behind these rules.

 “We live in a crazy world; you don’t know what’s going to happen any day, having kids leave campus,” she said. “Signing in and out is really important, and a lot of kids don’t realize it’s a safety concern.”

 According to Ms. Shea, US students don’t take the process seriously enough.

 “I wish kids were more responsible about signing in and out.”

 For those who break the rules, there are consequences.

 “If you go off campus and don’t sign out, you may lose your off-campus privileges,” Ms. Shea said. “It could be up to two weeks, but it depends on the situation. If it is something that has been repeatedly told of you, it could be longer.”

 The off-campus rules vary by grade. While seniors can leave at any time in the day as long as they don’t have classes or commitments, juniors can only leave after 11:15 a.m. Sophomores may leave between their academic day and sports, and freshmen do not have any off-campus privileges.

 The current school policies don’t feel fair, a freshman who requested anonymity to avoid disciplinary consequences said.

 “I think freshmen should be allowed to leave campus. We are responsible enough, and a lot of schools have this opportunity as freshmen.”

 School policies require all eligible students to sign in and out when leaving campus.

 The freshman said she left campus to go to Starbucks in February.

 “There was one time I went out, and I went a little too far, and I wasn’t able to get back in time, and I ended up missing a significant chunk of time.”

 She did not face any disciplinary consequences from the school.

 “It was pretty lax. … I didn’t get caught,” she said.

 During her freshman year, Ingrid Schrag ’27 wanted to go out for food before late field hockey practices.

 “I don’t think the freshmen really do abide by the rules,” she said. “We would fully just leave and go to Harvard Square to get dinner. Because, otherwise, you’re not eating.”

 Even though the off-campus rules are outlined in the US Handbook, many students are unaware of their privileges, Ingrid said.

 “I don’t think I know what mine are at all. I remember freshman year, people got in trouble for leaving in between practices, so I guess we can do that this year because we’re not getting in trouble for it. But no clue … it was never talked about.”

 The school does not allow food deliveries to the front desk, which may contribute to students leaving campus.

 “BB&N has some rules that make you want to go off-campus more, like you can’t DoorDash to the school,” Ben Kaplan ’26 said.

 He also said students leave because of parking issues.

 “There is a two-hour parking lot across the street, so some students who park there at eight need to move their car at 10, but you’re not allowed to leave until lunch, so it makes students choose between following the rules and not getting a $40 ticket.”

 US Math Teacher Christine Oulton appreciates that the policies give more freedom to older students.

 “The rules as they are now seem to make sense. I like the fact that as kids get older, they get more off-campus privileges.”

 Although faculty enforces the signing in and out process, some students continue to bypass the policies.