McLean has implemented a new bell-to-bell warning system this year by playing songs in the hallway two minutes before each bell rings. Every week has its own theme with different songs, so the playlist isn’t repetitive. So far, the following themes that have been played the past few weeks are Broadway, 2000s, Latin and Hispanic artists and songs that have trended on TikTok. Different songs can be recommended or suggested by staff as well as students, but not all recommended songs will be played.
“The warning bell music is for everyone. That’s why you’ll notice it’s all ages, all decades, all types of music,” said assessment coach Ellen Donlen, who is part of the admin team in charge of curating the playlist.
At the beginning of the school year, Donlen sent out an email to all staff explaining in detail how the new bell system works.
Morgan Huheey, senior
“Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson
“I think it’s really catchy,” Huheey said. “Everyone knows it, [but] it’s not too overplayed.”
Alex Lacroix, freshman
“Saturday Sun” by Vance Joy
“It’s a chill song,” Lacroix said. “It [doesn’t] have any profanity at all.”
Connor Weinshall, sophomore
“Locked out of Heaven” by Bruno Mars
“It’s an upbeat song that I think would be nice to walk [along] to,” Weinshall said.
Helen Park, junior
“Chemical” by Post Malone
“My brother would listen to it [very] often so [I’ve] heard it many times,” Park said. “I started to like it because it’s very catchy.”
