Viva Argentina: ARG vs. USA school

Now that I have officially been here for almost 5 weeks, I am really settling into the school system here, however different it may be from the United States! School is very exhausting because it is about 6 hours of trying to comprehend and speak Spanish. However, I love going to school because of the friendships that I have formed with my classmates and the interactions that we have there. It has been such an interesting experience slowly realizing the differences that make Nuestro Senora de Loreto so much different than Bozeman High. Here are some examples that I've noticed:

1. The students stay in the same classroom the entire day. Instead, the teachers rotate rooms for each hour.
2. Each day of the week my schedule is different but each week my schedule is the same. I have 14 subjects throughout the week, most one time and a few two times.
3. We are not served any food at school. There is only a little "kiosk" where cookies, pop, etc. are sold during breaks.
4. The kids stay in the same class with each other every class, every day, every week for the entire year. They have been together since they started at the age of 5.
5. I am in 5th grade here. In the US, there are 5 years of primary, 3 years of middle, and 4 years of secondary-12 years altogether. There are 12 years as well here, but instead only six years of primary and six years of secondary. At Loreto, the primary school kids go in the morning and the secondary school kids go in the afternoon.
6. The teachers and the students interact on a much more personal level than in the US. Here, they are not only your teacher but most are also good friends. One of my teachers is nicknamed "Gordo" or "Fatty" and it is not offensive. The students and professors joke a lot with each other.
7. If a teacher doesn't show up for class, there is no class. If it is the last class, we get to go home early. If it's in the middle of the day, we have a break where we eat, talk, play cards or soccer, etc.
8. Once school starts, the doors to the school are locked and you have to ring a doorbell to enter. When the principal opens the door, you give them your journal to be marked tardy. Also, this way you can't leave school early for any reason unless a parent/guardian comes to pick you up.
9. Loreto doesn't have any hallways. Instead, when you leave the classrooms you are outside in the courtyard. It is very similar to a motel instead of a hotel.
10. One of the biggest differences is that we have uniforms. Everyday, you must wear a white collared shirt with the school emblem on it but there are three different options for pants: jeans, navy blue sweats (not really our sweats but more formal) , or blue slacks.
11. The bells really have no meaning. On break or at the start of the day, class does not start at the bell but instead whenever the teacher enters the classroom.
12. When the teacher enters the classroom, all students must stand up and say "Buenos tardes, profe/profesora" before sitting down.
13. Obviously, the biggest difference is the times. Every day, school starts at 1:30. On Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, it ends at 6:40. On Tuesdays, it finishes at 7:20 and on Wednesdays, at 8:05.
Some random pictures that my classmates took in class the other day!