Homeroom

In US schools, all students have to go into a specific room in the morning, before classes start. There they meet their homeroom teacher who records attendance and makes announcements. In Sutherland High School, attendance and announcements are made through a PA (public announcement) system. 

Homeroom only lasts about 5 minutes. During that time, they aren't with the students who are usually in their classes. The homeroom teacher is a kind of principal teacher, who is not necessarily their teacher. A first bell rings, which means that "The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag" is about to be said. A voice through a microphone asks the students to stand up to take the Pledge. At that moment all or most students stand up and recite the Pledge, facing the US flag - which is present in each classroom - with their hands on their hearts.  

After that, everybody sits down to hear the morning announcements, which are part of high school rituals. The voice through the microphone announces the main events of the day and of the week. Finally, a second bell rings which is the signal that students must go to their first class (first period).

The pledge of Allegiance to the flag is known to be quite controversial due to the presence of the sentence "One nation under God" which is related to religion. That's why some students are allowed to opt out, i.e. not take part in the morningin the Pledge of Allegiance if, for example, it goes against their personal beliefs. They may keep silent or sit down during the Pledge. Some schools have even chosen not to include the Pledge of Allegiance in their morning routine,