“A Proposal for Time” Considering a Rotating Schedule for HHS November 2014
Transcription
“A Proposal for Time” Considering a Rotating Schedule for HHS November 2014
“A Proposal for Time” Considering a Rotating Schedule for HHS November 2014 Holmdel BOE District Goals 2014-2015 Assessing the Allocation and Utilization of Instructional Time Across the Content Areas Determine the need for and benefits of a High School rotating schedule Identify educational implications/financial concerns Share information with all stakeholders Evaluation Committee Josephine Blaha Science John Harkness Family and Consumer Science Geri Semenza Health and PE Owen Bonner Assistant Principal Lauren Haverlin 11th Grade ‐ President Hamzah Shaikh 9th Grade ‐ President Jenny Chu 10th Grade ‐ President Joe Clores Guidance Jen Lee Parent Bill Loughran Principal Aaron Spellman Math Karen Strickland PTSO ‐ President Marianne Connelly Visual & Performing Arts Sherry McBride Social Science Kathleen Taylor World Languages Sean Dowd English Michele England Assistant Principal Robert McGarry Assistant Superintendent Ann Radziwanowski Special Education Ana Vander Woude BOE ‐President The Committee’s Role The Evaluation Committee bears the responsibility of evaluating the need for, and possible benefits of, a rotating schedule at HHS, as well as identifying potential obstacles and other areas in need of attention should the schedule be adopted; It will also make a recommendation to the BOE for their consideration. Evaluation Timeline (Tentative) November 3rd November 11th and 12th November 17th thru 21st December 8th thru 12th December 15th thru 19th January 7th January 14th January 21st January 28th Committee Mtg. Public Presentations Site Visits Pilot Week Surveys Committee Mtg. Staff Meeting Committee Mtg. BOE Presentation Disclaimer This information session is meant to provide an overview of what a rotating schedule would look like here at HHS. The BOE will make the final determination for approval, taking into account a number of factors. Current Schedule RED indicates a Lunch Period M T W TH F Total 7:25 ‐ 8:11 1 46 46 46 46 46 230 8:15 ‐ 9:01 2 46 46 46 46 46 230 9:05 ‐ 9:51 3 46 46 46 46 46 230 9:55 ‐ 10:41 4 46 46 46 46 46 230 10:45 ‐ 11:31 5 46 46 46 46 46 230 11:35 ‐ 12:21 6 46 46 46 46 46 230 12:25 ‐ 1:11 7 46 46 46 46 46 230 1:15 ‐ 2:01 8 46 46 46 46 46 230 Modified Rotating Schedule Each day, 6 academic periods (3 in the morning, 3 in theafternoon) surrounding a “Unit Lunch” (a period when all students take their lunch break) are scheduled. 2 separate rotations are set in place (AM and PM), and classes will meet 3 times over the course of 4 days (61 minutes). Each day, one AM class and one PM class is “dropped.” Every class will meet on Friday (45 minutes). By the end of the week, classes will have met only 4 times, but for basically the same amount of time as if it met for 5 traditional periods. Why a “rotating” schedule? The rotating schedule is a way to add an extra class period to a student’s schedule, while still providing time for our students to “take a break” during the day to attend to other important school matters. It also allows us to do the things we must as a comprehensive high school (safety drills, meetings, assemblies) without unfairly burdening one period over another. Further, it allows us to schedule Extra Help and Club Meetings during the Unit Lunch Other Schools Who Use a Rotating Schedule School School Chatham (1) River Dell (31) West Morris – Mendham (4) Madison (32) West Morris - Central (11) Sparta (34) Livingston (16) West Windsor-Plainsboro South (35) Kinnelon (20) Governor Livingston (36) West Windsor-Plainsboro North (23) Northern Valley – Demarest (42) Ridgewood (28) Watchung Hills (50) Current Schedule Period Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 English Math Science PE/Lab World Language Elective Lunch Social Science “Rotating” Schedule Period Class 1 2 3 4 ‐‐‐‐ 5 6 7 8 English Math Science PE/Lab Unit Lunch World Language Elective “Free Period” Social Science PROPOSED Rotating Schedule Monday – Thursday Time Minutes M T W TH 7:25 ‐ 8:26 61 61 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 8:30 ‐ 9:31 61 9:35 ‐ 10:36 10:36 – 11:24 48 Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch 11:24‐ 12:25 61 12:29 ‐ 1:30 61 1:34 ‐ 2:35 61 8 5 6 7 8 5 6 7 8 5 6 7 3‐7 2‐6 1‐5 4‐8 “Dropped” Classes PROPOSED Rotating Schedule Fridays Time Period Minutes Total for Week 7:25 – 8:10 8:14 – 8:59 9:03 ‐ 9:48 9:52 ‐ 10:37 1 2 3 4 45 45 45 45 228 228 228 228 10:37 – 11:23 Lunch 46 11:23 – 12:08 5 6 7 8 45 45 45 45 12:12 – 12:57 1:01 ‐ 1:46 1:50 – 2:35 228 228 228 228 Why 61 minutes? Why 45 minutes on Fridays? These numbers are arbitrary; schools who use a rotating schedule have periods anywhere from 57-62 minutes. For us, it will allow us to maintain almost the same number of minutes per week that we currently have. While the schedule proposed does end up offering slightly less class time per class per week, it also allows for an extra class (or study hall) into the schedule, and for a guaranteed lunch break every day. Why the need for a “Unit Lunch”? Taking the lunch period out of the academic day is the single most important thing we can do, as it guarantees that all students get a break in their day. It also provides the flexibility to make better use of the commons for greater lengths of time during the school day, as we can schedule free periods that may serve as “study halls” for students throughout the day in that space. When would Science Labs meet? Schools that use a rotating schedule implement their science labs in one of two ways: - by “overlapping”, either in the first or the second half , the Unit Lunch by 30 minutes - designating the extra period in the day as a “study hall’ and running science labs during that period. What about students who take two lab sciences? Will they ever be “back to back”? No, they won’t. We will troubleshoot for that when we develop the master schedule. Where is Everyone Going to Eat? Students will have plenty of places to eat: –commons and lower commons, –gym areas –classrooms during “Extra Help” –designated hallways (400s,100s) What data is there to suggest that a switch to a rotating schedule is educationally sound? Current data on rotating block schedules is based on 85-90 minutes periods, and initial data shows that while scores may not have increased, the school climate is improved dramatically. Regardless, we are not advocating a change in schedule as a means of improving scores; rather, we are advocating for this change based solely on the desire to make available to all students the best possible learning environment we can offer. We have no reason to believe that our academic performance will suffer and are confident that, should this schedule come to fruition , we would all thrive in it. Summary - Benefits All students are guaranteed a lunch break and can eat lunch with friends; Extra Help will be offered during the Unit Lunch period, and Club /Activity meetings may also be held at that time Classes are rotated, lessening the chance of “staleness” No one period is overburdened when student meetings, assemblies, etc;. are held; Individual classes are longer, allowing for more in-depth instruction and learning to occur; Summary – Items to be Resolved Instructional Issues – meeting 4x vs. 5x per week, – moving from 46 to 61 minute classes Miscellaneous Issues – Food Service – Shared staff assignments between HS and Satz – Transportation Questions “Rotating” Schedule Period Class 1 2 3 4 ‐‐‐‐ 5 6 7 8 English Math Science PE/Lab Unit Lunch World Language Elective “Free Period” Social Science PROPOSED Rotating Schedule Monday – Thursday Time Minutes M T W TH 7:25 ‐ 8:26 61 61 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 8:30 ‐ 9:31 61 9:35 ‐ 10:36 10:36 – 11:24 48 Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch 11:24‐ 12:25 61 12:29 ‐ 1:30 61 1:34 ‐ 2:35 61 8 5 6 7 8 5 6 7 8 5 6 7 3‐7 2‐6 1‐5 4‐8 “Dropped” Classes PROPOSED Rotating Schedule Fridays Time Period Minutes Total for Week 7:25 – 8:10 8:14 – 8:59 9:03 ‐ 9:48 9:52 ‐ 10:37 1 2 3 4 45 45 45 45 228 228 228 228 10:37 – 11:23 Lunch 46 11:23 – 12:08 5 6 7 8 45 45 45 45 12:12 – 12:57 1:01 ‐ 1:46 1:50 – 2:35 228 228 228 228 Darren Groh Principal – Chatham HS Groh, who lives in Chatham and has been principal for nine years, attributes his students’ college-level success to the school’s “four-day rotating block schedule,” which simulates a college routine. “It really is kind of a college-prep schedule,” says Groh. “The students have to budget their time. It creates better time management.” The students also have a lot of freedom to select their courses. “We are fortunate that our students take education seriously,” Groh adds. -- New Jersey Monthly, Sept. 2014 Marie Kousoulis Former HHS Teacher, now working in Chatham I must say that I am a big fan of the rotating schedule. It definitely took some getting used to but, by now, I have it down. The students (even my freshman who, coming from middle school did not have this schedule, adapted very quickly) do just fine with it. Their work gets completed and there is never any question of what is due on what day. On the teacher end, I like it because I see different classes on different days and at different times. It's much less taxing than teaching 5 classes every day. Some days I teach 3 classes, other days four classes and five classes only on one day. There is more prep time to plan lessons and grade and get work done (even though we do have duty periods). So, I do like it. Darren Groh Principal – Chatham HS On schools contemplating a rotating schedule: “A year from now your students and faculty will be wondering why you didn’t switch to this schedule sooner..” -- Madison HS presentation PROPOSED Rotating Schedule Monday – Thursday (PILOT WEEK) Time Minutes M T W TH 9:23 ‐ 10:18 55 55 55 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 10:18 – 11:08 50 8 5 6 7 8 5 6 7 8 5 6 7 3‐7 2‐6 1‐5 4‐8 7:25 – 8:20 8:24 ‐ 9:19 11:08‐ 12:03 12:07 – 1:02 1:06 ‐ 2:01 “Dropped” Classes 55 55 55 PROPOSED Rotating Schedule Fridays (PILOT WEEK) Time Period Minutes 7:25 – 8:06 8:10– 8:51 8:55 ‐ 9:36 9:40 ‐ 10:21 1 2 3 4 41 41 41 41 10:21 – 11:05 Lunch 44 11:05– 11:46 11:50 – 12:31 12:35 ‐ 1:16 1:20 – 2:01 5 6 7 8 41 41 41 41