Black History month trivia pg. 13
The cast of Pirates of Penzance
Success in Wrestling
pg. 5
pg. 14
HILIFE 2305 EAST MAIN, LEAGUE CITY, TX 77573
VOLUME 82
January 2008
ISSUE 4
Scheduling Options
To block or not to block that is the question ALLIE HINGA For the past two years, Clear Creek High School has been using a “block” scheduling system, in which students take eight classes, alternating between four different classes every other day. Students taking certain advanced fine arts and athletics courses have been able to“double block” their courses to allow more time to practice. This will change next year, however, as new parameters have now been set for student scheduling which will affect both students and teachers during next school year. At the end of 2006, the Texas Education Agency, or TEA, instated a new graduation requirement. Beginning this year, all incoming ninth graders are required to take four years of science and mathematics, instead of the three years required previously. These new requirements make it difficult for students to take their desired number of elective classes and still be able to graduate on a seven period schedule. In response to this, the school board decided to switch all the schools in Clear Creek Independent School District to an eight period schedule. This year, Clear Creek and Clear Brook High Schools have been on a block schedule, while Clear Lake
High School has remained on a sevenperiod schedule. In response to the recommendations of the School Board, a committee was formed to determine which scheduling option was best for the students. The members of the committee consisted of volunteer
recommendations for approval. The parameter states, “Athletics and Fine Arts classes which meet daily may not meet more than 60 minutes during the school day. Double blocking of 90 minute classes will be limited to remedial courses and core academic courses.” According to the Board, this standard is outlined by the UIL. They were also concerned that the time some students spent in athletics courses exceeded the time they spent in their academic courses, and they were concerned that athletics students would not get enough credits to graduate, since their athletics classes only count as one credit, even though it is double blocked. In contrast, a fine arts class can count towards two separate credits, so it is able to meet 90 minutes a day. With this new parameter in mind, the high school principals evaluated various options and came up with five different scheduling options. Staff meetings were held in January to allow teachers and administrators to discuss which options would be best for the school. In the first option, four periods will meet each day, but first and third period will be divided into 45 minute “A” and “B” periods, in which fine arts and athletics students will meet during ... Continued on page 4
“The staff at the four comprehensive high schools voted last week in favor of what is called an AB8 schedule. With this proposed schedule, students will attend 4 classes on A days, a separate 4 classes on B days, and all 8 classes on one day. This schedule was developed within the parameters approved by the Board of Trustees in December and again, was the prevailing choice across all four high schools. Under this schedule, athletics will meet three days a week. I realize this shift is significant for those coaches and assistant coaches who fear the schedule will have a negative impact on athletic programs and more importantly, their athletes. I am confident our athletic programs will continue to thrive with this schedule. The schedule still needs to be reviewed by the Campus Instructional Improvement Council at each of the high schools.” -Dr. Greg Smith, Superintendent parents, teachers, administrators, and school board members. Their task was to determine parameters for scheduling next year. After much deliberation, the High School Schedule Committee released a set of five criteria, stating that all high schools would offer students eight credits per year, teachers should have a daily planning period, classes would meet either
50-50-90-90-90 A Day
Period 3 - 90 min
every day or every other day, depending on individual student needs, program needs, or instructional criteria. Each school’s campusInstructionalImprovementCouncil would review the schedule annually and recommend any possible changes to the school’s principal. All the high schools
B Day Period 1 - 50 min. Period 2 - 50 min. Period 6 - 90 min
Lunch
Lunch
Period 4 - 90 min
Period 7 - 90 min.
Period 5 - 90 min
Period 8 - 90 min.
Pros & Cons: + Some clases meet daily. + Some athletics could get daily classes. + Some athletics could get the maximum practice time allowed by UIL.
are not required to implement the same schedule. The Committee’s recommendations were submitted to the School Board. The Board then set a new parameter regarding classes that meet every day or every other day. Each high school must identify which academic, fine arts, and athletic courses need to meet every day and submit these
- Some courses will be taught in the 50 minute format requiring separate preps for teachers - Students may not get the time format they prefer for a certain subject - Some athletics classes will not meet daily and therefore will not get the maximum practice time allowed by UIL - Our facilities will not allow us to serve all athletic programs daily in only two periods. - There are no announcements built in. - 90s and 60s do not run concurrently so everyone will have some of each.
AB8
Pros & Cons: + All classes meet three times per week. + Four day weeks could be ABAB so all classes get equal time those weeks. + All classes get some longer instructional periods for labs, discussions, etc. -Advisory could only be scheduled once a week and still be in compliance with state regulations for CTE classes.
Photo by Hailey Stephens
M
T
W
TH
F
A
B
A
B
8
A
B
A
B
or 8
A
B or
Photo by Fallan Drago
A
B
8
This is a combination of the 8 period schedule and the AB schedule with two exceptions. (1) The 8 period day in this option could have classes in 41 minute slots and fit into the current 430 minute school day while still meeting all state regulations for time. (2) The 8 period day classes would not be in consecutive order. The order would be period 1, 5, 2, 6, 3, 7, 4, and 8 so that classes are in the same general 90 minute time frame as on A/B days. This is required to cooperate with outside coops and colleges