Schedule switch-up Board of Education proposes new schedule for 2015-2016 year by Ceili Doyle @ca_doyle18
LT’s Board of Education agreed to accept the idea of a new bell schedule for the upcoming 2015-2016 school year, as of the Oct. 7 meeting. The newly proposed bell schedule would shift the school day around to accommodate the addition of a 25-minute study hall combined with a 25-minute lunch period. With the expected completion of the new NC cafeteria by March of 2015, under the potential new schedule, the amount of lunch periods would drop from five to two. Students would have lunch 4A and a 4B study hall or vice versa, and the process would be the same for 5A and 5B. The proposal would also eliminate split classes with a lunch in-between. The initial push to allocate student study time first came up around five years ago when LT started the process of enacting Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). These PLCs are a framework of education reform that focus on ensuring student learning and collaboration between students and staff with an emphasis on attaining results. “When Lyons Township began implementing PLCs a significant piece of the PLC framework was to provide students with time during the day for study, supports and interventions. It was at that time that staff identified this change as an important piece moving forward,” Principal Brian Waterman said. So far, the initial sampling of schedules has class periods shortening up from 51 minutes to a 48 or 49 minute period, according to Associate
Principal Kevin Brown; however, Brown expects teachers to find ways to adjust to their schedules so that does not pile on more work for students. The frontrunner schedule, specifically, has class beginning at 7:40 a.m. next year and dismissal at 3:02 p.m. as opposed to the current 7:45 a.m. start and 2:59 p.m. finish. An additional piece that could come into play next year is the implementation of late start on Wednesdays every week, instead of every other week. The majority of the staff on the bell schedule committee expressed interest in carving out more time for PLCs and believe this could be accomplished through weekly late starts. “There have been a good number of requests from our teacher teams currently working in PLCs for additional time to accomplish the considerable amount of work they’ve been asked to do,” Brown said. “One idea to allow this extra time is to move to a late start every Wednesday which would effectively double the amount of time. The down-side of this approach would be the loss of instructional time.” The board will push to finalize this portion of the bell schedule change alongside the main proposal. The current trajectory for the board to review the final, proposed bell schedule is no later than late January/early February and most likely will be sooner, according to Waterman. Amanda Bolton ‘15, Student Representative for the Board of Education, approves of the implementation of a new bell schedule and does acknowledge the initial difficulty students might face adjusting to the idea.
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Alumna opens educational center in Ghana Rebecca Kuntz ‘11 follows her passion, starts non-profit organization, adopts child by Brittany Grosser-Basile @BrittanyGrosser
After her post-graduation trip to Ghana in 2011, Rebecca Kuntz ‘11 realized her passion for volunteering, and has since opened the Light for Children Educational Center for the Ghanaian town of Atonsu on Oct. 9 and started a nonprofit organization called The Treasured Ones. “The Center has created a space for children to let their creativity run wild, has allowed the children to develop, opening their eyes to new experiences, new information and new ways of learning and has created security for these children,” Kuntz said. “We work hand in hand with the community to listen to problems, assess strengths and abilities, brainstorm creative solutions and then work towards our dreams together.” The Education Center cost just over $60,000 to build and open. There are five periods per school day and, for each period, there is one class in the computer lab and another in the library. While in the library, students work on reading comprehension, creative writing, storytelling and art. While in the computer lab, they are taught the government issued Information Communication Technology curriculum, Kuntz said. Kuntz headed fundraising for the project. She received money from various outlets, including school and community organizations, such as Rotary Club, International Club and Black Culture Club. Kuntz also proposed her idea to LT’s student council, which decided to take on fundraising for the center as its cause for the year. “Student Council was very impressed by the presentation that Rebecca made,” Director of Student Activities Peter Geddeis said. “It tugged at their heartstrings, but they also felt a connection because Rebecca is an LT alumna. She is making a real, sustainable and deep impact on those communities. She has represented and continues to represent LT well.” LTTV Advisor Bill Allan got to know Kuntz very well throughout her years at LT. During her four years, she was involved in LTTV, directing nearly 200 shoots by the time she graduated. Because of this close connection, Allan helped Kuntz since the day she brought him the idea for an education center. “Through the entire process, I’ve tried to be like a reflecting board,” Allan said. “She has ideas, she bounces them off me, we discuss them to try to figure out what works and what doesn’t work and then she pulls together a strategy to make it work.” Kuntz used what she learned during her time at LT to discover her passion and make her dreams a reality.
LT Archives
NEWS, 5
What kind of exciting history is hiding behind LT’s walls? Find out on page 5.
North Campus
The Light For Children Education Center, located in Atonsu, Kumasi, Ghana, was commisioned and opened on Oct. 9 (Rebecca Kuntz).
“Without a doubt, LT helped create the platform for me to realize and pursue my dreams, and more importantly, through the classes and extracurricular activities, LT developed my leadership skills and my passion for volunteerism that were used in every aspect of the Education Center, from planning to opening day,” Kuntz said. Kuntz plans to continue living full-time in Ghana with her newly adopted 18-month-old daughter who has special needs. For more photos of the Light for Children Educational Center and Kuntz’s daughter, Ellie Grace, visit our website.
Bell Schedule Editoral
OPINIONS, 9
Boys and Girls Basketball
SPORTS, 10
Interested in learning about proposed bell schedule for next school year? Turn to page 9 to read the Staff opinion.
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Find out about boys basketball’s upcoming game on Dec. 6 at the United Center against Naperville North.
Fashion
PULSE, 18
Want to find out who the fashionistas of LT really are? Check out page 18 to see.
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