news 05
Block schedule finalized
School prepares to alter daily routine after 29 years By Alexis Ladd
W
ithin the past two years, new policies and regulations have taken place in order to better the students. From creating a safer environment to altering course requirements, GV will soon be one of the many schools in the district to participate in a block schedule by school year 2020-21. Many opinions and feelings have risen from this significant change that will take place. Block schedule consists of manipulating the everyday routines that
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For Language Arts, a longer class period really works for us. Angelique Callicoat
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compose what makes up the school day. From attending six classes a day now, students will go to two, three, or four while on block- depending on the student. The change will also affect teachers’ lesson plans, students’ time management and most impor-
tantly credits that can be earned. For some, block schedule could become a hassle and possibly useless, while for others, it will be extremely beneficial to them and the key to graduation. Many individuals on campus have strong opinions about the topic. “With AP classes, and deadlines of having to take the test, it significantly decreases the days students would usually have in class, about 30 days less. I feel like as a school, this will really drop the score rates. Adjusting to this change and having to cram in material in a shorter amount of time will definitely be overwhelming for those next year,” senior Sydney Ballard said. For certain courses this may be the case, but for others such as English teacher Angelique Callicoat who instructs AP Language and Composition, this will be a beneficial change. She thinks more time in a period allow different methods of teaching, impacting more of her students positively. “For Language Arts, a longer class period really works for us. We have four sets of common core standards that we go through, speaking, reading, writing and listening, which are hard to hit in a 50 minute time period. In 80 minutes this will allow English teachers to cover each area to better the learning of students,” Callicoat said. Block schedule has been observed as a way for the schools to improve
graduation rates and test scores. The majority of high schools in CCSD already participate in block schedule. “We have seen other schools do well following this schedule. I think this could raise our graduation rate as we are allowing students the opportunity to earn 32 credits,” vice principal Raymond Ortiz said. Going to an 81 minute period from a 52 minute period every other day, could allow more time for actual learning as activities could become more comprehensive. Teachers are left to decide how they will utilize their time with their students, now that they will only be seeing them two or three times a week. Opinions from students and teachers range from opposing it to being excited to see what the new schedule has to offer. “The biggest thing I think the schedule will affect is my time. I am
going to have to cut things out of my class that I previously deemed as important. I will have to prioritize information I present in class by level of importance, even though all information is relevant,” social studies teacher Bud Beam said. Because GV has never participated in block schedule before, the first year of doing so is unpredictable. This could possibly hurt or benefit the students and staff. “While this may benefit one group at the school, whether it is teachers or students, I do not think it will benefit the student body as a whole. AP classes will be greatly affected more than any other classes,” Beam said. Adjusting may take some time for students and staff, but the end goal is to give students more options and a better chance at graduating by utilizing the new schedule.
Stay sharp - Senior Ilai Macaggi poses with his new trombone with principal Kent Roberts and his band teacher Cara Froelich on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
courtesy of Ilai Maccagi
Liliana Burke
By Halle Scoles
E
ver since senior Ilai Macaggi was young he loved music. Before picking up the trombone, he played the euphonium, a brass instrument that looks similar to a tuba, but is smaller. Macaggi picked up the trombone during his middle school years in eighth grade, wanting to explore the genre of jazz music. “I picked up the trombone because I wanted to learn jazz. You can’t really do jazz on a euphonium. That was the main reason, but now it’s the most effective way for me to express my emotions through music. I can do it better than with any other instrument,” Macaggi said. Recently, Macaggi was presented with a custom trombone as a gift from a local donor. The event occurred during the Student of the Month breakfast in the faculty lounge. To craft the custom trombone, Cara Froelich, the band teacher, took Macaggi to Jazz Education Network,
a jazz convention where he tried several differing trombones under the belief that they would be donated to Green Valley for future students to use. Froelich asked Macaggi what he liked and disliked about each instrument and took careful notes of his preferences in order to be able to craft the perfect trombone for him. When their visit was over, Froelich took all of the components that Macaggi liked about each trombone and combined them to make his custom trombone. The trombone came from a company in Kansas City, Mo. They can combine different metals to change the sound that the instrument produces when played, as the material a brass instrument is made from can have a heavy impact on the sound it makes. This instrument will allow Macaggi to play more effectively. The presentation left many in the room in tears. “It was a very emotional moment. I think half the room was crying,” Macaggi said. “I was crying for sure.”
February 2020
