Our South Campus will be using a modified block schedule. As educators, we are driven by the question of how we can best serve our students. After careful research, consultation and evaluation it was determined that a modified block schedule would best meet the needs of our students.
A block schedule with longer class periods has been proven to lower student stress levels and increase student engagement in classes. A block schedule format also prepares students for their transition to college coursework and schedules.
Educational research and best-practices from top independent school consultants are clear that block schedules improve a student’s learning experience by:
1. Reducing the stressful, frenetic pace of preparing for and transitioning between several classes a day, and
2. Increasing student engagement with more time for project orientation and teacher interaction in all courses.
Reduced stress – A block schedule allows students to prepare for 3 – 4 classes each evening (instead of all 6 or 7 in the current schedule). During the day student stress levels are lowered by fewer interruptions in their learning. Increased engagement – A student attending 3 – 4 academic classes a day (instead of 6 or 7) will benefit from this type of schedule. Projects and labs can be completed in one period instead of several and deeper relationships can be formed in classes with groups spending more concentrated class time together. Students will only be preparing for 3-4 classes each evening, which will lead to greater depth of learning and more opportunities to seek help from teachers before their class meets next.
Additionally, students will have a 50 minute lunch period to allow for time for clubs and collaborative meetings. This reduces the number of after school commitments a student has to juggle during the week. Our Middle and Upper School students’ class day begins at 8:30 am and end at 3:30 pm.