Students will be entering into the 2014-2015 school year next fall with a new class schedule. The administrative staff has come to a general consensus that the current schedule is too cumbersome and confusing and is in need of some major change. A meeting was held toward the end of February when this decision was finalized by Principal Craig Stafford and the administrative team. According to recent research trends, more schools are using the traditional schedule that Bishop Noll is currently moving towards.
The current schedule is designed so all classes meet every day and students are allowed a “personal resource period” a few times a week. This time allows students to meet with teachers regarding missing work or tests or to meet with clubs.
Over recent years, Noll has seen many problems with this schedule and how students are choosing to spend their time. The change will allow a much more structured setting for scholars to learn and a much more organized teaching environment. Instead of this personal resource time students will now have College and Career Period, or CCP. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, students will be in an assigned room with a teacher for 20 minutes in which they will have time to do research for college or for a potential future career. This career planning will be required for all students, even including the younger class of incoming freshmen.
“It is never too early to start planning and preparing for college,” Stafford said. “All students can do college planning and/or research, and the younger students can also plan for the PSAT, SAT, and ACT during the CCP. It is very important for high school students to have a plan for life after high school graduation. This plan can develop into a reality over the four years that every student spends at BNI.”
Besides the new career planning course, student resource time (SRT) will also be available to students on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“SRT is a structured study period that happens within individual classrooms throughout the building. This idea is widely used throughout the United States,” Stafford said.
Students may use the period to study, make-up tests, labs, receive extra help from a teacher, or any other academic duty that may be necessary. To move from their homeroom to another classroom for academic or extracurricular studies, students must use a pass.
SRT groups can also be formed around specific clubs or groups at school.
“There can be a basketball SRT, band/choir SRT, and a Journalism SRT, just to name a few, “Stafford said. “This time can be used by those groups to study, plan, practice, or meet for reasons specific to their group. Also, SRT can be used for students to participate in SAT and/or ACT prep, or other activities to prepare students for standardized tests or college.”
Students can look forward to these new changes as the 2014-2015 school year approaches. The new changes are in place to create a much more structured environment for students to learn. This schedule gives teachers, staff and administrators assurance that students are spending their time wisely and are being responsible.