Information on Next Year's Schedule

Note:  "Since none of it is final – please feel free to call or email me with specific questions and concerns.  Your questions are great for me, as I work through implementation" – Thanks, Mrs. Newman

Glenwood Community High School’s

Traditional 8 period day

Current structure:

·        PE is offered every other day for the year.  Students take a study hall opposite PE.

·        Weight class is offered every day for a year. 

·        There are 8 class periods that are approx. 46 min. each.

·        There are no times during the day that are flexible and could be used by students and teachers for any purpose.

Freshman and Sophomores

·        Must take 8 classes including PE.

·        Students who are at risk or on an IEP take study skills or are assigned to the learning center.

·        Many students have an additional study hall So, very few students have 7 academic classes.

·        Students can opt out of a semester of PE if they are in a school sport.  One problem, students opt out saying they are going out for “--------” and then they don’t go out.  

·        Students can also opt out if they want to take an academic class and can’t schedule it in.

Juniors

·        According to this year’s handbook all of the above applies. 

·        In addition, juniors who did not have an “F” the previous semester can have an “academic privilege.”  This means they can reduce their academic day to 7 periods.

Seniors

·        The senior year looks different, as it probably should.  Qualifying seniors can take Iowa Western Classes off site and many other students are involved with our school to work program and take career transitions. 

·        Seniors who did not have an “F” the previous semester can have an “academic privilege.”  This means they can reduce their academic day to 6 periods.

·        Through a variety of reasons many students take a very light load their senior year. 

·        Many midterm graduates only need government and a portfolio class to graduate.

Why Change?  What’s the Purpose?

National- some data reveals-

·         High school scores are at all time lows in many assessment categories.

·         The US is not competing in a global market.

·         There is a concern that the US is not producing qualified graduates.

·         Drop out rates are also very high.

Iowa- some data reveals-

·         High school ITED scores are low and AEA13 scores are lower than the state scores.

·         We are slipping fast in our ACT rank among the other states.  Iowa had ranked # 1 but now 8 states have higher composite scores. 

·         Drop out rates are also on the rise.

Local-

·         Glenwood Community High School ITED scores are not what they should be. 

·         When we compare our ITED scores to those of other conference schools, we range from near the bottom to the upper middle.  Schools with higher levels of poverty and higher minority populations have better results.

·         When looking at ACT scores we are also lower than we should be (bottom to middle).

·         The Reading and Math goals for our district are at the high school.  This is because the concerns in our district scores are at that level.  Last year’s science goal was set at the high school and it wasn’t met.

Recent Reform Movements

There has been a huge high school reform movement across the nation.  Iowa’s approach has been with the new 3 R’s:  Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships.  In addition, “Quadrant D” lessons, those characterized by high student engagement, have also been a big emphasis in

professional development with Iowa high schools.  Iowa’s Core Curriculum and new Core requirements mark a move to “back to the basics” or a focus on academics.

Other conference high schools have responded to the reform movement.  For example, we are the only school without some kind of flexible block of time used to address student needs.  Some schools call this time advisor-advisee, homeroom, seminar, STAR time, PRIME time, etc.

Glenwood Community High School has not changed the structure in order to meet student needs, keeping to the traditional 8 period day.  We can continue to do the same things and we will continue to get similar results.  This frankly is just not good enough.

Structure of the 7 Period Day

·        Classes will go from 46 minutes to approximately 50 minutes.

·        There will be no study halls.  However, we will need to evaluate the impact of what a full schedule does for class loads and our junior class.  There may be a need for a couple of junior study halls.

·        Following 7th hour (approx. 2:50 p.m.) there will be a seminar for all freshman and sophomores.

·        All juniors and remaining seniors will be dismissed at 2:50 p.m. and not be assigned to a seminar.  Of course students needing or wanting to stay can do so and will have a designated area to study. 

·        Exceptions will be juniors and seniors who are assigned to a credit recovery class during the seminar time.  For example, if a student fails a 9th or 10th grade English class they may be taking a class to make up that credit during seminar time.

·        Seminars will be done in very small groups with 10-15 students per teacher.

·        PE and Weight class will meet for one semester every day.   So those classes will be a full credit class.   

·        Students may choose to take PE or Weights all year if they wish.

·        Please note that the number of credits did not change.  

·        With the increased rigor of our school day, students will be taking classes.  

·        With the new graduation requirements students will need to take a full load of classes, if they wish to graduate midterm.

·        New normal “loads”

9th – 11^th Grade Students:   Students (9-11) are required to carry seven (7) *credits   

including P.E. one semester.  

12^th Grade Students:  Seniors need to carry six credits.  College courses offered off site, may be arranged for seniors as part of their credits.  All requests for arrangements other than stated above must involve the student, parent, counselor, and have the approval of the high school administration.

z     A credit is awarded upon successful completion of one semester of a normally scheduled course.  One credit will be awarded for a class that meets daily for one semester.

z     Students must have 12 credits to attain sophomore status.  Students must have 24 credits to attain junior status.  Students must have 36 credits to attain senior status.

Concerns I have about the 7 period day

1.      Not really a problem, but a reality: The new structure will be more rigorous, especially with juniors.  Students will complain.

2.      Students who wish to take for example, band, vocal music, and Spanish will have trouble fitting it all in, they do now.   Since our band and vocal department are not changing the way instruction is delivered (daily), this will continue to be a problem.  PE can be waived and the seminar period may be used to offer a required course, like communications.  This could help with the scheduling crunch.  Selecting electives means students must make choices. 

Potential benefits from switching to a 7 period day that includes a seminar period far outweigh these two concerns.

We will evaluate implementation following each quarter.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Students must complete each grade level, grade one through twelve, and all the required course work as determined by the State Department of Education and the Glenwood Community School District Board of Education prior to graduation.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to ensure that students complete grades one through twelve and that high school students complete 48 total credits prior to graduation.  The following credits will be required:

Graduation Requirements

1.      48 total credits are required.

2.      20 documented hours of service learning

All students must enroll and participate in physical education one semester each year unless exempt.  Students who do qualify for an exemption from physical education must fill their required number of classes with a class.  There are no study halls.

A junior or a senior may be excused from the physical education requirement by a written request from parents because 1) the senior is seeking to enroll in a course that is not otherwise available 2) the senior is participating in a cooperative/work study program or 3) The student is involved in a competitive school sport.

A student in grades 9 and 10  may be excused from the physical education requirement by administrative permission only.  Severe schedule conflicts and student health issues will be the primary consideration.

If you read this entire post, thank you!!

Let me know if you have any additional questions.