Lancaster Catholic High School is proud to share our new collegiate-style schedule that will be launched for the 2017-18 school year. This new schedule will improve the education provided to all students in numerous ways while still aligning with the mission and core values of Catholic High.
Students will still take seven or eight classes for the entire school year, and classes will rotate every other day like a collegiate schedule. However, rather than having all eight classes everyday for forty-one minutes each, students will now go to a class every other day for 75 minutes. They will have four of their eight classes on an A-Day, and the other four on a B-Day, very much like a typical college class schedule.
As the result of an extensive study of current best practices in secondary school scheduling that began in 2013 by LCHS faculty and administrators, this schedule was chosen because it allows for longer, more focused instruction and more in-depth learning time; reduces transition time between classes; opens the schedule for students to take advantage of additional learning opportunities and support during the school day, rather than after school.
In addition to lunch, the middle of the day will now include a daily “Crusader Period” with 40 minutes set aside every day for all students to receive instructional support in any subject, have club meetings or pursue activities/interests that would normally only be available after the school day ended. Many assemblies and other school-wide gatherings—which would in the past have required reductions in class time—will now take place during the scheduled Crusader periods so that class times will seldom be affected.
Extensive feedback from the many schools across the U.S. that have been using this schedule for a decade or more have shown that the increased class time allows for more rigorous and relevant instruction and a deeper relationship between the teacher and the student.
Among the many benefits of the new schedule’s longer periods is the opportunity for more in-depth learning that gives teachers the time to take the lessons further and really engage students more deeply in the learning. Within each extended class period, teachers have time to fully incorporate different activities to address students’ various learning styles. Labs, projects or demonstrations, for example that must now be scheduled over multiple class periods and days will occur in a single class period with the longer periods.
For years, best practice experts have stated that 21st century students learn best in an environment that provides opportunities for collaboration, problem-solving, presentation, discussion and self-reflection. This schedule provides teachers with the ability to have the necessary time to incorporate these strategies into their classes. This schedule provides time in each period for in-depth course work, a wider variety of instructional strategies that address individual learning styles, and the development of strong student-teacher relationships.
Many practitioners report that the rhythm of the day is less stressful and students and teachers have time to more fully explore each subject. This schedule, employed by many colleges and universities, also teaches students effective time management and organizational skills that will serve them well when they enter college. Here are some specific benefits:
- A teacher sees fewer students during the day, thereby giving them the ability to spend more time with each individual.
- Because of the increased span of teaching time, longer cooperative learning activities can be completed in one class period.
- There is more time for labs in science classes—and less time wasted on setting/cleaning-up lab materials.
- Students have less information to deal with over the course of a school day and more time to successfully process it.
- Because of the decreased number of daily classes, students usually have less homework on any given day during the week.
- The teacher is able to provide more varied instruction during class. Thus, it is easier to deal with students with challenges and differing learning styles.
- Planning periods are longer. It seems that with a longer span of time, planning becomes easier and more gets done.
- Increased instructional time with less time spent on transitions and classroom management activities in every class
- Facilitates more personalized Instruction, better pedagogy, increased productivity
- The collegiate-style schedule provides many more daily opportunities for student advancement, recovery, and remediation
- More time for use of technology in classes
- More time for teachers to plan collaboratively
- More time for teachers to develop and use different strategies
An evening information session addressing the collegiate schedule for next year will be held in the library on Wednesday, March 29 at 7:00 pm. Mr. Klugh and Mr. Hamer will be leading the session. They will be available for questions after a short presentation.