New block scheduling; building futures for students
As 2017 begins, Sandy Creek students begin the second semester with new block scheduling. The six period days were designed to focus more on the students’ future careers and college readiness.
“The type of block scheduling that we have implemented this semester allows for flexibility in the schedule for juniors and seniors to spend time with business mentors to learn more about their possible career choice. It also allows students to take classes in more than one career pathway. The majority of juniors and seniors are taking dual credit classes with college credit,” said the high school's guidance counselor Mrs. Connie Porter.
Students no longer have the same classes everyday all week. Instead, there are A, B and C days. On A and C days, underclassman have core classes such as math and science, while the upperclassmen have elective classes such as art and shop on A days. On B days, underclassman have elective classes and the upperclassmen have core classes.
“I like the block scheduling,” said junior Austin Wilson, “it gives me more time to focus on homework due to the longer class periods. I also get an extra day to get my assignments done because we have the class every other day.
While the freshmen and sophomores have classes on Fridays, which are C days, the juniors and seniors will go to surrounding towns to job shadow under their assigned mentors. These mentors will assign projects to their mentees to work on throughout the semester. However, students will be spending the first few Fridays of this semester learning about appropriate workplace behavior and working on soft skills, like how to professionally interview.
“I’m so excited to now have the opportunity to job shadow in the field I am looking to pursue. It is a great way for me to learn what it will actually be like to work in the graphic design field before going off to college,” said senior Barbara Rodriguez.
As there are many positives to this change, not everyone is happy about it. Because the schedules focus on students’ possible careers, schedules are tight and class options by period are sometimes limited. Some students have been thrown into classes that they don’t want to take. Freshman Rebecca Witmer was put into second semester Spanish 1, without having taken Spanish before. To make matters worse, not all students know what career they want to pursue and are being thrown into a career pathway they aren’t necessarily interested in.
“I’m not a fan of the block scheduling, I would much rather take my classes and not have to worry about a mentor and my future career. I’m not in an art class that I’d like to take because of a career that I’m not certain about yet,” said Cassie Perry, sophomore.
As the semester continues on, there will be plenty of bumps to work out, but in the end, students and facility hope that this new schedule will provide more opportunities.