Bishop Blanchet Highschool
Block Schedule Information
Q: What will be the hours of instruction?
A: Classes will run from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Q: What is the rationale and history behind the decision to move to block schedule?
A: After years of looking to find ways for students to be able to meet the four-year religion requirement and be competitive in the variety and depth of courses peers at non-Catholic high schools take, an ad-hoc committee studied options during the 2007-2008 school year. The schedule below was their recommendation. It allows: one more class per year for students, uninterrupted/unvaried length of instructional blocks, for communal relations, a slowed day, and the virtual elimination of early (zero period/Module A-B) classes. The Academic Council/department chairs voted in September 2008 to adopt this model for the fall of 2010.
Q: How many courses will students take next year?
A: Students will move from six, 50-minute classes daily to four, 80-minute classes daily for a total of eight classes over two days. We will call these Green (1st-4th period) or Gold (5th-8th period) days.
|
|
MON |
TUE |
WED |
THU |
FRI |
|
Week One |
Green 1-4 |
Gold 5-8 |
Green 1-4 |
Gold 5-8 |
Green 1-4 |
|
8:00-9:20 |
per 1 |
per 5 |
per 1 |
per 5 |
per 1 |
|
9:20-9:30 |
pass |
pass |
pass |
pass |
pass |
|
9:30-10:50 |
per 2 |
Community |
per 2 |
Community |
per 2 |
|
10:50-11:00 |
pass |
pass |
pass |
pass |
pass |
|
*11:00 -1:00 |
per 3/lunch |
per 6/lunch |
per 3/lunch |
per 6/lunch |
per 3/lunch |
|
1:00-1:10 |
pass |
pass |
pass |
pass |
pass |
|
1:10-2:30 |
per 4 |
per 7 |
per 4 |
per 7 |
per 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week Two |
Gold 5-8 |
Green 1-4 |
Gold 5-8 |
Green 1-4 |
Gold 5-8 |
|
8:00-9:20 |
per 5 |
per 1 |
per 5 |
per 1 |
per 5 |
|
9:20-9:30 |
pass |
pass |
pass |
pass |
pass |
|
9:30-10:50 |
Community |
per 2 |
Community |
per 2 |
Community |
|
10:50-11:00 |
pass |
pass |
pass |
pass |
pass |
|
11:00-1:00 |
per 6/lunch |
per 3/lunch |
per 6/lunch |
per 3/lunch |
per 6/lunch |
|
1:00-1:10 |
pass |
pass |
pass |
pass |
pass |
|
1:10-2:30 |
per 7 |
per 4 |
per 7 |
per 4 |
per 7/lunch |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lunch Times |
|
|
|
|
|
|
*11:00-11:30 |
1st lunch |
1st lunch |
1st lunch |
1st lunch |
1st lunch |
|
11:40 - 1:00 |
3rd per |
6th per |
3rd per |
6th per |
3rd per |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*11:00 - 12:20 |
3rd period |
6th period |
3rd period |
6th period |
3rd period |
|
12:30 - 1:00 |
2nd lunch |
2nd lunch |
2nd lunch |
2nd lunch |
2nd lunch |
Q: What does the "C" by period 6 mean?
A: This is our community block. Our students will be put in homeroom groups of 12-15 students and stay with that group and homeroom advisor for all four years. In a school of 1000+ students, this communal aspect is important to living our mission fully. This is the period that will house liturgies, assemblies, class meetings, team building activities, lessons that align with our graduate profile, etc. Advisors will become key mentors for the students. The goal is to leave the other class periods constant at 80 minutes and take care of these other important aspects in the community block period.
Q: There is a change from three to two lunches, correct?
A: Correct. Students will not be eating lunch by grade level next year. They will either have first or second lunch. The cafeteria/facilities committee is studying ways to expedite food purchases and provide more seating to address this change.
Q: Since students will now get to take seven courses, instead of six, will more courses be offered?
A: Yes. While we acknowledge that many students have not been able to take as many of the existing courses as they would like, the department chairs are also working with their teachers and will approve additional courses for next year. Those courses will be in the Course Description book that students receive (and is posted on our web page) in January.
Q: How will students be prepared for this shift?
A: Focusing on present sophomores and juniors, Dr. O'Shaughnessy and Ms. Kuzmanich are taking a group of class cabinet and Miter students to Bellarmine Prep next week. The students are gathering questions from peers prior to the visit. As student liaisons, they will report back and stay involved in preparations throughout the year.
Q: Will we have a trial run of the block schedule?
A: Yes. The week following Easter break will be converted to block to provide us with a trial run.
Q: Will we have a parent meeting to help us guide our students in course selection for the block?
A: Yes. At the end of January, the administration and counselors will have a meeting for parents. Details to follow.
