Search
Polls
Latest Forum Posts
| Taking a Knee unclebuck 15-11-08 13:51 |
| Re:Football unclebuck 07-10-08 15:24 |
| Re:Football unclebuck 02-10-08 12:59 |
Login Form
| Patterson High School looks at six-period day |
|
|
| Written by Maddy Houk / Patterson Irrigator | |
| Saturday, 09 February 2008 | |
|
“More concerns have come up. I don’t want to cram anything down anyone's throat. ... We have to have very accurate information.” — David Stubbs, PHS principal Throughout the years, when Patterson High School’s student enrollment was less than 1,000 students, the school’s 50-minute, seven-period school day enabled students to complete their graduation requirements, and teachers to teach core subjects and electives.  PHS math instructor George Crawford passes out a handout during his six-period calculus class Thursday. Photo by Elias Funez / Patterson Irrigator Now, with a larger student body and more faculty, administrators have begun touting a 60-minute, six-period day. The extra minutes add up to an equivalent of a couple of more months of instruction time for local students over a school year. PHS Principal David Stubbs has been working with former PHS Principal Vince Rucobo, school counselors and a task force of teachers, students and parents to gather information about implementing the six-period day for the next school year. Stubbs told the school board on Monday that high schools comparable in size to Patterson have six-period days. Still, he asked the school board to wait until the April 21 school board meeting to vote on any changes. “More concerns have come up,” Stubbs said. “I don’t want to cram anything down anyone’s throat. If we’re going to implement it, we have to have very accurate information.” Students at Patterson High will register for classes Monday in accordance with the new six-day schedule, and students at Creekside Middle School and Sacred Heart Catholic School will do the same the week of Feb. 18. They will choose their core classes of English and math, as well as electives. Lunchtime will not be a 60-minute period next year. Details are being worked out.  Students Renina Ellis (from left), Amber McNillion and Javan Payne eat their lunches outside the PHS cafeteria Thursday. Photo by Elias Funez / Patterson Irrigator “Until we actually get the hardcore numbers from the ballots, I will not move forward,” Stubbs said. The new school schedule would allow use of a “zero period” before school class with subjects such as physical education or band. Intervention classes for students who are below grade level in math and English Language Arts would be offered at the end of the day in a seventh-period class. Both zero and seventh periods would be in addition to the regular six-period day. Some electives, such as drivers’ education, would be offered in the summertime or during night school. The task force found other six-period day benefits include more time for teaching science in agriculture classes, as well adding electives such as business and computer classes, art and performing arts and auto shop. Students would have fewer free periods and less downtime during the day. PHS counselor Kathy Martinez told the board that 75 percent to 80 percent of high schools in the state have six-period days. “I think we can make it work,” Martinez said. “Other schools made it work, and I don’t see why we can’t.” Board members got to see sample schedules for students in college prep classes, in the Advancement Via Individual Determination, college prep program for average students who are planning to attend college, as well as non-college prep vocational schedules. More information on the proposed schedule changes will be brought to the board after the student surveys are complete. “I think having 60-minute periods will make our high school move ahead,” Superintendent Patrick Sweeney said. To reach Maddy Houk at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Set as favorite
Bookmark
Email This
Hits: 349 Comments
(0)
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed