Bellarmine is way behind the curve on this but we are finally considering a
change in our academic schedule. We have been at 6 periods a day (50 min
classes) forever. A committee is now considering a four period, 70-min block
schedule and a modified block schedule with some 50 min classes and some 70 min
classes.
One of the outcomes will be a daily (or 4-day/week) Community Time for 55
minutes. This may be used for tutorial time, teachers’ office hours and study
hall. Alternately there could be some tutorial days and some days set aside
for co-curriculars (club meetings, etc.).
I would like to hear from other high school and middle school librarians about
how this hour of Community Time has effected your Library if you have such a
block of time. I have concerns that the library could just devolve into a mad
house (we have 1,600 students that would be “free”) and we would be the witches
who have to keep telling kids to focus and study. I don’t want that
environment – librarians just shushing all the time. 😊 And I don’t anticipate
having enough staff to use that hour for any kind of enrichment instructions
taught by me or my assistant Librarian.
Anyway, I welcome any and all comments about how a school wide free period has
impacted your Library.
Thanks so much and of course Happy Holidays to all!
Tana
[https://render.bitstrips.com/v2/cpanel/ded21d24-cb38-4e67-862b-4fcb8201f661-487cf70c-f1ca-4cbc-b399-cc080f06dd41-v1.png?transparent=1&palette=1]
Tana Perotin
Director of Library and Research Services
Bellarmine College Preparatory
960 W. Hedding St.
San Jose, CA 95126
408-537-9257
www.bcp.org<http://www.bcp.org/>