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[Dec. 2016 News] D’Amico proposes possible changes for Staples’ daily schedule

By Liv Ronca ’18

Principal James D’Amico is looking to make changes to the current Staples daily schedule  that would be implemented at the beginning of the 2018-19 school year.

“I think our current schedule is frustrating because it is so irregular. It makes it difficult for us to find alternative arrangements for students who need a different type of learning environment,” D’Amico said.

The current Staples schedule consists of either six or seven classes per day. D’Amico believes this is an overwhelming amount of classes. “If I had a day when I had to fully prepare for seven different meetings with seven different groups of people, and seven different goals or activities, that would be pretty stressful.  I think that’s how many students and teachers feel.”

Currently, Staples is running on what is known as a “composite schedule” according to a study named “Mixing BLOCK and Traditional Scheduling.” This form of scheduling includes both short periods, ranging from 40 to 55 minutes, and long periods, ranging from 70 to 90 minutes.

However, each class only gets one long period each week, with short classes making up the majority of the everyday schedule. Colleen Palmer, superintendent of Westport Public Schools, hopes that in future years there will be an increased number of long periods.

“Periods that are too short, probably about 40 minutes, make it difficult to get engaged in something and finish it,” Palmer said. “A longer class period allows students and teachers to get work done more efficiently because there is less of a need to rush.”

While Palmer believes longer periods are something that can benefit Staples’ students, Amanda Troelstra ’18 feels differently.

“I don’t like the possibility of having longer periods because even if it gives us more time for learning, if I dislike the class, I am going to have to stay in that class for an even longer period of time,” Troelstra said.

Mario Rinaldi ’20 also sees the negatives  of longer class periods. If the schedule were to change, Rinaldi, having three years ahead of him at Staples, would be one of the students affected. “If classes changed to every other day because of increased time, that would probably mean more homework, and you also wouldn’t see your teachers as much,” Rinaldi said.

This matter will be further discussed among the administration this coming spring. A decision will be made on whether or not Staples’ daily schedule will accept the proposed changes, or stay as is.

D’Amico is hopeful that this new schedule will gain the votes it needs to be implemented. In an email, D’Amico said he understands many students enjoy the current schedule, but hopes students will stay “open-minded about finding a schedule that meets Staples’ needs today.”

 

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