Photo by Grace Penna
Grace Tourtelotte and Rachel Carney
News Reporters
South Administrators have recently been speaking about a new schedule, and receiving both positive and negative feedbacks by faculty and students. The South community is so used to our current schedule, the main question from many is, will this new schedule help or harm our school?
Some proposed benefits of the new schedule is its design will reduce the stress that most South students feel. The schedule will allow students to sleep more because the school day will be shorter, ending at around 2:00 instead of 3:20. This allows students to start activities and homework earlier so they can get to bed at a more reasonable hour.
Newton South Principal, Joel Stembridge, states that the new schedule will only have four classes most days. He hopes that this change will provide students with a healthier balance and less homework each day.
“The schedule has three meets for each block per week, one 65 minute block, and two 75 minute blocks. On each day other than Monday of the week, there are only four classes,” Stembridge said.
Despite the proposed benefits it could bring, some students have concerns about the new schedule. Sophomore Melissa Beckles along with many other South students believe that the increased number of long blocks may cause a longer adjustment period, due to the intensity of the changes being made.
“[I see why they] could be beneficial, but the many long blocks would not be ideal…adjusting to a new schedule will be really hard,” Beckles said.
Jamie Rinaldi, who is a member of the new schedule committee, agreed with Beckles, saying that it will be a hard adjustment but will overall allow teachers and students to have more time to plan out and execute their work.
“There is a lot of debate, but the committee ultimately came to the consensus that if we meet less during the week with longer blocks…then the pace of the day will feel slower and less stressful and the school day will be shorter,” Rinaldi said.
Despite the mixed reviews, as of now, the new schedule should be put in place by fall of 2020. Now is the time to get your opinions heard while the schedule is still in the works. You can contact Mr. Stembridge or your class senators to get more information and to voice concerns or ideas.
