Illustration by Bella Goupil/The Omniscient
Roughly 100 randomly picked freshman students are following a hybrid schedule this year, proposed by principal Justin Bartholomew.
Instead of having four periods a day, the hybrid schedule includes six. The hybrid schedule splits the freshmen’s rst and second periods in half, leaving each one with 40 minutes instead of 85. During this time, students are taking their main four core classes: English, math, science and World History. The freshmen’s fifth and sixth periods consist of their two elective courses, which remain 85 minutes.
Roughly 100 randomly picked freshmen students are following a hybrid schedule this year, which was proposed by principal Justin Bartholomew.
Instead of having four periods a day, the hybrid schedule includes six. The hybrid schedule splits the freshmen’s first and second periods in half, leaving each one with 40 minutes instead of ninety. During this time, students are taking their main four core classes: English, Math, Science and World History. The freshmen’s fifth and sixth period consists of their two elective courses, which remain 90 minutes.
This isn’t Northwood’s first time attempting a hybrid schedule. In previous years, they have established the ‘FX’ schedule, which also cut class times. This year’s version is a combination of long and short classes. The hybrid schedule was introduced this year as an experiment to see how it would impact and effect the school’s learning program overall.
“It is just another route to seeing the way teachers can teach, and the way that students can learn,” English teacher Terrence Foushee said.
Freshman Erika Seils was introduced to the hybrid schedule this year and has found it to helpful with her transition from middle school to high school.
“Sometimes I am overwhelmed about it, but I like it better than the regular four block, because I am only in class for forty minutes, and it’s easier to concentrate,” Seils said.
Fellow freshman Kayla Page agreed.
“At first I thought it was going to be overwhelming, but now I’m starting to like it, because you have more time [throughout the year] to learn,” Page said.
Freshman Tyler Blanford dislikes the schedule. Blanford wants to have the ability to double up on core classes and experience the full 90 minute class period.
“I don’t like how it’s really short, because you can’t really take your time and do [your] work in class, and the teachers can’t really go over the work,” Blanford said.
World History teacher Erin Hull has noticed a change in behavior in her students between a four block schedule and a hybrid schedule.
“You don’t have a lot of down time, so there is not a whole lot of busy work,” Hull said. “It is kind of hectic because it is so quick, but again, you have a lot less behavior problems, and students are working on what they need to work on in that class period.”
In regards to experiencing the hybrid schedule firsthand, Seils thinks it may be a good idea for freshmen, but she hopes the hybrid schedule does not continue next year.
“I want the full high school experience, and I feel like the schedule does not give me that,” Seils said.
Whether Northwood will continue to use the hybrid schedule next year it is not certain until Bartholomew sees the final effects of the program on the school.
“I would strongly guess that our [academic] growth that we will experience will be much higher than what we [have previously] had,” Bartholomew said. “We will see how the results will turn out.”
– By Sarah Fowler
