The DRCSS has met with the Mountain View School Division to trial a new timetable for the 2020-21 school year. Stephen Jaddock, assistant superintendent, says the proposed change would be to a system with five 65 minute periods.
“So, three in the morning and two in the afternoon. That’s similar to a timetable that they had at one point in time in the past. Right now, there are two periods in the morning, then a shorter 35 minute period just prior to the noon hour from 11:25 to 12 noon. So those 35 minutes would essentially disappear. So, to go from a four and a half period day to a full 5 period day.”
Jaddock says the change is still a proposal but is likely to be tried next year.
The change will increase how many courses the students can have.
“So to moving from four and a half to five in a single day, it just increases the potential to take a full course in that slot and then it would work on the semester timetable as well, so across first and second semester, so increasing the availability of course selections is one of the benefits.”
Jaddock adds that having more course credits is a reason for the proposed change.
“One of the other reasons is that, as you can probably imagine, sometimes in a 35 minute period, it’s just difficult to, by the time the students have arrived, get settled, and start into the subject matter, before you know it, it’s time to wrap things up and close things down, so that’s another concern.”
The change will also affect the number of videoconference courses the DRCSS offers, however videoconferencing courses are more commonly used between the smaller high schools.
