The York School

SMART START SCHEDULING

2016/2017

RETHINKING TIME FOR LEARNING As part of our 20/20 Vision Strategic Plan, The York School made a commitment to rethink two of the most important factors in learning: scheduling and environment.

In 2016, we took the opportunity to reimagine student learning as outlined by our mission, the philosophy of the IB Programme, and the Ministry of Education’s Growing Success document. At all three levels of our school, we have made some small but significant adjustments to our schedules for 2016/2017 to ensure the best learning environment possible for our students.

At the Junior School, we have added 15 minutes to the end of the school day, extended homeroom time, and condensed transitions. These changes have enabled us to add a third recess to keep students’ minds and bodies active at a time when this is developmentally critical.

In the Middle School, we are adding more programming and time to the homeroom period, with each day to start with a homeroom teacher who will be the point person for both students and parents. Programming will support the social and emotional leaning needed at this developmental stage so students can confidently connect with their peers. As well, programming will involve teaching executive function skills to enable students to approach their academic studies with the skills to engage and become citizens of a community.

For Senior School students, we are recognizing that additional sleep will have a profound impact on their ability to succeed for the rest of the day. Their schedules will begin later in the morning, and scheduling will enable us to more effectively stagger athletic practices while providing access to online lessons in the evenings when classes are missed due to cocurriculars.

The impact of these small changes will result in greater opportunities for students to develop character, learn optimally, consolidate skills, manage time, and be healthier and more balanced individuals.

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Read the summaries of the divisonal changes below...

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JUNIOR SCHOOL

Scheduling Item START/END TIME

HOMEROOM

PERIOD LENGTH

Revision

8:15 AM - 3:45 PM • 15 minutes added to end of 9:00 AM JK/SK Start day to accomodate for a third JK/SK Dismissal 3:30 - 3:45 PM recess in the afternoon, in lieu of the current 10 minute DPA (15 minutes added to end of day) period

90 minutes

45-minute periods (longer but fewer periods) All students will eat in cafeteria

LUNCH

RECESS

Rationale

JK/SK will join Grade 4/5

Grade 1-3 play first Grade 4-5 play after

• Allow for more uninterrupted time with homeroom teacher to focus on literacy or numeracy

• Minimize transition • Maximize instructional minutes

• Facilitate additional leadership role/responsibility for students in Grades 4 and 5

• Consistent schedule and no more ‘flip flop times’

Third afternoon recess

CO-CURRICULARS

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Begin immediately after school

• Eliminate 15-minute wait time • Incorporates time for a third recess in the afternoon

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Scheduling Item

Revision

START/END TIME

8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

HOMEROOM TIMING

• No change

40-minute homeroom period begins at 8:30 AM.

• Social-emotional learning, executive function skills, increased focus on DEAR/ 10-minute homeroom check-in literacy skills and a at end of day community meeting time

LUNCH

First time slot

SUPPORTING ACADEMIC SUCCESS

Start of day - will be part of morning homeroom programming Practices from 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM 3:30 - 4:15 PM / 4:20 - 5:00 PM

ATHLETICS

Rationale

5:30 - 6:30 PM Open practices and high performance conditioning sessions)

• Nourished first before recess

• Students are more apt to engage in academic support when there is some choice and everyone else is engaged in a similar session

• Multiple time slots to maximize efficiency and peak times for activity

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SENIOR SCHOOL Scheduling Item

Revision Grades 9-10 Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM

START TIME/ END TIME

Grade 11 Monday: 9:00 AM Tuesday - Friday: 9:10 AM Grade 12 Monday - Friday: 9:10 AM

Rationale

• Allows teens to obtain more sleep, improving concentration and wellness • Grade 11s start at 9:00 AM on Mondays to connect with Advisors and fill them in with respect to the events of the week.

Classes end: 4:00 PM 4 x 80-minute periods AND PERIOD LENGTH

1 x 40-minute period after lunch on Tues. & Fri. / at end of day on Mon. Weds. & Thurs.

• Students who must leave early for athletics on Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays will miss only one 40-minute period (which for many Grade 11s and 12s will be a spare), and for Grades 9 and 10 will be lessons that can be reproduced online in the evening.

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM 4:15 - 5:30 PM ATHLETIC PRACTICES

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5:30 - 6:30 PM (Open practices and high performance conditioning sessions)

• Morning practice moved from 7:00 AM to help Senior School students who need more time to sleep