WOODBURY — High school students having too much homework has always been a complaint. This year, Nonnewaug has found a way to give students more opportunities in school to accomplish homework and meet with teachers.
Along with the new eight-period schedule, administrators have also introduced two new working periods, Tribe and Focus.
“In Tribe, it is really good for AP Calculus students because we have that class the period before, so a lot of us stay for Tribe to try and finish our homework with more help from the teacher,” says Ava Parks.
Along with students having less homework to worry about outside of school, teachers have also found that students are using their time more wisely this year.
“This year with the new schedule, I have found that Tribe and Focus this year have been way more productive for students than flex was last year,” says math teacher Martin Malaspina.
Each of these periods are used differently depending on if you’re an ag student or not.
“I have found that Tribe is a very productive period for me,” says Gabriella DiStefano. “Being in ag, I always need to find time to enter my work hours, and having Tribe, it gives me school time to do so.”
With many students dreading to enter hours, it has become less stressful every week with given time to do so. With students also finding it easier to enter hours, teachers find it very useful for the students.
“Tribe and Focus is a great opportunity for the students to meet with their SAE teacher because SAE is an intricate part of the ag program,” says floriculture teacher Eric Birkenberger. “It’s something that’s been missing the last couple years, we haven’t had time to meet with the kids, so this is a very important period for us to check in with the kids about their hours, new applications, AET, and to make sure they’re up to date on everything.”
Along with using Tribe to enter hours on AET, it is also utilized for juniors and seniors. During these two years, there are many awards you can fill out applications to do. The Tribe period is a great time for students to do that.
“It’s also important for juniors and seniors to be able to fill out proficiency award applications,” says Birkenberger, “and those are based on how their AET computer records are done. Being done properly will help them fill out their proficiency award and other applications.”
While ag students work diligently to get all AET records done during Tribe, many students are in other classrooms planning events and meeting with clubs.
These work periods have also given kids who have been absent time to meet with teachers as well to make up work. Along with students using these periods to get extra help on work they missed or to review material, students also use it as a meeting period.
“For Focus Fridays, we usually meet for Senior Class Council because usually we all aren’t free after school with sports and work,” senior Ava Parks says. “This way we are all able to get together and get everything planned out without having our senior advisors do everything.”
