WOODBURY – As the new school year nears its first full month of classes, NHS’ collective campus is adjusting to new changes, though one change in particular has the attention of students and staff alike: Wednesday’s modified PL schedule. The new professional learning (PL) schedule has some students and staff in a state of adjustment while some enjoy the change.
“As time goes on with us going back and forth from one week to the next our circadian rhythms will adjust,” said Declan Curtin, Nonnewaug’s Assistant Principal. “Which is a term where you get used to the cycle of schedules will be there and right now we are not there but we will be.”
A new schedule always takes some time to adjust.
“Research shows that more extensive time in a learning culture is better than shorter periods,” Curtin added. “Thus the decision is to go twice a month longer. We believe that it will improve the academic culture.”
The overall goal is to see improvement in test scores and the learning environment, benefiting teachers with having a longer professional learning period.
“I don’t think it will affect my work life too much because regardless, I’m usually leaving here around the same time.” said integrated science teacher and boys soccer coach Joshua Kornblut.
Kornblut, also being a coach, reiterates the struggles with the schedule and how it causes him to leave early for away games.
“During the fall I have coaching, so I may have to leave a little early at times for away games,” Kornblut added. “Having it that some Wednesdays we get out earlier that will make it so that I miss less class time during soccer which is a positive because I don’t want to miss any class time.”
With many faculty members also serving as coaches and club advisors, the new schedule helps to create balance. For students, however, this schedule does sometimes create inconsistencies.
“Sometimes I’ll go get some food [before a Wednesday practice or a game],” said Max Nichols, a junior on the boys soccer team. “Other days I might stick around and do homework. But it’s inconsistent, which is annoying because I never know what I want to do in the short amount of time.”
Regardless of student or staff member, the new Wednesday schedule will create some growing pains.
“It’s going to take some time to get used to,” said Curtin of this year’s changes. “However, we have often learned that with life, with change will come progress.”
