Schedule switch-up

Written by Bailey Eason, Staff Writer

The administration is taking a stand to raise up students’ test scores. To accomplish this, the daily schedule is getting changed up a bit.

February 1st is the beginning of a new schedule for AHS. In order to better help the students and to improve test scores the administration has decided to add a mandatory tutorial period from 7:50 to 8:15. The tutorial period will only be Monday-Thursday, and Friday will be a normal day starting at 8:00.

The tutorial sessions will be assigned to students who are behind, struggling or missing work. The main focus for the tutorials are to improve math and science, but if a student does not require help in these two classes any teacher may assign tutorials to a student. The sessions are to help students improve their scores and to help encourage students to take an interest in their academics. For those students who are not required to attend the sessions there is an extra 25 minutes of sleep added to your day.

AHS principal Rick Howell hopes that by adding the tutorials as a part of the school day then more students will show up, because it is either they come or be truant. He wants students to take advantage of their opportunities here at AHS.

“We want more people learning what they are supposed to be learning so they can be successful in earning credits and passing state tests,” Mr. Howell said.

Rumors have been that everyday is going to be changed to a Friday schedule. This is not the case; the changes are actually relatively minor. The first alteration is that the beginning of the day for those who do not have tutorials is at 8:20. Also the block scheduled classes are 5 minutes shorter. Lunch will also start 15 minutes later, but the period will last for the same amount of time. To end it off the school day will end at 3:40 instead of the prior 3:30.

If students are assigned tutorials you must be there on time. If you are tardy, you are truant. After the second truancy a student will be assigned Saturday school, and the third will result in a ticket issued. Each six weeks each student will receive one freebie, before they start to count against the student. The classroom doors will be shut when the tardy bell rings.

“Tutorials are not a punishment. It’s a chance to get the help you need so you don’t fall farther and farther behind,” Mr. Howell said.