One of the key points under the first goal of CA’s Strategic Plan is to look closely at how we use the time in the school day to ensure it is being utilized most effectively. Our plan calls for investigating scheduling and calendar alternatives in order to attain more effective learning outcomes.

 Throughout the school year, CA has worked with an independent school management and scheduling expert to do just that. Our goal has been to explore optimizing CA’s calendar to better serve student learning and the needs of the academic program. Using the most current brain and learning research and best practices in education, we set out to evaluate how to best serve the academic program, provide flexibility for students and families who endeavor to participate in a variety of activities, and to allow teachers to collaborate and explore their own growth. The result is adjustments in two areas:

The first is a move from a five to a six-day schedule rotation that will ensure that a) students see teachers at a variety of times throughout the day so that any one student’s optimal learning time (morning or afternoon) is spread across all of his or her core subjects and that b) classes that are normally hard hit either due to Monday or Friday holidays or due to sports schedules are spread across the school calendar. Mixed into this schedule are longer blocks of time, depending on division, that allow for collaboration, more in-depth study, more quality time on projects or in laboratories, and in the Upper School, teacher office hours for regularly scheduled meetings with students. The schedule also allows for more club activities during the school day instead of after school.

The second change, which helps to accommodate the first, is a slight expansion of our school day with classes for the coming school year beginning at 8:10 a.m. and ending at 3:30 p.m.

Along with these two major changes, were able to look at the year-long calendar to provide and protect family and holiday time, and important “rally points” and rest periods throughout the school year that allow families and students to maintain the rigorous and demanding pace of the CA calendar.

I began to introduce these important changes to our community outlined in an All-School Parent Association Meeting on March 17. I know not everyone is able to attend these. For a podcast of the meeting, click on the icon at the top of the page. As we get closer to the start of the 2011-2012 year, we will provide more detailed information for you and your child.

I firmly believe that these adjustments will make for a healthier and more sensible environment for our students, and one that addresses the goals outlined in our Strategic Plan, with the intended outcomes of allowing student s the time, energy, and resources to engage in our challenging curricular program.

We continue to forge ahead on numerous other goals in our plan. You’ll find an online version of our plan here www.dpub.us/grindstone/CA/CA-2011.html  with a variety of video segments explaining and updating our work. As you turn the pages, watch for red highlights indicating a video is available for viewing.

As always, I welcome your input and feedback. As well, I will continue to keep you apprised of our progress. I wish you a warm and relaxing Spring Break.

Sincerely,

Mike Davis, Ph.D.

Head of School

Colorado Academy