In addition to a new prinicpal Cotter students are adjusting to a new academic schedule this fall. The block schedule of A and B day is now held every Wednesday and Thursday and has established a consistent weekly schedule and dismissal time.
The A/B days class periods are 75 minutes each. The more frequent block periods elicited mixed reactions from students. While the longer periods can be more productive and allow for projects, like science labs, they can also be challenging to sit through longer classes if they are not active. Maintaining focus on one subject for 75 minutes is also a challenge. Students appreciate the extra time in the morning to study or work on homework with the later starting times on Wednesday and Thursday. This schedule also allows for a more consistent faculty meeting time and builds in extra time for students to meet teachers one on one.
Another change is the consistent dismissal time. Getting out at 3:22 every day has reduced the early outs that sometimes happened last year for sports. Parents requested a more consistent schedule and the new schedule, while still a work in progress, seems to be working.