Mantua – At their last meeting, Crestwood High School Principal Dave McMahon reviewed the CHS course selection and block scheduling process. McMahon acknowledged that the process began last year in a staff meeting, when he posed several questions to CHS staff. He asked staff to consider who Crestwood is and what the school should be known for. Lastly, the group discussed suggestions on what can be done to influence students and families to remain at Crestwood. From those initial meetings, several new ideas took root.
The first idea involves implementing a block schedule to essentially double the length of instruction time during a given school day. McMahon noted that during a standard 45-minute class, hands-on-instruction time is minimal. With block-scheduling, he noted, “we’re elongating the chunk of time during the lesson that the student has an opportunity to demonstrate their mastery.” He further explained that the lengthier lesson time gives students more time with teachers to demonstrate that they understand the materials instead of requiring students spend more time at home trying to comprehend class materials without their teachers.
An added benefit to the new schedule, according to McMahon, is the mental health aspect. He noted that students wouldn’t have that ‘rushed feeling’ of attending seven – eight classes per day, with homework each evening. By reducing the number of classes each day to a maximum of four classes to be held on either Monday & Wednesday or on Tuesday & Thursday, McMahon notes they hope to remove the ‘rat race’ and improve student/teacher time. He noted that Friday would include the typical eight-class periods, but could be adjusted to allow for flexibility if Monday classes were cancelled due to holidays or calamity days.
The new schedule would mean less homework for students, since more work could be completed during extended class times with teachers. In addition, according to McMahon, the new schedule would add to students flexibility in scheduling electives — something that has been an issue in the past. He provided an example of a band student (his son), whose previous schedule would not allow the flexibility to take certain electives, including a foreign language. The new schedule allows more students increased flexibility to take not only foreign languages, but other new offerings including specialized physical education classes, additional music classes, and receive credit for Color Guard and Jazz Band, the later of which has been offered solely as an after school activity in the past. CHS plans to increase their College Credit Plus (CCP) offerings from the five currently offered to nineteen classes offered next year. Classes will be offered through Hiram College via CHS staff accreditation as well as online classes through Ashland University.
According to McMahon, CHS will also implement ‘Flex Friday’ activities, two afternoons per quarter, which they hope will improve student and teacher relationships. Through this program, teachers will offer instruction in some of their passions — activities and projects like IT, gardening, canning, and a variety of hobbies. Students will have the opportunity to sign up to participate in activities that interest them, giving them access to things they may not normally have access to.
The new school year will also include a brand new Internship program headed by CHS teacher Dave Wrobel. In its first year, the program will provide 12-20 juniors and seniors with the opportunity to delve into topics and areas that interest them, both at CHS and, hopefully, within the local community. The program would enable participating students the opportunity to learn more about a field or occupation that interests them; CHS will be meeting with local businesses during Spring Break in order to garner local business participation. It’s modeled after a similar program implemented at Trinity High School in Garfield Heights, where Wrobel’s daughter currently attends. The program’s focus won’t be in job placement, but in providing career experience for students.
While staff and administrators began the process of investigating ways to improve students’ experience at Crestwood High School, they quickly understood the need to include students in the process as well. High School senior Maddie Simmons was challenged with helping develop student surveys and conduct interviews to gather thoughts, ideas, and feedback from her fellow CHS students. One result of this feedback includes the renovation of several obsolete former computer labs, which will be transformed into a CCP student work area and a dedicated Maker Space area. Plans also include building enhancements, like banners, murals, and hallway painting by CHS art classes. Simmons noted that her peers appreciated the opportunity to give input, and that their ideas are actually listened to. She shared a particular student’s comment, who was thrilled to be asked for suggestions of what would best meet their needs, instead of just implementing “what adults think we want.” McMahon notes that the new changes help demonstrate Crestwood High School’s ‘healthy approach to the future.”
The next regularly scheduled School Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 10th at 7 pm at Crestwood Primary School.
