Ms. Finlay
WHAT IS YOUR POSTION IN THIS SCHOOL?
I am a 6th grader Science teacher
WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THIS SCHOOL?
The bell schedule changed, we don’t have advisory first thing in the morning anymore. We have X-Block. Another thing that changed is
that advisory is in the middle of the day. We have longer days, school starts at 7:45 and now ends at 2:45. A team goes to a different time than B team. And now we have 10 classes instead of 8 classes.
HAS THE NEW BELL SCHEDULE AFFECTED YOU IN ANY WAY?
I feel like I am more rushed and I am running from one spot to another. I can’t keep my curriculum straight, so for example, in the morning I have my P.E class, then I have to rush to my classroom, which is in another room, to get my materials that I then need to take to the library for my prep period, then when that bell goes, I have to run back to my classroom to get my Science class going, then after Science class I have to transition into advisory, and then it’s lunch, then I got back to Science. So I feel like I am running back and forth going all over the place and running all around campus.
DO YOU THINK THE NEW BELL SCHEDULE IS A GOOD IDEA OR A BAD IDEA?
I think the bell schedule is good, however I think the way the classes are positioned, isn’t good. I think we still need to have advisory in the morning, and then period 2, period 3, recess, period 4, lunch, period 5.
HAS THIS AFFECTED YOUR STUDENTS IN ANY WAY?
I think it has affected the students because that are on the upstairs team don’t get to interact as much, with the students on the downstairs team, so if they have friends on the opposite team, they don’t have any classes with them, they also can’t eat lunch with them. Team A goes to lunch at a different time than team B.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD CHANGE?
I think they should have it where team A and Team B can eat lunches together, I think they should get rid of X-Block. Since the original idea of X-Block was to have a remedial reading, or math class. And they did that, because they didn’t want to take away electives from student, Before we only had two electives, and now we have four. I think the X-Block should be taken away, and one of the electives can be turned into X-Block.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
Study Hall. Right now on Wednesdays, each class is supposed to do 7 minutes of study hall, and what I think they need to do is just combine those 7 minutes, and have 1 set of study hall at the end of the day.
Mr. Godsill
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION IN THIS SCHOOL?
I am a vice principal at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School.
As far as our bell schedule, we’ve added time to the day, so based on Act 167, it is requiring secondary schools to lengthen the school day, so this year, we have lengthen the school day so, we’re beginning at 7:45, and students are in class until 2:45. That’s providing us, numerous opportunities, one, it’s in line with Middle School Volocity where we’re a real concern on our part is that we want to make sure we are providing students with opportunities to take elective courses, when we have students who may be taking certain remediation courses, or X-Block, or RTI class, they’re unable to take certain elective courses that their aloud to look a certain interest to seek certain interest, so we really what to make sure students are allowed to have those elective courses and are able to seek out those interest. It’s also provided us an opportunity with a non teaching period for teachers. So, while you guys are in class, teachers in one point of the day, during an A day, or a B day, are working with administration and one another collaterally working to improve their instruction. So that’s what’s really important for us as well. If we can help teachers improve instruction, to improve student learning, that’s a great thing. So, thats also happening within that bell schedule. More electives and the opportunity for teachers to work together with administration to improve instruction.
I think it is an excellent idea. I know often times that change is hard. So initially, change is hard. Whenever you change something, there is going to be a transition period getting used to that. Initially, thats difficult. There are some concerns we are addressing with the change. Such as, how do we work with the bell schedule? For example, with the lengthen days. So that’s something we are really trying to make sure thats something we can accommodate as best as we can, and that is something we are working on. In terms of the added hours, you need to look at the quality v.s quantity. So, one kid may argue, just by having a longer school day, does it necessarily mean that kids are learning more. That’s true, but we feel by lengthening the school day, we’re providing the students with more electives than also coupling that with our collaborative non teaching period where teachers are working together with administration to improve instruction. And we think that’s a great thing. If we can improve instruction and improve student learning than that’s a great thing so it’s something that we are still working through the kinks, but I think it’s a good thing.
It has changed things a little bit, we are all kind of getting used to the way, for example, advisory is no longer in the beginning of the day, now advisory is in the middle of the day, so we’re making sure we’re modering those things, and like I said there are sometimes some consequences that occur because of that. So we’re working with that. Like I mentioned with the non teaching period, for example, with us, it’s allowing us to become more instructional leaders, so we are able to work closer with teachers in a collaborative sense. Helping teachers and working with teachers to provide better instruction in the classroom. Also, when you look at when you look at the change in the bell schedule we’re noticing that because of the way it’s shifting between A and B days, when students, lets say, the B team are at lunch, kids in the A team are at advisory. So something we are noticing is that, more students seem to be given the opportunity to eat lunch, it seems like the energy during recess isn’t quite at intense, so that’s something that’s really nice, it’s alleviating some of the crowds on campus during those recess periods so that seems to be nice. Maybe some of the students feel a little more ease during those times, so that’s something that we are also noticing.
As I mentioned before, change, change is always going to be different. It could be challenging at first, but we’re hoping that in working together, that change would be good. It would be a good one. If students are provided more opportunities to take these elective classes, they can explore certain interest that may lead into, for example, more students are able to take classes like media and more students are able to take certain electives, where they can seek interest, that might open some doors for students later on when they go into high school and perhaps college or into a career. That’s a great thing! As far as the aspects of the bell schedule and some of the things that come with that. There are just some things we’re working with trying to improve as we continue we’re hoping that all and all, the change is good, and I see some good things coming out of that, I think the most important thing is that we continue working together, and we fix what needs to be fixed and things that are working well, continue in that direction. Our goal here is to continue doing our best, so always finding ways we can improve and especially if we can help students learn more, and raise the bar, so all students are achieved, their potential. I would definitely see as something successful, Here at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School.
Kevin Peterson
Do you like the new bell schedule?
No I do not like the new bell schedule because the classes. They added more classes and that’s just not helping kids, I just think really irritating, don't want to do good because they get home later and they don't have free time and stuff
Is this better or worst? Why?
I think it is worst, because the kids get home later they and theres just a extra class and kids don't want to go to it
How does this affect you?
This affects me because now I used to get home at 3:30 but now I getting home at 4:15 and then I get home get ready for soccer go practice and then come home and its like super late then I have to do my homework then go to bed
If you can change the bell schedule what would you do to it? Why?
I would put it back to the way before, because Team A, and Team B can’t eat lunch together and they just added another period and made the day super long and it just sucks
What has changed in this school?
This school has changed it where start at 7:45 now we go for, we,they added another period,they added, put advisory in the middle of the day while the other team is eating lunch and then we switch and then we go and have more, lot of classes
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The new bus schedules it's really annoying because they put C-11 and C-12 together so its super crowded on the one bus that we have and its…. And then I get home late.
WHAT IS YOUR POSTION IN THIS SCHOOL?
I am a 6th grader Science teacher
WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THIS SCHOOL?
The bell schedule changed, we don’t have advisory first thing in the morning anymore. We have X-Block. Another thing that changed is
that advisory is in the middle of the day. We have longer days, school starts at 7:45 and now ends at 2:45. A team goes to a different time than B team. And now we have 10 classes instead of 8 classes.
HAS THE NEW BELL SCHEDULE AFFECTED YOU IN ANY WAY?
I feel like I am more rushed and I am running from one spot to another. I can’t keep my curriculum straight, so for example, in the morning I have my P.E class, then I have to rush to my classroom, which is in another room, to get my materials that I then need to take to the library for my prep period, then when that bell goes, I have to run back to my classroom to get my Science class going, then after Science class I have to transition into advisory, and then it’s lunch, then I got back to Science. So I feel like I am running back and forth going all over the place and running all around campus.
DO YOU THINK THE NEW BELL SCHEDULE IS A GOOD IDEA OR A BAD IDEA?
I think the bell schedule is good, however I think the way the classes are positioned, isn’t good. I think we still need to have advisory in the morning, and then period 2, period 3, recess, period 4, lunch, period 5.
HAS THIS AFFECTED YOUR STUDENTS IN ANY WAY?
I think it has affected the students because that are on the upstairs team don’t get to interact as much, with the students on the downstairs team, so if they have friends on the opposite team, they don’t have any classes with them, they also can’t eat lunch with them. Team A goes to lunch at a different time than team B.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD CHANGE?
I think they should have it where team A and Team B can eat lunches together, I think they should get rid of X-Block. Since the original idea of X-Block was to have a remedial reading, or math class. And they did that, because they didn’t want to take away electives from student, Before we only had two electives, and now we have four. I think the X-Block should be taken away, and one of the electives can be turned into X-Block.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
Study Hall. Right now on Wednesdays, each class is supposed to do 7 minutes of study hall, and what I think they need to do is just combine those 7 minutes, and have 1 set of study hall at the end of the day.
Mr. Godsill
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION IN THIS SCHOOL?
I am a vice principal at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School.
As far as our bell schedule, we’ve added time to the day, so based on Act 167, it is requiring secondary schools to lengthen the school day, so this year, we have lengthen the school day so, we’re beginning at 7:45, and students are in class until 2:45. That’s providing us, numerous opportunities, one, it’s in line with Middle School Volocity where we’re a real concern on our part is that we want to make sure we are providing students with opportunities to take elective courses, when we have students who may be taking certain remediation courses, or X-Block, or RTI class, they’re unable to take certain elective courses that their aloud to look a certain interest to seek certain interest, so we really what to make sure students are allowed to have those elective courses and are able to seek out those interest. It’s also provided us an opportunity with a non teaching period for teachers. So, while you guys are in class, teachers in one point of the day, during an A day, or a B day, are working with administration and one another collaterally working to improve their instruction. So that’s what’s really important for us as well. If we can help teachers improve instruction, to improve student learning, that’s a great thing. So, thats also happening within that bell schedule. More electives and the opportunity for teachers to work together with administration to improve instruction.
I think it is an excellent idea. I know often times that change is hard. So initially, change is hard. Whenever you change something, there is going to be a transition period getting used to that. Initially, thats difficult. There are some concerns we are addressing with the change. Such as, how do we work with the bell schedule? For example, with the lengthen days. So that’s something we are really trying to make sure thats something we can accommodate as best as we can, and that is something we are working on. In terms of the added hours, you need to look at the quality v.s quantity. So, one kid may argue, just by having a longer school day, does it necessarily mean that kids are learning more. That’s true, but we feel by lengthening the school day, we’re providing the students with more electives than also coupling that with our collaborative non teaching period where teachers are working together with administration to improve instruction. And we think that’s a great thing. If we can improve instruction and improve student learning than that’s a great thing so it’s something that we are still working through the kinks, but I think it’s a good thing.
It has changed things a little bit, we are all kind of getting used to the way, for example, advisory is no longer in the beginning of the day, now advisory is in the middle of the day, so we’re making sure we’re modering those things, and like I said there are sometimes some consequences that occur because of that. So we’re working with that. Like I mentioned with the non teaching period, for example, with us, it’s allowing us to become more instructional leaders, so we are able to work closer with teachers in a collaborative sense. Helping teachers and working with teachers to provide better instruction in the classroom. Also, when you look at when you look at the change in the bell schedule we’re noticing that because of the way it’s shifting between A and B days, when students, lets say, the B team are at lunch, kids in the A team are at advisory. So something we are noticing is that, more students seem to be given the opportunity to eat lunch, it seems like the energy during recess isn’t quite at intense, so that’s something that’s really nice, it’s alleviating some of the crowds on campus during those recess periods so that seems to be nice. Maybe some of the students feel a little more ease during those times, so that’s something that we are also noticing.
As I mentioned before, change, change is always going to be different. It could be challenging at first, but we’re hoping that in working together, that change would be good. It would be a good one. If students are provided more opportunities to take these elective classes, they can explore certain interest that may lead into, for example, more students are able to take classes like media and more students are able to take certain electives, where they can seek interest, that might open some doors for students later on when they go into high school and perhaps college or into a career. That’s a great thing! As far as the aspects of the bell schedule and some of the things that come with that. There are just some things we’re working with trying to improve as we continue we’re hoping that all and all, the change is good, and I see some good things coming out of that, I think the most important thing is that we continue working together, and we fix what needs to be fixed and things that are working well, continue in that direction. Our goal here is to continue doing our best, so always finding ways we can improve and especially if we can help students learn more, and raise the bar, so all students are achieved, their potential. I would definitely see as something successful, Here at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School.
Kevin Peterson
Do you like the new bell schedule?
No I do not like the new bell schedule because the classes. They added more classes and that’s just not helping kids, I just think really irritating, don't want to do good because they get home later and they don't have free time and stuff
Is this better or worst? Why?
I think it is worst, because the kids get home later they and theres just a extra class and kids don't want to go to it
How does this affect you?
This affects me because now I used to get home at 3:30 but now I getting home at 4:15 and then I get home get ready for soccer go practice and then come home and its like super late then I have to do my homework then go to bed
If you can change the bell schedule what would you do to it? Why?
I would put it back to the way before, because Team A, and Team B can’t eat lunch together and they just added another period and made the day super long and it just sucks
What has changed in this school?
This school has changed it where start at 7:45 now we go for, we,they added another period,they added, put advisory in the middle of the day while the other team is eating lunch and then we switch and then we go and have more, lot of classes
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The new bus schedules it's really annoying because they put C-11 and C-12 together so its super crowded on the one bus that we have and its…. And then I get home late.
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