Gathered around the entrance of the corner store at Coles and Eighth streets Thursday, some students from nearby McNair Academic High School took advantage of a 45-minute lunch period to grab a slice of pizza and socialize with classmates.
Hunched under trees and the store’s awnings to avoid the drizzle, kids talked about their summers, their first day of classes and their expectation for what the school year will bring.
Freshmen expressed excitement at both their new school and classmates, but upperclassmen were concerned about the school’s new rotating block scheduling system, which replaced the previous schedule because of its negative impact on the school’s Advanced Placement [AP] course offerings. Block scheduling involves longer classes, and within Jersey City, it is only being tried at McNair, an academic public high school to which students must apply for admittance.
Last year, the block scheduling program had 80-minute classes, and fewer of them. This year, there are shorter classes – 55 minutes each – but there are more of them because the run on a four-day schedule.
“Last year we were on an 80-minute block with subjects that lasted from September to February and then from February to June,” explained McNair Academic High School Principal Robert Roggenstein last week. “However, that was detrimental to our [Advanced Placement] program because the classes would end in February and the students would [take the AP] test three months later in May. And the students who would start their AP classes in February would take the exam in early May, and the course wouldn’t end until June 26, so they weren’t getting their full instruction. The district has been looking for a way over the past several years to solve that problem. What we came up with is a rotating class schedule.”
The new rotating class schedule – a district-wide pilot program being watched by hired consultants – consists of a four-day cycle, comprised of more classes with shorter durations.
“It’ll take them a bit of time to adjust to the schedule, but it’s not as bad as they make it sound,” Roggenstein added. “But truly, this should be a better way of structuring the courses. The material will be fresh when the exam comes.”
“It was pretty fun. I already knew most of the people from “JumpStart!” In most of my classes I knew people, so I felt at home. It was a lot like my grammar school [West Side’s St. Aloysius School] atmosphere. It was a lot of fun. I got to learn more about people I’m going to have classes with and more about my teachers. So far, it seems like a good choice that I came here.” – Celeste Roque, 14, freshman
“It was interesting. Different from how everything usually is in the school I came from, which was [School] 41. But it was OK, because I knew people coming in from the volleyball team. It was good.” – Shakia Mayer, 14, freshman
“It was really hectic, and some of the classes I didn’t really like. I chose all of them, but the teachers… I actually am [looking forward to the school year, [but only because] I want it to go by faster.” – Crystal Charles, 16, junior
“It was chaotic because we had to all adjust to this new schedule thing. Like sometimes I have an ITV class [where the teacher instructs through a live broadcast from Rutgers University] and the teacher has to be there. I have one of those and I’ve never had one of those before, so it’s a new experience. It’s kind of confusing right now with the new schedule, but yeah, everything’s OK so far.” – Denese Dapito, 15, junior
“It seems much longer than last year, but it’s more fun because we have more classes. And I like to come back and see all my friends.” – Faith Beauchamp, 16, junior
“It was really long, but I liked it. We have to get used to it, because there are too many classes and we’re used to having four classes. So it’s going to take some adjusting.” – Brenda J. Barzola, 16, junior
“It’s a lot of getting used to since we have a new rotating schedule. And it’s a lot of moving around from class to class. There’s a lot of confusion going on, but lunch is the same – it’s still good.” – Manny Algarin, 16, junior
“It was OK, but I don’t like the schedule. I think it’s kind of stupid, but whatever. I don’t mind more classes. The thing is that there’s not enough time. I think block scheduling is better, maybe because I’ve gotten used to it over doing it that way for two years. But that was much better. Eight classes, and the day rotating thing? Watch kids get confused and go to the wrong lunch and blame it on the schedule, right? But it’s OK, though, so far…” – Sabas Castellon, 17, junior
“I liked it. It was alright. I don’t like the new scheduling that much. And I don’t think we should have to carry around so many textbooks.” – David Schkrutz, 16, junior
“I’m not going to bitch about the block stuff. It was fun! I like the girls. The girls is working. The freshman are kind of small. I think they shrink every year. Besides that, it’s cool. It’s not bad. And I like the block scheduling thing…It kind of works for me.” – Anthony Miles, 16, junior