Is time on our side? The relative nature of time can be maddening. When things are slow, we kill time. When things go well, time flies. We are always trying to save time, although we cannot and that is disconcerting as time is our most precious commodity - human life. In school, time is the allocated segments we assign to activities. One-hundred and seventy-five days, fifty-minute class periods, five-minute times to change classes, 30 minutes for lunch. Within those time allocations, many variables impact the quality of the time assigned. Student choices for courses, teacher choices of activity, student attention during the activity, management of the time assigned. According to Loren Anderson's book, Time and Learning, "Productive learning time depends on the activities in place and student attentiveness." Mere allocation of more time is not a game-changer for student achievement, however, it is a positive factor in every study and it is the initial process of developing optimal student learning. But to maximize this additional time, or even the time presently allocated, means that teachers select the best methods to reduce the time needed to learn and that students become more responsible in remaining engaged during the time they have been given to learn. Parents become a key player in assisting students to understand the gift of time they have been given and the importance of using that time wisely. If teachers improve their use of time, by selecting the best instructional path with continual use of evaluation and self-reflection to adapt to the students' needs; along with students who remain on-task because of personal conviction that is supported by parental influence to do their very best to stay engaged, incredible gains are made in student learning. The engagement of students, as revealed by Jennifer Fredericks and her colleagues in a 2004 article in The Journal of Educational Research, is a function of time, teacher, student, peers and parents. So, what does all this time-talk have to do with Harrisburg High School? There is a process, that takes, you guessed it...time. Beginning with system analysis and changes of how time is allocated. M. A. Prater (2004) found that up to 50 percent of a school day can be spent in non-instructional activities. Yes, some of those are necessities, lunch, transitions between classes. But taking a Harrisburg School day, from 8:05-2:55 and subtracting lunch and transitions, we still have 305 minutes of the day, or 75 percent of our day for possible instruction. If we are only at around fifty percent, almost a quarter of our time is being wasted. What can we do? The first step is to examine the day, can we find more than 305 minutes? I think we can. And as stated above, even a change in the time allocated for instruction can be a positive. In the coming weeks, I will be proposing a different schedule for second semester that may allow for a better use of the time available to staff and students. A model that can create the opportunity for further student engagement, teacher interaction, less waste. However, just finding more time is not enough. At the same time, we must be focused on those teacher interventions and methods that can engage students to the fullest, while holding students and parents accountable for making the most of the opportunities presented to achieve. Two of those ideas have already been put in place in the "Extra Help" sessions and the SSR book reviews. Extra Help tries to replace time lost, SSR tries to assist in furthering cognitive skills by focused reading. As we continue these program, adjustments will be made to further expectations for our students. This past week, I have received several emails with questions about changes in the schedule. Particularly, the loss of study halls. At this time, we have 27 study halls, with 373 students enrolled. That is 18,650 school minutes of non-instructional time per day. Yes, the case can be made that if students are engaged in homework, it is instructional time. That is the responsibility of the student and study hall supervisors. However, study hall supervisors, generally try to maintain the environment, they rarely have the expertise to assist in instruction or monitor exactly, as they would in a class of their own, the amount or quality of student learning occurring. Even the most closely regulated study halls, according to Jay Monahan in his 2005 study, result in even "30 percent student engagement in activities of learning growth." So let' say we are achieving the top level of 30 percent, that still means on average a student is missing out on another 35 minutes of possible instructional time each day, 175 minutes per week, or about 105 HOURS of possible growth per year or about 15 full school days of loss. 415 HOURS of time in a high school career, or 45 full school days, one entire school quarter. If we could focus this study time on real engagement, it would be worthwhile. At this time, I can say with certainty, it is not. So, one proposal will be to establish a common study hall time, whereby students can visit with teachers who have expertise in the area of their study and receive positive assistance. We can do this. Our SSR time is positive and will continue to be positive. However, it does take 35 minutes per day(Thurs. and Fri.) and 70 minutes per week away from instructional time. We can fix the schedule to serve both by shortening some transition time. Finally, teachers have very little time to explore new techniques and methods of student engagement with their colleagues. We can give teachers time to dialogue and learn from each other as part of their professional development by pinpointing skills they can cultivate to increase student attentiveness and motivation. More time for students to be engaged, more time for students to get real help from those who can help, more time for instructors to become better at engaging students. This we can do and will. Time IS on our side....if we use it properly.
Anonymously, our staff of school custodians, reliably and efficiently and with great pride, maintain our facilities. Parents have to pick up after kids, these guys really know what that means, picking up after over 460 kids and 75 staff each day. They do it with a smile, with great attentiveness to duty and with the self-respect and satisfaction of a job done well. But they are more than that to our school. Tuesday, our volleyball team entertained the team from Madison. A great match with fans from both sides enjoying all that is high school athletics. However, one mom from Madison, despite enjoying the evening, did not have a great night. Prior to coming to the match, she had stopped at her bank's ATM, and withdrew 100 dollars. After paying her five dollar admission, somewhere along the way she had lost the balance of her with drawl. After re-tracing steps of the evening, she had lost hope it would be found and certainly not returned. Mr. Larry Henrikson, firefighter, custodian, Harrisburg community member, was cleaning up when he found a bank envelope, containing $95. Never thinking of anything else - he turned it in to Mrs. Bicknase the next morning. Mrs. Bicknase was able to contact a school board member who worked at the bank of the with drawl and since the with drawl slip was still in the envelope, able to track down the mom who lost the money. Needless to say, she was stunned this had been returned. Yes, because we have such terrific people in Harrisburg, perhaps this is not an uncommon story. I believe the majority of our community would have done the same. But Mr. Henrikson deserves to be singled out for this act. He is representative of who we are and a symbol to our guests from Madison. When you see Mr. Henrikson around, doing the duty of making our school sparkle, extend your hand in thanks. He will say he just did what was right, but honesty like this makes all of us a little better. He already makes our school brighter and nicer with his labor every day, he just made our world brighter and nicer with this act of integrity. Way to go Mr. Henrikson.
"Cinderella with the Commedia Players" will be presented by the HHS drama department led by Mr. Mike Smith Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week in the high school Little Theater. Hope everyone can attend, see the announcements for show times.
Extra help sessions began this past week with a modicum of success. The first list of those needing assistance revealed 54 students with 104 poor grades. On Friday, that list had been trimmed to 19 students and 32 poor grades. Students who have these poor grades are obligated to stay after school for one-half hour and meet with teachers to try to improve. Those who do not meet this obligation are asked to attend Saturday School. Should this obligation not be met, parents are called and students receive ISS to help them focus on their deficiencies. I will keep you updated on the progress. We will not let students fail.
Ssr reviews also achieved some success. Students who completed reviews receive "merit cards" if they have met advisor expectations. The merit cards can be used for assignment points, Tiger Den discounts, privileges, etc.
Tap(Teacher Advisor Program) groups will begin using the Career Cruising program this week to examine possible career choices. This computer program that is free to all South Dakota students connects interests and abilities with careers, post-secondary opportunities and personal learning plans for pathways to future success. Parents can have access on-line to take a look at student progress in the program. If you would like a parent password and username, simply email Mr. Schmidt or Mrs. Kooima.
Medications can be taken at school, but should be registered with the school nurse, Mrs. Diane Holland. If your son or daughter must have prescribed medication during the school day, please inform Mrs. Holland. You will be asked to complete a brief form and depending on the medication and age of the student, a procedure for distributing the medication will be followed. Should a staff member notice medication being taken at any time without permission, no matter the medication, they are to confiscate and report. With the increasing incidence of teen use of prescription drugs outside the designed use, our vigilance in monitoring any medication consumption is important for the safety of all students.
Dakota Step scores for ninth graders and seniors were mailed last week. Mid-term grades were posted to the parent portal on Thursday. Please check these and call or write with any questions.
Parent/Principal Connection will have the first meeting on Wednesday evening at 7:00 in the high school commons. There is no agenda, just a question, answer and comment informal forum I hope you can attend. You will have to forgive me of scheduling on church night and I will try to move it around during the year. The meeting will last until 8:00.
Homecoming is on its way!! Coronation is the 4th at 8:00. The student council, as always, has many great activities planned. The parade route has been set for Friday at 1:30. Likely the best place to watch will be the open field on Harvest Lane, just north of the Middle School. But the route should offer plenty of places to view. The parade will begin and end at the Middle School parking lot. A pep rally will be held after the parade concludes. The map of the parade route is on the top right of this page. Larger map on bottom of this blog.
Cell phones have suddenly been going off this past week in class. The privileges extended to students to use them between classes and at lunch may become extinct should this rash of discourtesy to teachers continue. By week, the numbers: Week one - 0 cell phone violations, Week two - 1 violation, Week three - 0 violations, Week four - 3 violations, Week 5 - 10 violations. If this escalation continues of interrupting class with the devices, the privileges will cease. On a brighter note, I have had only one repeat offender. When a student has two violations the parent must come to the school to retrieve the phone.
Severe weather required that we hold students on Tuesday last week for an extra few minutes. The procedure we will always follow is to keep students at school until the threat has passed. Fall tornadoes, though rare, could still occur.
Our early release on Wednesday this week will focus on Professional Learning Communities(PLC's). Dr. Debra Debates of SDSU will be leading our in-service. The PLC's are an effort to use school-based skills and talents for school improvement. Small groups of teachers will consistently meet with a definitive process of communication to enhance instruction and school environment. The follow-up to this in-service will take place October 12th at the all-day in-service.
Events this week at Harrisburg High:
Monday - Boys Golf Region at Elk Point - 9:00 AM
Cross Country at Hartford - 4:00 PM
JV Football - home vs. Brookings - 4:30
Tuesday - Volleyball at Tea - 5:00
Pre-liminary Extra Help list created - noon
Wednesday - All-Staff meeting - 7:15 AM - Large Theater
Extra Help list confirmed - noon
Early Release - 1:05
Parent/Principal Connection - 7:00 PM - Commons
Thursday - Extra Help Session - 3:00-3:30
TAP and SSR - 2:30
9th Football at West Lyon - 4:30
Volleyball at Beresford - 5:00
Cinderella - Little Theater
Friday - Marching Band at Chester - 10:00 AM
Extra Help session - 3:00-3:30
TAP and SSR - 2:30
Cross Country at Lennox - 4:00
Football at Madison - 7:00
Saturday - Saturday School - 8:00-11:00
Marching Band at Sioux Falls - 9:00 AM
Sunday - FCCLA Leadership retreat at Rapid City
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