The bell rings and students are all in their seats. Fifteen minutes, thirty minutes, an hour, an hour and a half passes, and yet they are still in the same class. Instead of the fifty-three minute classes Manzano students are used to, 102 minute classes have taken their place.
Manzano, along with other APS high schools, has installed a new block schedule. APS, in hopes of helping more students graduate, has issued the traditional high schools with a new block schedule. This schedule involves seven periods.
Students go to their first, third, fifth, and seventh periods on “A” schedule days, their second, fourth, fifth, and sixth periods on “B” schedule days, and on “C” schedule days they go to all seven of their classes. Some students have found the schedule confusing and problematic. “It’s strange to have first, third, and seventh every other day, but fifth every day. Fridays are confusing,” said James Johnston, a sophomore at Manzano High School.
From extra homework to long confusing lectures, students have definitely noticed difficulties that the new schedule brings. One of those disadvantages is that students are having trouble communicating with their teachers, “There is not as much one-on-one time with your teachers,” said Jason Kitting, a senior at Manzano High School.
During the teacher’s lectures students have started to get restless from the constant sitting. Teachers are finding it hard to fill the time they are given. Adri Garcia, a junior at Manzano, said her least favorite part of the new schedule is, “The thirty minutes spent staring at the wall after the lesson is over.”
The teachers also have to plan for the extra day students are given to complete their homework. However, if every teacher gives out extra homework to accommodate for the next day, students find themselves overwhelmed.
Some students have found that if they are absent one day they have trouble catching up on the class room work. “Teachers don’t seem to like it if you’re absent,” explained Katie Page, a junior at Manzano, “It’s really hard to get caught up because you have more make-up work, and you don’t see your teachers every day.”
In the end, there is one question. Will the new block schedule help the students like it is intended, or will it do the opposite and just continue to confuse them? Only time will tell.
[ home | to top ] October 2009. Article by Ashley Day.
Catching the ball, running down the court, and making the goal, but it’s not enough to get the credits for gym. Imagine working hard in your sport and still having to complete a year of physical education. Well, that’s the ruling here on the Manzano campus.
The rules say that athletes may not participate in their athletic class until their gym credit is fulfilled. This rule leaves freshman with no choice but to be the odd man out when it comes to athletics. Freshman Delaney Tucker says, "The rule doesn't make sense to me. If some athletes work all year and sometimes all summer long at a sport, it should easily be accounted as one little year of P.E."
So is it fair that freshmen are missing out on time with their team?
"Without my Majestix class I don't have time to get to know my team better and I have to figure out everything last minute, and that puts me under a lot of stress," adds Delaney. Now that Manzano is on a block schedule, classes are longer which means many athletics are using that time for practice, and in turn, freshmen are missing out on practice time. "Taking gym has affected me because I kind of think it’s pointless, and it really doesn't keep us that fit. Not taking the football class is not making me better in football, and I could become a better player if I could take the class," says Skyler Walker.
Some believe the ruling isn’t fair. You work almost twice as hard as you do in your sport than in gym class, and yet you still need to take gym in order to graduate. Not only is excluding freshmen from athletic classes unfair, they cannot improve if they are not given the time to work on their flaws.
[ home | to top ] October 2009.
Boo! It's the scariest holiday of the year, and for many students, their favorite holiday! It's Halloween, and kids are picking out masks and costumes. However, at Manzano High School, students may have a little more to worry about than just ghosts and monsters.
Halloween for many teens is about expressing themselves and having a blast. They think it's the one day of the year they can go all out and just be free. At MHS costumes are allowed on Halloween day if in dress code.
The dress code policy states that all shirt sleeves must have two inches length and skirts and shorts need to be fist length. Also, there is no excessive bagging or showing skin. The same rules apply to Halloween including no masks or weapons.
But have some students abused the fun day and the Halloween spirit? Most facility members agree that students take advantage of the freedom they’re given. “I think the costume policy is too lenient,” explains Mr. Lebsack, “because some of the outfits seen are about getting the wrong kind of attention.” They believe some costumes are about dressing provocative and showing off your body.
Students believe that dressing up on Halloween is their right to freedom of expression. They say Halloween is about getting dressed up and having fun. “It's Halloween and it's the one day of the year we can dress up and be crazy,” expresses Heather Vandergriff, 12.
While students are not fighting the policy, some believe some of the code could be different. Most students agree that masks and fake weapons should be allowed on Halloween. “I disagree with the no weapons rule,” said Mari Ramirez, 11. “As long as they're fake, what harm can they do?”
As it proves year after year at MHS, students don't like some of the rules. Many facility members and students agree many students break the rules. Wearing provocative costumes, masks, and carrying fake weapons. The big question remains, what do we do about the rule breakers? Many teachers think the best solution is ban costumes from school, but other administrators say it’s not good to prevent kids from expressing themselves.
Students and teachers may never agree on the policy, but one thing is for sure. Halloween is a time to have fun but to also stay safe.