The last two school years have been confusing and somewhat hectic, to say the least. As we immerge from a time of great fear caused by the global pandemic, Bellarmine is trying to create a schedule that allows for connections in our community and our academic and athletic goals. Changes to our schedule, like Flex and Community Time, as well as the 8-day rotation system, have been created for our benefit, but what exactly are these new aspects and changes to our weekly agenda doing to enhance our experience here at Bell?
Flex Time is a new portion of the schedule that will occur in the last hour of school on Mondays and Wednesdays. Students are encouraged to use this time to their benefit, whether that is starting homework, studying, asking teacher’s questions, making up for work left undone, or even just eating a snack before afterschool activities begin. With proper use of this time, students can ease their stresses by lightening their workload, allowing them to spend more time pursuing a hobby, sport, or pastime.
Community Time has a different but equally important goal in mind. Every Tuesday and Thursday, students will have 50 minutes set aside after the first two periods of the day. This time can be spent participating in club meetings, intramurals, team meetings, affinity groups, just hanging out with friends, or even visiting colleges! This time is focused on allowing you to connect with fellow students and the community that you have been accepted into. The only rule: no phones. This disconnect from our devices allows us to become immersed in the amazing community that Bellarmine has become.
The 8-day rotation system may sound convoluted, but in reality, it is being put into practice for our benefit. The rotation determines which class you will start with on each day. On day 1, you will have periods 1, 3, 5, and 7 in that order. On the next day, day 2, you will have periods 2, 4, 6, and 8 in that order. On the day after that, you will have periods 3, 5, 7, and 1 in that order. We still have even and odd period days, the order in which we have classes is the only difference. For instance, on day 5, start with period 5, then 7, 1, and 3. This system creates a unique feeling for each day along with keeping us on our toes. While it may be confusing, students will always be able to confer with friends, teachers, counselors, or their agendas to ensure that they do not miss any classes.
All in all, the new schedule focuses on both academic achievement and extracurriculars allows the student body to enjoy their year at Bellarmine. While it may seem confusing at first, you will always have resources available to tell you where you need to be and when. As we begin our return to normalcy, we will become closer with our fellow Bells in our mutual goals for group success.