Late Start Prototype
Dear Community Stakeholders:
Lakin High School has been going through the Redesign process all school year, “prototyping” several projects, with varying degrees of success. Many interest groups have given students ways to express their talents we were not providing before. I have seen some amazing projects completed on “block days” that were not attempted before due to lack of time to complete them in one class period.
Here is another upcoming prototype. For two weeks in April, we are going to attempt a “later start,” an idea that came from the students earlier this school year. Not only did many of our students want to try it, but research has shown teenagers would be much more productive with a later start to the school day than 8:00 a.m.
Staff discussed the possibility of trying a later start several times this school year. Recently, when the topic arose again, we approached it with the attitude of looking for reasons to try it rather than avoid it. We designed a plan and presented it to the students on March 18, and students got to vote. With a 60% in favor of the trial, we decided to move forward.
The plan is to try a late start the weeks of April 8th and April 15th. During those two weeks, every LHS school day will begin at 8:35 a.m. and end at 4:05 p.m. The only change to the day (besides the time) is advisory/interest groups will move from the beginning of the day to the end of the day.
We will make some accommodations during this pilot. Since the grade school and middle school will not be starting later, the buses will run at normal times. Therefore, our normal bus riders will still attend from 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. They will report to the office at 8:00 to complete their advisory activities and be dismissed at 3:30 to ride the bus back home.
As with all change, we realize there will probably be some bumps in the road. We will do our best to minimize those and make this beneficial to all involved. I am looking forward to seeing if a later start affects student attitudes, behavior, engagement, attendance, and tardiness.
THE LATE START IS FOR LAKIN HIGH SCHOOL ONLY!
As always, if you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Shawn Michaelis, Principal
Lakin High School