Counselors tackle scheduling challenges
March 10, 2017
Counselor Doug Taylor works with a student on a class schedule for next year.
In the last weeks, students and counselors have begun the scheduling process, choosing prospective classes and fitting classes together in a new modified 4×4 block schedule. As scheduling begins, students are realizing the difficulties involved with adjusting to a new schedule, showing both concern and hope, while counselors remain optimistic about the process.
Looking forward to next year, counselors Mary Howie and Tonya Luinstra are hopeful. “The majority of my students have been super excited [about the new available electives],” Luinstra said, “The response has been really good.” The schedule includes many new opportunities, but when addressing possible setbacks, Howie doesn’t foresee new concerns. “There is always a group of kids that can never find enough room to take everything they want, and then there are always kids that have a hard time picking what they want to take,” Howie said.
The new schedule provides an opportunity for students to take many new classes, but it also adds an extra element to scheduling. All classes are on either an A/B rotation for a full year or semester long classes; both count for a full credit.
“It’s going to take some time to get used to [the schedule],” said sophomore Alejandro Perez. “It’s going to be a little annoying at first; it’s going to be difficult.”
Those in specific electives, such as the music program, have a unique view point. “I think there is a lot of uncertainty right now,” Mariachi teacher Ramon Rivera said.
Many students have expressed their uneasiness about the change, worrying about being able to keep Mariachi in their schedule. Rivera hopes the new schedule will allow students to remain in their music and arts classes as well as academic electives such as academic intervention and AVID. “[Music] is their life. A lot of the students, this is what they live for. Like band students, they live for it. Choir students, that’s what they live for,” Rivera said.
Differing opinions about the inevitable schedule change have brought about excitement and high hopes, but also apprehension of the unknown. With the new school year steadily approaching, everyone at WHS will ultimately adjust to the change, no matter how chaotic or confusing it might be. “It’s like a big jigsaw puzzle, you just have to jump in and do it,” said Howie.