Dear friends, colleagues, and co-workers,
Please do not be offended by this journal entry. It truly is just a journal entry and I just want to have as honest disclosure without damning anyone. If it does offend, I apologize in advance and know that I have respect for all of you whether you see me as a friend, a professional colleague or just a co-worker. Here goes a wall of text.
1. THE TENTATIVE MATRIX
2. WAIT, WHY CAN'T A TEACHER TEACH 7TH AND 8TH GRADE?
3. WHAT'S THE HOLD UP? WHY DON'T WE HAVE OUR ROSTERS YET?
4. IT'S BEEN A TOUGH SUMMER.
5. WHAT DO I TELL STUDENTS?
===1. THE TENTATIVE MATRIX===
Please keep in mind that the Matrix I sent you is a tentative Matrix. I actually sent it to you guys by mistake. I meant for "six" to check it and look it over but I accidentally sent it to everyone. It turns out to be a good mistake as both Jeff and Sookyoung caught two errors that I didn't catch.
I have resolved the errors by moving some classes, adding a Geometry class and so forth. I will be relooking at it to make sure that there is glance that there is enough classes to put them in.
===2. WAIT, WHY CAN'T A TEACHER TEACH 7TH AND 8TH GRADE?===
Some have asked why the 7th grade teacher cannot also be the 8th grade teacher. Unfortunately, I am balancing the needs of everyone with the students in mind first.
A) STUDENT NEEDS:
Students should have classes in every period. Having the the 7th grade teachers teach 8th grade leaves a hole in 1/3rd of the 7th graders schedule. They either will not have a PE class or Elective. And yes, they need PE or Elective. And no, it is not okay to just leave students with a hole in their schedules.
B) TEACHER FEEDBACK FROM LAST YEAR:
B1) One of the concerns raised last year was that students could not move classes because of being locked in to a schedule because of either foreign language, PE or Elective. One of the solutions this year was to put P.E., and Electives (and Foreign Language) all together in two periods (three in 10th) so that there would be mobility in the Core-classes.
B2) By taking Foreign Language, PE, and Electives out of the equation, we would be able to balance numbers much more easily.
B3) By taking Foreign Language, PE, and Electives out of the equation, we would be able to split up students who might not work well together.
B4) By taking Foreign Language, PE, and Electives out of the equation, we could core or cohort grades 6 through 9. Grades 10 through 12 is a bit harder because of all the different electives offered.
B5) Teachers asked if P.E. classes could be put in the afternoon. Yes. I did just that plus I need to put them there too because seniors need either Foreign Language or Electives in the later after noon.
C) OUR SCHEDULE IS A PUZZLE THAT CAN ONLY FIT A CERTAIN WAY:
We don't have the luxury that a big comprehensive high school has which is to offer a myriad of classes such that every single period has every single class imaginable. We just don't have that design. There is only so many ways you can piece this puzzle together. I have gone over countless times how to build a matrix that will accommodate everyone's wants and I have not been able to make a round square.
D) BUT THE OTHER SCHOOLS WERE ABLE TO DO IT?
I don't know how many in each grade level they have and what exactly their program looks like so I don't know what to say to that than "wow, I am envious.". They haven't been around all summer for me to look at their matrix so I really cannot give you an answer as to how they did it. If you get ahold of their matrix, please forward it to me. I'd like to know exactly what their numbers are and exactly how they did it. If you are able to piece together the matrix in a way that doesn't mess up 1/3rd of the 7th graders schedules and doesn't mess up other departments, please let me know.
I'm probably just not that smart as those counselors and administrators. I can accept that.
E) 6TH GRADE COMPLETELY SEPARATE:
The 6th grade teachers have noted safety issues last year having 6th, 7th and 8th all in the same PE. Upon talking with Ms. Folsoi, Ms. Garcia and Ms. Parker, all agreed that it would be best to separate the 6th grades from 7th/8th graders for PE which means that there is a limited amount of PE for middle school but it works out great for the entire Core-Class team anyways.
===3. WHAT'S THE HOLD UP? WHY DON'T WE HAVE OUR ROSTERS YET?===
Some things I do not have control over. I do not have control over other middle schools not switching over 8th grade final grades into their permanent records. So, I am basically guessing as to what 9th grade students need in terms of Math and other things.
I am not entirely sure who the new teachers are that are joining staff. Some things are beyond me.
I don't even have our our NOW Academy 6th graders on our rosters. Our own students. I have other students from other schools, and yes they are coming again with no records, but not our own students.
I don't know what elective the incoming 9th graders will have as we have not had orientation yet. I do like that LAHSA was able to have their new student orientation before school was out. I hope we can do so.
There are some "hanging" sections of classes that I am unsure who will be teaching them. I am awaiting word from Dr. Flores on what the final verdict is going to be. If those "hanging" sections are removed, it'll impact the 9th grade in which I am unsure how we will give classes to 9th graders as certain teachers are slated to teach other courses. For example, if we remove 2 Sections of Social Justice from 9th Grade, Mr. Wu will be unable to fill those missing sections in as he is already teaching Algebra 1B1. So either way, we have 2 hanging sections.
Also, I'm at home. As much as I am trying not to work at home (and failing at it), I don't have everything. I don't take home copies of who signed up for what. And I don't memorize them either.
===4. IT'S BEEN A HARD SUMMER===
I also need some sort of break. I have been calling middle schools, Local District 4, The University of California, relooking at all the students (for Foreign Language, Math and Science), trying to ensure that we get The Fulfillment Fund on board, sitting on interviews, trying to outreach to colleges, and working with the summer bridge program. I am taking 6 days off and will be back on the 17th. (Although, I am secretly going in on Monday so seek advise regarding the Matrix.)
It's not easy developing a matrix. I appreciate Mr. Deligencia (unsolicited by the way) for coming in because he saw how truly how impossible it was to put 7th and 8th grade together. Well, it is possible but at the detriment of 1/3rd of the 7th graders. I also appreciate Ms. Zapata for coming because she was able to give me concrete solutions for Foreign Language.
Please, when we come back to school, do not yell at me. I had that happen last year in the first week and it does not feel good to be treated that way. I, like you, am doing my best with whatever support I have. I do not have it out for you. I am not intentionally trying to mess you up.
I will have roughly around 500 students. That is going to be double that amount that I should have (as noted by my governing body's standards) and I will try my best to serve them all but please have patience with me. This is the first year that I am scheduling this many students. The highest I have ever had is 300+ students at Hamilton. And that is with the support of an APSCS, a separate College Counselor, a separate Career Counselor, a Pupil Student Attendance, a Drop-out Prevention counselor, and a School Psychologist. And I had the entire Fulfillment Fund Program helping out.
I'm not trying to play a victim, it is what it is.
===5. WHAT DO I TELL STUDENTS?===
Tell them, we are vacation, we are working on the schedules, we are hiring new teachers, or just tell them you do not know. They will know eventually. At Hamilton and at Westchester, students were not privy to their schedules until like a few days before school started. Even then, there will be changes.
I know that New Student Orientation is on the 27th. Maybe we can also set a day for existing students to get their schedules. I don't know.
Your friend, colleague or co-worker,
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