Hello everyone!
After a long hiatus, the Matrix Journal is back!
1. Winter always turns into Spring
2. Timeline
3. The process
4. Ch-ch-ch-changes
5. Looking Ahead
6. Don't let students get you sick
===============================
===1. Winter always turns to Spring===
As cycles come and go, we know that winter always turns into spring. Such is the rhythm of life and of schools. As we go into January, there will be some hard work that will have to be done in order to get ready for the coming semester.
As we go into holiday, let's take the time to reflect on the year: the adventures and misadventures we might have had and how we forward into the new year. What lessons did we learn from this year as we forge ahead into 2012?
===2. Timeline===================
December - Master Scheduling for Spring
January - Class changes are made
February - Semester shift
===3. The process================
December
a. CL31: Build Spring Course List into CL31
b. CL01: Build CL01 Master Schedule using data from CL31
c: CL10: Create relationships between course numbers in Fall CL01 and Spring CL01
d: CL10 & CL11: Transfer Fall data into Spring
January
a. Print schedules
b. Course changes are taken
c. CL04: Course changes are made in CL04
February
d. Semester switch begins
===4. Ch-ch-ch-changes============
Because we are not having Algebra 1A this Spring, there should not be the massive changes that we saw last year. Course lists should relatively remain the same except for the New Media/Perez/Folsoi transfers.
If we do end up having to make a plan like having an Algebra 2A or collapsing sections of Spanish courses, it could and will more than likely have the system-wide domino effect had last year. For a small school, little changes really impact everyone else's schedule.
If you feel that there has to be some major changes in your class, like taking out a huge portion in your class for whatever systemic reason, please make sure to alert an administrator. Changes that will affect the entire master schedule should be addressed to an administrator.
===5. Reflections=================
When we met into May of last year, a commitment was made that we would have our a tentative Master Schedule set by May. In order for that to occur, we must be vigilant and diligent to the task of creating a master schedule. In order to do so, I think that following will need to happen if we are not to repeat last year late into the game.
- January: Departments meet in order to flush out what classes will be needed in the next year.
- February: Departments and administrative staff meet in order to discuss who will teach what.
- Early March: Counselor put out "Fall Semester - Course Survey"
- Late March: Counselor present SS15 (Tentative Student Course Counts)
- Early April: Counselor works with a committee to create a master schedule
- Late April: Counselor and committee present tentative master schedule options to entire staff
===6. Don't let students get you sick===
I was at the computer lab working with students on their college applications yesterday. A young lady was coughing up a storm and I was sitting next to her. I should have told her not to cough on me but I didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable. I eventually did tell her but now I am starting to feel the muscle soreness in my shoulders that usually come from a flu.
