MATRIX: Spring Schedule is ready...

1. SPRING 2012 ROSTERS
2. CH-CH-CHANGES: MID-YEAR SWITCHES, ONE-SEMESTER COURSES, SPORT PLAYERS, AND THAT STUDENT
3. HARADA AND GRISSOM
4. LOOKING AHEAD TO FALL 2012
5. WHY DO YOU KEEP SAYING MATRIX?
6. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS
7. COLLEGE APPLICATION FEES: HELP!

===1. SPRING 2012 ROSTERS===

Having spent a day at work to day, I was able to accomplish a lot! Before we left for break, I made sure to finish an expect copy of the fall Matrix for Spring. It is a very tedious and very complex job that normally APSCSs oversee and a rollover is a process that requires meticulousness, Anyways, I finished it before we left, I started working on re-numbering courses and all of that back in November because I know the college applications would take a lot of my energy.

Today, I went to work and just knocked everything out. I was able to transfer every student's schedule from Fall semester to Spring. I went in at 8AM and got the last one down at 5PM. The custodian was pretty nice because he told me to leave at 4PM and he let me stay another hour.

SO… tomorrow, when you look in your ISIS, you should have rosters for Spring 2012.

2. CH-CH-CHANGES: MID-YEAR SWITCHES, ONE-SEMESTER COURSES, SPORT PLAYERS, AND THAT STUDENT

When it comes to changes, we have to keep in mind: "When someone is enjoying a small class, someone else is enjoying a large class."

As we transition to Spring, my goal is to have as little change as possible. In a small school, changes having trickling effects as we learn last year.

Last year, we decided to have students who failed Algebra 1A to take it over and changed around the configurations of Spanish. It was a move that have trickling effect on just about everyone. Unfortunately, because our matrix is so rigid, it drove number balance crazy and it drove others to take on more students than they could. And it was a head-ache for me because I literally had to redo the entire matrix schedule all over again.

One semester classes are also a pain in the butt for small schools because of the effect they have on everyone else. When students are done with a one-semester class, they get shuffled off to other teachers which means their classes get switched or someone else's classes get bigger because of it. We have 1 this year but those students in that class will have to be rescheduled, which means that there will be some reshuffling in the 11th and 12th grade because of it. Teachers that will be affected by the 1-semester course will be Talleda's English classes, Alexander's Elective courses (which is way beyond capacity right now), possibly Wu's Film Production, Schlatter's Journalism and possibly Waid's HS Drama (which is also up to capacity).

Sport Players, because athletes do get credit for playing sports, some athletes may be done with PE. If they are in PE and opt out of it, switches will be made which will drive up someone else's numbers.

There's always those couple of students that does nothing in classes. I want them out on my classes next semester. Where would I put them? Mr. Alexander, Mr. Waid, are already overflowing.

===3. HARADA AND GRISSOM===

Ms. Harada, Ms. Grissom would like to switch her Period 1 class with her period 6, it means it will affect you too. I will leave that up to you two.

Switches like this one work. It involves only Harada. No one's numbers get big and they both teach the same students.

===4. LOOKING AHEAD TO FALL 2012===

As Spring comes around, we look towards the Fall. Let's keep in mind what happened last year. We started the process SO late! We have to do better this year. In fact, on that whole-secondary meeting, we were promised and assured that we would have some type of Matrix before the end of Spring Break. Mr. Deligencia noted it.

In moving forward to Fall, I urge everyone to keep these things in mind:
Is our master schedule working to allow us all to be a t our best? Have we repeated an LA High or Belmont schedule?
How is our three main focus (social justice, environmental stewardship and technology) integrated to the master schedule?
What are some innovative master schedules we can look at? When a team went to the CES Fall Forum last year, we saw some great ideas from Master schedules. Why have we not talked about them?
How do we alleviate one class from getting too many students while another class enjoys small numbers.
What kind of electives do we want to offer? Should they fall under the three main focuses?
What is our program of instruction for grade levels. 9th grade is one where students do not receive the same program.
How can we have a master schedule that would allow us to do work like exhibitions for projects?

===5. WHY DO YOU KEEP SAYING MATRIX?===

I used to teach elementary and it just stuck. When I say Matrix, I mean Master Schedule. Although a Master Schedule is far more complicated than an elementary matrix.

===6. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS===

If you haven't already done so, please do your letters of recommendations for students that you've said yes to.

===7. COLLEGE APPLICATION FEES: HELP!===

We have a few students who are applying to private colleges that need help paying for application fees. They need help. If I could I would. There are four seniors that can get in to these schools that said they are not applying because they can't afford the fees.