MATRIX: Re-mastering a Master Schedule

1) REFLECTION AND GRATITUDE
2) REMASTERING THE MASTERED SCHEDULE
3) PATIENCE
4) MATH MUSICAL CHAIRS
5) SO… WHERE'S MY NEW SCHEDULE?
6) SEQUESTERING
7) MID-YEAR CHANGES
8) CALLING FOR HELP!!!

===1) REFLECTION AND GRATITUDE

As I write this Matrix Journal, it is hard not to pause and take the time to just reflect on the terrible loss of staff that we will be facing.  And before it is too late and before things are left unsaid and we get buried underneath all the minutia of the upcoming changes, I want to say how sad I am that we are losing Mr. Aghevli and Ms. Grissom as part of our NOW family.  Both teachers have brought a vibrancy that our students gravitate towards and will deeply miss.  Mr. Aghevli will be missed by his seniors and I miss miss working with him to get our students to fulfill their service learning projects and to graduate.  Ms. Grissom brought a vibrancy to Math that was vacant with in our previous year and it is a loss for our students.  Most of all, I will miss them as people regardless of whether we didn't really get to know each other or whether we always agreed or not.  Thank you so much for everything.

Thank you to Ms. Harada who has been most helpful in helping me man Peer Tutoring after school.  It has been a great start albeit stressful in the midst of all the upcoming changes.

Thank you to Ms. Vickers, who when I turned for help regarding a student, came through and talked with the student.  I specially want to thank you because you are swamped as we all are but you didn't refuse to help me out.  It is in this tough times that I miss the work that you, me and Ms. Palencia has last year.  Thank you always.

===2) REMASTERING THE MASTERED SCHEDULE

As you know, I was at the point of having already completely rolled over the Fall schedule into the Spring schedule and at this point, I should be completely done with the Master Schedule and done with scheduling period.  In fact I was done.  Unfortunately, with the loss of 2 staff members, there are going to be changes in the Spring Master Schedule and surprisingly almost everyone is left unscathed.  We are facing the same dilemma that we faced last year, with the Math changes and the Spanish collapse.

This time, around the changes are happening in the following areas:

• The collapse of all 9th grade sections from 4 sections to 3 which includes the collapse of 4 Algebra 1B to 3 and 2 Algebra 1B2s to 1 and the collapse of New Media to 1 section. 
• The collapse of Geometry from 3 sections to 2.
• The collapse of a 9th grade advisory from 5 advisories to 4.
• The collapse of 4 sections to 3 sections.
• The movement around of certain classes as teachers assume English 7 and Algebra Readiness.

Almost everyone is affected in some way and surprisingly the 6th grade cohort was the saving grade as a simple change there saved 10th grade, and 11th grade from a complete rewrite.  Tentative changes that are have been made are the following:

• 6th Grade - Periods 2 and 3 have been switched.  No student will be with another teacher, no one is moving anywhere.  Classes at period 3 will switch over to 2 and vice-versa.  This switch includes P.E.  This period switch was the savior of the other grade levels.  I was reluctant to have done but after seeing how it prevented changes of periods in 7th, 8th, 10th and 11th, I felt I had to do it so that the changes in schedule wasn't a complete rewrite.
• 7th Grade - Harada and Aceves will switch periods.  Students should stay with their teachers and their cohort.  As of now, Ms. Talleda will assume English 7.
• 8th Grade - No change other that Mr. Benavides will assume Algebra Readiness.  Someone will assume Ms. Vicker's advisory.
• 9th Grade - 1 cohort from English 9, Algebra 1, Health/Env. Sci and 1 New Media will be spread out among the 3 sections.  Ms. Yang will be assuming Algebra 1.  There will be a change in advisory.
• 10 Grade - No change of periods in the Core classes (English, World History and Biology) but changes in Math and in Spanish and Korean will mean changes of schedules for students.  This will affect P.E. as well.
• 11th Grade - No change of periods in English, Chemistry, and U.S. History but changes in Math and in Spanish and Korean will mean changes of schedules for students.
• 12th Grade - Mr. Mize and Ms. Talleda will switch period 1 and 2 to accommodate Ms. Talleda's assuming of English 7.  This will result in schedule changes for students.  Someone will assume Mr. Aghevli's advisory.

===3) PATIENCE

Right now, I have gone through about 6 different Master Schedules since last week looking at different scenarios if certain things were to happen.  (At one point, I was even making a Master Schedule based on what would happen if we had lost another teacher.)

Right now, there is a tentative Master.  I am perusing through to make sure that there are no conflicts.  I am perusing to make that if a student had Spanish 1 and Algebra 2, they would still be able to take it.

===4) MATH MUSICAL CHAIRS

The Math department and I met this morning to go over collapsing of some sections and who would assume Grissom's sections.  As per the decision of the Math Department in the 01.25.2012, the following changes were made to the Math teaching schedule:

• Mr. Benavides - 2 Geometry, 2 Algebra Readiness (previously 2 Algebra 1B, 2 Algebra 2B)
• Ms. Yang - 3 Algebra 1 (previously 3 Geometry)
• Mr. Wu - 2 Algebra 2, 1 Algebra 1B2

===5) SO… WHERE'S MY NEW SCHEDULE?

Because of the new changes that were decided during this morning's Math meeting, I had to come up with a new Master for what it seems like the 6th or 7th time.  I have not begin to reflect these changes into SIS and will begin to undo all my work from November and break in order to accommodate this new Master Schedule tomorrow.

So... I will be coming in this weekend to continue working on scheduling and to try and make sure that I get schedules to your boxes by Monday morning.  Yes, it will mean long hours and sacrificing my weekend.

By Friday, you should see your rosters on ISIS completely disappear.  And then on Saturday, see your classes start getting rearranged.  And rearranged some more and then some more.

So, when can you see the matrix?  I am waiting for Chuck and Brenda to speak to a few more people and then I will release the Matrix in full glory.

===6) SEQUESTERING

Please note that I would like to be left alone these next two days if not the next two weeks.  I am about to take the work of 2 months and dismantle it to reassemble it again.  If I am to get you guys rosters and schedule, please help me out and ensure that I am left alone to do this daunting task.

Please try to send students going to the restroom to Ms. Lucy downstairs.  I cannot deal with bathroom breaks in the middle of re-scheduling.

===7) MID-YEAR CHANGES

Please hold off on mid-semester changes.  In fact, if possible, dissuade students from changing.  If they are in a year-long class (if it has a B section), have them remain there.  If they are in an elective, please dissuade them from moving so that their schedules int heir core-classes don't go any more topsy-turvy.  With the loss of 2 teachers, I want to make sure that there is as little movement in periods as possible.

Mid-year changes are tough because someone else has to take them.

===8) CALLING FOR HELP

I will be in this weekend and if anyone would like to come in and help, i would be much appreciative.  I could use help in photocopying class-change request forms, making roster folders (like the ones I gave you in the summer), organizing schedules, etc.