Springbank
Community High
School
Springbank Community High School Focus Time Implementation
Memo to Parents
Springbank Community High School was one of the first schools in Alberta to participate in the High School Flexibility
Project, now part of High School Redesign. According to Alberta Education, “Redesigning high school focuses on
research and 'next practice' thinking-where schools have implemented strategies and approaches aimed at
transforming the high-school experience for students and teachers through changes to school structure, culture,
pedagogy or leadership.” For the past three years, SCHS has utilized an extended lunch hour as an opportunity for
students to receive one-on-one tutoring, extra help, and support from their teachers by making use of teachers’ tutorial
hours. While this was a step in the right direction, SCHS is moving forward with high school redesign, having reflected
on the successes of the current use of time and is making further changes to the school-day structure to enhance
effectiveness for the 2015/2016 school year.
Beginning in September 2015, SCHS will be implementing a 40 minute “Focus Time” block into the schedule. Students
will use PowerSchool and have the flexibility to sign up for a preferred tutorial or activity in advance of the start of the
week, and attend that class during Focus Block. This time will allow students even more access to one-on-one support
from their teachers, as well as time to work on homework, and complete assignments. In addition to the opportunity to
work on their class work and meet with teaches, students will also have opportunities to use Focus Time to learn about
scholarships, participate in wellness activities, receive career information, and participate in student led (and teachersponsored) general interest activities.
In order to accommodate Focus Block, lunch will be now be 50 minutes, and classroom instructional time has been
very slightly reduced. Focus Block will occur between periods 1 and 2 from Monday – Thursday. Friday’s schedule will
remain unchanged.
Time
Period 1
8:40-9:53
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
1
3
1
3
1
9:57-10:37
Advisory/Focus
Focus
Focus
Focus
2
Period 2
9:48-10:50
2
4
2
4
LUNCH
10:50-11:50
Period 2
10:4111:54
11:5412:44
Period 3
12:44-1:57
Period 4
2:01-3:14
LUNCH
3
3
1
3
1
4
2
4
2
4
Time
Period 1
8:40-9:42
Period 3
11:50-12:52
Period 4
12:58-2:00
…PAGE 2
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Will my child be impacted by the reduced instructional time in their classes?
A: No. Focus time will actually provide your child with more time to complete assignments, and access help from their
teachers. Students will be able to focus their time on classes that they need the most help with.
Q: How can I ensure that my child has balance in the way s/he chooses to spend focus time, and that s/he is
choosing the “right” focus blocks to ensure both academic success, and overall well-being?
A: Advisory teachers will be responsible for meeting with students on a regular basis to ensure that students are
making appropriate choices for Focus Time. Parents are encouraged to be in contact with Teacher Advisors if they
have concerns about how their child is using Focus Time.
Q: If my child simply wants a quiet place to work, is that an option?
A: Yes. There will be designated “quiet study” areas during Focus Block.
Q: If my child is fully caught up in all of their classes, what can s/he do during Focus Block?
A: There are other areas that students can access to support things such as wellness, post-secondary exploration,
career information, scholarship information, quiet study or reading time, or general interest activities. Students, if so
inclined and with a teacher sponsor, may offer their own activities.
Q: How will I know if my child is attending Focus Block?
A: Attendance will be taken just as with all other classes, and an email will go home if a student has skipped Focus
Block. The same guidelines for absences as they apply to classes apply to Focus time. In the case of chronic
absenteeism, administration will be involved. There will be an ‘Admin’ focus room to deal with chronic issues.
Q: Will expectations be different for Grade 12 students?
A: Grade 12s are likely to benefit the most from the generous access to one on one support and tutoring. As they are
focused on diploma exams and the exit from school, using Focus time will be to their benefit.
Q: Can a teacher mandate a student to go to his/her Focus Block?
A: Yes. Both the classroom teacher and the Advisory teacher have the ability to recommend or assign a student to a
particular Focus Block.
Q: What if the Focus Block my child wants to attend is full?
A: Students are expected to sign up in advance for Focus times that are a priority for them. If they cannot access a
particular Focus block, they should contact that particular teacher to make alternate arrangements.
Q: Will teachers be assigning extra homework to be completed during Focus Block?
A: The intent of the Focus block is not to provide more work for students. It is to provide students with access to
supported work time.
Q: What is the purpose of advisory? How will it help my child?
A: The main purpose is to meet student needs regarding significant learning outside the classroom curriculum. Topics
include scholarships, financial literacy and budgeting, goal setting, post-secondary information, digital citizenship,
conflict resolution and healthy relationships.
Q: What is MyBlueprint?
A: MyBlueprint is an online educational program planner that helps students decide how to approach the remainder of
their high school careers, and how to prepare for life after high school. With MyBlueprint, students will understand their
learning styles, complete interest inventories, learn diploma requirements, plan their remaining high school courses,
explore possible post-secondary options, create a digital portfolio, examine budgeting and financial considerations, and
research possible future occupations. MyBlueprint will be a foundational tool for our Advisory program.
Q: Will Teacher Advisors understand my child’s particular situation?
A: Yes. Advisory periods will help to build stronger relationships and connections between students and staff.
Teachers will learn about students’ interests and plans, and will therefore have a greater overall understanding of
them, and how to support them. Teacher advisors will be available to students who have questions about the topics
covered in advisory.
Q: Is advisory any different than it has been?
A: Advisory will now be attached to a regular class, and will change each semester. It will have a more purposeful and
structured curriculum, designed to address needs that students themselves have helped to identify. Advisory will occur
more frequently—every week, as opposed to every two weeks.
Q: What is the format of advisory?
A: Advisory groups will have weekly meetings. They may vary with regard to length of time. Groups will be grade
specific.
Q: Is Advisory optional?
A: No. Advisory is an important component of a student’s overall learning.
Q: Will my child receive credits for attending and completing Advisory?
A: No. The Advisory course does not have any credits attached to it. However, attending Advisory will help students
prepare to achieve their goals in credit-based courses.
Q: Why will my child likely have a different Teacher Advisor each semester?
A: Advisory is now a component of a regular class. This means that Advisory teachers will develop rapport with
students more easily, because they will get to know their students better, and more quickly. This will make the delivery
of the Advisory curriculum more effective. In addition, students will develop relationships with more teachers, which
will give students more options about who to approach with questions relating to their education and future plans.
Q: Can my child request a particular Teacher Advisor?
A: No. Your child’s advisor will be her or his block 1 teacher.
Q: Is there a different Advisory curriculum for each grade level?
A: Yes. Curriculum will be grade level dependent, and students will progress through the entire Advisory curriculum
throughout their years at Springbank Community High School.