At Rye Country Day, teachers and students alike are always on the go. Similar to other schools, daily small talk mainly consists of the weather, the pandemic, and upcoming tests. But this year, another kind of buzz fills the halls: talk about the schedule.

In order to gauge the opinions of the greater Upper School community, a survey was sent out to students and teachers. The survey asked questions about the strengths and weaknesses of the schedule and served as an opportunity to suggest improvements. 

When asked if students were happy with this year’s schedule, 25% of survey takers either agreed or strongly agreed and 33% were indifferent, while 42% either disagreed or strongly disagreed. Some of the most popular complaints included the lack of downtime, the amount of classes each day, the unpredictability of the cycle, and the lunch block. 70% of teachers and students prefered last year’s schedule over the current one in place, or even pre-covid schedule.

Those who are new to the Upper School may not be familiar with last year’s schedule. Starting at 9:00, the old schedule operated on an alternating six day cycle. Each day consisted of four 65-minute blocks with breaks in between like community time, office hours, snack, clubs, and advisory. 

Students and teachers explained that they do not have enough time to unwind in between classes. Depending on one’s lunch time, the allotted five minutes of passing time is the only break that separates the third class and its adjacent class. Some teachers recommended the solution of potentially cutting down on house or advisory time in order to give students more down time. Students reported the ten minute “Break and Snack” period towards the end of the isn’t enough time to do work or meet with teachers.

According to survey-takers, another common issue is the unpredictability of the schedule. Having blocks of two different lengths is difficult to manage for everyone. Especially teachers that teach multiple sections of the same course. Having to teach a lesson that was taught to one class in sixty minutes to another class in forty-five minutes makes planning a nightmare.

Another complaint is the lack of convenient office hours. The double booking on Tuesdays and Thursdays makes meetings virtually impossible for club members and leaders. Mr. Wieman explained that most teachers have three or four blocks free. So if someone needs to meet with a teacher during a free period, it’s extremely likely that their teacher will be available at the same time. He suggested that teachers post their free blocks on their Schoology pages to make coordinating easier.

Out of all of these concerns, the new lunch schedule seems to be the most popular. Students and teachers mentioned the uneven split between those who have the first lunch, and those who have the second. This is causing extremely long lines during the second lunch block. While these lines often pass quickly, there is a concern about social distancing during the 12:25 frenzy. Ms. O’Shaughnessey explained that the uneven split is intentional. The first half of the block overlaps with the seventh and eighth grade lunch and since the cafeteria is a shared space, schedulers needed to be mindful of the divide. While it may not always seem like it, this new lunch system has its perks. Lunch is twenty-five minutes longer and 93% of survey takers said that they have the same lunches with their friends.

The schedule also has its benefits. Survey-takers are very excited about the late start. Pre-covid, school began at 8:05 and last year at 9:00. The new 8:40 start time allows students to sleep in without having to stay in school as late as last year. Clubs working on a Monday through Friday schedule is also a big hit. A more predictable meeting time allows for club leaders to plan without having to worry about the day rotation.

Adjusting to a new schedule is never easy, it comes with lots of trial and error. As we start to get into the swing of things, the confusion will phase out. In the meantime, if you have any questions about your schedule don’t hesitate to reach out to your advisor or Mr. Wieman.