Article in the New Pittsburgh Courier. Unfortunately the online version of the courier has not been updated for some time, but the newspaper itself is available at the Giant Eagle for 50 cents.
The article notes there will be a trimester calendar (3 semesters w/ vacations of approx one month) but does not not explain exactly how it will run. Sep/Oct/Nov w/ Dec off, then Jan/Feb/March with April off, then May/June/July w/ August off?
According to the article, students will take 3 core courses each term and 2 elective courses; if a student fails a course he/she can take it the following term in place of an elective course.
If the calendar works it is something the district would "consider for the entire district."
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The section of the PPS website promoting the single gender academies does not seem to mention the trimester calendar:
http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/143110122710386210/site/default.asp?143110122710386210Nav=|&NodeID=5922
How do athletic teams fit into this schedule?
When that question was asked at a community meeting, Derrick Lopez said that coaches would be happy to come in during the time off so that athletics continue to run. There does not seem to be any expectation that students may use breaks to travel/ visit family out of town, etc.
Back door to year round school, but still if the kinks are worked out it could be a good thing. In addition to using the time between trimesters to polish weak skills there should be a component built in to provide service project and exposure with mini-internships or jobs.
The article also mentioned that the additional cost per year would be $514,701. With full enrollment, that would be a cost per student of $740. For 25,000 students in the district the annual additional cost would be $13.7 million. Big savings would have to come from somewhere else to offset this expense.
After reading the single gender "School Selection Form" it’s sad that the only real alternative choice for these families in this feeder pattern is Pittsburgh Milliones. NO OTHER CHOICE in the city, unless they go through the magnet school program decided to go to a charter school or a Parochial/Religious School. It sends a message to families that “Oh well if you don’t want to go to a single gender school or Pittsburgh Milliones or take a gamble and keep your fingers crossed an HOPE you get into a different magnet school (and frankly who knows what politics are in play in the magnet office especially for these specific families who are choosing not to do either single gender or Uprep your screwed! THIS SECTION IS COPIED OFF FORM)
If your child will not attend one of the single-gender academies or Pittsburgh Milliones, please tell us the name of the school your child will attend for 2011-12.
• Charter School
(School Name)
• Private School
(School Name)
• Parochial/Religious School
(School Name)
• I have applied to a PPS magnet or CTE school*
(School Name)
More credit recovery type stuff
Pete & Repeat
More & more Chances
Night School, Summer School, Credit Recovery Classes, Now this New purposal.
Let's say a kid fails math. The next trimester, does he repeat that math class, while at the same time going on to the next math class? If 2 classes are failed does the kid take all core classes every day with no electives? How does that fit with state requireemnts?
Also, a huge percentage of kids at Westinghouse are failing one or more core classes. As electives get replaced with core classes does it become less and less cost effective to offer electives at all- especially since each grade level at each academy has at most 50 students?
Many people have expressed the view that the "lottery" results are to some extent manipulated. Maybe we should have a lottery in public as shown in the film "The Lottery."
Is it interesting, puzzling or revealing when posts are entered, appear, then disappear from this blog without comment from Questioner?
It happened at least twice today , as well as in the past. Each tim, there was nothing rude, sarcastic, ridiculing or false in the content.
Can you give more information about what the posts said?
It would seem that the response would have been "interesting" or "puzzling" rather than answering the question with a question.
Gosh, yeah! Someone asking for more information to solve a problem sure seems suspicious to me.
Trying to investigate and need more info. Just saying puzzling will not get us anywhere.
Trying to investigate and need more info. Just saying puzzling will not get us anywhere.
Disingenuous?
Paranoid?
We readers/contributors here need to remember that PURE is acting in a volunteer capacity. Me included.
Hmmm . . . .
Hey, just for clarification, I meant that I too must remember that PURE is a volunteer. Not that I am a volunteer of any kind.
I have had several posted comments removed by Questioner. It seems to me that transparency is in the eye of the beholder. Like the PPS administration, if you are not of the same mind set then you have no voice. I thought that this site was about revealing the truth inorderto rebuild a phenomenal school district. Apparentally, the truth cannot be revealed unless you candy coat it. It might be easier to swallow, but can inhibit adsorption into the system.
You are not serving anyone by keeping the blinders on.
Only posts containing personal comments or name calling are removed.
Not true. Straight, unadulterated fact, with absolutely no opinion or unseemly comments of any kind have disappeared after posting without comment about removal.
Puzzling.
Finis.
If you want to know the true purpose of this administration: single gender schools, year round schools, and school-to-work programs, please visit these sites. Plan for a long, informative read. Make sure that you read the pdf file, the Dodd Report, written in 1954 about the nonprofit foundations at the American deception site. Your eyes will be opened!
http://www.americandeception.com/index.php?page=usercat&catid=9
http://deliberatedumbingdown.com/index.html
I forgot to mention that 'school choice' is part of the dumbing down of America.
Things are not always what they appear to be. Buyer beware!
Year around school for Westinghouse i notice it is proposed in a poorer community one thing.yes it will help the students work ethic and to be more of a discipline etc.another advantage it will help parents pay less for after school day care instead of paying for a full day care.point of reference times during breaks i assume don't take me for granted it will equal amount
of the regular traditional school year
now a budget (electricity,air condition,heating )called utillities
spend money for purchasing food for breakfast and lunch need paid staff for that.
hmmmm teachers plan more class room work,testing material increase teachers conference meetings closing yet on one hand trying to save on spending on the other hand now you increase spending meanig year around schooling is going to COST!!!!!! you did anybody do any fact finding or research!!!!!!!!
Not a lot of people pay for daycare for 6-12th graders. It also puts them out of school at times when there aren't free/cheap alternatives in the city. In the summer, for instance, many kids spend all afternoon at a pool.
In affluent neighborhoods that have districts on a year round schedule, you do see local museums and organizations stepping up to offer camps and classes. However, poor kids rarely get to attend those, no matter when they occur. (Hence the Dreamers Academy -- something these kids won't get to participate in?)
It seems like there would be less disruptive ways to fit in an extra 20 days of school- such as just having kids go for 20 days in July for remediation or acceleration, as appropriate. Then they could have trips to a pool or rec center scheduled for after school.
The Summer Dreamers' money dries up after summer 2011 anyway
Don't you love heavy handedness masquerading as public service? The issue is simple: it's my/our blog, and I'd rather censor than debate you. I'm just going to take my marbles and go home.
How big of you.
Sorry but neither a moderator nor readers can be expected to have endless patience for posts that say the same thing over and over.
And it's not a matter of taking marbles- it's a suggestion that those who object should build a better blog and host a debate.
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