Woodland Community Consolidated School District 50 recently issued the following announcement.
The Woodland Board of Education is excited to share approval of new start and end times for all students effective for the 2019-2020 school year.
“Changing school start times is an important step in a process that prioritizes our students’ health, well-being, and academic achievement. Beginning with the decision to reduce class sizes and continuing with the implementation of the strategic plan adopted in the Spring of 2018, Woodland District 50 has once again shown its commitment to creating the optimal learning environment for our young people. We thank our community members for their vital input and feedback throughout the process,” Board President Dr. Carla Little said.
Woodland’s five-year Strategic Plan contains a student well-being focus that specifically includes researching new educational trends – including school start times – under a goal of “creating learning opportunities to address the physical, mental, emotional and social needs of the “whole child.” Achieving the strategic planning goal is effecting positive change for students while demonstrating fiscal responsibility by keeping costs neutral.
The new 2019-2020 schedule is as follows:
Elementary School - Classes start at 7:45 a.m. with dismissal at 2:20 p.m.
Primary School - Classes start at 7:55 a.m. with dismissal at 2:05 p.m.
Middle School - Classes start at 8:30 a.m. with dismissal at 3:10 p.m.
Intermediate School - Classes start at 9:20 a.m. with dismissal at 3:55 p.m.
The Board made this significant, meaningful change after reviewing national research from the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics which shows significant advantages for adolescents including better physical and mental health as well as improved attendance, mood and academic achievement when they begin their day of learning after 8:30 a.m.
The change will benefit our middle school students by starting their learning day later in the morning, and It also aligns with optimal learning times for our younger students who are more eager, alert and ready to learn earlier in the day.
“While there is limited research on optimal start times for elementary age students, the professional expertise of our educators is clear. Elementary school age children are more alert, engaged and ready to learn earlier in the morning and less so by mid-afternoon,” Superintendent Dr. Joy A. Swoboda said.
The new bell schedule is yet another way to continue the district mission of providing exceptional learning experiences in a nurturing learning community.
Original source can be found here.
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