Scheduling is underway for next year.

Students will, again, make up their own schedules by participating in “Arena Scheduling”. This year scheduling will be done during the school day beginning with upcoming seniors next week.  Upcoming juniors and sophomores will schedule in April.

Arena scheduling gives students the option to select classes and when the class is offered.  This gives students control over their schedules and makes them accountable.

Students said they like having the opportunity to design their own classes.  However, some students said it can be frustrating to rearrange their schedules when a class closes.

Classes close when the roster is filled.  High demand electives with limited number of available slots like weightlifting, drivers education, cooking and the former BCA classes were among the first to close out last year.

Honors classes and several electives require teacher approval and/or application.  Yearbook, newspaper and broadcast journalism require students to sign up and apply for entrance.

Ms. Dodi Cook and Ms. Kym Reed have spoken to students about scheduling and notified them what classes are required.  Students are required to take core classes–English, math, science, and social studies each year.  These core classes change slightly each year.  For example, the required social studies class in ninth grade is World History; tenth grade it is US History; eleventh grade it is Contemporary Studies; twelfth grade it is Civics.

The guidance counselors also spoke with LCN/Channel 3 as part of the March 7 Advisory Session.  Counselors offered scheduling tips and went over credits, requirements and policies in the fifteen-minute session which will be aired to students and nearly 4,000 Shentel customers.

The guidance counselors warned students about failing required classes and making sure students make arrangements to make up the failed credits.

If a student fails a required class (including required electives), he or she must make the class up.  Students may choose to make up the class with credit recovery–offered after school, or students may take the class again.  Some students may choose to take summer school.