I'm sure all of you have figured out a long time ago that this is the space where I get to pontificate (not that I don't do that elsewhere!) on anything and everything that happens to cross my mind.  I try to keep things relevant to education, however, and -- though this may be hard to believe -- relatively brief!

 

When folks call to visit with me about the school they always want to know how we are able to do all the field trips and traveling that are such important parts of the program.  The answer is our flexible scheduling made possible by a combination of several factors.  The first of these is a block scheduling format that concentrates "classwork" on three of the five school days, leaving the other two available for more creative, off-campus events.  Block scheduling was all the rage a few years ago, but seems to have lost favor. Yet no one took it to the extent we do here, increasing the school day and school year in order to free up two days per week for other learning experiences.

 

The second factor is even more important, however, namely our cohort structure.  This adaptation of a relatively common grad school approach to coursework (but not at all common on the secondary school level) has many advantages.  One of those is the accommodation of travel off campus.  One master teacher is assigned as the primary "guide" or mentor for a group of students (determined this year by the size of our passenger van!), rather than six or seven different instructors, each of whom jealously guards his or her time with the kids. Since getting away from campus and back takes most of the average 50 minute period, field trips either must be coordinated among several teachers (virtually impossible on any campus, but especially so in larger schools) or sanctioned and sponsored by the central office (a mandate from the principal is one sure way to get individual teachers to cooperate).  With the cohort structure of one teacher assigned to one group of kids this nightmare of coordinating is completely eliminated.  If that master teacher wants to spend the entire morning on a history related field trip that just means making up lost time in other subjects later in the day or week.  No big deal.

 

A final factor, perhaps the most important, is related to attitude, philosophy, or mind-set of the school.  We at Veritas happen to believe that there is more of relevance to offer our students outside the walls of the classroom than can be found within the textbooks taught inside the classroom!  That belief has been translated into action and a firm resolve to get our kids out into the real world. 

 

In the weeks ahead you'll read, week after week, of how we are doing exactly that.  Should be a fun ride and a life-changing experience for our teens.  If you're signed up for the adventure, I'm glad you're on board.  If you were a bit too timid to commit (or just couldn't work it out), it's not too late -- feel free to join us any time during the year.  And, of course, it's not too early to make your plans to reserve one of our limited slots for next school year!