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This webpage focuses on the trimester schedule that Cadillac High School and
Cadillac Junior High School will be implementing for the 2008-2009 school year.
The information here is intended for students and parents alike.
The Michigan Merit Curriculum
In April of 2006, Governor Granholm signed into law new graduation
requirements for all high schools in the State of Michigan. The new standards
are effective beginning with the class of 2011, the current ninth grade class.
In order to graduate from high school, students will be required to pass: 4
credits of English, 4 credits of math, 3 credits of science, 3 credits of social
studies, 2 credits of foreign language, 1 credit of physical education and
health, 1 credit of visual, performing, or applied arts, one online experience,
and additional CHS requirements.
Though no one can dispute the value and importance of high standards, the new
requirements present some significant challenges to schools. Students on a
traditional six or seven hour day will be hard-pressed to include the elective
classes they want after scheduling the required courses. Students who fail
required courses will find it difficult or impossible to graduate on time. Due
to these challenges, last year, the CHS School Improvement Team began exploring
alternative schedules that would allow our students to successfully meet state
requirements while still developing into well-rounded individuals. The
research-based trimester schedule meets the needs of our students.
Why Trimesters?
The trimester schedule divides the school year into three twelve-week terms
instead of the traditional schedule of two 18-week semesters. Students take five
courses per day instead of six and have 72-minute class periods instead of the
current 50-minute periods. This schedule benefits our students in a number of
ways.
- Students have more course options, especially for
electives.
- Students ideally have only three core classes (English,
math, science, and social studies) per trimester.
- Students have the ability to repeat failed classes within
the same year (which will be exceedingly important when the MMC takes effect).
- Students have more manageable class loads (5 classes
instead of 6).
- Students see fewer teachers per day, giving them an
opportunity to develop closer relationships.
- Students have more time in class to get individual
attention from teachers.
- Students have more time for active engagement and
participation, in the form of labs, projects, small group discussions and
other activities.
- Students will have the opportunity to improve ACT test
scores through course offerings.
Research on the impact of the trimester schedule is compelling, so compelling
that many schools across the State of Michigan have adopted or are adopting this
schedule to give their students the best educational opportunities. For more
information and for a listing of Michigan high schools that use the trimester
schedule click here.
How Does a Trimester Schedule Compare to the Current Student Schedule?
In this comparison, a "unit" refers to either a semester (for 6-hour days) or
a trimester. In either case, it is the period of time for which a student earns
0.5 credit.
|
Points for comparison |
6-hour day schedule |
Trimester schedule |
| Student class load per day |
6 classes |
5 classes |
| Average minutes per class per
day |
57 minutes |
72 minutes |
| Minutes/hours of instructional
time per unit per course |
5130 minutes 85.5 hours |
4320 minutes 72 hours |
| Number of units per year for a
student |
12 units |
15 units |
| Number of core classes per
student at any one time |
4 cores |
3 cores (ideally) |
| Number of opportunities to
retake a failed class within the school year |
None |
Two |
| Student potential for credits
per year |
12 units (or 6 credits per year) |
15 units (or 7.5 credits per
year) |
| Total number of potential
credits over four years |
24 credits |
30 credits |
| Additional units available per
student over the course of four years (after implementation of the new MMC) |
10 units |
22 units |
For more information on the trimester schedule, check out
www.trimesters.org.
What Might a Student Schedule Look Like?
Currently, departments at CHS are reworking their courses to fit a trimester
schedule. Under this schedule, year-long courses usually become two trimesters,
and one-semester courses usually become one trimester. Student schedules vary,
and curricular decisions have not been finalized, but here is an example of what
a year’s schedule might look like for a tenth grader.
| |
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
| 1st Hour |
English 10A |
English 10B |
Keyboarding |
| 2nd Hour |
TV Production |
World History A |
World History B |
| 3rd Hour |
Algebra 1 A |
Algebra 1 B |
Photography |
| 4th Hour |
Phys. Ed. |
French 1 A |
French 1 B |
| 5th Hour |
Biology A |
PersonalGuidance |
Biology B |
How Is CHS Preparing for This Change?
Making the transition to a trimester schedule is a huge undertaking. Every
piece of curriculum must be examined and redesigned to fit a different time
frame. Cadillac High School is using this school year to lay the groundwork for
a successful launch into a trimester schedule. Specifically:
- Graduation requirements are being adjusted to fit the trimester schedule.
The number of credits required for graduation will be increased to match a
30-credit high school experience starting with the class of 2012 and will be
prorated for the classes of 2009, 2010 and 2011.
- Teachers had the opportunity to meet with staff from Spring Lake High
School, a school that has been on the trimester schedule for years.
- Teachers also had a half-day in-service on November 12th with a
leading expert in curriculum redesign and alignment.
- Staff will continue training in retention, transitions, and alignment in
January.
- Departments are meeting within and outside of the school day to redesign
curriculum.
- Counselors and administrators are communicating with other schools
regarding scheduling concerns.
Additional websites on the trimester schedule
http://www.trimesters.org
http://trimesters.blogspot.com/
http://www.doe.state.in.us/media/video/ipla/DVS_a_03.html
Trimester Schools
Spring Lake High School –
http://www.spring-lake.k12.mi.us/
Spring Lake has been on a trimester schedule for longer than anyone in the
state. Spring Lake Assistant Superintendent Mark Westerburg is a leading
proponent of the trimester schedule and its benefits. He has been traveling
across the state (including Cadillac) to explain the trimester schedule and to
assist districts in implementing it correctly. His website on trimesters
http://www.trimesters.org is the
most comprehensive one available on the web. Westerburg indicates that 25% of
Michigan high schools will be on a trimester schedule by next fall.
The following Michigan schools are currently on a trimester schedule.
Adrian High School -
http://www.adrian.k12.mi.us/schools/AHS/AHS_Page/Main.htm
Allegan High School -
http://www.alleganpublicschools.org/allhs/
Allendale High School -
http://www.allendale.k12.mi.us/main.php?p=hs
Bedford High School -
http://www.bedford.k12.mi.us/~shs/
Belding High School -
http://www.bas-k12.org/schools/hs/index.htm
Big Rapids High School -
http://www.brps.k12.mi.us/
Boyne City High School -
http://www.boyne.k12.mi.us/hs/hs_new/hs_index/hs_index.html
Cassopolis High School -
http://www.cassopolis.k12.mi.us/
Chippewa Hills High School -
http://www.chsd.us/
Clarenceville High School -
http://www.clarenceville.k12.mi.us/cvilleHS.htm
Comstock High School -
http://comstockps.org/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectionid=11
East Kentwood High School –
http://www.kentwoodps.org/schools/ekhs/index.asp
Eaton Rapids High School -
http://erpsk12.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=65
Evart High School -
http://www.evart.k12.mi.us/ehs_home.htm
Farmington High School -
http://www.farmington.k12.mi.us/fhs/
Fitzgerald High School -
http://www.fitz.k12.mi.us/Schools/FitzgeraldHigh/FHS
Fremont High School –
http://www.fremont.net/fps_external/Schools/fhs/hs_home_pg.aspx
Fruitport High School -
http://fruitportschools.net/highschool/
Godfrey Lee High School -
http://godfrey.mi.schoolwebpages.com/education/district/district.php?sectionid=1
Grand Ledge High School -
http://www.glps.k12.mi.us/
Grant High School -
http://www.grantps.net/HS/iNDEX.HTM
Grayling High School -
http://www.casdk12.net/GHS04/
Groves High School -
http://www.birmingham.k12.mi.us/Schools/High+Schools/Groves/
Harbor Springs High School -
http://www.harborps.org/HS/hsindex.htm
Harrison High School -
http://www.farmington.k12.mi.us/hhs/
Holt High School -
http://www.holthighschool.net/
Holton High school -
http://www.holton.k12.mi.us/high.html
Hudsonville High School -
http://www.hudsonville.k12.mi.us/mysite.html?building=hhs
Ionia High School -
http://www.ionia.k12.mi.us/page.cfm?p=3
Leslie High School -
http://www.lesliek12.net/~schools/index.html
Ludington High School -
http://www.lasd.net/lhs.htm
Manistee High School -
http://mhs.honoredstudents.org/
Mona Shores High School -
http://www.monashores.net/schoolbuildings/highschool/
Monroe High School -
http://www.monroe.k12.mi.us/MonroeHS.cfm
Montabella High School -
http://www.montabella.com/hs_staff_admin-support.htm
Montague High School -
http://www.montague.k12.mi.us/montaguehs.htm/
Morley-Stanwood High School -
http://morleystanwood.org/highschool/hshome.htm
Newaygo High School -
http://www.newaygo.net/nhs.html
New Buffalo High School -
http://www.nbas.org/hsmain.htm
North Branch High School -
http://northbranchschools.lapeer.org/nbhs/index.htm
North Farmington High School -
http://www.farmington.k12.mi.us/nfhs/
North Huron High School -
http://www.nhuron.org/website/high/
Ovid-Elsie High School –
http://www.oe.edzone.net/high.htm
Reed City High School -
http://www.reedcity.k12.mi.us/schools/rchs.htm
Seaholm High School -
http://www.birmingham.k12.mi.us/Schools/High+Schools/Seaholm/
St. Johns High School -
http://stjohns.edzone.net/index.asp?school=22&name=St%20Johns%20High%20School
Tri-County High School -
http://www.tricountyschools.com/High%20School/index.htm
Wayland High School -
http://www.wayland.k12.ma.us/high_school/index.html
These schools, among others, are making a change to trimesters for the next
school year.
Rockford High School – making the switch next year
http://www.rockfordschools.org/schools/school.php?sid=5
Sault Area High School – making the switch next year
http://sault.eup.k12.mi.us/saultahs/site/default.asp
Traverse City Central High School –making the switch next year -
http://www2.tcaps.net/csh/
Traverse City West High School –making the switch next year -
http://www2.tcaps.net/wsh/
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