Happy New Year to everyone. As I write this article we are just closing the first block of instruction and preparing for the beginning of the second block for the 2008-2009 school year. Like most things in life, the 4 X 4 block scheduling method used by high schools in Sumter School District Two has both advantages and disadvantages. The flexibility of completing two complete courses each school year gives students more choices in the courses they take. Students who must repeat a course have extra opportunities to make up a course and stay on schedule. Also, as the second block begins students are given the opportunity to start with a clean slate, leaving problems of the past behind them. They also have an opportunity to implement at the beginning of the second block techniques they learned during first block so they can achieve even more. Consequently, the beginning of the second block is really a “New Year”. However, block scheduling results in faster paced instruction and students can fall behind faster. Missing one 4 X 4 block schedule class is about the same as missing two classes under a traditional schedule. This fact makes good attendance and staying on task when in class even more important for block scheduling students. As we begin the second block, I encourage everyone to make attendance a high priority. While absences are sometimes unavoidable, I ask parents to make every effort to schedule appointments on holidays or before and after school as much as possible to minimize absences. When a student must be absent, missed work should be made up as soon as possible. Almost all learning is based on building blocks so work missed today will adversely impact learning tomorrow.

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Sherril P. Ray