TJ Spartans spend time in the library as Spartan Time becomes a new opportunity for leisurely studying and productivity. photo by Ben Scherer
Students are bustling about in different classrooms as Spartan Time becomes one of the newest additions to the weekly school schedule at TJ.
The new school year at Thomas Jefferson High School has brought a number of fresh policies and timetable adjustments to the mix. Referred to as “Spartan Time,” TJ now has something new on the agenda instead of a 30 minute Advisement period every Tuesday and Thursday.
Throughout previous years at TJ, Advisement was a period used to practice mindfulness with different lessons being taught twice a week with the exception of testing or other school events. Each student had the same Advisement teacher over the course of their four year enrollment at TJ, allowing students to build connections with other students and their teacher. Advisement also allowed students to get in touch with their mental health considering many unfortunately don’t have the time to recognize what their specific struggles are.
There have been various new school rules and policies added to students’ radar this school year by administration, such as a designated fourth period lunch for freshmen, and a separate fifth period lunch for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. On top of that change, there is an entirely different schedule from last year. Spartan Time takes place every Monday from 9:54-10:22, with limited options of places to go as administration has stated that students are not allowed off campus during that time. Spartan Time, which has replaced Advisement, gives students the opportunity to go to different classes to ask for extra help, similar to Office Hours without a lengthy school day. Students also have the opportunity to catch up with their clubs and plan various academic and after school events. In the recent months of August and September, students carried the opportunity to spend time in the lobby, cafeteria, or library as a nice, timely chance to catch up on missing assignments. The administration has recently implemented a new rule involving this period, saying students are now only allowed to go to classrooms during Spartan Time to further promote academic productivity.
Advisement, in the previous years, was assigned like any other class, with the high chance of being surrounded by different peers in your classes. Spartan Time was made to allow students to keep up on their studies or missing assignments, even allowing them to ask for help from fellow teachers to catch up. Many different opportunities to be academically successful continue to rise as Spartan Time occurs each Monday.
With semester grades starting to become established on the MyPortal website and students’ report cards, Spartan Time is sure to continue to become a fantastic academic opportunity for keeping kids in check and setting them up for future success.
