At Nazareth Area Middle School we have two ways in which we start off our mornings: activity period or Excel period. Activity period is three times in the six day cycle. Last year activity period was all six days of the cycle. I think that having activity period everyday is beneficial to students. During this time students are able to see teachers to ask questions, catch up on missed work, and meet for clubs and activities taking place throughout the school.
Excel period is on days that there is not activity period. During Excel teachers have different activities taking place in their rooms depending on what academic team you are on. At the beginning of each rotation the students get to sign up for which activity they would like to be a part of.
As a whole school we did a school wide read which took place during the Excel period. We read the book “Schooled” by Gordon Korman. (See other article on school wide read for more information about the book)
I think that the Excel and Activity period are both great ideas and allows students the time they need to get their work done and also be creative. I am excited to see what fun ideas the school will come up with for Excel.
By Ally Papageorgiou
