The block schedule has started off this year in an unfamiliar way; students now attend 75 minute classes, instead of 45, and the day concludes with the addition of the X Block. For middle schoolers, this means transitioning from their typical study hall. While the two chances to study are similar, there are a few key differences.
“X Block serves for many, specifically middle schoolers, as a study hall, and for upper schoolers as an open period,” says faculty member Will Whipple. “The difference between the study hall and an X Block is that X Block has a little bit more flexibility to it, and we will… use it for bringing in speakers. It is also nice that it happens at the end of the day so that it doesn’t disrupt classes when people have early dismissals.”
According to Whipple, “X Block works. It does what it needs to do.” However, it is the students who really determine the effectiveness of the addition.
Eighth grader Mateo Sherwood prefers the X Block over the study halls of yester-year: “Even though it’s only five minutes longer, I still like it more,” he says. Unlike a traditional Seabury study hall, during X Block, “you get to be with your advising, so we have more advising time which is nice,” says Sherwood.“I think I get more work done in X Block, because I used to just be with my friends [in] study hall.”
The same opinion is shared by seventh grader Stella Williams: “I like X Block a lot, because I like to be with my advisor just so she can help me with my work and stuff, just in case I need help,” she says.
According to Whipple this was by design: “[Advisors] keep track of their [advisee’s] grades a little bit more, and they’re also a point of contact and support for that kid. So they’re better about it,” he says.
Amongst students, X Block has grown in popularity because of its increased level of productivity, leaving students with more time for other after school activities. “I feel a lot less stressed, because I don’t have to get [homework] done after school as much,” says Williams.
“I think that [X Block] helps a lot, because then you don’t have to worry about not being able to go to games and stuff,” says Sherwood.
Despite all of its good qualities, “it can present problems,” says Whipple. On days when X Block is reserved for a specific speaker or school event, middle school students will have to go without a study hall time. “That being said, I haven’t noticed so far… [that it’s] a problem with middle school students being overwhelmed with homework and not having enough study hall time. So I think it’s doing what it is designed to do,” says Whipple.
Luckily, Seabury’s new schedule is functioning swimmingly thus far, with both faculty and students pleased with its implementation. “I love block schedules. It is wonderful for so many reasons,” says Whipple.
