Catlin Gabel School Upper School students provide insight on Community Wednesdays
Twelve weeks into the 2020-2021 school year, Catlin Gabel School (CGS) students found themselves adjusting to a new schedule, with Wednesdays designed to hold no classes except a morning commitment to C&C. While CGS students will now begin their transition to a hybrid model, they will still be guaranteed this “Community Wednesday.”
Upper School Head, Aline Garcia-Rubio, explained in an email sent to CGS Upper School students the intentions behind a school day with no class.
“The new schedule has a day with no classes designed for community building and some loosely structured academic options,” said Garcia-Rubio.
Garcia-Rubio also highlighted there would be a reduction in workload for students, given the number of class meetings lost by the new Wednesday schedule.
“There are no other changes to the workload policy,” said Garcia-Rubio. “In other words, there is a reduction of homework inherent in the loss of one class period.”
Several weeks after the addition of “Community Wednesdays,” CGS students weigh in on how they are really using their Wednesday time. Harper Davis, a ninth grader at CGS, finds himself rather productive on Wednesdays, but still finds time for social interaction.
“I am normally using my Wednesdays to do the homework that is assigned on Monday and Tuesday, and other than that, I normally play games or hang out with friends in my free time,” said Davis.
Alexis Smart, a CGS junior, agrees she’s using Wednesday productively, but no more than she would any other school day. Smart also doesn’t find her workload any less than it was before the schedule change, but still tries to set aside time for activities other than schoolwork.
“I have my club meeting on Wednesdays after C&C and then I sleep, do homework, and watch Netflix the rest of the day,” said Smart. “I usually go on a walk and try to get things done, but it's really nice to take a break from the hours of schoolwork I have the rest of the week.”
Davis and Smart do, however, find themselves wishing C&C occurred later in the day and CGS senior Adrian DeLacza, agrees.
“If I’m being honest, I think I slept through almost all of the C&C meetings on Wednesdays,” said DeLaczay. “So later would definitely be a better time, maybe around lunch.”
Davis, DeLaczay, and Smart were all generally pleased with the Wednesday schedule adaptation, but think adjusting the C&C meeting time to later in the day would be beneficial. CGS tenth grader Reese Hart agrees and feels she will continue to use her Wednesdays for homework in a hybrid schedule.
“I generally try to get done all the homework that's due over the next two days, but normally I only get done with what's due Thursday,” said Hart. “I’ll most likely continue to use Wednesday for homework once we go hybrid.”
Despite this period of transition, Garcia-Rubio highlights the intention for students to use their Wednesdays as time for themselves.
“It is our sincere hope that you will turn off your computers, move your bodies, and if you feel safe to do so, go outside for walks, runs, or simply to contemplate the world,” said Garcia-Rubio.