The Study Hall is Back; Now Called Power 45
More stories from Michael Zabkowski
New this year every Wednesday is the Power 45 period, a 45 minute period that the students can catch-up on work missed because of sports, work, or absences. Students can also use the time to study, and in the future, meet with sports and clubs.
It all started with English teacher Ed Smith and his Composition 101 class. Smith said, “My comp. 101 students were given the task to propose a solution to the problem of their choice.” Some of the problems students focused on were starting the school day too early, having too much homework, or not having enough time to do school work.
Smith commented, “one solution was to give students extra time during the day to complete work. […] After seeing their presentation, I invited Mrs. Venne to see it as well. She was very receptive, and the genuine discussion among the class, Mrs. Venne, and myself, was a real testimony to change that can happen when students, teachers, and administrators listen to one another and work toward a better school environment.”
Principal Heather Venne said, “I really like the Power 45, because the students who have sports, clubs, and jobs can catch up on school work. [It’s] great because it’s giving the students what they need.”
Teachers also like the period. History teacher Jennifer Adams said, “I think it is a great idea! This new program allows the students ‘in school’ time to meet with teachers if they need extra educational help. Some of our students have a hard time staying after school, so this should really benefit those students.”
Many students like the idea of having a study hall period to catch up on school work including senior Seth Ash, who said, “In my opinion, the power 45 is a great idea. For students like me and others who may have sports, jobs, or honors classes. This study hall allows us to get the work we have, done. When school work piles up, it can be very stressful. So, if the students use this time wisely and use the 45 minutes to its full potential, we can save the stress.”
Ash voices the opinions of many students who favor the new period.
Junior Kayla Shaull said, “I think it’s useful, because athletes can use the time to study. Also, if you can’t come in early or stay late, you can get tutoring.”
However, the Power 45 isn’t a free period. Venne said, “This time is to get work done, not to go down to the Bistro and hang out with your friends.” Other administrators have enforced this statement by sending students away from the Bistro and back to their classes during the Power 45.
Venne reiterated this expectation, and stated: “It’s expected that the student body uses the time appropriately and constructively, not interrupt the students that really need the time to get work done.”
Teachers are experiencing productivity from students during this time. Band director Matt Barr said, “so far students have been quietly on task, or just enjoying ‘down’ time. Students seem to appreciate the time to do homework or work on another project they are interested in.”
As this period becomes more routine, administration is considering allowing for other opportunities to occur during the Power 45, such as a time for clubs to meet or meetings to take place.
When asked about the use of the Power 45 for sports and club meetings, Venne said, “I’m definitely not opposed to the idea of having it be used for sports and clubs in the future.” Sports and clubs could meet during the Power 45 as soon as the second half of the year.
Venne confirmed that “there is a possibility of having it every Tuesday and Thursday next year if it goes really well this year.”
Students already seem to like the idea of having it more than once, as junior Jake Rose and Jacob Schubert both agree twice a week would be helpful.
The name of the Power 45 came from Assistant Principals Chad Brindle and Doug Bryant. Brindle said, “Mr. Bryant and I came up with the name after a few days of bouncing ideas off of each other. We wanted something that would stand out and not be what other names were used by other districts, such as ‘Flex Period’. We started with names such as, ‘Ram Period’, and ‘Ram Academics’, but neither of those stood out.”
Overall, Brindle stated, “we chose KD Power 45 because of the length of the period, and in a sense, this is a ‘power’ period where students will eventually have many academic options to choose from, such as tutoring, remediation, and/or study hall.”
