[Yr7-10it] RE: PD Session times and timetabling issues

Sun Feb 10 21:26:18 EST 2008

I worked under a similar timetable system in the 90's - only we just had Day 1 to Day 7, which rotated in total disregard of holidays (ie if Monday was Day 4, Tuesday a holiday, Wed was Day 5)

At the time I had returned from maternity leave with two children in crèche, and I can vouch that this system does NOT suit part-timers AT ALL.
The rest of the world works on a 5 day week, and places like crèches expect you to book your kids in on certain days on a permanent basis, otherwise you go to the casual rates. Anyway that was how it was 16 years ago, before child care subsidies were introduced. In my case I had three options - 
	- Remain full time (which meant I would be away from home from 7am to 6pm 5 days per week as I had over an hour of travel time each way)and therefore never see my kids
	- pay exhorbitant casual crèche rates because I needed different days every week (and sometimes would not be able to book them in at all) 
	or
	- take a redundancy package

Weekly or fortnightly (ie week 1 and week 2) should be the only timetable options ever considered by schools!(IMHO)

To overcome the problem of camps, public holidays etc biting into some year 12 blocks more than others we have just moved to 5 one hour lessons per day, and each year 12 block has one lesson each day - makes for great continuity as you see the kids every day - unfortunately 1 hour lessons do not suit PE, Food tech etc classes in the junior school, but with every system there are pros and cons! Not only is each block timetabled each day, but the period is rotated - so I have my Yr 12's period 1 Monday, period 2 Tuesday ... period 5 Friday etc. This saves the old situation where you might see your class 3 times a week but it might always be last lessons (when kids work ethic definitely goes into hiding!!) 

Although this system was vehemently opposed by many staff, from my point of view it is working well. There is consideration to give PE and Food Tech doubles next semester.

PS The issue of starting PD later (eg 10am) was discussed at the VITTA Committee Planning weekend yesterday and although it is probably too late to change next Friday's PD a later start will be considered for future all day sessions.

Cheers
Ros

Roslyn Meadows
Head of ICT Implementation
Head of Assessment and Reporting
Bentleigh Secondary College 
| 9579 1044 | 0412 614 062 |

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-----Original Message-----
From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Litsa Tzelepis
Sent: Sunday, 10 February 2008 6:59 PM
To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Yr7-10it] RE: PD Session times

Hi kent,
I feel your pain. Maybe suggest this to your timetabler.

We run our school on a 2 week cycle - 10 days. Our timetabler counts out 
each Day 1, Day 2, etc. in each term.
He then, swaps days on the timetable to add the days we have less of. For 
example, if we have 6 x Days 6's (Mondays) and 10 x Day 1's (Friday), he'll 
swap 2 Day 1's into 2 Day 6's.

Therefore, the whole term becomes balanced. It works.

Litsa

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kent Beveridge" <kbeveridge at stbc.vic.edu.au>
To: "Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List" 
<yr7-10it at edulists.com.au>
Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 5:35 PM
Subject: [Yr7-10it] RE: PD Session times

> What can I say Hutchy? Here, Here!!
>
> The only reason I havent yet put in for the VCE PD is that, beleive it or 
> not, I am still yet to actually have a class with my year 12's...True! 
> They have been on 'retreat'..its a Catholic school. And I am not the only 
> teacher in this boat here..3 of us are in the same situation courtesy of 
> the timetable..and heres a twist, I have to find 2 periods when they can 
> fit to make up a total 5 period week. I tell ya, its a mind bender right 
> now here.
> Kent.
>
> Kent Beveridge,
> I.T. co-ordinator
> St. Brigids Catholic Sec. College
> Horsham
> email.. kbeveridge at stbc.vic.edu.au
>
> |<3|\|7  b3\/3r1D93 ?  ;-)
>
> Wishes and Eggs, one you make and one you break!  A bit like promises.....
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> ________________________________
>
> From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Hutchison, Geoffrey G
> Sent: Sun 2/10/2008 12:26 PM
> To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
> Subject: PD Session times
>
>
> Hi all,
>
> I want the VITTA organisers of pd to start taking rural members into 
> consideration when setting session times. For example, next Friday there 
> are important PD sessions in Melbourne for VCE teachers of Units 1 and 3. 
> They run from 8.30 TO 3.15!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why? Just to fit Melbourne members 
> teaching day? What about folks in the bush?
>
> For me to be there at 8.30, probably means a 5.30 start, taking into 
> consideration peak hour traffic. And does anyone know of a (public) school 
> that will pay for overnight accommodation even if we could get down the 
> night before? ................ don't think so.
>
> Why not 9.30 or 10.00 to 4.15 or 4.45? When I worked in Tasmania, all(?) 
> PD started at 10am no matter where it was, so that everyone had a chance 
> to get to it, no matter where they lived in the state.
>
> Well?
>
>
> Geoff Hutchison,
> IT Co-ordinator/Manager,
> McGuire College,
> Shepparton, Vic
>
>
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