Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, every other Monday students will be able to sleep in for at least an extra hour as classes will begin at 9:45 a.m.

The Board of Education voted in Dec. to institute 16 late start Mondays beginning in the 2012-2013 school year for high schools to utilize for Professional Learning Communities (PLC), replacing half days.

Principal John Shaughnessy said, “The advantages [of PLC late start] definitely gives our teachers an uninterrupted 90 minutes of time to work as PLC on a consistent basis.” Rather than 2 hours once a month on half days.

However the students’ concern is about half days saying “good-bye.” Junior Danielle Christian feels like half days are better.

“With late start days all you can do is sleep later, whereas with half days I do homework, hang out with friends, go out to lunch, etc. The extra time is more beneficial after school,” Christian said.

Freshman Allison Hallums agrees with Christain; half days are more productive, but Hallums says, “It will be nice to be able to sleep in; it will make Mondays feel less sluggish.”

Classes on these PLC late start days will be lengthened to 34 minutes instead of the 21 minute class periods on  half days.

As of now it is only the Rockwood high schools; the school board has yet to decide if middle schools will cut out half days and replace them with late start days.

For a complete list of the 2013-2014 late start schedule, follow this link:

http://www.rockwood.k12.mo.us/news/Pages/010820132013-2014HighSchoolLateStartSchedule.aspx