The Bruin Block is a 68 minute period that would give freshmen and sophomores 30 minutes of Advisory and 30 minutes of lunch, while juniors and seniors would simply have a 68 minute lunch. Though the proposal is still in its early stages, Kathryn Weaver, member of the Student Support Committee, said the faculty reacted positively to the proposal.
“We were enthused by the support,” Weaver said. “And Rock Bridge has a really smart staff, and they brought up some really smart questions that we’ll work through together to figure out what’ll be best for kids.”
The Bruin Block is radically different from anything RBHS is used to. Though this creates potential for backlash, advisory teacher Debbie McDonough believes the proposal has many merits. Because teachers would be coupled to supervise each Bruin Block class, McDonough believes the program would help instill a sense of teamwork and fellowship among faculty as well as students.
“I love the idea. It’s an opportunity to get to know faculty from different disciplines, because hopefully I would be paired [during Bruin Block] with somebody from maybe math, so that shows the community we build as a faculty,” McDonough said. “And ninth and tenth graders would also get an opportunity to bond together when they first come up here and everything is so overwhelming to them … I just see it as a really positive thing.”
Not only does the Bruin Block build a sense of community between its faculty members and students, but because it gives a 68 minute lunch to juniors and seniors, it also gives upperclassmen a lot of freedom. Though this is risky, Weaver believes it is a good thing for RBHS and its students. She trusts that students would use the extra time wisely and thinks many could benefit from the long lunch period.
“I think that we have good kids that make good choices, and that Rock Bridge is about freedom with responsibility,” Weaver said. “For almost all kids, by the time they make it to their senior year here at Rock Bridge, they’ve learned a lot about both pieces, kind of managing freedom responsibly.”
By Urmila Kutikkad
Additional Reporting by Ashleigh Atasoy
This is part of the Preparing for Battle ongoing special report. For more information on the changes occurring as the district opens a new high school in the fall of 2013, check Bearing News biweekly for a transition update.
