When asked by students, "What block comes next?" I answer, "I haven't been here long enough to figure out the schedule."

 

The product of decades of faculty debate and continual modification, our schedule offers lots of flexibility, so that students can customize their Proctor experience while meeting the core requirements of a college preparatory education. These kids just received their first PSAT scores:

 

So, for example, one student can take four academic majors as well as an arts class while meeting with a learning specialist four times per week, while another tackles five majors and protects a "free block" (when she ends up providing tours to visiting families!)

 

That's the good news. It is also true that our schedule is imperfect, reflecting competing tensions and demands on student time. While it may be the best system upon which we can agree--balancing class time, athletics and other afternoon activities while allowing time for studying, eating and sleeping--few people are completely satisfied.

 

Explaining the schedule would be impossible, so I'll try. Six "blocks" of time called A,B,C,D,E and F appear in different order through the week. If A block is your chemistry class, you have it after lunch on Monday, first thing on Tuesday, at 9:05 on Wednesday and at 11:55 on Thursday. Your other five blocks meet Friday. Below, Will jots a note to and on Jeremy.

 

Confused? I haven't even started. The example I just provided is true during the fall and spring, but not today. Oh no: we have a very different schedule in the winter term.

 

In an attempt to maximize time on snowy slopes, the winter schedule shortens blocks to 50 minutes and protects Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for sports and activities. But it's much more complicated than that. In a stab at equity, the blocks that meet at 11:20 on Tuesdays and Thursdays flip-flop from week to week. And we squeeze in two blocks on Saturday mornings; a different two--of course--each Saturday.  This is the corner of the dining room where Bill Sullivan holds court at lunch:

 

All of this is forgivable in January and February when, presumably, skiers and snowboarders are enjoying deep snow, but the winter schedule began December 1, and the ground is bare.

 

There is cause for hope. The forecast is for a little snow tonight! Perhaps campus will be blanketed in white for first period Monday....(whichever block that is.)