Daily Schedule
KNOVA schools offer students over 25% more learning time than the average public school. A longer school day maximizes student learning, aligns with parent work schedules, and eliminates unsafe before- and after-school periods when unsupervised children tend to get into trouble. An Advisory period at the beginning and end of each day provides time for tutoring and mentoring, ensures that struggling students receive the extra help they need.
KNOVA schools are open over 200 days a year compared to an average 180-day calendar. Students enjoy a 6-week summer vacation with longer holiday breaks during the year, which minimizes the learning regression during long summer breaks and enables families to celebrate holidays together.
The daily schedule is outlined below:
KNOVA schools are open over 200 days a year compared to an average 180-day calendar. Students enjoy a 6-week summer vacation with longer holiday breaks during the year, which minimizes the learning regression during long summer breaks and enables families to celebrate holidays together.
The daily schedule is outlined below:
The chart below illustrates the daily schedule for students in grades K-5. As the chart notes, students are expected to arrive betweem 7:10 and 7:30 am and will depart at 4:30pm. Class starts at 7:35. Most students will leave at either 4:30, but families can arrange for an earlier or later departure to accommodate sports, music classes, parent’s work schedules and other family activities.
Morning Advisory. The “advisory” is a daily forum where teachers form meaningful bonds with students and act as an advisor to them on academic, social and personal matters. It is a home room period in the sense that students start and finish the day in the same classroom. As such, it provides meaningful continuity in students’ experience with teachers and serves as a foundational period in setting the tone for the school day. Advisory teachers also serve as a point person to parents, who can touch base with them when they are dropping their students off and picking them up at the start and end of the day.
The advisory is a designated daily period where students work individually at the student’s own pace. Because of the staggered arrival and dismissal times, the advisory is a “swing” period where students can spend as little as 90 minutes and as many as 120 minutes receiving individualized help depending on their needs. On the other hand, parents who want their children at home for maximum time – and whose children are doing well academically – can make arrangements to minimize the advisory period.
Academically, the advisory period will be used for multiple purposes. Teachers may administer diagnostic assessments to students to evaluate their individual needs. Students can work individually on computer programs, completing assignments, or learning with the help of hands-on aides such as Sanskrit letters. Finally, teachers may choose to group students so that they can spend more time learning from one another or practicing concepts that they are still building towards mastery.
During this period, teachers will spend up to 60 minutes assisting students individually with one-on-one, self-paced learning. Students will confirm that they have completed their assignments from the previous day. Teachers will have all assignments graded from the previous day’s coursework so that they can review the assignments with students and give feedback on any errors.
Teachers will distribute nutritional snacks to make sure that all students receive some kind of morning nourishment. Students who are struggling with coursework may be asked to take diagnostic assessments or repeat lessons to build greater proficiency. Teachers may also tutor students during this time. Those students who are excelling in class will be provided with enrichment material, such as advanced coursework, exploratory assignments, and research projects. We have also chosen computer programs that are specifically designed to complement course materials and increase students’ exposure to electronic media.
Daily Assembly. At 8:30 am, students will gather in a common space at the school for a multi-grade assembly. During this assembly, they will receive a daily message from the school leadership team that emphasizes a social goal for the day, marks the birthdays of students and faculty, and celebrates any national holidays or seasonal events.
School staff will recognize exceptional students who exemplify school values and expected behaviors. Students or small groups of students who have mastered or moved up in the curriculum, received a 100% on a test, continually score 90% or better on daily work, or excel academically in any way, will receive public recognition. The assembly will conclude at 9:00 am.
Morning Literacy Periods. From 9:00 to 11:50 am (with recess during this period), students will learn basic literacy skills, including reading, writing, and mathematics. They will receive this instruction in small groups and whole classroom settings. The teaching faculty will work closely together in a carefully coordinated schedule to divide classes of 30 students into small groups of 8-10 children for scripted instruction. During this period, two teachers will be fully engaged in the classrooms to allow for small student-to-teacher ratios.
Morning Recess. At 10:30, all students will take a break from instruction for about a 20-minute recess. Students will also be able to eat nutritional snacks to make sure they receive some kind of nourishment between breakfast and lunch. During the recess, they will engage in supervised play on the playground and on play structures, with close adult involvement. After getting some exercise, they will return to the classroom for instruction.
Mid-day Lunch/Physical Education/Nutrition. In the middle of the day, from 11:50 to 1:10, students will have lunch, physical education, and health/nutrition. Lunch may be offered on a staggered schedule, so that some students will be eating, while others are being taught health and nutrition, and while others will be enjoying recess and physical education (including supervised play on outside equipment and structured games on outdoor fields or indoor multipurpose space).
We anticipate that many parents will prefer to pack a lunch every day or most days for their children. In addition, for children who do not come to school with a packed lunch, the School will arrange for a low cost or free lunch through one of the following arrangements: (a) a contract with the District (if the District is willing) whereby the District will provide lunches; (b) a contract with a local food service vendor; or (c) an agreement with the Oregon Department of Education to operate a federally-funded Child Nutrition Program under which approved vendors would provide the lunches.
In no case will a child be allowed to go hungry. If a parent is unable either to provide a packed lunch or to pay for one, the School will arrange to provide a lunch each day for the student, whether through a free and reduced lunch program or otherwise. If a student comes to school without a packed lunch and does not have money to pay for the vendor-provided lunch, the School will provide a lunch free of charge.
Afternoon Humanities, Natural World & Global Culture. From 1:10 to 4:00 pm, students will focus on other subject areas while reinforcing the reading and math skills learned that morning. During a Humanities period, they will learn the mechanics of good writing and explore literature, including basil series and other literature works selected from Junior Great Books, Core Knowledge, and other sources. During a Natural World period, they will learn the fundamentals of scientific studies, including elements of physical science, geology, geography, astronomy, biology, chemistry, and physics. This period will reinforce basic computational skills. During a Global Studies period, students will learn the fundamentals of social and international studies, including such elements as citizenship, United States history, world history, and world cultures.
Afternoon Recess. In the middle of the afternoon block, from 2:50 to 3:10 pm, all students will take a break from instruction for recess where they will engage in supervised play on the playground and on play structures with close adult involvement. Students will also be able to eat nutritional snacks to make sure they receive some kind of nourishment between lunch and the end of the day.
Afternoon Advisory. At 4:00 pm, students will return to their advisory classes for individual study. Parents will pick up their children at either 4:30 or 5:00 pm, a staggered dismissal is offered for student who need the later pick up time. Teachers will spend up to 60 minutes providing all students with self-paced, individualized study in this final period. During this time, students will complete individual assignments given during the day. Struggling students may be asked to take diagnostic assessments and/or go over content from their core courses to build greater proficiency. Teachers may also tutor students during this time. Lessons will be repeated holding students to mastery in skill-based subjects. Excelling students will be provided with enrichment material, such as advanced coursework, exploratory assignments and research projects. We have also chosen computer programs that are specifically designed to complement course materials, which will increase students’ exposure to electronic media.
Benefits of a Longer Day. By offering a longer school day, the School will offer students at least 10-20% more instructional time than the average public school. This extra time will be necessary to ensure that the low-income students that the school enrolls have adequate time to catch up and progress at the level of their more affluent peers. The classroom teacher’s workday will start fifteen minutes before school opening and end fifteen minutes after dismissal. All teachers will arrive at 7:00 am and conclude their day at 3:30 pm. All assistant teachers will arrive at 8:45 am and conclude their day at 5:00 pm. Because of this staggered schedule, parents with full-time employment will be able to drop off and pick up their students at the start and end of the work day.
School staff will recognize exceptional students who exemplify school values and expected behaviors. Students or small groups of students who have mastered or moved up in the curriculum, received a 100% on a test, continually score 90% or better on daily work, or excel academically in any way, will receive public recognition. The assembly will conclude at 9:00 am.
Morning Literacy Periods. From 9:00 to 11:50 am (with recess during this period), students will learn basic literacy skills, including reading, writing, and mathematics. They will receive this instruction in small groups and whole classroom settings. The teaching faculty will work closely together in a carefully coordinated schedule to divide classes of 30 students into small groups of 8-10 children for scripted instruction. During this period, two teachers will be fully engaged in the classrooms to allow for small student-to-teacher ratios.
Morning Recess. At 10:30, all students will take a break from instruction for about a 20-minute recess. Students will also be able to eat nutritional snacks to make sure they receive some kind of nourishment between breakfast and lunch. During the recess, they will engage in supervised play on the playground and on play structures, with close adult involvement. After getting some exercise, they will return to the classroom for instruction.
Mid-day Lunch/Physical Education/Nutrition. In the middle of the day, from 11:50 to 1:10, students will have lunch, physical education, and health/nutrition. Lunch may be offered on a staggered schedule, so that some students will be eating, while others are being taught health and nutrition, and while others will be enjoying recess and physical education (including supervised play on outside equipment and structured games on outdoor fields or indoor multipurpose space).
We anticipate that many parents will prefer to pack a lunch every day or most days for their children. In addition, for children who do not come to school with a packed lunch, the School will arrange for a low cost or free lunch through one of the following arrangements: (a) a contract with the District (if the District is willing) whereby the District will provide lunches; (b) a contract with a local food service vendor; or (c) an agreement with the Oregon Department of Education to operate a federally-funded Child Nutrition Program under which approved vendors would provide the lunches.
In no case will a child be allowed to go hungry. If a parent is unable either to provide a packed lunch or to pay for one, the School will arrange to provide a lunch each day for the student, whether through a free and reduced lunch program or otherwise. If a student comes to school without a packed lunch and does not have money to pay for the vendor-provided lunch, the School will provide a lunch free of charge.
Afternoon Humanities, Natural World & Global Culture. From 1:10 to 4:00 pm, students will focus on other subject areas while reinforcing the reading and math skills learned that morning. During a Humanities period, they will learn the mechanics of good writing and explore literature, including basil series and other literature works selected from Junior Great Books, Core Knowledge, and other sources. During a Natural World period, they will learn the fundamentals of scientific studies, including elements of physical science, geology, geography, astronomy, biology, chemistry, and physics. This period will reinforce basic computational skills. During a Global Studies period, students will learn the fundamentals of social and international studies, including such elements as citizenship, United States history, world history, and world cultures.
Afternoon Recess. In the middle of the afternoon block, from 2:50 to 3:10 pm, all students will take a break from instruction for recess where they will engage in supervised play on the playground and on play structures with close adult involvement. Students will also be able to eat nutritional snacks to make sure they receive some kind of nourishment between lunch and the end of the day.
Afternoon Advisory. At 4:00 pm, students will return to their advisory classes for individual study. Parents will pick up their children at either 4:30 or 5:00 pm, a staggered dismissal is offered for student who need the later pick up time. Teachers will spend up to 60 minutes providing all students with self-paced, individualized study in this final period. During this time, students will complete individual assignments given during the day. Struggling students may be asked to take diagnostic assessments and/or go over content from their core courses to build greater proficiency. Teachers may also tutor students during this time. Lessons will be repeated holding students to mastery in skill-based subjects. Excelling students will be provided with enrichment material, such as advanced coursework, exploratory assignments and research projects. We have also chosen computer programs that are specifically designed to complement course materials, which will increase students’ exposure to electronic media.
Benefits of a Longer Day. By offering a longer school day, the School will offer students at least 10-20% more instructional time than the average public school. This extra time will be necessary to ensure that the low-income students that the school enrolls have adequate time to catch up and progress at the level of their more affluent peers. The classroom teacher’s workday will start fifteen minutes before school opening and end fifteen minutes after dismissal. All teachers will arrive at 7:00 am and conclude their day at 3:30 pm. All assistant teachers will arrive at 8:45 am and conclude their day at 5:00 pm. Because of this staggered schedule, parents with full-time employment will be able to drop off and pick up their students at the start and end of the work day.