Two quarters into the new modified block schedule, Malvern still has not reached a unified opinion.

The beginning of this year came with a lot of change. Most notable was the new schedule which featured an eight day, eight period rotating cycle, shorter lunches, extra study halls, and a new counseling class.

Many members of the Malvern community initially were reluctant to change, as the eight-day schedule appeared a daunting task to learn. However, at the halfway point of this year, Malvern has had a good taste of the changes.

Seeking feedback from the students, the Malvern administration recently sent out a survey to the students’ emails. While the administration will not release the full responses from the survey, the Blackfriar Chronicle decided talked to a few Malvern students and teachers to hear their thoughts on the schedule.

Sam Rose ’17
How do you feel about the new schedule compared to how you felt in the beginning of the year?
I think it’s really nice; it gives you enough time to finish all the work that you have and also see teachers (to get) any help that you need. I think it’s a little better now because you’re getting more work and doing more complex things, so it’s pretty good overall.
Is there anything you would like to see changed?
I think I’d rather not have, or maybe reduce the hour-and-twenty-minute class, because sometimes certain classes, when you have that period, get really, really long and drawn out.

Kevin Munyan ‘16
How do you feel about the new schedule compared to how you felt in the beginning of the year?
I thought the eighty-minute period and all the periods were going to feel very long, but I think I’ve adjusted to it. One thing I really like is community time; I find that to be really helpful.
Is there anything you would like to see changed?
Longer lunches, maybe. I feel like my lunches are very rushed.

Rohan Juhnjuhnwala ‘18
How do you feel about the new schedule compared to how you felt in the beginning of the year?
It’s a really horrible schedule, honestly. Counseling is not a very good use because you spend an entire class, you lose an entire spot on your schedule. So, you could take one more credit if it weren’t for counseling. Then, you got community time, which is such a waste because no one uses it properly, and it’s right in the middle of the day, and there’s no point. You might as well either get out earlier or put it at the end of the day so it’s optional. It’s also hard because you might go an entire week and see a class only once, and the teachers might give you the same thing over again because they’re not sure if you’ve done it. It’s a really confusing schedule.
Is there anything you would like to see changed?
It would be easier if we had just a simpler schedule. There’s no reason why we had to make it a modified block; there’s this thing called regular block. It’s only four periods every day. And then I was thinking, in the middle of the day, instead of community time, you could make that an hour-and-twenty-minutes and in community time you’d have lunch, a spot for counseling, if they really cared that much, and then activities, so forty minutes of each.

Joe Basiura ‘18
How do you feel about the new schedule compared to how you felt in the beginning of the year?
It’s okay. I feel like I have a lot free time, and there’s a lot of time where I don’t have things to do and I just love sitting around and doing nothing.
Is there anything you would like to see changed?
Not particularly, no.

Joe Markferding ‘16
How do you feel about the new schedule compared to how you felt in the beginning of the year?
I like it, I do like it. It helps me get all my work done, and reduces the amount of stress that I have. I think the main thing is that there’s a little too much free time in the day. And that’s good for some things, but for other days, I literally have nothing to do.
Is there anything you would like to see changed?
I can’t think of anything specifically, just to cut down free time.

Caleb Kao ‘15
How do you feel about the new schedule compared to how you felt in the beginning of the year?
Initially I felt that the schedule would be rough. I thought, “I’m going to face a very tough college atmosphere, like one you would see in an Ivy League.” I have a lot of AP classes, and some really rigorous classes as well. Because of the new schedule, I was able to allocate my time, and use my time wisely for each class. We also have the free periods, which are really helpful for me.
Is there anything you would like to see changed?
I think students should have an extra free period (for a total of two), but I know some students may not be able to use it wisely.

Mike Bradley ‘17
How do you feel about the new schedule compared to how you felt in the beginning of the year?
I enjoy the new schedule now more than I did at the beginning of the year. I find that having the built-in study halls is very important, and it’s nice when you have homework that you have yet to finish or made a mistake on it. The hour-long classes, I’m still not a total fan of, but you pick and choose your battles.
Is there anything you would like to see changed?
I feel like having an eight-day schedule gets really annoying. It’s a lot of classes to have to really remember, and lunch can get confusing.

Chris Hoffman ‘15
How do you feel about the new schedule compared to how you felt in the beginning of the year?
The schedule at the beginning of the year took a little bit to adjust to, coming from a senior, you’ve had the same routine from three years coming in to a new schedule and a new way of doing things around here. At midyear, it’s been alright, I’m used to it by this point. There’s always something that comes up, like the unknown variable that you don’t know, but you’re able to face it with good preparation.
Is there anything you would like to see changed?
At this point I’m not really sure, I don’t know if we should change anything because it’s like getting adjusted to a new playbook; if you keep changing it, then no one is going to really learn it or adjust to it.

Ms. Florence Crews
How do you feel about the new schedule compared to how you felt in the beginning of the year?
I feel a whole lot better about it, I’ve gotten used to it. I think there’s still some bugs in it. I think they’re correctable, but not at midyear. I’m okay with the schedule.
Is there anything you would like to see changed?
Yes. There was a comment about if you give tests on only periods one and two, you don’t see the kids the day before, and that could be looked at. And, if we miss a day, then I think that the next day should be just whatever the next numerical day would be. (The day number we come back is the day number that we missed.)

Father James Cassidy
How do you feel about the new schedule compared to how you felt in the beginning of the year?
The beginning of the year was my beginning of the school, so I had only been here three weeks when we started the schedule. It was going to be new for me no matter what it was. The issue of block scheduling is a whole other question. I’ve had it in other schools, used in different variations. The first year is always the hard one, because it’s just different and new.
Is there anything you would like to see changed?
Not at this point.