Calendaring

Definitions

• • Period: A block of time allocated for classes. Usually designated by a combination of letters and numbers, for example: A1, A2.

  • Bell Schedule: A combination of periods that make up a school day.

  • Daily Attendance: The attendance that designates the student’s status for the entire day.

    • Each bell schedule must have one (and only one) period that counts for daily attendance. This is what allows office staff to mark students in tardy at any time during the day.

    • AMA is usually used for this purpose.

  • Meeting Attendance: The attendance for each class period.

  • Calendar Set-Up: The combination of A and B days that make up the school year.

  • Expression: The combination of period and day that communicates when a class takes place, for example: A1(M-F).

How To Change a Bell Schedule in Use

• 1. Click the “School” link under the Setup section on the PS start page.

  2. Click on “Calendar Setup” under the Calendaring section.

  3. Select a hyperlinked month under the month heading at the top of the page > scroll down to the date you would like to change and change the Bell Schedule from the drop-down list > click Submit.

How To Create a Bell Schedule

• 1. Click the “School” link under the Setup section on the PS start page.

  2. Click on “Bell Schedules” under the Calendaring section.

  3. Click the “New” button > name the schedule whatever you’d like – as long as you remember what you named it > click “Submit.”

  4. Back at the list of bell schedules, select “Edit Schedule” for your newly created schedule > click “New” to add a period.

• Select the “Period” name > fill in “Start time” and “End time” > check the “Counts for ADA” > click “Submit.”

• 5. One period MUST count for daily attendance, and all students must have this period on their schedule!

• For that one period, you must check the "Use For Daily Attendance" box and fill in the second set of start and end times which should be the times your school day starts and ends.

• A green checkmark will appear on your bell schedule in the "Use for Daily Attendance" column letting you know which period counts for daily attendance.

How To Add a Period To a Bell Schedule

• 1. Click the “School” link under the Setup section on the PS start page.

  2. Click on “Bell Schedules” under the Calendaring section.

  3. Click the “Edit Schedule” link next to the name of the schedule you would like to modify.

  4. Click the blue "New" button at the top right of the screen > select the "Period" you would like to add from the drop-down list > fill in “Start time” and “End time” > check the “Counts for ADA” > click “Submit.”

How To Edit a Period On a Bell Schedule

**If you are changing a Bell Schedule mid-year/semester, please create a new Bell Schedule and put that into use on your School Calendar instead of modifying an existing Bell Schedule that has been used for the school year.

• 1. Click the “School” link under the Setup section on the PS start page.

  2. Click on “Bell Schedules” under the Calendaring section.

  3. Click the “Edit Schedule” link next to the name of the schedule you would like to modify.

  4. Click on the period designation you would like to edit > adjust "Period" name and/or “Start time” and “End time” > ensure “Counts for ADA” is checked off > click “Submit.”

How To Delete a Period On a Bell Schedule

**If you are changing a Bell Schedule mid-year/semester, please create a new Bell Schedule and put that into use on your School Calendar instead of modifying an existing Bell Schedule that has been used for the school year.

1. Click the “School” link under the Setup section on the PS start page.

2. Click on “Bell Schedules” under the Calendaring section.

3. Click the “Edit Schedule” link next to the name of the schedule you would like to modify.

4. Click on the period designation you would like to delete > select "Delete" at the bottom of the page.

FAQ

1. What if I want to change the bell schedule for multiple days?

• • • Repeat the process listed above, selecting the bell schedule for multiple days. Once you’ve finished with one month, select Submit, and move to the next month.

2. What if I want to change a non-school day to a school day?

• • • The Cycle Day and Bell Schedule must be selected, all the check boxes are checked for School In-Session and Tracks In-Session, a "1" needs to be filled in for Membership Value, and Type also needs to be changed to "In Session." To change a school day to a non-school day, do the opposite!

    • The In Session, Membership Value and Type options determine the number of days school is in session and are used for attendance calculations within PowerSchool.

3. Can I delete bell schedules or periods from my bell schedule?

• • • Yes, you can. However, there’s no undo, so be absolutely sure you want to delete it. Also, don’t delete any bell schedule that are in use or have been used in the current year.

    • If you want to delete unneeded bell schedules for the upcoming year, make sure the correct term is selected in the upper right corner.

4. Can the PS Team help me set up my bell schedule(s) at the beginning of the year?

• • • Of course! Some campuses have very complicated bell schedules, and we will be more than happy to work with you to make sure everything is created the way you would like it and that it matches your master schedule expressions.

    • If help is needed, campuses should fill out the Bell Schedule Template and submit it to psassist@nobleschools.org.

5. Will our School Calendars be set up in the beginning of the year?

• • • Yes, the PS Team will set up School calendars at the beginning of the year to match the Noble Network calendar, but campuses will be responsible for indicating the Cycle Day and Bell Schedule in your School Calendar for days listed as “In Session” for the entire school year.

Attachments/Templates

Bell Schedule Template