What is a Trimester Schedule?
Instead of quarters or semesters, the school year is divided into three 12-week trimesters. In a trimester schedule, there is a reduction in the number of overall class periods. A trimester schedule usually runs five class periods that meet daily instead of eight class periods on our current semester schedule.
What are the benefits of a Trimester Schedule?
A trimester schedule has numerous advantages for our students and staff. First, and most important, is increased instructional time. Moving class time for each class from 45 minutes to 65 minutes allows teachers and students more time to explore content on a deeper level. The extended class time also allows for more time in class for project-based learning and classroom labs. Another significant benefit of trimesters for our students and teachers will be the reduction of daily homework due to fewer classes taken at one time.
Additional Benefits of Trimesters:
Why are we changing our schedule?
The team at Bedford North Lawrence High School recognized a need for a change in our schedule to 1) increase opportunities for students, 2) increase instructional time, and 3) provide daily flex time for all students.
How will lost instructional days be made up?
While each term will be shortened from an 18 week semester to a 12 week trimester, classes will be longer each day. Each class period will be 65 minutes in length instead of the current schedule for 45 minutes per day.
How long will the courses be?
The BNL leadership team has met with all departments to discuss how this change will impact the current course curriculum. Our trimester design will mean that core classes (which are currently two semesters long) will be two trimesters, or 24 weeks in length. Electives (which are currently one semester long) will be one trimester in length, or 12 weeks. In some special cases, such as Dual Credit Calculus, a course may be three trimesters (all year) in length. To see a list of all courses and how many terms each course will be, see our BNL 2020-21 Master Course List.
How will current students be affected by this change?
Current BNL students have four year plans mapped out to help them select classes each year. These students will learn how to transition their current four year plans to a new template for a trimester schedule. The trimester will allow them to take additional courses during their time at BNL. All of the courses already mapped out on a student’s four year plan can remain and students will now be able to choose additional courses that may not have fit into their schedule before. You can plan your schedule for next year using our BNL 2020-21 Master Course List and our BNL Trimester Planning Worksheet.
How does this schedule change affect dual credit college partnerships?
The BNL leadership team has been in communication with our dual credit providers at Ivy Tech, Vincennes University, University of Southern Indiana, and Indiana University. Each institution is providing opportunities to continue offering our dual credit courses. With the additional terms offered on a trimester, BNL will be able to add additional dual credit opportunities to support our Early College program.
How will a trimester schedule affect programs offered at North Lawrence Career Center?
On a trimester schedule, students will have the opportunity to enroll in a career center pathway for all three trimesters. Keeping the full year instructional time will also allow North Lawrence Career Center to meet the needs of students from sending schools. NLCC has also developed ways to introduce new introductory courses for students for one trimester, making their schedule more flexible for students.
How will a trimester schedule affect fine arts offerings at BNL?
The flexibility of a trimester schedule will allow students to take additional classes that a traditional semester schedule would not allow room for. Work is being done in both the art and music departments at BNL to make a course design and path that benefits students and allows us to continue offering enriching opportunities in the fine arts. See our BNL 2020-21 Master Course List to see information about specific courses.
*Many courses within the music department will be offered as three trimester long courses.
How is the staff at BNL preparing for this change?
The BNL leadership team has met with teachers in every department to make decisions for scheduling each course, including which courses will need to be taught in consecutive trimesters. Teachers are participating in monthly professional development sessions to prepare for the change and increased instructional time.
Will year-long courses still be year long? Will semester courses become one trimester?
With just a few exceptions, all courses currently taught over two semesters will now be taught over two trimesters. The same will be the case for current one-semester courses, they will now be taught for one trimester.
Some exceptions to this rule will include: calculus, yearbook, many of the career center trades and industry course offerings, and some music department offerings. Please refer to the 2020-21 Master Course List to check the number of credits/trimesters for each course (indicated in the second column next to each course).
Will two trimester courses be offered consecutively?
We have consulted with each department regarding all courses. Departments have determined which two trimester courses require that they be offered consecutively for student success.
What will the bell schedule be for delayed starts?
The specific times for a two-hour delay schedule are still being finalized. On the delay schedule, students will not have flex time, but will still attend all other classes.
What exactly is flex time? What will students be doing during this time?
Flex time, like it’s name implies, is time during the day that the BNL community can use in flexible ways to respond to the needs of students. This means flex time may not look exactly the same every day of the week all year. However, during this time, students will be scheduled to a specific teacher for all four years.
Even with it’s flexibility, Flex Time will provide guaranteed experiences for students as well, including: instruction and experiences on career and college awareness and planning; social emotional learning; opportunity to meet with content teachers for additional academic support and enrichment; opportunity for extracurricular clubs and activities to meet during the school day.
Will BNL still offer AP Classes?
Yes, BNL will still offer AP classes. You can see a list of AP classes on the 2020-2021 Master Course List.
Will BNL students get out of school at the same time as before?
The bell schedule for next year is available on the 2020-2021 Bell Schedule page.