Park City High School is implementing homeroom for students next year in an effort to provide a space for students to reflect and grow socially and emotionally, and develop authentic relationships with their peers and teachers.
Homeroom, which is required for all students, will be held 35 minutes during second period every Monday. Students will not be graded but will receive credit for attendance and participation. Students will be randomly assigned by Powerschool to homeroom and classes will consist of students in grades 10-12.
“Two years ago, students proposed the idea with the intent of reducing student stress, increasing academic engagement, providing greater student support, and creating a greater school community,” said Interim Principal Kathleen Einhorn. “Over the course of the past two years, our Leadership Team has examined various curricula and best practices to best meet the needs of all of our students. Research shows that students who have a greater school connection and consistent time to reflect are better prepared for success beyond high school.”
Homeroom will consists of activities such as YouSchool topics, study skills building, counseling curriculum, school culture building, and class competitions.
PCHS counselors will educate students about stress management, bullying, test-taking strategies, mental health, and substance abuse. Parents will be informed on the topics being discussed so they can continue the conversations at home with their students.
Einhorn also noted that the most recent visit from the AdvancEd accreditation team suggested the school improve upon its systemic student-teacher connections. PCHS is also using homeroom to satisfy the Federal and State mandates around Social and Emotional Learning.
“The high school’s new principal, Roger Arbabi, has been included in the implementation of homeroom and is excited to see how homeroom improves students’ relationships with not only their teachers but also other students,” Einhorn said.
What about school starting TWO hours later at 9:30am on Mondays? Over school year period 10 hours of instruction per course will be lost which equates to 3 weeks of school. This will be especially challenging for our AP programs where it is already challenging to cover the material in the alotted time. I believe almost 65% of PCHS students take at least one AP course.
Author, thanks so much for the post.Really thank you! Keep writing.
Homeroom is a wonderful idea – for all students to feel a sense of belonging and to enhance their mental well being. I applaud PCHS for creating this valuable program.
Thank you for doing this.
Shauna Wiest
Executive Director, CONNECT Summit County