One of Haven’s defining features is its block schedule. But that schedule doesn’t exist without the invisible hand of the bell system, which has to fluctuate between normal block schedule, assemblies, and standardized testing.
In previous years, that bell system relied on assistant principal Mr. Tom McLaughlin. For any non-standard instructional day like assembly schedules, McLaughlin would run down from his office, lean over an almost floor-to-ceiling tower, and manually input the schedule.
“We should have a clock system that adjusts to daylight saving time,’” McLaughlin said. “Finally, the fuse is burned out. I’m like, ‘Why are we going to replace this? We don’t have the parts to replace any of it. Let’s get a system that works in the 21st century.’”
Since the new bell system was implemented, the tower was finally cleared out this year. The new system allows administrators to input the schedules digitally and toggle between the different possible schedules at the click of a button. But for some students, it doesn’t matter what system the bells are on.
“I don’t really pay attention to bells at all,” senior Levi Ouellette said. “They wouldn’t change them when the schedule would change, so I learned to not really rely on them.”
Ouellette’s schedule is different from the typical Haven student. He has only one block where he’s in the building, and the rest is spent in dual enrollment classes at Delaware County Community College.
“I feel like [assemblies are] always communicated from the teacher during the block that [I would have been in] when I had full classes,” Ouellette said. “If you’re absent, or if you’re like me and you don’t have morning blocks, it’s all word of mouth.”
According to biotechnology teacher Mr. Tim Styer, the answer to consistent communication with students may lie in the past. Styer is one of the longest-serving teachers at Haven, and has seen schedules change from period schedule to the block schedule.
Many years ago, Haven used to have Pride Room, similar to homeroom, where students would have one teacher that they saw for a few minutes at the beginning of every day from freshman year to senior year.
“I’m the one who greeted you as you cross the stage, as you got your diploma, to give a big hug, because I’m the first person you saw coming in freshman year and the last person going out. I miss that, and I wish we had this part of our schedule,” Styer said.
Pride Room ended due to state requirements on instructional time. Now that those requirements have changed, Styer hopes to restore Pride Room to build more lasting relationships with students. However, he still believes the block schedule allows for more flexible and focused learning.
“The block [scheduling] is remarkable, best thing we’ve ever done by far,” Styer said. “Give me 80 minutes and I say, ‘let’s go nuts.’ Sometimes they do the half [class schedule] when they have an AM assembly bell schedule, but you get a 43 minute class for [instruction] — what are you getting done?”
While Styer hopes the block schedule remains the same, he’s anticipating the change to the bell system once renovations are underway.
“I wish there were better ways to control [the bells],” Styer said. “I know we’ve had a problem with that, but that’s a function of the old building. Well, one day to the next, sometimes they don’t work, but that’ll all be different when they rebuild this place in the next couple years.”
