Starting this 2021-2022 school year, MHS has adopted a modified block scheduling system.

The modified block schedule consists of two-day styles, Red and White days. On Red days, students go to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 8th periods. On White days, students attend 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th periods.

Each morning flags are displayed at the front and back of the school to signify which day it is. Students, teachers, and parents can also view the bell schedule and Red/White schedule by clicking this link.

Although this was initially confusing for many, the teachers and students have adapted to the new system.

“I am starting to get used to it, but I still get confused when I’m trying to do lesson plans,” CTE teacher Rachel Nelson said. “I constantly have to look at the red and white days calendar, and I can’t quite remember which students I have which days.”

The student’s opinions on the matter are varied.

“It has positives and negatives,” junior Coleman Hicks said. “Homework is easier, but classes drag on for longer.”

While the opinions may be mixed, this new schedule isn’t going anywhere any time soon. The reason why is because Melissa Schools are transitioning to an International Baccalaureate (IB) school district next year. IB classes are designed to be universal worldwide, and they offer a rigorous curriculum and challenge students.

“For IB classes, we need longer periods,” Principal Kenneth Wooten said. “We hope to make the schedule go from a modified block schedule to a straight block schedule soon.”

A straight block schedule would eliminate the 1st and 8th periods, which are still 45-minute classes that meet daily. Students would have four 90-minute periods on Red days and four 90-minute periods on White days. Principal Wooten said additional staff is needed to implement that schedule fully.

“The International Baccalaureate (IB)…is a nonprofit foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and founded in 1968. It offers four educational programmes: the IB Diploma Programme and the IB Career-related Programme for students aged 15 to 19, the IB Middle Years Programme for students aged 11 to 16, and the IB Primary Years Programme for children aged 3 to 12. To teach these programmes, schools must be authorized by the International Baccalaureate,” according to Wikipedia.