Lehman Catholic Transitioning to a New Class Schedule

Andrea Wilmer

3/8/22 1:51 PM

It is definitely an exciting time to be a Cavalier! As you know, we are always looking for ways to meet our mission to foster individual discovery, excellence, and dynamic faith. After careful consideration, Lehman Catholic will be transitioning to a new class schedule beginning in the fall of 2022. While we know there will be some challenges, we believe this is going to have a positive impact on the long-term success of our students and that they will benefit tremendously from this both inside and outside the classroom.

The new schedule will …
  • give students and teachers the opportunity to dive deeper into academic content and dedicate time to differentiated learning opportunities and peer collaboration.
  • give students a better opportunity to work one-on-one with teachers on homework and projects and have their questions answered.
  • provide opportunities for students to learn and practice time management, organization, and experience a model similar to college and the career center.
  • allow for a 30-minute lunch – a scheduled brain break to self-regulate, refocus and increase efficiency – which is important for social-emotional development.
  • give students the opportunity to focus on fewer classes per day, and on all classes on one day per week.

Although the new class schedule includes the transformation of our daily schedule from mods to a hybrid schedule, Lehman Catholic High School will continue to offer Advanced Placement Program (AP) and College Credit Plus (CCP) classes on our campus. Also with the new schedule comes the addition of two new electives – Life & Career Development and Criminal Justice.

Criminal Justice | Students will learn about the skills that are essential in a Criminal Justice career. A variety of strategies will be offered to enable the student to gain in-depth training in the career path for professions in the field of Criminal Justice professions. Students will encounter information related to the American Criminal Justice System, Investigation and Forensic Criminal Investigation, Security and Protective Services, Police Works and Practice in Public Safety.

Life & Career Development | Students will learn, practice, and apply study skills, note-taking, identifying their preferred form for learning, essential life skills such as meal planning, scheduling appointments, social etiquette, time management, automotive essentials, and important skills in career planning.


Q and A | The answers to your questions.

How do study halls work with the new schedule?
With the new schedule, the number of classes will not change. Students will continue to interact and learn on an 8-class schedule. As for study halls, students in grades 10-12 will be able to register for one study hall.

Will CCP and AP classes continue to be offered or will students need to leave campus?
CCP and AP classes will continue to be offered and taught by our teachers who are trained to teach AP and certified to teach CCP courses on campus. 

What is the main reason for the change in the schedule?
Increasing the amount of time per class increases the opportunity for teachers and students to work uninterrupted and for students to have access to the experts. We are seeking to provide students with a variety of strategies that increase their skills in collaboration, creating, application, and develop arguments they can test and assess. Also, our goal is to create an environment that gives students access to their academic requirements in a variety of ways that students can grasp and master from a variety of avenues and formats. Classes with increased differentiation benefit from extended periods of time.

How do you plan to share information with students?
Per the advice of student council officers, students will be given the opportunity to share their questions and concerns to be addressed after Mass. Students will be given access to a suggestion box and a google form to share their thoughts. Questions will be addressed with each class - freshmen, sophomores, and juniors - to make communication more efficient and effective.

Will there be a weekly Mass with the new schedule? 
Weekly Mass at Lehman is not only a tradition but the cornerstone of our mission. Our intention is to continue to offer weekly Mass and continue to work with the Archdiocese to protect this practice and offer the sacraments to our students.

How will time with Mrs. Shappie work with the new schedule? 
We value the time and services Mrs. Shappie is able to provide for our students to address their unique needs. We are currently working on adding a teacher aid to our special services team to ensure the best support is provided to all of our students. 

Check back - more answers coming soon!