This year, North Junior High School is excited to implement a new student engagement program called Eagle Time. The idea for Eagle Time came from school leadership studying trends on how students lose their focus and feel less engaged in the afternoon as opposed to mornings. Eagle Time scheduled in the middle of the day helps students refocus on their afternoon classes. The program successfully re-energizes staff and students and brings them closer together.
“As we were taking a look at how our kids were performing in the morning versus the afternoon, it’s a struggle,” explains social studies teacher Angela Mitchell. “So, what do we do about that? Research shows that if they can get a mind and body break–that reset–they are able to then refocus, re-engage stronger and have more academic success with the rest of their day.”
She also points out that Eagle Time creates some positive ripple effects. Staff and students are more engaged. New relationships develop due to shared experiences and common interests. In turn, that means students are more likely to seek help, feel more confident in class and have a more positive outlook on school as a whole.
“I feel like we’re really honoring student voice,” says Mitchell, “and meeting our students developmentally. … And our parents are so on board with this!”
Science teacher Theresa Figallo adds, “This pocket [of time] has become this really neat microcosm of amazing. It’s got opportunities for students now to have choice, and staff have a lot of choice too.”
“Kids don’t say, ‘Oh, I need another math class,'” says Mitchell. “But what they will say is that they need time to play. They need time to socialize with their friends. … to have fun. All of that is coming along for the ride by signing up to learn to play cribbage … to learn more about the Chinese culture and calligraphy, to learn about the Japanese culture … play board games.”
Eagle Time is also an opportunity for teachers to engage with students who may not be as successful otherwise in school. Figallo feels that aspect of student-teacher relationship building is critically important. She recognizes, as teachers, they get to engage with students on a level they never have before.
Students also are coming up with their own Eagle Time ideas.
“We had students who were like, ‘Hey, we don’t have anything for mental health. Could we have a mental health one?'” shares Figallo. “We have staff that are very interested in leading that kind of thing.”
Mental health has now been “put on the docket for another rotation.”
“I’ve not seen them as excited as they are to sign up for an activity as this [Eagle Time],” says Figallo.
Eagle Time brings a new energy and synergy to North students and staff alike, and they feel the program brings their small community closer together.
“The opportunities here are endless,” smiles Mitchell.
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