Over the past month, La Salle students have been able to experience and try out the school’s new system for Falcon Time. Last year, Falcon Time was much less structured, and students had the ability to wander around the school, without needing to sign up for any specific activity. This previous system, where Falcon Time was on Friday, worked for many students, but many other students were not getting much accomplished in the time given.

For these reasons and more, the school felt that making changes was critical to ensure Falcon Time was improved.

“We wanted to make sure that student choice was at the forefront of Falcon Time, but what we recognized over the last two years is that there was really no built-in accountability,” Vice Principal of Student Life Mr. Brian Devine said.

Some students had been opting to use this time given on Fridays as more of a social time. This was not aligning with what the school’s hopes were for Falcon Time.

“We really wanted students to have an opportunity to connect with teachers, [and] maybe do some more directed wellness opportunities, but it was never really intended as a break,” Mr. Devine said.

In this new system, a sign-up Google form with the different options for Falcon Time is posted on Schoology on Monday by break, and students need to sign up for where they want to go by the end of school on Monday. Whatever students sign up for on Monday, they must attend during Falcon Time on Wednesday, right after their 6th period class.

This differs from last year, where students reported to their Falcon Formation classrooms first, and they did not have to sign up for what they wanted to do. Students simply went where they needed to go.

Along with the sign-up changes, the days for Falcon Time and Falcon Formation switched. This switch was made so that Falcon Formation could be on Fridays, meaning that assemblies and class meetings would be easier to plan, and so that students could access teachers for help earlier in the week.

Some of the options for students in this new system include mindfulness sessions with Mr. Mac, test prep session, art labs, and specific help for different classes. 

So far this year, students have been able to have a couple of these Falcon Times. Some students have shared negative feedback regarding the changes made and whether these changes were beneficial, stating that the new system is “too complicated” or that “it is still not helpful” for them.

“I feel like the new Falcon Time restricts us from being able to get the help we need because sometimes the class you want to go to is filled or the classroom you sign up to be in doesn’t end up doing any work,” sophomore Jess Schmitt said.

Some students have also had a hard time with not being able to change where they want to go on Wednesday, as they might not know on Monday what they will need help with that week.

“I don’t like the new system because sometimes I need to change where I go last minute and it feels limited,” sophomore Vishal Casper said.

Biology teacher Mr. Roth shared that he felt that the new system was improved from the previous system. “I really like the new format of Falcon Time. I feel like it allows teachers to be more interactive and have more time to help out students,” Mr. Roth said.

Teachers have also voiced that they like how students have to have a plan of where they are going.

“I think it’s a good idea for us to plan where we are going to be. It means that if a student knows they need to work with a teacher, they can know they will get that work time,” math teacher Mr. Redford said.