Bearden students have experienced a change in their advisory classes during the new school year.
Instead of having what was formerly known as Flex for upperclassmen, students now have a class named 45. This class is now 45 minutes long, compared to the previous year’s 30-minute Flex classes.
The class remains between first and second blocks.
This change occurred so students could have more time to focus on assignments that are given to them in their academy-based lessons and allow them some extra time to complete any work from other classes.
Academy coach Mrs. Kelley Darnell has held a prominent role in the academy system for the past three years at Bearden. She believes this change will help students in their pathways and provide them with more experiences.
“Our student ambassadors wanted, what we now call 45 or Flex last year, to be more of a serious class,” Mrs. Darnell said. “We’ll be scheduling a lot of guest speakers for our academies and pathways during this time.”
Mr. Logan Peterson, one of the BLC 45 teachers, is hopeful that this change will have a positive impact on students this school year.
“We can build better relationships and accomplish more together,” Mr. Peterson said.
Additionally, sophomores and juniors have now been placed into combined 45 classes based on their academies and pathways. This change allows students to interact with more of the student body and gives them the advantage of being surrounded by students who share similar interests.
“I think it creates a more cohesive school environment, and it also allows students from other grades to connect over similar things,” junior student ambassador Nora Johnson said. “I think it’s great.”
Added Mrs. Darnell: “11th graders have an opportunity to step up and be a little bit of a mentor.”
The new change to 45 will allow for more opportunities for students and their future.