CAMERON - Cameron High School officials said the modified school calendar implemented this past school year was "successful" and no changes will be made in the coming school year.
The school, along with Cameron Elementary School, operated on the new schedule, which was created as part of an innovation zone grant from the state awarded to find ways to offer classes "year-round." The calendar was created by elementary Principal Wendy Clutter and high school Principal Jack Cain and called for small breaks throughout the year instead of large chunks of days off for holidays and the summer.
The last day of school for this year was Thursday, and Cain said both students and teachers voiced approval of the modified schedule.
"We believe it was a successful year, and we are planning on doing it again exactly the same next year," he said.
Cain said the breaks throughout the year were beneficial to students and teachers, particularly the Thanksgiving break and a two-week spring break. He said the Thanksgiving break fell during deer hunting season, when a majority of the students in the school would typically not attend. He added the spring break in March fell at the right time to allow students to focus on finishing the year strong.
"After that two-week break, they kind of got (being out of school) out of their system and showed up for the remainder of the year," Cain said.
Cain said the increase in attendance was noticeable, and he expects that to improve even more as teachers and students learn the format and schedule appointments and vacations on weeks when class isn't in session.
Additionally, Cain said the schedule prompted increased participation in extracurricular activities, particularly fall sports.
"The students have to be here in August, so a lot of them signed up to participate," he said. "Transportation was always an issue with a lot of students not having a way in, but since they were here there was an increase."
After a seven-week summer break, students in Cameron will return to school Aug. 2, Cain said.
