Catapult

1
Catapult

• Building time in the school day for teachers to
  work with small groups of students for
• Clubs/Activities
• Tutoring
• Homework Help

2
Why the need? Why now?

• Our current initiatives have yielded a very low
  failure rate. However, we have not started to
  build interventions based on TAKS need.
• Feedback from students and teachers indicate that
  having flexible non-instructional time is
  something that can be maximizedif done well.
• Getting groups of students to work with teachers
  before school, after school, or during lunch puts
  us in direct competition with
• Food
• Fatigue
• Friends
• Transportation (Fords)

3
Our Process

• Studied the need with a team of eight, including
  teachers and counselors.
• Site Visit Georgetown ISD
• Refined the idea with site team
• Refined the idea with entire campus within small
  groups
• Electives
• 8th Grade
• 7th Grade
• 6th Grade

4
In a Nutshell Plan and Vision

• The Catapult period will be moved to the end of
  the day.
• 23 Minutes
• Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday
• At the end of the day on Catapult Days, students
  can either
• take part in clubs,
• extension activities,
• work in the cafeteria (TCB),
• and receive tutoring or homework help in a
  specific core area teachers classroom

5
Logistics Campus Organization

• Each instructional period will lose 3 minutes to
  build Catapult period. Just as on our Tuesday
  advisory days.
• 8th Grade Athletics will continue through
  Catapult Period. Athletes will only be pulled
  based on tutorial need, homework needs.
• Each week, teachers will designate students that
  are Taking Care of Business (TCB) to work in
  the cafeteria in a more relaxed atmosphere.
• 100 for 6th grade
• 100 for 7th Grade
• 20 for 8th grade
• 50 empty seats on each level

6
Logistics Student Clubs / Extension Activities

• These will run simultaneously with Catapult time.
  However, tutorial / homework needs will override
  activity each week.
• Ms. Hejl Science Olympiad
• Moede/Mixon Miscellaneous Band Group
• Mr. Leach Karate Group
• Mr. Taylor-Homfeld Theatre Group
• Mr. Browns Choir Group
• Ms. Greer AVID Group
• Ms. Hello Binder Organization Center
• Ms. Whitmire Robotics Club
• Ms. Courington 7th Grade / Yearbook Group
• Ms. Robinson Student Council (minus 8th pd.
  athletes at times)
• Ms. More GT Group

7
Logistics Tutoring / Homework Rooms

• Students assigned for tutoring or homework
  classrooms
• 10-15 students for tutoring rooms
• 15-18 students for homework rooms
• Rosters Posted in Each Hallway to Designate

8
Example Roster Snapshot
9
Next Steps

• Develop a viable proposal
• Ratify with site team
• Ratify with elective teachers
• Spot check with students
• Ratify with core academic teachers
• Publicize / Problem Solve with Parents
• Communicate to students through advisory
• Build activity through 1st period on January 6th
  to allow complete understanding for students.

10
Questions and Credit

• Please contact Mr. Padavil with any questions.
• 594-2811
• devin.padavil_at_pflugervilleisd.net
• Thanks to
• Students
• Jerry Karacz
• Sherri Vigil
• Cristina Garza
• Leslie Courington
• Tracy Palmer
• Marlene Hello
• Scott Akers