This week Roseville High School will alter the way in which it approaches PAWS. The schedule for the imbedded intervention will remain the same as the fall term, except students will no longer be able to sign up for enrichments.

     Teachers are supposed to provide their own enrichment in classes or use the extra half an hour to re-teach previous lessons. No new material is to be taught.

     “While I was an advocate of [enrichments], it’s just I would rather provide it in my own classroom in my own way,” said social science teacher Marie Criste.

     Junior Jordan Maulino sees this as a positive change.

     “I feel like it’s better because PAWS was a waste of time when we had enrichments,” said Maulino. “If you’re in a classroom environment with a teacher that will help you, you can learn more or do your homework.”

     Students who are identified by teachers, administration, or counselors as needing additional support will be pulled out of their classes during PAWS and sent up to administration. They can be pulled out for academic referrals, behavior problems, or problems with study skills.

     “We’re still trying to figure out a location [for students being pulled out of PAWS], it will depend on the amount of students being pulled out,” said principal Brad Basham. “In the past we’ve used Admin 4 and Admin 5. We just don’t know if it’ll work or whether or not we need more space.”

     The decision about the new PAWS schedule was decided by a teacher’s vote that took place two weeks ago. There were four options for the teachers to choose from.

     “I would’ve been accepting of any of the schedules,” said Basham. “My whole purpose is to have some kind of embedded intervention in the school day.”

     One option was a fixed 30 minute period after first period for enrichments and for students to receive extra help. Another was a fixed 45 minute period twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The third choice was no change in the PAWS period and the last was the exclusion of enrichments.

     “I think we should have the option of going to the cafeteria,” said freshman Kylene Ladenberger. “If we’re just in our classes, we won’t get a chance to do our homework.”

     Accountability has always been an issue for PAWS period and some teachers think that this new schedule will help with that issue.

     “I think PAWS will help hold more of the students accountable in regards to where they should be,” said health teacher Josh Errecart. “We’ll have less students wandering around campus.”

     Some students don’t agree with the new schedule and think it’s unfair.

     “I think it’s unfair that people with good grades still have to stay in their classes with the people who aren’t doing as well,” said sophomore Michael Carmody.