Northgate Focuses on Study Session Rigor

Northgate High School is underlining the study in study session.

In an email to the school community this week, Principal John McMorris told about new "no assignment left behind" rules for study session, which is 35 minutes a day, three days a week.

Staff members "all agree that the biggest roadblock to student learning is the simple fact struggling students do not complete, or sometimes even attempt, the course work and/or homework," McMorris wrote. "Students cannot learn if they do not do the work that teaches them the course material they are learning.  To remedy this we are going to require students to complete every assignment they are missing in study session periods."

McMorris asked for parental support in implementing the policy. He said the school would have tutors available in study session.

The school is also rescheduling to make Sustained Silent Reading session immediately after study session.

"The emphasis of SSR is to develop positive reading habits, foster a love of reading, and promote intellectual curiosity by having students spend a few minutes daily reading a book of their own choosing on their own interests!" McMorris wrote.