SILVER GROVE — Surprisingly and overwhelmingly positive.

        That's how teachers, administrators and even most students at Silver Grove School view the end of their first year using an alternative or “year-round” school calendar, which generated some resentment and concern when proposed two years ago.

        “I knew it would be positive, but I didn't think it would be this positive,” said Bill Brown, Silver Grove superintendent.

        Today, the small K-12 school on Third Street in Silver Grove in Campbell County, circled by houses and mom-and-pop stores, will close on what many say is one of their most successful school years ever.

Richard Fillhardt a fourth grader, answers questions about a science project he did. (Patrick Reddy photos) | ZOOM |

        Silver Grove is the smallest and first school in Northern Kentucky to implement the alternative calendar. The success of Silver Grove's first year with the alternative calendar will likely prompt other schools to look more closely at it.

        Unlike traditional school calendars, which are based on agrarian societies that required students to be off for longer summer periods to farm, the alternative calendar shortens the summer break. Instead of being off for nearly three months, Silver Grove students get seven weeks summer vacation. After each nine-week grading period, students get two weeks off. This suits A.J. Smith just fine.

        “It gives you a break to relax,” the 15-year-old freshman said. A.J. said he was initially apprehensive about the schedule becauswould interfere job. Now, he saiompletely.

e only change ads schedule is spring break scheduling. For the 2ar, students werwo weeks in Marcthe students wiland the first wePrincipal Ike Weldon attributes this slight chanr, saying the sceather will be nhe spring.

      &nbve administratorudent school hasve decreased andn said a little de the academic honor roll this year, as opposedcent for the 199ar.

<ions/2001/06/08/n180x157.jpg" ALT="[photo]" WIDTH="180" HEIGHT="HSPACE="2" VSPACT SIZE="1" FACEJamie Baker (riga question from | ZOOTR> &np;   Alth work could be stoo early to tele's testing system won't be in until next year. ing to have to bof scores,”sp;    cky schools to lMr. Brown. Mr. Brown said he planned to conduct calendar for othcts.

  County School D look to Silver nbsp;     “It (the alternative akes more sense,Chris Gramke, scector for Campbebell County to & calendar early in the upcoming school year.
l school districove in your backss with it will mke said. “nbsp;       And sometimes that' at least that's McKinley Elemennley implemented4. Like Silver Gthe community when the idea was proposed.

&sp;   ButMarsha Bayless swant to go back     om the parents, we'd have a bigger battle than wimplement it,
said.

 d sometimes it i community to acbenefits.

        Thecome so popular 0 students optedhis year, makingl in the districts and students, Ms. Bayless said, didn't like t back to the trar used by the miementary school.as decided to spe section of the middle school would adhere to talendar and the the year-round c calendar they p   Other r include Fairview Middle School in Dayton and Sin West Carrolltp;    =3 face=arial,he>

  an anonymous survey conducted by the school in he initial resisernative calenda0 questions abouted to teachers,   In the survey, 83 percent of all the s said they had ade toward the ca also hailed it 45 percent agreappy, too. Half the student body said the alternas beneficial. <;     the public abounts attend classt Silver Grove, said this isn't true. Ms. Blau s requires all sthool 185 days a tudents attend, t schedule. &nbont size=3 face=arial,helvetica>Breaks enrich, r>

   Alternaasingly popular tates because ree shortened.

        eaks) reduces frcreases producti;It gives you a p>    h the students; they are good for the teachers, is, a third-gradver Grove, said e it allowed herss Greis said shudents had trouble grasping, and develop ways tor understand the

  &nba business teachball team, also his busy schedule.

      &need the break ju#148; Mr. Hart snbsp; But someed “extenden 1991 by the Kentucky Education Reform Act, areudents catch up.sp;    ed of academic hp rather than wad to plan activities for students whose parents care problems bheduling.

&s past year, Sile breaks for stutball camp during one week. Erica Brown, a musiche was able to cs camp at which cenery and perfo>    t from the city, Mr. Hart said. Teachers who par camps were paid     &ts such as Sandye calendar, prove, to go. Mrs. Smith, who works at Homeseekers.c, said her daughheerleading camps.

  &really liked it,ce program.”
       

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