Tiger PAWS
Blue Valley High School
Information Sheet
What is Tiger PAWS?
It is an hour in the middle of the day (a “pause”) for students to use
for tutoring, clubs, lunch, socializing, studying, test reviews, and
more. There are two thirty minute blocks. Teachers have a thirty
minute lunch & thirty minutes of office hours to work with
students.
Why Tiger PAWS?
Academic Support (Strategic Plan Goal 1)
Tiger PAWS provides a time for academic support every day during
the day compared to once-a-week currently.
Emotional Well-Being (Strategic Plan Goal 2)
Tiger PAWS provides a social opportunity for students and staff to
decompress and connect.
College & Career Readiness
Most high school schedules are compartmentalized leaving little or
no room for students to develop soft skills revolving around time
management and responsibility. Tiger PAWS provides for both.
Fit
Tiger PAWS fits into our current schedule with minor adjustments.
All classes during the day are an equal length of time.
What will it look like at BVHS?
Tiger PAWS will begin August 29 and January 9.
Mon/Tue/Fri
Wednesday
Thursday
1st 7:45-8:33
1st 7:45-9:13
PLC 7:30-9:00
2nd 8:38-9:26
3rd 9:18-10:46
2nd 9:00-10:25
3rd 9:31-10:19
TP 10:46-11:46
4th
10:30-11:55
4th 10:24-11:12
5th 11:49-1:17
TP
11:55-12:55
TP 11:12-12:12
7th 1:22-2:50
TTime 12:55-1:20
5th 12:16-1:04
6th 1:25-2:50
6th 1:09-1:57
48/88/85 min classes
7th 2:02-2:50
CAPS AM ends at 10:00
CAPS PM starts 12:20, Thu 1:20
We will use the first two weeks of school to prepare students and
staff for the onset of Tiger PAWS. During this time, we will explain
format, expectations, procedures and protocols.
A/B Lunch
Teachers with A lunch will have a duty-free lunch for 30 minutes
and then be available for office hours for 30 minutes. A bell will
ring at the twenty-eight minute interval signaling a change from A
lunch to B lunch. Teachers with B lunch will begin Tiger PAWS with
office hours and then have a duty free lunch. A bell will ring with
five minutes remaining during Tiger PAWS signaling to students that
they need to prepare to move to their class destination. A
two-minute bell will ring indicating that students have two minutes
to get to class before being considered tardy. Teachers will have
individual discretion as to whether they extend their office hours.
Where may students eat their lunch?
Students must stay on campus. However, students may eat their
lunch in the commons, fixed forum, hallways, classrooms, outside
the commons in our front courtyard, and in our courtyard by the
mobiles. The gyms, athletic hall, computer labs, and library will
initially not be eating areas.
We have worked closely with district food service to provide more
than one food service distribution location in the building. We will
utilize our main kitchen serving area, a second site within our
commons and a food station near the fixed forum.
Appropriate furniture will be placed strategically in specific
hallways and outside to accommodate students.
We ask that parents not call students out during this time if
possible. Medical appointments would be an exception. As is
currently the case, we ask that food deliveries by food
establishments not take place during this time.
Tiger Time - Advisory
Tiger Time will occur each Thursday after Tiger PAWS. On
designated weeks, Tiger Time will be reserved for Tiger TV. There
may be weeks when the Tiger Time is used for an assembly or
special event. Short lessons and activities will be provided to
teachers to assist them in delivering the advisory curriculum
during Tiger Time. The time parameters for Tiger Time are
changing from 41 minutes to 25 minutes.
What will students do during Tiger PAWS?
Initially, students will have the freedom to choose how they use
their time. It starts as “their” time. Students will be required to
remain on campus, but may choose when to eat their lunch, where
to eat their lunch (multiple locations), meet with a teacher,
participate in club meetings, participate in a test review, meet
with fellow students in a study group, participate in unique
activities, or simply relax and socialize. Students who have a D or
an F will be assigned to that teacher for Tiger PAWS.
It is important that we support students using their time
responsibly. The only way that they can develop that skill is being
given the freedom to manage their time and make the decisions
that accompany that. Therefore, staff will be instructed to not
mandate student time. The only mandates will be for D’s and F’s,
make-up, or inappropriate behavior. There may be some rare
occasions when a teacher may assemble a group of students for a
specific reason that will be communicated ahead of time.
What are the consequences for a student who does not use Tiger
PAWS appropriately?
Based on practice at other schools, students with a D/F who do
not use Tiger PAWS to work with their teacher or who skip may
wind up losing the privilege for an indefinite period of time by
being assigned to a mandatory study hall. Under this
circumstance, the student would eat his/her lunch in the study
hall and would be expected to complete class assignments while
in the study hall. Other schools report rarely having to do this
because of the desire to have the time for socializing or getting
things done.
Can Tiger PAWS be taken away?
Yes, if necessary. If responsibility is not taken for trash pick-up or
there are behavioral issues, Tiger PAWS may be suspended
indefinitely. Our traditional schedule, as it is now, would be the
default.
Computers
Computers in the library would be available to students. We
would also try to make the computer lab 351 available. Students
are free to bring their own devices as well.
CAPS
Tiger PAWS works within the parameters of the schedule for both
morning and afternoon CAPS students.