Stonington High School to Eliminate 'X Block'

The midday 50-minute 'X Block' at Stonington High School is being restructured into two 25-minute sections, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. 

X Block takes place around lunchtime and allows students free time to eat, seek extra help or study. But school officials say it's too unstructured and they want to replace it with two 25-minute periods that will provide more structure, according to a report in The Day. 

A Wednesday afternoon email to SHS parents described the new set-up: "The 57 minute open period in the middle of the day is going away. Instead students will have 25 minutes for lunch and 25 minutes for activities as part of home base. All of our current activities will be available during the activity block. We have added a Z Block from 2:15-3:45 for make-up work," and after Z period, sports practices will begin at 2:45 so as to allow student athletes the chance to use 30 minutes of that block for school work. 

"It's a little more structured. I think it will work out better," high school Principal Stephen Murphy told The Day. Murphy has worked for several months with teachers, administrators and students on the change, the newspaper reported.