To: Mr. Serio, Principal Archbishop Chapelle High School

Cc: Archdiocese of New Orleans Office of Catholic Schools

We the undersigned strongly oppose the elimination of the block scheduling system for the following reasons:

1)The block scheduling system that Chapelle offers was one of the most important aspects of the curriculum that we considered when deciding where our daughters would be attending high school.

2)Increasing from four (4) to six (6) classes a day will severelyprohibit a student's ability to time manage her studies.Students will be forced to limit the time they spend on each subject and as a result, the quality of their work will suffer.Increasing the daily work load of classes will alsosignificantly limit a teacher's ability to offer quality time to the students.

3)Eliminating I. S.(Independent Study) will deny students theopportunity to begin homework and to seek any additional help they may need from teachers/tutors. This time is veryvaluable to the students as it not only affords them muchneeded time for academics, but it also provides them the opportunity to participate in any after school activities, clubs or sports. In the college application process, a student'sparticipation in extra curricular activities is weighed heavilyin their consideration of acceptance.

4)Where the core subjects are obviously the most important in a child’s academic development, we also feel that it is just as important to provide a student the opportunity to select anelective which she may choose to develop into a career.Eliminating electives will deny opportunities for those students who excel in those areas.

It is evident from listening to our daughters and from looking at their grades that the Block Scheduling System has contributed to their success at Chapelle. These young ladies attend classes and put in long hours of studying and they are expected to apply themselves so that they are successful academically in preparation for college. They are also expected to participate in school activities and to excel at their chosen activities. The block system is what makes it all possible.