New Year, New Bell Schedule: What’s Changing and Why It Matters
- Stuart Murray
- May 16
- 2 min read
📅 First day of school: Monday, August 18, 2025
We’re counting down the days to welcome our Kairos students back for the 2025–26 school year—and we’re starting strong with a refreshed daily bell schedule for both middle and high school. These updates reflect months of planning and a bold commitment to personalized learning and support.
New Start & Dismissal Times
To better meet academic goals, developmental needs, and state requirements, both schools will follow new daily schedules:
Middle School
Building Opens: 7:45 AM
Classes Begin: 8:10 AM
Dismissal:
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 4:05 PM
Wed: 1:19 PM
High School
Building Opens: 7:40 AM
Classes Begin: 8:00 AM
Dismissal:
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 3:30 PM
Wed: 1:50 PM
Why the Change?
This isn’t just a tweak—it’s a major investment in student success! We’ve redesigned the bell schedule to:
Strengthen academic learning
Build in structured time for intervention and enrichment
Ensure every student gets one-on-one mentoring during the day
Create more equitable access to clubs and activities
As Chief Schools Officer Jonathan Tyrell put it, “No other school is devoting time during the day for this kind of mentoring. We’re proud to make it a cornerstone of our model.”
What Does That Mean for Students?
Students will now benefit from:
Dedicated mentoring blocks to set goals, reflect on progress, and build strong relationships with trusted adults
Built-in intervention/enrichment time—no more pulling kids out of class to catch up or push ahead
Clubs and electives during the day, ensuring every student can participate, regardless of transportation
Middle and high school students will also enjoy:
5-minute transitions between classes
27–28 minute lunch periods
Separate cafeteria spaces to keep things calm and comfortable
Planning With Purpose
These changes were shaped through months of collaboration. We used academic data, student surveys, and principal and staff feedback to build a schedule that works—for learning, for social-emotional growth, and for our community.
Want to Stay Involved?
Join our monthly PTA meetings! They’re a great way to share feedback and shape decisions alongside school and network leaders.
Stay in the Loop
We’ll keep posting weekly updates here on the Kairos Back to School Blog. Come back each weekend for new info, reminders, and resources to make sure your family starts the year off right.
📍All updates are also available anytime at: www.kairosacademies.org/families