Citizen, Scholar, Steward

Prioritizing a healthy schedule for our Bearcats

KCD’s Daily Schedule

In the fall of 2024, KCD will implement a new daily schedule. With our mission at the heart of the new design, the research-backed updates to our daily routine in each division were thoughtfully selected with the health, wellness, and academic success of our students at the very center.

KCD remains committed to cultivating a safe, supportive, and academically rigorous environment that promotes curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking, as we prepare our dynamic 21st Century learners for success in the classroom and beyond.

The School Day

The school day will begin at 8:30 am and end at 3:30 pm with a late start for students on Wednesdays (9:00 am–3:30 pm) to accommodate faculty meetings and professional development opportunities. 

Because many KCD faculty members serve as coaches, tutors, advisors, and leaders of extracurricular activities around campus, after-school meetings are difficult for many to attend. The new late start day on Wednesdays will allow for 100% of faculty to attend critical team meetings and professional development opportunities, without sacrificing their involvement in community activities.

The School Year

The calendar year for the 2024-25 school year will look much like the 2023-24 school year. Click here for the most up-to-date version of our 2024-25 Major Dates.

Schedules

While every student’s schedule will be unique, below are samples of what a typical schedule might look like in each division. 

Alignment of Schedules Across Divisions

One of the most exciting benefits of our new system is that the schedules across each division will be aligned to better support JK-12 community building and cross-divisional collaboration. In every division there is a space dedicated to “Community Time.” While this time will not always be used for gathering the entire JK-12 community, it opens the doors for a variety of collaborative opportunities that were not previously possible.

The Middle & Upper School MOD Schedule

The Middle & Upper Schools at KCD will adopt an alternating MOD schedule format. 

A module or “MOD” is the period of time into which the academic year is divided. KCD’s school year will be divided into six MODs, each lasting 28 school days (or about 6 weeks) in length. Each full credit course will be taught over three MODs, while the equivalent of a trimester long course will be taught over one MOD. 

Students will have four “bins” or class periods during MOD 1, also known as Blue MOD, for 28 days. Students will then have four new bins in MOD 2, known as Gold MOD, for 28 days. Students then go back to Blue MOD (MOD 3) for 28 days, followed by Gold MOD (MOD 4) for 28 days, Blue MOD (MOD 5) for 28 days, and finally Gold MOD (MOD 6) for 28 days totaling 168 school days. 

Students in grades 5-9 will be assigned to a class period for all four bins per MOD (inclusive of core classes and electives). Students in grades 10-12 will be permitted no more than one free period per MOD (assigned to at least three of four class periods per MOD, with the option to take four classes if that is their preference).

MOD Dates for 2024-25

MOD 1 (Blue): August 12-September 20
MOD 2 (Gold): September 23-November 6
MOD 3 (Blue): November 8-December 20
MOD 4 (Gold): January 7-February 14
MOD 5 (Blue): February 24-April 11
MOD 6 (Gold): April 14-May 22

4-Day Rotation

Our current schedule operates on a 5-day rotation which features the same set of classes held each Monday, Tuesday, etc. The new schedule will operate on a 4-day rotation of Days #1 through #4. On the fifth day of school, students will begin the 4-day rotation again with Day #1. 

Example: Monday: Day 1, Tuesday: Day 2, Wednesday: Day 3, Thursday: Day 4, Friday: Day 1, Monday, Day 2 …

The move to a 4-day rotation will allow for variability in the weekly schedule of our students and faculty. For example, with a 5-day rotation, students have the same last class of the day—and week—every Friday afternoon. For many, this class period is not the most productive. With a 4-day rotation, every week will look a little different so that one class is not affected by the weekly schedule more than others.

The Lower School Schedule

The Lower School schedule for the 2024-25 school year will not see a dramatic change from previous years. However, a few significant updates will benefit our young learners and educators. 

In our new schedule, our Lower School community will experience additional time in their “homerooms,” matching developmental benchmarks for instructional time in those spaces, by increasing time for literacy and mathematics instruction.

Our young learners will also experience fewer transitions throughout their day. This adjustment will help limit lost instructional time due to transitions and afford opportunities for deeper engagement with learning.

The Lower School will adopt a carousel model for our specials classes. In a carousel model one subject (Art, Science, Spanish, Maker, Library, or Music) is taught for several days in a row to the same group of students and then another subject from within the carousel (Art, Science, Spanish, Maker, Library, or Music) is taught for several days, and so on. This model further supports deeper learning, project-based learning, and cross curricular collaboration.

At KCD we value movement and play as an important element of a healthy learning environment. Our new schedule honors our commitment to intentional movement and play by incorporating daily PE and recess time for all Lower School students.

I wish...

Students in the Middle and Upper Schools participated in an "I wish" campaign, where they anonymously shared the many things they wished their families, teachers, and peers knew about their lives and school experiences. Below are some of the responses that were submitted, which further illustrate why our focus on health and wellness is so important.

Additional New Schedule FAQs

List of 9 items.

  • What are the biggest benefits of the new schedule in the Lower School?

    • Increased homeroom time where English Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies are taught, matching developmental benchmarks for instructional time in those spaces
    • Our specials classes (Art, Science, Spanish, Maker, Library, and Music) will be taught in a carousel model which facilitates deep learning and cross-discipline project-based learning
    • Fewer transitions from class to class will maximize academic time and will minimize the number of different adults our youngest learners will have to report to throughout the day
    • Grade-level and specials team joint planning time each day will enhance collaboration across curricular areas
    • Additional time for movement and play every day
  • What are the biggest benefits of the new schedule in the Middle & Upper School?

    • Fewer transitions and fewer classes taken at the same time, resulting in deeper learning, less homework, a more focused schedule, reduced stress, more time for sleep, more family time, etc.
    • Longer class periods will maximize academic time and allow for deeper learning, better use of campus resources, and opportunity for more variety in classroom activities
    • The MOD schedule allows for students to take up to 8 year-long classes in a school year (as opposed to the previous schedule which only allowed for 7). This is a great opportunity for students looking to double-up in science or math courses, or explore other topics on a deeper level.
    • A later start time means more sleep for adolescents. Better rested students will result in more productive and engaging class time
    • There will be at least 90 minutes of “agency time” for students each day
    • Faculty are available for “extra help” every day, so students have better access to their teachers if they have questions or need assistance
    • Longer advisory time each day will support deeper student/advisor relationships and provide more time for academic and socioemotional check-ins
    • Faculty members work with fewer students during each module; as a result, they are able to devote more time to each of them
    • Ensembles (chorus, orchestra, etc.) do not conflict with either “free time” or core academic classes
  • What research was considered when designing and choosing schedule models?

    The following summary represents the culmination of research on schedules and best practices as identified by Independent School Management (ISM), NAIS, Learning & the Brain, ASCD, and others. 
  • Are other schools using the MOD schedule format?

    Yes. We have connected with a network of schools that utilize a MOD schedule.  
    In addition to partnering with schools around the country that employ a MOD schedule, there is a body of research supporting this type of learning, including but not limited to:
  • How will KCD ensure it maintains academic excellence?

    All our research indicates that students who are taking fewer classes at a time are more deeply engaged in learning. Additionally, longer class periods allow for more in-depth study. The schools we consulted who currently use a MOD schedule have reported that their test scores have stayed high or have risen with the implementation of a MOD schedule.

    KCD will continue to use the metrics it has always used to ensure that our program maintains academic excellence, such as standardized testing scores.
  • Will morning and afternoon child care be available?

    Yes. Morning child care will be available for students in JK-8th grades on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 7:30-8 am and on Wednesdays from 7:30-8:30 am. Morning child care will cost $5 per day.

    We will continue to offer Bearcat Den after school until 6 pm for Lower School students. 

    For additional details, please contact Jason Floyd, Director of Auxiliary Programs, at jason.floyd@kcd.org.
  • How will the new schedule alter graduation requirements?

    Beginning with the class of 2028, KCD graduates will be required to have a certain number of “bins” rather than credits to graduate. A bin is the time spent in a class. A bin can be thought of as a “class period.” A full-year course is made up of three bins; a course that lasts only one MOD is a single bin course. For example, a student taking a year-long English course will earn three of their required twelve bins of English, earning one bin for each MOD that the student has English class. A student taking an elective Photo class will earn one bin because the entirety of the Photo course is contained within one MOD.

    In the new graduation requirements, what has previously been called “4 credits” of English will now be “12 bins.” Changes to previous graduate requirements now include an additional year-long course in mathematics, two additional courses in wellness, and a STEAM course. We will transition to these requirements over the next four years. The classes of 2025, 2026, and 2027 do not have to take specific additional courses, but they will earn more credits toward graduation overall, due to the increased number of courses taken each year. 
  • How will Advanced Placement (AP) courses be affected by the new schedule?  

    Many AP courses will be scheduled in MODs 1, 3, and 5 so that the course work is completed a few weeks before the May AP exams. In those cases, bridge work may be provided for the few weeks between the end of the course and the AP exam. Some AP courses are able to be taught on shorter timelines (those designed to be semester long courses rather than year long courses, or those which focus more on processes than content) and may be scheduled in MODs 2, 4, and 6.
  • Will assessments be altered by the new schedule?

    Teaching in MODs allows us the opportunity to move away from a traditional “exam week” at the end of the school year and encourages faculty to do more summative unit assessments and project-based teaching/learning. While some assessments may look different, KCD’s standard of academic excellence will remain, as students will be challenged to think critically and apply their learning in new ways.

MOD Dates for 2024-25

MOD 1 (Blue):
August 12-September 20

MOD 2 (Gold):

September 23-November 6

MOD 3 (Blue):
November 8-December 20

MOD 4 (Gold):

January 7-February 14

MOD 5 (Blue):
February 24-April 11

MOD 6 (Gold):

April 14-May 22

MIssion

Kentucky Country Day School challenges its students to achieve their highest level of academic excellence and to grow into honorable people of confidence and integrity. We inspire personal growth through a diverse community and participation in arts, athletics, and community service. By doing so, Kentucky Country Day School prepares its students to live successful lives and make meaningful contributions to society. This mission is summed up in our motto: Citizen, Scholar, Steward.

Questions? Contact Us

List of 4 members.

  • Photo of Peter Huestis

    Peter Huestis 

    Head of School
  • Photo of Kent Martin

    Kent Martin 

    Director of Upper School, Science Teacher
    502-814-4320
  • Photo of Jerry Loewen

    Jerry Loewen 

    Director of Middle School
    502 814 4318
  • Photo of Mary Charles Collett

    Mary Charles Collett 

    Director of Lower School
4100 Springdale Road • Louisville, KY 40241 • (502) 423-0440 • Fax (502) 423-0445
Kentucky Country Day School is a private JK–12, coeducational school located on a spacious 80+ acre campus in Louisville, KY. KCD combines a rigorous academic program with a wide variety of athletic and extracurricular programs. Our outstanding faculty creates an intimate learning environment that is both challenging and supportive.