Most students at R.H. King Academy, including grade nine students who began their freshman year in September of this year, have grown used to having this extra period, known as “Clinic”. Clinic is a 50-minute period that follows King students’ first class four times a week. This period is not included within instructional time, however, is designed for students to use to accomplish anything school-related. While students stay in their first period class for the Clinic period, they are able to complete classwork from any of their four classes, without being taught any new material from the teacher of their first period class.
Clinic increases many students’ productivity and helps them manage their time so they can complete schoolwork. Some have expressed that Clinic is one of the main reasons why they perform so well in their classes. A grade twelve student, Vidhi Jagesha, feels that the Clinic period played a crucial role in her academic success. “I would have failed half of my classes if it weren’t for Clinic,” says Jagesha. Clinic boosts student productivity, which facilitates concentration and the creation of personal study time, enabling students to perform well on assessments.
The Clinic time also provides the opportunity to work on extracurricular obligations, given that a great number of students are involved in at least one club, council or association at King. The numerous student-led organizations work tirelessly to make the school environment engaging and contribute to different events that happen throughout the year. Clinic provides members of these clubs and councils with the opportunity to work on fulfilling their commitments without taking away time from their lunch break unnecessarily. Sharini Arulrasa, a grade nine student, has expressed her gratitude for being able to get her council responsibilities done, in addition to other work, during the Clinic period. “Clinic allows me to get so much done, especially when I have assignments or homework from other classes. It also gives me time to do my obligations to the councils that I’m part of.” The period also allows students to take a breather during King’s fast-paced classes. Arulrasa continues: “It also gives me some time to relax and take a break.”
Najiha Rahman, a student in grade eleven, says, “I think we should always have Clinic, as it is very helpful for students.” Grade ten student Ayah Hashem likes the concept of having shorter classes than other schools. “Other schools have classes that are 75 minutes long, so I like how our classes are short. For me, the clinic period is like a break from classes, but it is also time that I can use effectively to catch up.”
The student body seems to have a positive outlook on having the clinic; most of them appreciate the perquisite of having this extra time to stay organized and on top of their schoolwork. Every student has their own needs and style of learning, and Clinic allows them to address their needs and weaknesses, which is a crucial component of working towards achieving success.
The Clinic period makes it possible for students to sign out of their first class and receive assistance from the teacher whose subject they are having difficulty with, enabling students to receive additional support from their teachers in areas where they are struggling. This allows for teachers to give their attention specifically to those who need it the most and provide advice and feedback to students individually. This is especially beneficial for those who are unable to attend after-school help programs. Students can also sign out to access the library during this time (once a week, due to high demand) and work there without distractions or outside disturbances, providing them with a suitable time and setting to focus on completing schoolwork.
Regardless, some may be under the impression that the Clinic period is just a waste of class time and that students do not really focus on work during this period. For grade nine students who have a lighter workload, Clinic may not prove to be as useful to them as it would to a grade eleven or twelve student. Nevertheless, a time comes where every student finds use in Clinic. Grade nine student Ayush Sharma recognizes the perks of having the Clinic time. “Clinic is a really unique and helpful part about King that helps me get work done or do some last-minute studying for a test I have next period, which has saved my grades a lot,” she says.
A grade twelve student, Gelnar Hammoud, emphasizes a lot of positive aspects of having the Clinic period. “I think the Clinic schedule is helpful for students as it gives us a chance to make up for missed evaluations or catch up on individual and group assignments during school hours, which is great for people who can’t come to school early or stay late.” Having had Clinic for three years of her high school career, she fully recognizes the benefits of the 50-minute period. Hammoud continues: “It also makes things less stressful since students know that there is time set aside to fix mistakes or make up for being absent. Overall, I think it helps us stay on track and feel more supported with schoolwork. It’s definitely a win for both students and teachers.”
Shreya Roza, a grade ten student, acknowledges the concern around the improper use of the Clinic time. “I understand some may be frustrated due to some students not accomplishing anything school-related during the Clinic period, however, if it were to be removed, it would be unfair to the majority of students who are actually putting in effort to use the period effectively.”
As stated by Roza, it is possible to think about methods for preventing the improper use of Clinic. In many schools, students who have been found misusing certain facilities get “banned” from using them again. Something similar might be put in place to ensure that everyone who values the time Clinic provides them can still enjoy this, while someone who has been actively seen misusing it can be given special supervision to ensure that they are indeed working on something. Principal Catherine Chang has mentioned to Kingsley Voice that she intends to shorten the Clinic’s duration from 50 to 40 minutes. She also added that perspectives on the Clinic period are immensely positive and it is very unlikely for the period to be removed.
Because of its many distinctive qualities, King has always offered its students the chance to succeed in a variety of fields, in addition to academics. While most other TDSB schools follow the conventional one-hour and fifteen-minute class period, King has been noted for having only an hour and five minutes of class time. All things considered, the importance of having the Clinic period cannot be denied, as it has consistently provided the opportunity for King students to succeed in their academic pursuits.
