Recently, Chapman introduced a new concept: ROAR. ROAR replaces Flex Time and offers students the opportunity to Rise, Orient, Achieve and Reflect.

Although students and teachers were able to use Flex Time effectively in the past, the Chapman administration felt the time could be even more effective with some new guidelines and expectations.

Last year, Principal Matt Davis convened a team of teachers to consider a new model. This team included English teacher Alex Colson.

“We’re hoping for students and staff to understand what this time is about, and we’re hoping they focus this time on what it is at its core,” Colson said. 

Thanks to the ROAR model, teachers will be able to provide additional help for students without requiring anyone to stay after school. Students will meet with first block on Monday, second block on Tuesday, third block on Wednesday and fourth block on Thursday; Fridays will be reserved for a variety of activities.

In addition, ROAR will be used for club meetings.

This new model was developed with care. Davis looked at a variety of options such as taking out lockers and putting in tables, opening the 400 hallway and rotunda for students, and allowing students to go outside, but ultimately decided it wasn’t practical.

“I just didn’t feel comfortable releasing 1,100 students and not having a place to be,” he said. “So we’re not ready because we don’t have a lot of common areas for this. I didn’t feel secure enough to go with that, so we kind of dropped back and punted, and this is where we landed.”