This school year, Unionville High School has started to implement a new “Lunch and Learn” initiative that introduces a simultaneous, one-hour lunch block for all students and their teachers, writes J.P. Phillips for the Chester County Press.

Previously, lunch was a half-hour and done in three shifts. Usually, students spent their time eating and checking their social media.

Now, however, students are allocated a full hour between 10:27 and 11:27 AM to eat, socialize, cooperate on projects, use the gym, study, and meet with teachers.

According to Tim Hoffman, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, the hour will be divided into two segments: a half-hour for eating and a half-hour for learning. Teachers will be available for the learning portion of the hour for consultation.

Teachers will also have department collaboration time every sixth day. The aim is to share best practices and coordinate the pace of the curriculum. This time was not built into teachers’ schedules before.

“It’s really a win-win for all of us, the staff and the students,” said high school principal Jimmy Conley.

Read more about Unionville High School’s new initiative in the Chester County Press here.

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