Classes for secondary pupils begin and end roughly 50 minutes before those for elementary pupils each day. School buses make separate runs throughout the community each morning picking up and each afternoon delivering first secondary pupils and then elementary pupils. This enables the District to serve BH-BL families with half as many buses as would otherwise be needed.

Half Days
Several half days are built into the calendar each school year. These are days when the faculty hold individual conferences with elementary school parents or attend in-service meetings and training sessions to improve the district's curriculum and instructional practices. Half days do not affect the usual daily schedule of kindergarten classes nor the rotation of secondary school blocks. All students except kindergartners will be dismissed and transported home before lunch on half days. This is at approximately 11:00 am for secondary pupils and at noon for elementary pupils.

High School Block Schedule
The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School follows an alternate day block schedule of four 82-minute blocks per day plus homeroom and lunch. Classes meet every other day except science and physical education. These two classes share a block with phys. ed. meeting every third day. Advantages of this system include the fact that students have to prepare for only four subjects per day, teachers have time for more substantive classroom activities and discussions, and less time is wasted passing from class to class.

Days are labeled "A" through "F" on the printed district calendar to indicate which day is which. Each day's letter is also posted inside the main entrance. Please note:  the previously announced letter for each day will NOT change even if school is closed unexpectedly due to severe weather or other problem.

Activity Period & Buses
On most Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, middle and high school pupils are encourages to stay at school for an extra hour after their classes end. This extra hour is called Activity Period at the Middle School and Academic Assistance Period at the High School. Students can use it to make up missed work, do research in the school libraries, or get individual help from teachers. Both schools also offer a wide variety of after-school extracurricular activities, clubs, and sports so that students can develop their interests, acquire life-long skills, and use their after-school time in a healthy manner.

A second, condensed bus run is provided after Activity Period on these days to transport students home. For a list of Activity Buses, go to Transportation.

Child Care
Through a cooperative arrangement between the school district and the YMCA, child care is available for all elementary pupils before school, after school, and for the half days when pupils are not in school.

Kindergarten pupil's in the YMCA's K-Care program are cared for in a special double classroom at the Hostetter Building. Prefirst through fifth grade pupils can enroll in the Y's Time program held in our elementary schools. Fees for these programs vary with the amount of care needed. Regular BH-BL school buses and drivers transport children between schools as needed to participate in either YMCA program. For more information, contact Director Barbara Peters at 384-1009 or Kathy LaPietro at the Greater Glenville Family YMCA Child Care Office at 399-8118, ext. 24.

School buses will also transport children to other area child care providers within specific limitations. Contact Transportation Supervisor Richard Hewlett, 399-9141, ext.3525, for more information.