Kai, 20-minute periods? I wonder what they do in HS in 20 minutes? Other than admin, like collecting/returning HW, giving a syllabus for the week, etc. (We have early release in the,elementary school on Monday, too but not in MS or HS, though Hs has a late start about once a month. The classes get compressed, so you know you won't have a test that day, but maybe a quiz.)
Bluemagic, I wonder about blocks for music. It's a long time to play or sing, though it gives plenty of time to assemble instruments (DS briefly switched to trumpet because it's faster to assemble/disassemble than clarinet! But his emboucheur wasn't right for it) and time to settle in, warm up, and do theory...for kids who are interested in theory. Some just want to play.
