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WJCC to move middle schools to daily short "Mascot Time" to reinforce routines and life skills
Summary
Williamsburg-James City County Schools will shift Mascot Time from a weekly Wednesday block to a brief daily morning block in 2025–26, administration told the school board, citing teacher feedback, student routine needs and lessons aligned to Virginia Standards of Learning.
Williamsburg-James City County School Board on Wednesday received an update from administrators about changes to middle-school scheduling for the 2025–26 school year that shift Mascot Time from a single weekly block to a shorter daily morning routine intended to build skills and reduce schedule variability.
Administrators said the change is designed to give students a consistent start to each day, provide brief daily instruction on skills such as goal-setting and time management, and allow teachers to reinforce those skills during an extended first block. “Our initial purpose for exploring new bell schedule options … stemmed from listening and hearing the voices of our middle school teachers,” Jessica Walter said during the presentation.
Why it matters: administrators said middle school students perform better when schedules are consistent and teachers can reinforce concepts repeatedly. Nick, coordinator of student services, said, “The purpose of mascot time is to connect with students and provide supports to meet the needs of all students where they are.” Dr. James Littleton, principal of James Blair Middle School, told the board that feedback from students and teachers emphasized consistency: “Our middle school students thrive on routine.”
What will change: the division moved to a common daily bell schedule that starts with announcements, then a short Mascot Time activity, followed by an extended first block that gives teachers time to reinforce the week’s theme. Administrators said Monday will feature a principal-led introduction to each week’s Mascot Time theme and that lesson plans were developed centrally and provided electronically to teachers. Staff prepared 98 Mascot Time lessons in 2024–25; administrators said those materials will be revised so schools can select the lessons that best fit local needs.
Feedback and evaluation: the division surveyed staff in May 2025; 175 middle‑school staff, about 75% of middle‑school personnel, responded. Administrators described teacher input favoring work with their own students during Mascot Time, and student leaders reported they valued collaborative activities and SMART‑goal work. Administrators said teachers may adapt centrally provided lessons; lesson‑level feedback mechanisms remain in place and will inform revisions.
Decision status: the board received the update; administrators said they will implement the daily schedule for 2025–26 and return with progress updates. No formal board vote on the schedule was recorded at the meeting.
Looking ahead: leaders said they will monitor implementation, continue to collect teacher and student feedback and adjust lesson plans and scheduling as needed.
