Three semesters?

Update as of 6/1/12:
I think I will not have three actual semesters but will have two normal semesters (possibly with the Spring one going until mid- to late June, like some European schools), and then there would be volunteer trips (and other kinds possibly, like leadership trips and such) in the summer. To my three semester idea:


I am having second thoughts about a two semester school year. I am now considering a three semester year (like the Japanese). The fall and spring would be like I have already described but with chosen classes each semester (instead of varied classes in the fall) in all classes except Culture.

The shorter summer semester would be much shorter and much more relaxed. This is the time when students would take a variety of PE, arts, and social science classes. There would also be a major focus during this time on Culture, field trips, leadership, bonding, and seminars.

Each student would have a schedule with the same 10 subjects, but the classes would be much shorter and would have a different focus. Students who were behind would spend this time catching up on the normal subjects. Everyone else would take this time to starting touching on some subjects they would be required to learn the next year and learning more advanced and practical approaches to what they have been learning in a much more relaxed setting.

For example, a student who is struggling with writing in English class would spend that class period (say, one hour every other day) working in a class that focused on writing tips and practice. A student who excelled in the class would spend the summer in larger classes that had a much more democratic approach to the curriculum than during the year, focused heavily on discussion, and explored and took trips that focused on their subjects.

Another suggestion is that students who got less than an A (maybe a B instead?) in the class go through a rigorous summer program of the class and subject, a review, while the other students could focus on SAT testing (SAT II for classes not on the SAT I). Perhaps the summer after junior year, students could learn applications of the subject or have discussions or something along those lines.