^VIDEO Phoenix Middle School students have an extended school day -- and school leaders are making sure the extra time is put to good use.

The Worthington school's longer day allows for extra homework time and extracurricular fun in a class called Learning Extensions.

"Learning Extensions is another way to give kids choice in their school day, support with their work when needed, and a time to be together," said teacher Beth Cullinan. "We don't look at it as 'after school'; it is part of our school day and we couldn't imagine Phoenix without it."

Phoenix is the district's alternative middle school, located within Perry Middle School, 2341 Snouffer Road.

The school day begins at 7:20 a.m. and ends at 4:45 p.m.

Phoenix may undergo an expansion and become the only middle school program within the Perry building in the fall if the district completes a plan to move all four regular middle school programs into three buildings: Kilbourne, Worthingway and McCord.

District officials will hold a meeting to let parents know more about the middle school restructuring at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at Kilbourne Middle School, 50 E. Dublin-Granville Road.

Cullinan said the Phoenix staff is as curious as everyone else to find out how the alternative middle school will be expanded.

"All we know at this point is that the district is deciding about if and when the Phoenix program will expand," she said. "We know the board is making a decision as to whether Perry will be moving out of the building this September or the following school year. There are many, many variables to consider and we are as anxious as anyone to know what is ahead for Phoenix."

Cullinan said Learning Extensions exists because staff members wanted to provide a place for students to work on class assignments and homework at a time when they would have access to the teachers who assigned them.

"Many times, kids get home and they have questions on assignments, then get frustrated because their parents may not know exactly what needs to be done," she said. "This way, students can ask questions while still at school."

Students also have a chance to participate in activities outside of core classes, such as Drama Club, Knitting Club, Math Counts, Environment Club and a stock market program.

"Student committees work at this time as well, planning in-school activities such as Spirit Week and out-of-school activities," Cullinan said.

Another class that makes Phoenix unique is "Creative Start," which occurs as the first-period class for seventh-graders and the second period for eighth-graders.

"Every student is required to be in a Creative Start class," she said. "Research shows that getting the creative part of the brain in gear first thing in the day helps adolescents engage more in academic work the rest of the day."

Cullinan said Creative Start offers students choices in art, band, choir, orchestra, guitar and digital media.

New choices in a Friday Creative Start class were added last month, giving students a chance to take extra classes such as cooking, show choir, honor band, art independent study, string bass ensemble, digital movie editing, advanced guitar and model building.

"We even have a young lady teaching herself Spanish as an independent study using an online program provided through the Columbus Metropolitan Library," Cullinan said.

The Phoenix program's commitment to mastery learning and its extended school day makes it a valuable program for middle school students, Cullinan said.

"Because of the way our day is structured, we have a lot of time with students that allows us to check and recheck to see whether students really understand the concepts we are presenting in class," she said. "We also offer Connections and Global Cultures classes that allow us to pursue global and community issues as they relate to state and district standards, as well as give students lots of opportunity to develop their critical thinking and group discussion skills."

Mastery learning requires students to demonstrate what they have learned so teachers can assess how well a student has achieved specific course goals, instead of how well a student has achieved in relation to other students in the class, school officials said.

Students have a voice at Phoenix, Cullinan said.

"Through our student forums held every week, we take student input very seriously," she said. "The idea behind the name 'Phoenix,' after all, is the concept that change is constant -- there have been many instances when student input has been a big part of changes and improvements to our program.

"A great example was our talent show for charity," she said. "A Phoenix student dreamed it up our first year, chose a charity close to his heart and it was a big success. Building and maintaining healthy relationships among students, parents and staff keeps our program vital and a place where, hopefully, we all want to be part of each and every day."