At VNS there are no bells and the daily schedule is flexible based on student need. The first two hours of each day are spent with Gathering Time, Advisory, and Math (individualized, computer-generated coursework).
After lunch, the entire school journals or meditates for 15 minutes and then moves into community jobs (i.e. we all chip in to keep the school running and looking good!) and then an hour of literature time where students are encouraged to get lost in the beauty of a story. The day closes with a wrap up advisory time.
The remainder of the day, 3.5-4 hours, is Project Work time, devoted to individual and group research projects. Students employ self-designed or school-provided time-management tools and are primarily responsible for the productive use of their time.
The effective use of available time throughout the year ensures that the students remain on-track for credit toward graduation. One Friday afternoon per month are set aside for an all-school enrichment activity.
While this schedule is the norm, special events and opportunities at the school, field trips, and bonding activities consume school time intermittently.