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We're Looking for YOUR Feedback on Next Year's School Calendar
The District is seeking your feedback regarding a proposed calendar for the 2021-2022 school year.  We invite you to view the calendar as an attachment below, and should you wish to offer feedback, use the link provided.

For your reference, at this time, it is the District's intent to follow a traditional schedule next school year with students and staff at all grade levels learning in person, five days a week.

Features of the Proposed 2021-2022 Calendar
First Day of School for Students - Monday, August 30, 2021
Student Days Off
  • September 6 - Labor Day
  • October 11 - Fall Break
  • November 19 - No classes for Kindergarten Only
  • November 23-29 - Thanksgiving Break
  • December 23-31 - Holiday Recess
  • January 17 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • February 14 - Winter Break
  • March 18 - Winter Recess
  • April 15-18 - Spring Break
  • May 30 - Memorial Day
  • Last Day for Students -  June 3, 2022

Remote Learning Days
The 2021-2022 calendar incorporates remote learning days for students with professional and support staff members using the day for staff development, data analysis, and collaboration. Rather than bringing students in for a half day with a condensed early dismissal schedule, we believe students and families would be better served by offering an asynchronous half day with the opportunity for student work to be completed on that Friday or anytime over the weekend. Students would be counted as present for the day unless parents indicate an absence, and students will be expected to return to school on Monday with completed assignments. Teachers would provide work that would equal a half day of instruction.

Because remote learning days are asynchronous, they allow for flexibility at all levels. Daycares and caregivers would not necessarily need to provide academic support that day, which past feedback from families has indicated would be appreciated. Additionally, since students have a choice of when to complete their work, families could take a long weekend if they desired, and older students could spend time in a co-op experience or pick-up extra work hours.

These remote learning days serve an important role in meeting student and staff needs. We have many wonderful initiatives in our District, and these days will provide staff with time to continue their work on:
 
  • Personalizing learning
  • Identifying learning gaps as a result of COVID-19 and planning strategic interventions to address the identified needs
  • Designing common assessments aligned to standards and competencies as well as project-based assessments
  • Learning about engagement strategies to better motivate students
  • Incorporating best instructional practices relative to specific courses like math and science
  • Common grading time for ELA and English teachers in order to better align expectations in all classes

In addition, we are in the process of defining what equity, diversity, and inclusion mean in our District, and next year, we will spend time furthering staff education. Having quality time to do this means we will be able to provide a solid foundation for staff so we can provide an equitable, unbiased, and inclusionary learning environment for all of our students.


Make-Up Days
Make-Up days are those days built into the school calendar to be used if unplanned school closings occur. Similar to this year, our intent is to use remote learning days when weather necessitates a school closing; however, by specifying days as make-up days, the District is given the flexibility to use them should internet, power, or other circumstances make it necessary to cancel all classes on a given day.


Staff Service Exchange Day
In the past, we have received feedback from families, staff, and students requesting Martin Luther King Day, Jr. Day be considered a day of service. As has been the case for many years, this will remain a day off for students in which they may engage in a variety of service opportunities. Next school year, we are proposing staff work a half day, and the remainder of day may be exchanged for service to others. We will work with staff to better define how and when service requirements for the exchange time may be met. As a District, our service to our community and to others is second to none.  We are pleased to provide time for staff to continue those efforts.


Feedback
One area we are particularly interested in hearing from you is in regards to the use of the remote learning days. There is a place on the survey to share your preference regarding the use and format of these days.

Should you wish to offer feedback, please use the link below.
 
Click here to provide feedback.

The deadline for submitting comments is Monday, March 29, 2021 at 4 p.m. After reviewing suggestions received, the Board of School Directors will likely take action on a calendar at its meeting on April 8, 2021.

Thank you in advance for your participation in the development of next year’s school calendar.


Sincerely,

Todd B. Stoltz, Ed.D.
Superintendent
#WestShoreProud


Attachments Available To Download:
Proposed 2021-2022 School Calendar