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Norton City Schools
Parent Notice
March 1, 2010
This letter is notification of
additional changes to our school calendar that will be
implemented in order to make up instructional days missed due
to inclement weather. At the time of our first correspondence
to parents, which was sent home on January 19, only two days
had been missed due to inclement weather. In turn, the
following day was scheduled as make-up:
Monday, March 15
Formerly a Spring Break Day
Since this initial notice, an
additional seven days have been missed due to inclement
weather. Due to the fact we began the school year later than
normal, thus ending the school year later than all other
divisions in the surrounding area, this has limited the amount
of make-up days that can be added to the end of the school
year. With the 2010-2011 school year beginning on August 19,
it is also important that we try to conclude our current
school year as early as possible. According to the Code of
Virginia, if a school division cannot meet the
requirements for 180 days of instruction because of bad
weather or other emergencies, days missed must be made up in
accordance with the formula outlined in the Code. This
formula requires that a school division must make up the first
five days, and then make up one day for every two days missed.
Thus, this formula would allow Norton City to make-up only
seven of the nine days missed.
In surveys conducted with Norton
City faculty, it became apparent that teachers would like to
schedule as many instructional days as possible before SOL
testing begins in late May as well as limit the length of the
school year. The following days will be scheduled as regular
instructional days:
Friday, March 12
Formerly a March Spring Break Day
Tuesday, April 6
Formerly an April Easter Break Day
Wednesday, April 7
Formerly an April Easter Break Day
*Note: April 7 through 30
20 minutes will be added to the end of each school day.
Saturday, May 8
Make Up Day - 12:30 dismissal and lunch will be served.
Friday, June 11
Burton Exams (11:30 dismissal)
Saturday, June 12
Burton Exams (11:30 dismissal)
Monday, April 5 is still
scheduled as a Spring Break day and Friday, June 11 is
still scheduled as graduation. We will be scheduling the
Saturday in May make-up day soon, and notification will be
sent home at that time. Our desire is to emphasize SOL review
and test preparation strategies on this Saturday, which will
make it both productive and important for students to attend.
An additional change to our school calendar is that early
dismissal days, scheduled for the end of the fourth and fifth
six weeks, will now be full instructional days.
I realize that these changes may
present problems to students that have prior commitments
scheduled, such as doctor or dentist appointments, or planned
trips out of town. Administrators have been informed to excuse
absences accordingly with proper documentation and not count
these absences toward Saturday School requirements.
Thank you very much for your
understanding with these changes.
Sincerely,
Jeff Comer, Ed.D. Superintendent |
