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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 | 
