District #205 Calendar Survey for Parents, 2013-2014
The District #205 Calendar Committee will soon begin development of next year's school calendar. Two ideas have been developed as "starting points" for the group's work. Please examine both options for the 2013-2014 School Calendar. Draft #1 is shown printed on yellow paper to help keep the two separate and includes an Institute Day in the Spring. Draft # 2 is shown printed on pink paper and includes an Institute Day in the Fall. Other differences are described below, along with a listing of similarities.
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Draft Ideas |
The District #205 Board of Education recommends the following:
Please keep in mind the following parameters that we cannot change:
1. State and Contractual Requirements (minimum):
2. Our current contract requires the following Early Dismissal days:
- Strive for balanced quarters and semesters. (Note that "balanced" is not the same as "equal.")
- Start sometime during a week prior to the first full week before Labor Day.
- Winter break should begin Dec. 22 or earlier and should end Jan. 3 or later.
- Spring Break should be one full week, and may or may not coincide with the contractually-required Good Friday holiday.
Please keep in mind the following parameters that we cannot change:
1. State and Contractual Requirements (minimum):
- 174 Pupil Attendance Days
- 2 Parent-Teacher Conference Days
- 4 Institute Days
2. Our current contract requires the following Early Dismissal days:
- 2 will be used at the end of first and third quarters by teachers for grading and planning
- 4 will be used for Department, Committee, and Building and/or Grade Level meetings, IEP work, and/or RtI work as determined by administration
- 2 early dismissals will be on the last day preceding Thanksgiving and Christmas (Winter) vacations
- The last teacher work day prior to Report Card Day at the end of the school year
- From September 1 through May 31, one Wednesday a month will be designated... (for) RtI team meetings/activities determined by the administration.
- All days prior to September 1 shall be early dismissals.
Unique Features
Calendar Draft #1 (Yellow)* Winter Break for students begins on Dec. 20, which is a Teachers' Institute/Work Day. School Resumes Jan. 6.
* March Gradelevel/Dept Mtg early dismissal is in the middle of ISAT Week. * Teachers' Institute is during Spring Semester, which coincides with Spring Break & gives students an extra day of Spring Break. * Spring Break = March 31 - April 4 * Last student attendance day is May 22 (Early Dismissal) if no Emergency/Snow Days are used. |
Calendar Draft #2 (Pink)* Teachers' Institute is during Fall Semester (Oct. 11) which allows students a 4-day Columbus Day holiday.
* Students attend through Dec. 20, which is an early dismissal day. Teachers' Institute/Work Day is Jan. 6. School Resumes Jan. 7. * March Grade-level/Dept Mtg early dismissal is at the end of ISAT Week. * Spring Break = April 14-18, which includes the Contractual Holiday. * Last student attendance day is May 21 (Early Dismissal) if no Emergency/Snow Days are used. |
Shared Features
* School begins August 15, with Opening Ceremony/Teachers' Institute on August 14.
* No school on Nov. 1 and Mar. 21 to allow for Parent-Teacher Conferences.
* Balanced Semesters, which are separated by Winter Break.
* Winter Break within Board Recommendations (above)
* Spring Break at least one week long, and conforms to Board Recommendations (above)
* Spring Break & Parent-Teacher Conference dates do not interfere with State Testing requirements.
* End date near GHS Graduation date and before start of Summer School
* Allows minimum required Student Attendance, Parent-Teacher Conference, and Teacher Institute Days.
* Early Dismissal Days align with Contract requirements.
* Holidays (Students & Staff) include Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving & day after, Martin Luther King Jr Day, Presidents' Day, Contractual Good Friday, and Memorial Day.
* No school on Nov. 1 and Mar. 21 to allow for Parent-Teacher Conferences.
* Balanced Semesters, which are separated by Winter Break.
* Winter Break within Board Recommendations (above)
* Spring Break at least one week long, and conforms to Board Recommendations (above)
* Spring Break & Parent-Teacher Conference dates do not interfere with State Testing requirements.
* End date near GHS Graduation date and before start of Summer School
* Allows minimum required Student Attendance, Parent-Teacher Conference, and Teacher Institute Days.
* Early Dismissal Days align with Contract requirements.
* Holidays (Students & Staff) include Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving & day after, Martin Luther King Jr Day, Presidents' Day, Contractual Good Friday, and Memorial Day.
After considering these ideas, please complete the questions below.
Click "Submit" when finished.
Please remember that you are not voting on one calendar draft or another, only offering feedback on various features for the Committee to consider.
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