Date: Fri 18-Apr-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

school-calendar-graduation

Full Text:

Graduation Day - Friday The 13th Looks Lucky In June

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

Mark your calendars (in pencil), it's "official."

Friday, June 13, will be the last day of school for all Newtown students. It

will also be Graduation Day for members of the Newtown High School Class of

1997.

That means students and their families can begin celebrating summer vacation

on Saturday, June 14.

"The 13th of June will be our 180th day, and that number fulfills the legal

requirement set by the state," said Newtown Superintendent of Schools John

Reed at a recent Board of Education meeting during which the school calendar

was discussed.

The Newtown school system recognizes 182 work days for its teachers, so staff

members will actually be returning to their classrooms Monday, June 16, and

Tuesday, June 17, to finish closing up their rooms and to file end-of-the-year

paperwork.

But the students won't be coming in. Unless a freak snowstorm in late April or

early May closes schools another day. Then the school calendar year would be

extended, accordingly, and graduation would be held the following Friday.

School Opens September 3

Not that anyone really wants to think about it now, but Newtown families might

want to also note another important date on their calendars.

School will reopen after Labor Day, on Wednesday, September 3.

Usually, Newtown students return for the two days before the Labor Day

weekend, but the administration and Board of Education members decided it

would be advantageous during the 1997-98 school year not to reopen until after

Labor Day.

This decision gives school construction and renovation project workers the

most time possible in which to complete their jobs before the students return

to classes.

April Vacation

Despite the fact that most schools in the Danbury area observe an April

vacation, the administrators and Board of Education members want the school

community to start thinking about a change that will take place in two years'

time.

In 1999, Newtown will observe its annual spring week-long break in March, and

the April vacation will be history.

"I wish we could have done it sooner, like next year," said board member Peggy

Ulrich-Nims during the March 11 meeting at which the board voted to officially

adopt the change.

The educators said families want March because many colleges and universities

observe a March break, making it easier to plan a vacation together. Also,

they felt the period from January to April during which there was no extended

break is "just too long," Mrs Ulrich-Nims said.

"The skiers want it," said Amy Dent, who was also in favor of making the

switch sooner than two years from now.

"This is the first year that the feedback from parents has been clear," said

Superintendent of Schools John Reed.

Dr Reed said the reason for waiting two years was the result of a number of

previously scheduled long-term planning events surrounding the April break,

which could not be changed.

Newtown will be the area leader in adopting the March holiday, Dr Reed added.

"No school in the Danbury area has done it. We'll be the first to commit to

the change."

For the record: Newtown students and their families can plan on their next and

last April vacation to occur a year from now, April 13-17, 1998.