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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2012-02-08, Page 8Wednesday, February 9, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 3 Area school boards seeking feedback on 2011-2012 calendar Committees suggest changing ministry recommended holiday dates Hilary Long QMI Agency Both the Avon Maitland and Huron Perth Catholic district school hoards are looking for feedback on a modified 2011-2012 instructional school calendar. Discussions around setting the calendar for the upcoming school year have already taken place between the AMDSB and IIP(:Mit School Year Calendar Committees. The committees have conte to a consensus and have agreed to align all dates including the start of the school as well as the end dates, holiday schedules and the placement of P.A. Days. This year, they are recommending filing a modified school year calendar, different than the one suggested by the Ministry of Education, In this case, a modified calendar indicates the boards will be requesting to change the ministry suggested dates for the Christmas and March break holidays. 'lhe ministry calendar indicates Christmas Break would begin at the end of classes on Friday, Dec, 16, 201 1 with a return to class on Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, March Break would begin at the end of classes on Friday, March 9, 2012 with a return to classes oft Monday, March 19, 2012. The modified calendar calls for the Christmas Break to begin at the end of classes on Friday, Dec. 23, 2011 with a return to class on Monday, Jan. 9, 2012. March Break would begin at the end of classes on Thursday, March 8, 2012 with a return to class on Monday, March 19, 2012, Steve Howe, manager of communications with the AMDSB, said the added day at March Break is something the school boards tried a number of years ago. "In the early 2000's it was a pilot to see if it impacted on attendance, What tends to happen is people, when planning Man:h Break vacations, want to get the jump on the busy times and we found there was a dramatic dropin attendance on the Friday before March Break." he said, "'That was one of the considerations, but there were a number of other things that were considered in all of this," he added, "It all depends on the year, you are the mercy of where the normal stat holidays fall. "In 2011-2012, we have a leap year, 'lhe extra day in February gives us a little more flexibility on meeting the required number of instructional Almilays because every school board must have j94 instructional days," he continued, "When calendars are determined, that is the primary guiding factor." "The other big modification from what the ministry has suggested is the Christmas break, 'Ihe ministry suggested starting Christmas break on Dec. 19. That means students would have nine days off before Christmas. It was felt by the two hoards here, that they would prefer to end classes on Dec., 23. 1t is the same number of days, just a different configuration," said lime. Ilowe said now that the calendar has been set the hoards have put it out and are seeking community feedback. Dan Parr, Superintendant of Education with 11PC L)SB, said they received public feedback prior to setting the calendar. "Two representatives from our regional catholic school council advisory committee were at the meeting and from that meeting we gathered everyone's wishes and intentions and then 1 worked with Kim Black from AMDSB to set the calendar," he said. "Ln addition 10 that level, we have posted the draft calendar on the hoard's website as we do with every policy the hoard considers - and any member of the public can contact senior administration to offer their feedback on that," said Parr, noting a calendar has also been sent to every school council chair in the system. the IIP(:1)S1l hoard of trustees will be staking a final decision on Feb. 28. "Any submissions prior to that would be welcome feedback," said Parr. 'the AML)Slt is collecting input until Feb. 16 on the website or directly to school principals. "All of that information will be taken to the hoard of trustees on Feb, 22 where our final decision will he made," said 1 Lowe. "At that point we will finalize our calendar that we then have to submit to the Ministry of Education for final approval," he said, noting he does not foresee the ministry having any Issue with the modifications, Ilowe said the board has already received a ton of feedback. As of Feb. 3 over 215 submissions hall been received through the website. "An early look says the majority is in support of the modified calendar," he said, noting it is not a majority rule but If the hoard saw a large per- centage not in favour of the modifications that may cause a chane. Rowe said he knows of a number of other boards in area that are looking at making the same change to the Christmas break, 1Lowe said the two boards work together so that the calendar is Identical, Lie said it stakes sense in terms of logistics. "We share busing so it just makes sense from a financial perspective as well as child care and other issues," Rowe said the extra day at March Break is something that will be decided on a year-to-year basis, 'lb submit feedback to the AMDSB visit http:// hlog.anttdsb,ca/ or contact your school principal, To submit feedback to the IIPCDSB visit http://www,huronperthcatholic,ca/ or contact the hoard office at 519-345-2440, L E` is figure it oiit. Come in for your TD Personal Assessment before the RSP deadline, March 1, 2011. The RSP deadline is corning. So there's no better time to come in for a complimentary TD Personal Assessment, where one of our advisors will get to know your retirement goals, understand your net worth, review your investments, and help you figure out the best retirement plan of action. 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