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closeSchool district announces new calendar
‘Family Friendly’ calendar will now have weekly 90-minute
Roxanne Cooke
The Sumner School District has announced the 2008-09 family friendly calendar with consistent late-start days for students.
Every Wednesday starting in September, students will arrive 90 minutes later than their regular start time, a change from previous years’ mix of full days, half days, late starts and early release days, said district spokeswoman Ann Cook. Half-time kindergartners will now alternate a week of two full days with a week of three full days.
The goal of creating the family friendly calendar is a consistent and predictable schedule for parents as well as more time during the school day for teacher training and professional development.
“We had always envisioned 90 minutes” for the calendar change, Cook said.
The decision of late-start Wednesdays and changes to the kindergarten schedule were made based on a wealth of feedback from focus groups, community meetings and an open house hosted in April, she said.
“It became more obvious that Wednesday was preferred,” as more feedback was received at larger meetings, Cook said.
And late-start turned out to have more votes, as well — it doesn’t present quite the same logistical challenges that early release does in terms of after-school activities, said Erin LaVerdiere, director of professional development for the school district.
Parents’ feedback suggested it’s more convenient to ask employers to start the workday later than it would be to have to leave work several hours early.
Even students preferred Wednesday late-start because it offers a small break in the school week, Cook said. Students could also use the extra time to meet with teachers during some of the late-start days not taken up with professional development.
Other options for what children can do with the extra time: the before and after School Activities Club, with a version of the program offered at every elementary school in the district. There are a multitude of options, and the district hopes to continue its dialogue with families to see if anything else is needed.
“There isn’t one answer that’s good for every family,” Cook said. “We’ll just be listening.”
In terms of teacher training, the district’s former schedule limited it to three days before school starts in the fall, one day in October, a half day in January and another full day in March. The dates were spaced so far apart that the training was not as effective as it could have been, district leaders said during the April open house on the family friendly calendar.
District officials wanted to place more emphasis on teacher training and professional development, which focuses on teaching strategies and analyzing student work, because it impacts student achievement, Cook said.
“The focus is on what kids are actually learning,” LaVerdiere said.
Teachers tend to be more focused when training conducted during regular school hours — thus the demand for regular late-start (or early release) days, Cook said.
The calendar changes will save money, too, Cook said. The change in half-time kindergarten scheduling will save the district approximately $100,000 in transportation costs. With the previous schedule, the district had to send out buses twice every Wednesday to pick up kindergartners.
Students will still receive both breakfast and lunch with the new late-start Wednesdays.
Also, the district has added 15 minutes to elementary school schedules because they are currently shorter than they should be.
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SUMNER SCHOOL DISTRICT FAMILY FRIENDLY CALENDAR All students will begin school 90 minutes later than their regular school start time on Wednesdays. Elementary school day schedules have been adjusted to add 15 additional instructional minutes. Half-time kindergarten students will attend school every other Wednesday, in addition to their regular Monday/Thursday (Red) or Tuesday/Friday (Blue) schedule. A complete calendar for half-time kindergarten students will be included in the Back-to-School mailing in early August.
Bus transportation schedules, information about extended childcare services and other calendar information will be available on the district Web site prior to being mailed to homes in August. For more information, visit the district Web site at www.sumner.wednet.edu.
> Bonney Lake, Emerald Hills, Maple Lawn, McAlder and Victor Falls elementary schools School start time: 8:45 a.m. School dismissal time: 3:10 p.m. Wednesday late start time: 10:15 a.m.
> Crestwood, Daffodil Valley and Liberty Ridge elementary schools School start time: 9:20 a.m. School dismissal time: 3:45 p.m. Wednesday late start time: 10:50 a.m.
> All middle and high schools School start time: 7:35 a.m. School dismissal time: 2:20 p.m. Wednesday late start time: 9:05 a.m.