[MSS News] School calendar change starting May 1, 2008

[Brian J. Blake]

Good afternoon,

Below is a copy of a letter that went home with all students today.   
I hope you all had a wonderful vacation last week.

Thank you for your continued support.

-Brian

Dear parent/guardian,

During the last month, there has been growing concern from parents,  
teachers and administrators regarding the last day of school this  
year.  We are currently scheduled to end school on June 25, 2008.   
Several school districts around the State have looked at ways to make  
up the time in order to meet the State requirements for hours and days.

The leadership team, school board, and faculty have looked at the  
options as well and have spoken with a number of parents.  The best  
option we have at this point in time is to begin the school day 15  
minutes earlier in the morning and extend the day 15 minutes in the  
afternoon.  By doing this, we are able to make up three days of  
academic time, bringing the last day of school back to June 20, 2008.

In order to accomplish this, we will begin having the extended school  
day this Thursday, May 1, 2008.  The school day will simply be 30  
minutes longer, with 15 minutes coming at the beginning of the day  
and 15 minutes at the end of the day.  Each building principal will  
decide with the staff how to best utilize the additional time to make  
it the most productive.  I have arranged with the bus company to have  
the pick-ups 15 minutes earlier in the morning.  Please remember that  
students will be arriving home 15 minutes later as well.

To summarize, we will begin with an extended day this Thursday, May 1  
for the rest of the school year in order to make up 3 days lost to  
weather this winter.  In doing so, our last day will be June 20, 2008.

If you have any questions, please contact the SAU office or your  
building principal.


Dr. Brian J. Blake
Superintendent of Schools
SAU #66
bblake at hopkintonschools.org