January 20, 2012

Snow days will mean extended school year
Snow days must be made up at the end of the school year. Here are the changes due to this week's weather.

Makeup Days:
May 29 - Originally set aside as a makeup day (if needed) is now a school day.
June 15 - Formerly the last day of school (half day); now a Full Day of school.
June 18 - Makeup Day for Jan. 18.
June 19 - Makeup Day for Jan. 19.
June 20 - Makeup Day for Jan. 20; now the last day of school (half-day only).

Other calendar changes:
Feb. 6 - End of First Semester
April 17 - End of 3rd Quarter

Stay Informed About School Closures or Delays
School Closure Line: 279-5060
Check These Websites: www.ohsd.net or www.schoolreport.org
E-mail Notification: Sign up at www.schoolreport.org

How do you decide on school closures, anyway?
Making an informed decision requires a team effort. Starting at about 3:30 am, four people from the school district get into their cars and drive over designated routes to test road conditions. We also consult with the base and emergency personnel. The goal is to make decision and have it posted on the various websites no later than 5:30 am.

Parents: It's always your call when it comes to the safety of your children
Regardless of whether school is open, no one will second-guess the decision of parents to keep children home or pick them up at school early due to weather. Snow or ice conditions can vary greatly on the island. Transportation issues vary from family to family. Parents need to make decisions based on their individual needs and concerns.

Once buses roll in the morning, schools usually stay open
Due to safety concerns, it's highly unlikely school will be canceled when snow falls during the school day. Students must have a warm and safe way to get home and a warm supervised home to go to. Usually the best alternative is to keep schools open. Parents, however, should use their own judgment about picking up their children early from school.

Know your snow route information
For students who ride the bus, it's important to check the snow route information.