About Those Snow Days

From school officials...

Dear HCPSS families,

Recent historic snowfall in the region resulted in Howard County public schools being closed for eight (8) instructional days so far during the 2009-2010 school year. Last evening, the Board of Education approved the following changes to the calendar to make up the missed instructional days.

The five days designated as inclement weather makeup days on the academic calendar will be used to make up five of the eight days, making June 23 the final instructional day for the 2009-2010 school year.

The Professional Development Day scheduled for Thursday, April 22 and the Professional Work Day for Articulation scheduled for Friday, May 14 will be used as instructional days to make up the sixth and seventh days. The Superintendent will apply for a waiver of the eighth day and any subsequent days that may need to be used for inclement weather during this school year.

Additionally, formal Parent Teacher Conferences, originally scheduled for February 10, 11, and 12, will not be rescheduled. Parents who have concerns about their child's progress are asked to contact the individual teacher to make arrangements to discuss their concerns. Teachers are asked to provide opportunities for parents to discuss concerns through phone calls and individual meetings.

The third quarter marking period has been extended from April 1 to April 23, with Interim Reports issued on March 19 instead of March 5, and report cards issued on May 5. The Board voted to change April 1 from an early dismissal day to a full instructional day. The fourth quarter marking period will now begin on April 26, with interim reports issued on May 26. Summer school begins on June 28.