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School to start before Labour Day for Upper Grand and Wellington Catholic students

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
Wellington Catholic District School Board and Upper Grand District School Board

For Immediate Release
April 1, 2009 

GUELPH, Ontario — Upper Grand and Wellington Catholic students will be back in class on Tuesday September 1, 2009 as a result of the school boards approving common 2009-2010 school year calendars that will see the school year start before Labour Day.

Although the Tuesday after Labour Day is the traditional start to the school year, Labour Day is late this year (September 7). It is not possible to fit the provincially mandated 194 instructional days and six Professional Activity (PA) days into the calendar between September 8 and June 30. According to the regulation, the school year may run anytime between September 1 and June 30.

“We realize that this is not going to be a popular decision,” said Bob Borden, chair of the Upper Grand board.

“However, we have taken into consideration the timing of the notification, so families can make appropriate plans, if at all possible. We usually submit our calendar by May 1.”

The boards are aware that that some children will not be in school on the three days before Labour Day due to plans already made by families for summer camps, vacations, and student summer jobs.

“Ultimately it‘s up to parents to decide if a child will be school on those days,” Larry Clifford, Superintendent of Program for the Wellington Catholic Board noted.

“Students will still get the full nine weeks of summer vacation as in previous years.”

In both boards, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (September 1, 2 and 3) will see students in class, with a board holiday on Friday September 4, providing a four day weekend. The calendar also provides for an extra day to be added to the March Break.

By adopting common calendars, the boards save money on transportation since they share busing provided by Wellington Dufferin Student Transportation Services. It costs the Upper Grand board $77,000 each day when it busses students to school and the Wellington Catholic board does not. There are additional busing costs to the Catholic board as well if the calendars don’t match.

For more information:

Questions and Answers about the 2009-2010 School Year Calendar

Maggie McFadzen, Communications Officer, Upper Grand District School Board, 519-822-4410 ext 725 or [email protected].

Larry Clifford, Superintendent of Program, Wellington Catholic District School Board, 519-821-4640 or [email protected].

Categories: Media Releases