After some deliberation, Rocky View Schools’ (RVS) board of trustees settled on a calendar for the 2013-2014 school year, May 3.
The choice was a tough one as the board was presented with three alternative drafts.
“The start dates are the same, but the return to 10 professional learning days is what sets draft one apart,” said Murray Besenski, RVS associate superintendent of schools.
Besenski said the calendar drafts were made after RVS’ Calendar Development Committee — which trustees Don Thomas, Sylvia Eggerer, and Bev LaPeare are a part of — consulted with teachers, administrators, support staff, parents, students and community members.
“Because it was an online survey, we actually received feedback from people in nine different countries,” said Besenski.
The approved calendar sets the first day of school for the 2013-2014 year at Sept. 3 and the last day of class for K-8 students at June 26.
Grades 9 to 12 will have one extra day of class and break for summer on June 27.
The calendar has a two-week Christmas break (Dec. 20 to Jan. 6); a full-week break starting on Family Day (Feb.17 to Feb. 21); and an Easter break that stretches from April 17 to 28.
The calendar has 198 operational days, and teachers will begin their year on Aug. 26 with two Organizational Days followed by three Professional Learning (PL) Days.
“I think professional development days are crucial to us suggesting that we want to make sure that our teachers are well-prepared,” said Thomas.
“I think given the direction we’re going as a school division, it’s really important that we give our teachers as many PL days as we can without impacting our students’ learning,” said LaPeare.
