News On The Calendar

I realize this is just the Friday before the start of the school year, but I wanted to give you information about the next big Holiday vacation. We have an unusual calendar this school year. Students are scheduled to be IN SCHOOL on Monday and Tuesday, December 22-23.

During most years, those would be days of vacation to lengthen the Holiday break. However, in order to meet the state mandate of 1,098 hours of instruction and still end the school year during the second week of June, those two days of instruction are necessary.

I am providing early notice to seek your cooperation regarding the attendance of your sons and daughters. We must have 75% attendance on any scheduled school day in order for it to "count" toward the state audit. If we were to fall short of the mandated hours, the only recourse is to reduce other scheduled vacations or remain in school longer into the month of June. I don't believe either case is desirable for students.

Now that we are into the Labor Day weekend, the start of the school year is imminent. We are more than ready for the staff to arrive on Tuesday and students on Wednesday. We look forward to another great year with our students at South.