By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal
The first day of school for Lowndes County Public School students is Monday, Aug. 19.
But the significant change in 2013-14 school calendar is that both students and teacher will get a week off for Thanksgiving.
Twelve-month personnel, who include central office personnel, will have three days off. According to the school calendar, students and teachers will be off for Thanksgiving on Monday-Friday, Nov. 25-29. Twelve-month employees will be off Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 27-29.
“Parents, students and teachers have requested a week off for Thanksgiving for years,” said Lowndes County School Superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd. “But because we were obligated, particularly the last few years, because of the uniform calendar dates… established by Legislature, we were forced to have school start on a certain date and end before Memorial Day.”
While Boyd said school begins statewide on Aug. 19, he said there is no specified end date. Without a specified end date, he said, the Lowndes County School System could have a week off for Thanksgiving “and be able to accommodate the wishes of most parents, students and teachers.”
Boyd pointed out that Monday, Aug. 12 will be the date for the Institute Day Program at the Calhoun School for Lowndes County Public Schools.
He said there will be two professional development sessions, a motivational speaker and presentation of award checks to teachers and principals “who have done an outstanding job.”
According to the school calendar Aug. 12 is also reporting day for nine-month employees and Aug. 12-16 are staff development/work days for employees.
Boyd said the school system’s Back to School Rally will be held on Saturday, Sept. 7 at the Hayneville Baseball Field. He said usually more than 1,200 people attend the event.
Other student holidays for the 2013-14 school year include: Labor Day, Sept. 2, Veterans’ Day, Nov. 11, Winter Holiday Break, Dec. 23-Jan. 3, Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 20, Presidents’ Day, Feb. 17, Spring Break, March 24-28 and Memorial Day, May 26.
Calhoun will hold commencement exercises Thursday, May 29. Classes end Friday, May 30. Central will hold commencement exercises on Saturday, May 31. Report cards go out Oct. 24, Jan. 9, March 20 and June 2-6. The school calendar was adopted on Jan. 10.