The Wayland Union School District will begin its 2019-20 academic year on Monday, Aug. 26, instead of the day after Labor Day.
The Wayland Board of Education Monday adopted the 2019-2020 school district calendar that had been previously ratified by the district’s faculty, the WUEA.
Superintendent Norm Taylor, in a public statement today, said, “Allegan County school districts received a county-wide waiver last summer to permit a pre-Labor Day start to the school year, an initiative adopted by many surrounding counties and school districts in recent years. The primary reason for a pre-Labor Day start is to reduce the impact of summer learning loss that many children experience.”
Taylor said the starting date allows for a four-day Labor Day weekend that includes Friday, Aug. 30, and Monday, Sept. 2, with no school.
Taylor added, “The school year will contain the usual and required 180 days of scheduled instruction with a few additional break days throughout the school year. We will also maintain the five half days on periodic Wednesdays throughout the school year to provide Professional Learning Communities (PLC) professional development and planning for our faculty during those afternoons. The traditional full two week Christmas break will return next year as well.”
Other August 2019 dates of interest:
• Monday, Aug. 12: First day of fall practice for high school sports (except girls swimming and volleyball).
• Wednesday, Aug. 14: First day of fall practice for girls swimming and volleyball.
• Monday, Aug. 26: First day of fall practice for middle school football (grades 7-8), and cross country (grades 6-8).
• Tuesday, Aug. 27: First day of fall practice for middle school volleyball (grades 7-8).
School open houses will be Wednesday, Aug. 21, for Dorr Elementary (5 to 7 p.m.), Baker Elementary (5 to 6 p.m.) and Wayland Middle School (4:30 to 7 p.m.) and Thursday, Aug. 22, at Steeby Elementary (5 to 6 p.m.), Pine Street Elementary (5:30 to 6:30 p.m.) and Wayland High School (4:30 to 7 p.m.).
