QUINCY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Richard DeCristofaro, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
34 Coddington Street, Quincy, MA 02169
617.984.8701
[email protected]
March 19, 2015
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Thank you very much for your patience during this long and difficult winter. With eleven days of school
cancelled due to snowy conditions, Quincy Public Schools has been working for the last month on a
solution to avoid extending the school year to June 30. At School Committee’s direction, several
overtures were made to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE):
a waiver for the three state of emergency days, submitted on February 25, which was denied.
a second option, also submitted on February 25, proposing three school days be made up through
extended learning time, which was also denied.
School Committee also petitioned Governor Baker to intercede and grant the three-day waiver in a
letter sent on March 6.
On Friday, March 13, DESE shared guidelines for making up school days with a sliding scale of options,
based on the number of school days cancelled; based on this directive, a revised calendar was prepared
for the Monday, March 16 Special School Committee meeting. As DESE outlined, the calendar included
the five days originally scheduled as snow days beyond June 16, plus four days. Scheduling an early
release day on Friday, April 3, plus adding three days in June made the last day of school on June 26.
This calendar also included twenty-four extended school days, beginning on March 23.
On Tuesday, March 17, we received confirmation that due to the imminent start date of the extended
days and the contractual obligations for route bidding, the MBTA would not readily be able to change
the scheduled special middle school routes that transport close to 500 students daily. At the same time,
I received the news that Braintree had successfully petitioned DESE for a School Committee-approved
enrichment program in lieu of scheduling additional days of school. At no time prior to this did anyone
from DESE directly indicate that this was in option, even in multiple phone and email conversations as
we struggled with the calendar revision. Given this information, I put the extended day plan on hold,
while apprising School Committee members of these changed circumstances.
Quincy Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity, religion, national origin, or handicap, in its educational activities or employment practices.
At the Wednesday, March 18 School Committee, there was discussion of implementing a similar
enrichment program in Quincy Public Schools. The School Committee voted to approve a revised
calendar, eliminating the extended days and approving in concept a program that would link students’
work in school to the culturally rich and historic City of Quincy. Please see below for a brief overview
of the vision for Beyond the Bell, a series of cross-curricular learning opportunities to meet the diverse
needs of learners and families.
Beyond the Bell is an opportunity for Quincy Public Schools students to be immersed in age-appropriate
interdisciplinary activities connecting school, home, and the community. Student opportunities will be
designed to promote experiential and meaningful learning that promotes civic and family engagement.
Our intent is to offer choices and options that fit our families’ schedules and not to overburden students
or parents with extra assignments or projects. The pathways of participation for our students at all
levels will include opportunities for structured after-school and evening events at school or within the
community, utilizing online resources for directed learning, or exploring a topic of interest. A teacherdirected reflection time will take place in school the week of June 15, with students given the
opportunity to share their experiences.
These activities will begin May 1 and culminate in the City of Quincy’s annual Flag Day celebration on
June 13. A design team of Quincy Public Schools educators, administrators, and parents will begin
planning for the successful presentation of these learning experiences and more information will be
shared at the April 8 School Committee meeting and April 27 Teaching and Learning Subcommittee
meeting.
Once again, I appreciate the difficulty all of our families have faced with the unprecedented weather this
winter. We are looking forward to the opportunities for creativity and interdisciplinary connections
made possible by this program.
Sincerely,
Richard DeCristofaro, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
QUINCY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS
REVISED 3.18.15
2014-2015 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR
September
S
M
1
7 8
14 15
21 22
28 29
T
2
9
16
23
30
W
3
10
17
24
T
4
11
18
25
F
5
12
19
26
S
6
13
20
27
20 days
= No School/
Holiday or Vacation
M T W
1
5 6 7 8
12 13 14 15
19 20 21 22
26 27 28 29
T
2
9
16
23
30
February
S
1
8
15
22
M
W
W
16
23
T
W
W
17
24
W
4
W
18
25
T
5
W
19
26
F
6
W
20
27
S
7
14
21
28
Feb. 24: Elementary School Early
Release Day
Feb. 24: Middle School Early Release
Day
Feb. 16-Feb. 20: February Recess ~
No School
8 days
Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30: Elementary School
Early Release Days
Sept. 9, 23: Middle School Early
Release Days
October
S
Aug. 25: Elementary and Middle School
Offices Re-Open
Sept. 2: First day for Professional Staff
Sept. 3: First day of school, Grades 1-9
Sept. 4: First day of school, Gr. 10-12
Sept. 5: Kindergarten &
Pre-Kindergarten Orientation
Sept. 8: First day of school,
Kindergarten & Pre-Kindergarten
F
3
10
17
24
31
S
4
11
18
25
Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28: Elementary School
Early Release Days
Oct. 13: Columbus Day ~ No School
Oct. 14, 28: Middle School Early Release
Days
Oct. 14: High School Early Release Day
March
S
1
8
15
22
29
M
2
9
16
23
30
T
3
10
17
24
31
W
4
11
18
25
T
5
12
19
26
F
6
13
20
27
S
7
14
21
28
22 days
Mar. 3, 10, 17, 31: Elementary School
Early Release Days
Mar. 10, 31: Middle School Early
Release Days
Mar. 10: High School Early Release Day
Mar. 24: Full Day of School for
Elementary
22 days
November
S
M T W T F
S
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30
17 days
December
S
M
1
7 8
14 15
21 22
28 29
T
2
9
16
23
30
W
3
10
17
24
31
T
4
11
18
25
F
5
12
19
26
S
6
13
20
27
17 days
January
S
M T W T
1
4 5 6 7 8
11 12 13 14 15
18 19 20 21 22
25 26 W W W
F
2
9
16
23
W
S
3
10
17
24
31
15 days
Nov. 11: Veteran’s Day ~ No School
Nov. 4, 18, 25: Elementary School Early
Release Days
Nov. 18, 25: Middle School Early Release
Days
Nov. 18: High School Early Release Day
Nov. 26: Early Release Day ~ All Schools
NO LUNCH SERVED
April
S
M T W
1
5 6 7 8
12 13 14 15
19 20 21 22
26 27 28 29
T
2
9
16
23
30
F
3
10
17
24
17 days
Nov. 27 & 28: Thanksgiving Recess ~
No School
Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23: Elementary School
Early Release Days
Dec. 9, 23: Middle School Early Release Days
Dec. 9: High School Early Release Day
Dec. 24-Dec. 31: Winter Recess ~ No
School
Jan. 1-4: Winter Recess ~ No School
Jan. 6, 13, 20: Elementary School Early
Release Days
Jan. 13: Middle School Early Release
Day
Jan. 13: High School Early Release Day
Jan. 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday
Observed ~ No School
Elementary School Offices Close 6 days after last day of school
Middle School Offices Close 11 days after last day of school
High School Offices Open all summer for registration
Approved by the Quincy School Committee 3/18/2015
www.facebook.com/quincypublicschools.com
•
S
4
11
18
25
May
S
M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
20 days
June
S
M
1
7 8
14 15
21 22
28 29
T
2
9
16
23
30
W
3
10
17
24
T
4
11
18
25
F
5
12
19
26
S
6
13
20
27
20 days
Apr. 2: MCAS Long Composition
Apr. 3: No Pre-Kindergarten Classes
Apr. 3, 7, 14, 28: Elementary School
Early Release Days
Apr. 3, 28: Middle School Early Release
Days
Apr. 3, 14: High School Early Release
Days
Apr. 20-Apr. 24: April Recess ~
No School
May 5, 12, 19, 26: Elementary School
Early Release Days
May 12, 26: Middle School Early
Release Days
May 25: Memorial Day ~ No School
May 29: Last Day of School for Seniors
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 26: Elementary School
Early Release Days
June 8: NQHS Graduation (Rain Date June
10)
June 9: QHS Graduation (Rain Date June 11)
June 9, 23, 26: Middle School Early
Release Days
June 23: High School Early Release Day
June 26: Last Day of School
June 29: Last Day for Professional Staff
—————————————————————
Weather cancellations to date: January 27, 28, 29, 30;
February 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 (11 days)
www.quincypublicschools.com
•
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