EARLY DISMISSAL 2008-2009

 PARENT INFORMATION

Dear Parents:

The Duval County Public Schools has approved early dismissal days during the 2008-2009 school year.  Our school will dismiss at 1:45 p.m. on these days.  Early dismissal days (as listed below) will be used for staff in-service training, teacher collaboration and planning that will help enhance your child’s learning.

Bus transportation will be provided at early dismissal times on these days and will run the same routes as always.  Daycares in our area are being informed so their pick up of students will coincide with the dismissal times.  If your child is a car rider, please plan to arrive at the earlier time to pick him/her up.  If your child is enrolled in the Extended Day Program, he/she will be able to join their regular group at time of dismissal.

The following dates have been approved as Early Dismissal Wednesdays:

                        August 27                               January 7, 21

                        September 10, 24                   February 4, 18

                        October 8, 22                        March 4, 25

                        November 5, 19                      April 15, 29

                        December 10

Thank you for your support of this educational initiative that will benefit both teachers and students.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call our school at 573-1100.

Verna N. Fields, Principal

EARLY DISMISSAL

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS

What are Early Dismissal Days?

Early Dismissal Days will allow time for professional development activities and collaboration among teachers and staff during the school day.

Why the need for Early Dismissal Days?

Teachers need opportunities to learn together to deepen their content knowledge, learn research based instructional strategies, coordinate curriculum and address the increasing demands to implement standards in all schools.

What are the benefits to be gained from Early Dismissal Days?

Time will be provided consistently for professional development activities:

• School-based and embedded in the teacher’s regular work
• Training will include everyone on the faculty
• Focus on academic content and student improvement 

How often will they be held?

All schools will be dismissed one hour and l5 minutes early every other Wednesday for a total of 16 Early Dismissal Days.  The proposed dates are as follows:

What will happen to students not enrolled in an Extended Day Program?

There will be no additional costs to students currently enrolled in a school’s Extended Day Program.  Students who are not enrolled in the Extended Day Program must be picked up on the Early Dismissal Days.  Extenuating circumstances will be handled by the individual schools.

With increased demands and expectations of students, how will this loss of instruction time affect student performance?

Individual schools will address this issue in various ways – by such means as reducing a minute or two from passing time between classes, shaving a few minutes from lunch or from homeroom periods. 

Who provides the training?

Schools’ Standards Coaches, Design Coaches, Literacy Coaches, Duval County Instructional Staff, and others will facilitate and assist in professional development activities.

What criteria will be used to determine the quality of the professional development activities? 

Schools will be required to submit their Professional Development Plans to the Regional Office for review.  The plan must address the school’s needs, be aligned with the School’s Improvement Plan and the District’s Standards Implementation.  Monitoring of these plans and activities will be done by the Regional Superintendents and Regional Directors.