2011-2012 School Calendar

The 2011-2012 School Calendar was approved by the Sioux Center Community School District Board of Education at the regular monthly meeting on January 17^th.  Highlights of the calendar need to be brought to the public’s attention.  Here are some of the highlighted changes for the 2011-2012 school year.

The school year will start on August 24.  This is the corresponding date to the two previous school years.  Prior to the 2009-2010 school year the district started school one week earlier.   Construction projects at the high school and at Kinsey Elementary school required the start date to be moved back one week. . As the calendar for next year was designed the start date of the fourth week of August seemed more appropriate than the earlier start..

Professional development is extremely important to the success of our teachers and student achievement.  There will be a one hour early release for professional development every Wednesday of the school year.  Kinsey Elementary School will dismiss at 2:05 and the middle school and high school will dismiss at 2:15 every Wednesday.  These one hour early outs are used for teacher collaboration time.  Research on student achievement has demonstrated that teachers need to collaborate with their peers regarding the development of lessons, the practice of lessons, and the sharing of student work.  In the 2012 school year there will be one half day early dismissal for professional development on April 27, 2012.  Students will not be in school on October 7, 2011, February 17, 2012, and April 10, 2012 as these days are designated as full day professional development for school staff.

Traditionally the third Monday of February has been a day of no school in observation of President’s Day.  President’s Day will remain a day of no school unless the district misses a day of school for inclement weather prior to President’s Day.  Additional days missed due to inclement weather will be made up within the school year with April 21^st and April 25^th, the Thursday and Monday of Easter break, being the make up day.  Beyond these days, all snow days will be made-up at the end of the school year as in the past.

Dates of Note include:

• August 24, 2011 – First day of school
• October 28, 2011 – End of the 1^st quarter
• November 8 and 10, 2011 – Parent Teacher Conferences
• December 23, 2011 to January 2, 2012 - Christmas Vacation
• January 13^th, 2012 – End of the 1^st Semester
• January 16^th – Begin the 2^nd semester
• February 28 and March 1, 2012 – Parent Teacher Conferences
• March 21, 2012 – End of the 3^rd quarter
• April 5, 2012 to April 10, 2012– Easter vacation
• May 20, 2012 – Commencement Ceremonies
• May 24, 2012 end of the 4^th quarter