Rumor Mill
Published August 2, 2012
The purpose of this section is to answer any questions parents, teachers or community members might have regarding the school district and to set the record straight in regards to any rumors that might be circulating. If you have a question or have heard a rumor that you would like for us to address, simply SEND US your questions and we will respond to them in upcoming issues of IN FOCUS. Below are some of the questions we received since our last issue.
Why is the first day of school a half day and why is it on Friday? Why not start with a full day on Monday?
The school calendar is decided annually by the School Board. A calendar committee made up of teachers and administrators makes a recommendation to the Board based on parameters given to the committee by the School Board.
Many factors are weighed and debated by the committee and the School Board before a calendar is set. One goal is to make sure the semesters have the same amount of days, if at all possible. Also, in the WCS community, parents, students and teachers have strongly expressed the need for semester exams to take place prior to Winter Break. In the past few years, the Board has adopted a week break at Thanksgiving, a two day fall break, a one week break in the spring and two weeks for a winter break.
Other factors considered are the number of professional development days to include during the school year, other holidays and election days, parent teacher meeting time, inclement weather days and time for state mandated testing.
Half days are also included in the calendar as allowed by the State. Half days typically occur at the beginning or end of a semester or during the year to allow for a half day of professional development for teachers. One key benefit of a half day at the beginning of the school year is to give teachers and administrators an afternoon to accommodate new enrollees and adjust student schedules and class rosters. This allows for a productive first full day of school.
You are always welcome to contact your School Board member on any topic. Board member contact information can be found on our WEBSITE.
My question is regarding BYOT. What happens if a child doesn't have a device to use in the classroom? My son is in eighth grade and doesn't have a smart phone or iPad. Wll he be penalized for not having these devices?
Students who do not have their own digital devices will not be penalized. Schools will have digital devices available for students to check out, and teachers will ensure that if they require the use of a digital device for an activity, all students in the classroom will have access through their own device or through a school-owned one.
Parents can find other BYOT related questions and answers on the Williamson County Schools WEBSITE.
Due to the new BYOT program in WCS schools, will children still need the normal school supplies?
Digital devices are another tool students in grades 3-12 will use this school year to aid in learning. They will not replace traditional school supplies, and a list of those can be found by going to each school's individual website.
How do I find my child's bus stop?
Bus route information is now available on our WEBSITE. Select the Zone Query link and type in your street address to find your bus stop location for the 2012-13 school year.