Fauquier adopts school calendars for 2016-17 and 2017-18

On Monday, Jan. 11, Fauquier County School Board approved calendars for school years 2016-2017 and 2017-2018; both calendars include features that were confirmed to be the majority preference in a recent FCPS survey of staff and parents. This is the first time the board has approved a two-year calendar.

Following are points of information concerning the approved calendars:

In a slight change from the current calendar model, the first day of school for students will be on a Wednesday instead of a Monday; students will return to school on Wednesday, August 17 in 2016 and on Wednesday, August 16 in 2017.

In each calendar there are seven early dismissal days.

Two parent-teacher conference times are designated each school year, although the spring parent-teacher conference day is a possible makeup day.

A school-based In-Service Day in October returns to these calendars (no school for students).

There will be no school for students on Election Day, which will serve as a teacher work day.

School will be in session on Veteran’s Day with activities scheduled at each school in honor of the day.

Thanksgiving break is three days for students and for most staff; the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is an optional Professional Development Day for certified employees and a half day for 12-month employees.

The first term ends before winter break – on Dec. 21 in 2016 and on Dec. 20 in 2017.

Winter Break will be 10 weekdays for students and eight weekdays for most staff (less for 12-month employees). After the New Year’s holiday, teachers return on a Tuesday for two teacher work days (time for professional development and for “turning the term,” i.e. completing grading and student schedules), and students return on a Thursday.

In addition to Thanksgiving, winter break and spring break, following are the holidays for students and all staff:  Labor Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day (a possible makeup day), and Memorial Day. Twelve-month employees also get the Fourth of July holiday.

Spring Break will be five weekdays.

Makeup days are listed in order on the bottom of the calendar.

Graduation dates are to be announced.