MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Wood Acres Elementary
School____________________________________________
5800 Cromwell Drive Office of the Principal
(301) 320-6502 fax
(301) 320-6536
Dear Parents and Guardians:
Winter
weather emergencies, such as snow and ice, may cause disruptions in school
operations, including the closure of school, a delayed opening, or an early
dismissal. This letter provides
information about the procedures used when such disruptions occur. Information also is provided about the
weather contingency plan that would add student instructional days to the end
of the scheduled school year if schools are closed for more than four days due
to excessive weather emergencies.
Closure of School
When schools are closed system-wide, all instructional programs and extracurricular activities in schools are canceled. Private day care providers in school buildings may elect to stay open if the schools are closed but the administrative offices are open. In extreme conditions, administrative offices also may be closed.
Delayed Opening
A delayed opening means that
schools open two hours later than scheduled.
All buses operate on the same delayed schedule and, therefore, the
pick-up times are two hours later than normal.
When elementary schools open on a delayed schedule, the following
programs are canceled: morning Head Start, pre-kindergarten, and other
specialized programs or field trips scheduled before 12:00 noon. However, afternoon Head Start, and
pre-kindergarten begin at the regular time. Full-day kindergarten will follow
the regular school schedule. Parents should continue to check for radio,
television, or Web announcements in the event a decision to delay the opening
of schools is reconsidered and a decision to close schools for the day is made
at 7:00 a.m.
Early Dismissal
An early dismissal means
that schools will close 2.5 hours earlier than scheduled. All buses operate on that same early schedule
and, therefore, drop-off times are 2.5 hours earlier than normal. When elementary schools close early,
afternoon Head Start, pre-kindergarten, and other early childhood programs are
canceled, as well as any special programs or field trips scheduled after 12:00
noon. Full-day kindergarten students
will follow the regular school schedule.
Information about school
operations is announced publicly as soon as possible on area radio and television stations, Cable Channel 60, County
Cable Channel 6 or Cable Channel 34—MCPS TV, on the Internet at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org
or at Schools-Out.Com, and on a taped telephone message service at
301-279-3673. Emergency e-mail
announcements are available by signing up for MCPS QuickNotes on the school
system’s home page. If schools are
closed or delayed, the announcement is made no later than 6:00 a.m. (or the
night before if possible). If schools
are closing early, the announcements are made by 11:00 a.m.
Emergency Weather Contingency Plan
An emergency weather contingency plan will add
student instructional days to the end of the scheduled school year if schools
are closed more than four days because of
weather emergencies. The planned school
year for students ends on June 14, 2007.
However, if schools are closed for more than four days due to weather
emergencies, the following schedule would extend the school year in order to
add the necessary make-up days:
1. If
schools are closed for five days, the school year will be extended by one day
to June 13,2008
2. If
schools are closed for six days, the school year will be extended by two days
to June 13 and June 16, 2008.
3. If schools are closed seven days, the school year will be extended by three days to June 13, June 16, and June 17, 2008.
4. If
schools are closed for eight days, the school year will be extended by four
days to June 13,
June 16, June 17, and June 18, 2008.
5. If
schools are closed nine days, the school year will be extended by five days to
June 13, June 16,
June 17, June 18, and June 19, 2008.
Weather Conditions and Decisions
The school system uses a
variety of sources of information to determine whether to close schools, delay
the opening of schools, or dismiss schools early. These sources include actual physical
inspection of road and school conditions by transportation officials and other
staff at areas throughout the county, and an analysis of independent reports
from the National Weather Service, Accu-Weather, and the news media. The most severe weather conditions within the
county are used as the basis for decision-making. Consistent procedures are maintained in order
to respond quickly to emergency weather conditions and protect the safety and
well being of students.
All public schools within
Sincerely,
Marita Sherburne
Principal