Back to school for Bobby Ray: Alternative schedule means early start
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Today is the first day of school for the nearly 450 students attending Bobby Ray and taking classes under its 45-15 schedule. Registration was held Monday, and a number of teachers were busy putting the finishing touches on their classrooms yesterday.
Despite the mid-July starting day, teachers say they are ready for the year to begin.
“I love this schedule,” said teacher Beverly Greene. “It’s too hot in the summer right now to do anything outside anyway. Come the last part of September and the first of October when we get our first break, it will be the perfect time to go on a trip, or just about anything.”
This is the third year Bobby Ray has operated under the 45-15 schedule. Classes are held for 45 days (nine weeks) and then there is a 15-day break (three weeks).
The entire Warren County school system debated adopting such a schedule last year, or a similar 45-10 schedule. School officials seemed to embrace such a move, but the overwhelming sentiment among parents was to stick with the traditional calendar so no change was made. The first day of school for the rest of the system is Aug. 13.
“Change is horrible until you try it,” said Greene. “Just about everyone here likes the schedule.”
Added first-grade teacher Carol Neal, “I’m ready. I work 200 days a year regardless so this schedule is just fine with me.”
Bonnie Collier, back for her second term as school principal, says there has been much preparation for today’s opening.
“We’ve done a lot of planning and had some really full in-service days,” said Collier. “There aren’t many people outside the school system who don’t like our calendar when I describe it to them.”
Even the students are ready to go. Fifth-grader John Thomas Cutrell says he has been filling his backpack with school supplies and is eager to return to school.
“I’m ready to see my friends again,” he said.
The following is the 45-15 calendar for Bobby Ray Elementary for the school year which begins this morning:
Bobby Ray Calendar
Today First full day of school
Sept. 1 Labor Day (no school)
Sept. 12 Fair Day (no school)
Sept. 18 Parent-teacher conferences (3 to 9 p.m.)
Sept. 19-Oct. 10 Fall break (no school)
Oct. 13 School resumes
Nov. 26-28 Thanksgiving break
Dec. 19 Last day before Christmas (abbreviated day)
Dec. 22, 2003 – Christmas break
Jan. 9, 2004
Jan. 12, 2004 School resumes
Jan. 19 Martin Luther King holiday (no school)
Feb. 16 Presidents Day (no school)
March 15-April 2 Spring break
April 5 School resumes
April 9 Good Friday (no school)
May 31 Memorial Day (no school)
June 5 Last day of school (abbreviated day)