Chinook's Edge School Division students could see a drastically different calendar next year if a series of proposed changes are approved next month.The new calendar adds two week-long breaks to the school year ñ one in late October and one in February ñ all without upsetting the number of instructional days in the year, associate superintendent Shawn Russell said.ìIt's just rearranging some of the days that students have off into week-long breaks rather than a Friday here and there,î he said, explaining the new schedule would still allow for occasional non-instructional days to be placed on Fridays throughout the year.To better balance out the breaks the current spring break will be moved from the first week in April until later in the month, Russell added.The proposed changes were suggested after parents and students expressed concern with attending school for two days mid-week in February, he said. Also, when CESD surveyed parents at Chinook Centre School and …cole Innisfail Middle School about a year-round calendar, many said their children went back to school refreshed after a one-week break as opposed to the occasional long weekend.ìThat's part of the rationale behind it,î Russell explained, saying other Alberta school divisions have already added a week-long fall break to their calendar. ìCertainly staff who have been in a year-round calendar have similar comments ñ they feel that the students and staff come back rested.îRussell said important stakeholders, including staff, students and parents, were surveyed about the proposed changes between Oct. 6 and Oct. 24.The CESD board of education is expected to make a decision after discussing the survey results at its November meeting.ìThere are a number of possibilities that could come out of this,î Russell said. ìThere's nothing that says we will change.î
