Welcome to a new year of growth and discovery at Westerville City Schools! To help our families stay organized and engaged, we’ve compiled the 2024-2025 academic calendar below. From the excitement of the first day to the milestone of graduation, this guide serves as your roadmap for the upcoming year, ensuring you never miss a holiday, break, or essential school event.
Key Academic Dates
The Westerville school calendar is designed to promote a smooth and productive academic year:
First Day of School: Students return to classrooms in mid-August, ready to begin a new year of learning and growth.
Last Day of School: The academic year concludes toward the end of May with celebration of accomplishments and progress made within the year.
Progress Reports and Report Cards: Progress reports and report cards are issued on a regular basis to keep families informed about academic performance and areas needing improvement.
Parent-Teacher Conferences: Opportunities for families and teachers to collaborate on strategies for student success and address any challenges.
Holidays and Breaks
Holidays and breaks are appropriately placed in the calendar to afford students and staff an opportunity to rest:
Labor Day: A long weekend in early September gives the first holiday of the school year.
Thanksgiving Break: A multi-day break in late November allows for time with families during the holiday season.
Winter Break: A two-week break in December and January allows for festive celebrations and rest.
Spring Break: During the week of March, this takes care of any mid-semester breathing time for staff and students.
Memorial Day: Falling in late May, this honors those who fought for the country and provides that final break towards the end of the school year.
These vacations and days off are included to ensure the school year has ample balance and that the students are healthy.
Teacher Workdays
Purpose: Teacher workdays are for professional development, lesson planning, and updating curriculum to further instructional effectiveness.
Impact: These days ensure that teachers will be prepared and can offer a high level of education and student support.
Teacher workdays have helped Westerville schools maintain high levels of academic excellence.
Early Release Days
Details: Students go home earlier in the day to allow staff additional time to work together on training, collaboration, and planning.
Parental Guidance: It is suggested that families make plans for childcare or activities after school on these days.
Early release days are an important tool to give teachers the time needed to improve instructional strategies with the least amount of disruption to the school calendar.
Special Events and Activities
Westerville schools provide a variety of events and activities to complement the student experience:
Sports Competitions: Teamwork, school spirit, and physical fitness.
Art and Music Performances: Providing students with different platforms to showcase their artistic talents.
STEM Fairs: Encouraging innovation and problem-solving skills in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Community Engagement Projects: Strengthening the connection between schools and the local community with service projects.
These events provide ways for students to learn new skills, develop interests, and build good relationships with their peers and the community.
Emergency Closures and Makeup Days
Closures: School closures due to bad weather or other disasters are communicated as soon as possible to the relevant families.
Makeup Days: The calendar provides days reserved to recover lost instructional time and ensure consistency in the education provided.
This ensures that students meet the required instructional hours without significant disruption in academic progress.
Stay Connected & Prepared
While the calendar provides the foundation for the year, staying informed in real-time ensures your family never misses a beat. Here is how you can stay synchronized with Westerville City Schools:
Digital Tools & Notifications
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The WCSD Mobile App: Download the official district app to have the calendar, lunch menus, and school news right at your fingertips.
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PowerSchool Parent Portal: Regularly check the portal to monitor your student’s attendance, grades, and specific classroom schedule changes.
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Emergency Alerts: Ensure your contact information is up to date in the district database to receive “Robocalls,” SMS alerts, and emails regarding weather-related closures or delays.
Preparation Checklists
To make the most of the dates listed above, we recommend families:
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Sync Your Calendars: Manually add the Teacher Workdays and Early Release dates to your personal digital calendar now to avoid scheduling conflicts later.
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Plan for Early Release: Since these days involve a modified dismissal time, pre-arrange childcare or transportation for your student at the start of each semester.
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Monitor “Yellow” Days: Keep an eye on the district’s social media channels during winter months for updates on potential “calamity days” or shifts to remote learning.
Get Involved
The academic year is enriched by family participation. We encourage parents to attend PTO meetings and Open House nights (dates vary by building) to gain a deeper understanding of how these calendar milestones impact their specific school community.
Frequently Asked Questions
On what dates does the Westerville school year start and end?
The school year starts mid-August and ends in late May.
Where would I find the entire Westerville school calendar?
You can get the complete calendar from the official website of Westerville City School District or from your child’s school.
What are teacher workdays for?
The days are used for professional development, lesson planning, and instructional preparation.
Are early release days included in the calendar?
Yes, early release days are part of the calendar. These days give teachers time to collaborate and improve their instruction.
What holidays are included in the Westerville school calendar?
Holidays included are Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Spring Break, and Memorial Day.
What happens in case of emergency closures?
There are makeup days scheduled to recover lost instructional time, keeping students on track with their education.
The 2024-2025 Westerville school calendar is sure to keep the academic year well-organized, filled with learning, rest, and enriching opportunities for students, families, and educators alike.