School Calendar Takes Bigger Turkey Break

SEBRING - Going home for a turkey dinner will be a little easier for teachers and families with school children next year with the school calendar featuring the entire Thanksgiving week as a holiday.
Deputy Superintendent Rodney Hollinger told the school board recently the district should consider taking the whole week off because many teachers already take the Monday and Tuesday off before Thanksgiving requiring a higher number of substitutes to be brought in.
The School Board of Highlands County approved its 2008-09 student calendar Tuesday with no school for the fourth week of November.
So parents and teachers can mark off Nov. 24 - 28 as days off on their 2008 calendar.
School Board Member Wally Randall said the only concern with the whole week off came from parents with younger students who would have to arrange for day care for the two days.
The upcoming winter break for the 2007-08 school year starts with an early release day on Dec. 21. The first day off from school will be Dec. 24. Students return to school Jan. 8.
The 2008 spring break will be March 31 through April 4. The last day of school for students in 2008 will be June 4.
Highlights of the 2008-09 school calendar include:

• Teachers return to work - Aug. 11.
  
• First day of school for students - Aug. 18.
  
• Winter break - Dec. 22 through Jan. 5.
  
• Spring break - March 30 through April 3.
  
• Last day of school for students - June 4.
  
• Last day of school for teachers - June 5.