2000 - 2001 Academic Year Calendar

Thomas Gist Academy 

Altered Vacation Calendar 

The altered vacation calendar organizes student instruction and vacation into smaller time frames spaced throughout the school year. There will be four breaks:

Fall-Winter-Spring	Two weeks each
Summer	Approximately 8 ½ weeks beginning May 30

Students will still attend 175 instructional days. Remediation and enrichment opportunities will be made available during the intercession breaks as well as in the summer.

Opening Day	July 31, 2000
First Day for Students	August 7, 2000
Labor Day	September 4, 2000
Fall Break	October 2 – 13, 2000
Election Day	November 7, 2000
Thanksgiving Holiday	November 22, 23 & 24, 2000
Christmas Break	December 20 thru January 2, 2001
Martin Luther King Day	January 15, 2001
President’s Day	February 19, 2001
Spring Break	March 12 – 23, 2001
KEA	April 12 - 13, 2001
Last Day for Students	May 25, 2001
Memorial Day	May 28, 2001
Closing Day	May 29, 2001

QUARTERS		DAYS TAUGHT
1^st	August 1 - September 29	43
2^nd	October 16 - December 19	43
3^rd	January 3 - March 9	46
4^th	March 26 - May 25	43
	TOTAL	175

If school is dismissed due to inclement weather,
the first make-up day would be Monday, February 19, 2001.
Any additional make-up days would occur after May 25, 2001.  

Advantages of the Altered Vacation Calendar 

· More flexibility in planning family vacations

· Provides continuous learning opportunities

· Remediation will be more focused and intense

· Enrichment will enhance student learning

· Students and teachers will be more energized due to breaks

· Medical appointments can be scheduled during breaks

· High school students can arrange college campus visitation during breaks

· Research points to increased teacher and student attendance

· Research points to a decrease in suspensions and expulsions