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Calendar Amendment Letter to Parents

November 17, 2015

Letter to Parents re Calendar Amendment 2015-16 2015Nov17_page1

November 17, 2015

Dear Parents/Guardians:

The BC Ministry of Education has revised (K-9) and is revising (grades 10-12) the provincial curriculum as a response to the rapidly changing world that students are entering. The Ministry of Education consulted with experts in the field, including the BC Teachers’ Federation to develop curriculum designed to best meet the needs of students and prepare them for the future.

In order to implement these changes, the minimum number of instructional hours has been reduced by two days for the current 2015-2016 school year. The new non-instructional time will be used for the purpose of enabling teachers to participate in discussions and activities related to implementation of the new BC curriculum. In addition to this year, the minimum number of instructional hours for the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years will be reduced by one day each for the same purpose.

As current 2015-2016 District calendars have already been approved by the Langley Board of Education, the District calendar must now be amended by the Board to accommodate this subsequent change. The proposed two days of non-instructional time, subject to Board approval, are Friday, January 15, 2016 and Monday, April 18, 2016. While these dates are subject to final Board approval, they are being provided to parents/guardians so that parents/ guardians may begin to plan accordingly.

The Langley Board of Education meets Tuesday, December 8, 2015 and the motion to amend the calendar for 2015-2016 will be on the agenda as part of the Regular Meeting that starts at 7pm. Board of Education meetings are held in the School Board Office, 4875 222 Street, Langley.

Staffs at schools across the District have already been diligently working at supporting this curricular change. More information for parents can be found on the District’s website – https://www.sd35.bc.ca/students-parents/bcs-new-curriculum/ or through your school’s teachers and administration.

Sincerely,

Suzanne Hoffman, Superintendent of Schools