After school began two weeks later than normal, the traditional schedule shifted, with the school year ending farther into the summer. Looking at the upcoming school year, administration elected to continue the post-Labor Day schedule.
The 2021 to 2022 school year will begin Thursday, Sept. 9, and end Friday, June 17. This shift allows for a longer summer break after this school year’s delayed start pushed the end of the 2021 year further into summer.
“Dr. Laurie felt strongly that students and faculty all needed to have a full and restful summer in order to rest and recharge after a very very difficult year,” Upper School principal Mrs. Elise Blum said. “Starting in August as we have in the past would mean a very short summer. We are also hopeful that a later start will provide more time for an improvement in the situation with COVID.”
Because of this, exams next year will also take place after winter break. However, instead of giving midterms the week after returning from break, exams will be administered two weeks after school resumes.
Although administration plans to schedule the class of 2022’s last day in April, they have a tentative idea for graduation. Likely scheduled for the third weekend in May, like in the past, graduation will continue to take place at the Rick Case NSU Arena.
Following next year, administration plans to analyze the schedule year-by-year. However, Mrs. Blum explains that any change “would have to be gradual so as not to decimate summer.”
Despite the alteration to the schedule, Mrs. Blum views it as a positive. “I think it will be a nice change for us, and I am glad everyone will get to have a restful summer,” she said.
