WESTFIELD –Westfield Public Schools parents and staff are being asked to fill out a survey on the possibility of implementing Alternative Structured Learning Days (ASLD) or “Blizzard Bags” this winter which are, simply put, assignments done at home on snow days. The survey, which will close on December 15 is now available on the home page of the district website at www.schoolsofwestfield.org.
In a presentation to the School Committee on November 20, Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski explained that the last day of school in Westfield this year is scheduled for June 14. There are also five snow days built into the calendar, which would bring the end of school to June 21, if all five days are used. For the first five snow days, no student assignments would be given.
The Blizzard Bags would go into effect on snow days 6, 7, and 8. On these days, students would be asked to work on one of a series of linked, interdisciplinary projects that they would continue in school, and ultimately turn in by June. If the plan is adopted, the last possible day of school in 2018 would be on June 21. Last year, Westfield called 8 snow days, and the last day of school was June 28.
Czaporowski said although the survey is designed for parents, he hopes they will involve their students when filling it out.
