SOUTHWICK – The Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District will keep April vacation as scheduled.
Superintendent Jennifer Willard announced results of an online survey on the subject to families via email April 13 and stated that the majority of respondents chose to keep the vacation intact.
Parents, many unhappy with the decision, commented on social media about the cancellation of vacation.
“This is so sad,” wrote Lindsay Hale. “I will definitely be continuing my child’s education during this week! Lexia, I-Ready, Art everything. I will never be able to do as well as our teachers, but I will always put my child’s education first.”
Several parents, including Sam Leigh, said their children were just getting the hang of school at home and they did not want to extend the school year.
“I’m still having my kids do I-ready — they won’t want to go back to it after that if I don’t continue on,” she stated. “Surrounding towns will be out of school before us because we skipped working through a ‘vacation’ where no one can leave their houses anyway.”
Stephanie Marcil said the vacation is a welcome break for high school students.
“As a senior, I can help send a voice for some of the high schoolers who have been getting a very fair amount of schoolwork that does take a couple hours a day to do,” she stated. “Knowing we still have a vacation helps me to know that I will have a week to be able to do the extra work that many AP classes have, so working through the vacation doesn’t benefit the seniors at all and will leave lesson plans messed up for many courses that are designed around the seniors’ schedule.”
Marcil said she did understand why taking a vacation could be difficult for younger students.
“I do see why many younger [students] and why many parents and guardians are upset with this because the work for younger grades is not as complex and many assignments are more day to day based and entertaining young children can be frustrating and difficult especially for those also working from home,” wrote Marcil. “If these was a way that the younger grades could work through the week and be able to get out sooner even I would want that, I am only voicing that many high schoolers will still be doing some sort of work still over break like assigned reading, AP practice exams, placement testing for future higher education, and some students need a few days to just be able to take a breath.”
Willard’s email stated that “We did survey of the school community and we are going to continue with April vacation as planned. There will be no remote learning during the week of April 20-24.”
There were 2,243 responses to the online survey regarding vacation, with 1,510 respondents choosing no remote learning that week and 733 respondents opting to continue online learning.
Of those choosing no remote learning, 1,148 were parents, 49 were staff, 303 were students and 14 identified as none of the above.
Respondents who voted to continue online learning through the planned vacation week included 556 parents, 90 staff, 84 students and 3 “none of the above.”
Willard also announced that third quarter report cards would be distributed by email this week.
“Email distribution of report cards will help us protect staff and families while maintaining social distancing. If your family needs a paper copy, please contact your child’s school,” stated Willard.
Willard encouraged families to regularly check their email as well as the district website for updates.
“As always, if you have questions about your child’s education, please reach out to their teacher, or the school office. School office personnel are checking voice messages during the closure,” she said. “Thank you for your continued patience and support during this unprecedented time.”
The email also alerted families that the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System testing was canceled and MCAS graduation requirement waived for this year.
