Because of a week of snow closures in January, many North Olympic Peninsula school districts have pushed back the last day of school, resulting in some students attending school the first days of summer — and after high school commencement ceremonies.
A series of snowstorms closed roads and schools Jan. 17-20, forcing school districts to use built-in snow days to make up for the missed week of school and add school days at the end of the year.
Some districts were closed for more days than others, depending on weather conditions, but every district in the region lost at least a few days of school during the storms.
Quillayute Valley School District in Forks will close its doors June 21 — a day after summer begins.
Summer officially will begin at 4:09 p.m. June 20 at the moment of summer solstice.
Quillayute Valley Superintendent Diana Reaume said the summer release is the latest in school history of which she is aware.
Under the original calender, Forks schools were scheduled to release kindergarten-through-11th-grade students June 15.
Two makeup days
The district is requiring graduating Forks High School seniors to return for two snow makeup days after Saturday’s commencement ceremony.
Graduating seniors will not receive their actual diplomas at the commencement ceremony at 6 p.m. Saturday, Reaume said.
Normally, seniors do not return to school in the week after graduation, when the younger students take their final exams. But this year, they will be required to return to school Monday and Tuesday, Reaume said.
The state requires students to have 180 classroom days in order for their credits to count, she said.
Reaume explained that without makeup days, Forks High School would have had only 178 school days.
Forks High School is planning fun activities for those two days, including yearbook distributions and other end-of-year events, and once they have attended classes Monday and Tuesday, students will receive their diplomas, she said.
Forks summer school programs and teacher training events have been delayed because of the scheduling change. They will now begin July 2.
Port Angeles
Port Angeles School District students, who also were scheduled to end the school year June 15, will be excused from classes at noon June 20.
Port Angeles seniors, who graduate at 8 p.m. June 15, will not be required to return to school the following week, Superintendent Jane Pryne said.
The Port Angeles and other districts in the region began the school year as much as a week earlier than Quillayute Valley, so seniors will complete the number of school days required to earn their diplomas in time for graduation ceremonies.
The district also extended the 2010-2011 school year because of snow days, with Port Angeles holding final classes June 17.
Quileute Tribal School in LaPush also will release students June 20, having extended its scheduled June 12 release day because of snow days and a high-tide flooding day.
The school is located near First Beach in LaPush, and during some high tides or storms, access to the school can be cut off.
Crescent School
Crescent School District in Joyce will dismiss classes Thursday and did not did not extend the school year.
District students lost a few days during the storm but not as many as other districts, said Superintendent Tom Anderson.
“We didn’t have as many transportation challenges as other districts,” Anderson said.
Because they lost fewer days, Crescent schools were able to make up the days by eliminating several teacher work days and using those days as student classroom days instead, he said.
Crescent also is the only district on the North Olympic Peninsula that will hold its 2012 commencement ceremony after the last day of school, June 16.
Anderson said the school has a tradition of holding graduation the Saturday after school ends and intends to continue with that tradition.
Cape Flattery School District’s website lists the final student day as Thursday, one day later than the district’s originally scheduled Wednesday release.
The Neah Bay High school graduation was Saturday, and Clallam Bay High School commencement is this Saturday.
Sequim and more
Sequim School District will dismiss students for the summer June 15, as initially scheduled, with kindergarten classes ending Thursday.
Port Townsend and Brinnon school districts will dismiss classes June 18.
The Chimacum School District will release students early the last day, June 19.
Quilcene School District will dismiss students for the summer June 19.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
