December 3rd, 2013

As you may be aware, the Waterloo Region District School Board’s school year calendar has designated December 20, 2013, as a Professional Development Day. Students will not be at school on this day and the school will be closed to the public. However, for those families who have children attending the Before and After School Programs, those programs will be operating as usual from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Traditionally, teaching staff participate in professional learning activities on days such as December 20, 2013. However, based on direction provided by the Ministry of Education, permanent contract teachers in both our elementary  and secondary schools as well as teachers who work at the Education Centre will be taking December 20th as an unpaid day and therefore will not be at work on that day.

Administrators must also take an unpaid day. In some instances, administrators will choose December 20th as an unpaid day and will also not be present in their schools. In other cases, administrators will choose to take an unpaid day at another time and will be at their school on December 20th.

December 20th, is a regular paid work day for all other staff. Staff attending work on December 20th may either be participating in professional learning activities offered through the Board or be performing their normal work related duties.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to meet the needs of our students as well as agreements in place with our employee groups and the Government of Ontario.