Wednesday's Words
As we head into the colder winter months, I thought this was a good time to share some general information with you about our policies and procedures for closing school, calling for a delay or possible early closing. The following are some quick answers to your most frequently asked questions.
Who makes the decision?
As the Superintendent it is my responsibility to make the decision about whether or not it is safe to open the schools in the case of inclement weather. I take this responsibility seriously and base the decision on a variety of sources of information. Many factors are considered in making the decision including road conditions, snow accumulations, temperature and icing, parking lot and sidewalk conditions and weather predictions.
How are decisions made?
To begin with, like you, I follow current local forecasts to get the most up-to-date weather predictions. As we all know from experience, the weather in New England is not always predictable and forecasts sometimes are incorrect. At the same time, I have to rely on the predictions of the local experts to make the most informed decision possible.
In addition to monitoring forecasts, I also consult with a variety of individuals throughout the course of the night. I am in constant communication with the Norfolk DPW, who provides me with up-to-date information regarding road and driving conditions. In addition, I consult with area superintendents including Wrentham, Plainville and King Phillip. When necessary, the police department and fire department are consulted as well.
What time are decisions made?
In order to call for a school cancellation or delay, a decision must be made by 5:45 a.m. This allows us time to notify news stations and send out a ConnectEd message to families prior to parents leaving for work and staff starting their journey into school. After this time, it is difficult to delay school, as we cannot be assured that all families will get the message in time, and there is a safety concern about students waiting outside for buses that are not coming or students who are being dropped off at school when there is no supervision available.
How are families notified?
In the case of a school cancellation, delay or possible early release, all families will be notified via our ConnectEd system. Early release calls are very rare and are typically only made when families are notified in advance. We would not send students home early at this age without ensuring that a parent or family member was informed and home to meet them. Delayed openings are announced through ConnectEd and through the local radio and TV stations listed below. In the case of a one hour delay, parents can expect bus pick up times to run one hour later than usual. The school day will begin one hour later- although lunches and other specials will run at their regularly scheduled times.
Where can you find information about school cancellations or delays?
- WBZ Storm Center - TV 4 and News Radio 1030
- WBUR Radio Boston
- WCVB - TV 5
- WFXT - Fox 25
- WRKO Storm Force - TV 7
- Norfolk Cable Channel NCTV
- ConnectEd
- www.TheBostonChannel.com
- www.norfolk.k12.ma.us
In addition to getting the information on The BostonChannel.com, and individual network stations, you can also register directly with these individual sites to receive alerts on your preferred electronic device.
Please note that as a parent you always have the right to keep your child home from school if you are concerned about the weather or road conditions. While it is my responsibility to make the best decision I can on behalf of the schools and our community, I respect parents’ individual right to make a different decision if they feel it is in the best interest of their child.
If you are considering giving a gift to your child’s teacher over the next few weeks, it is important to be aware that teachers, as public employees, are subject to the Conflict of Interest Law. The general guidelines of this law prohibit teachers from accepting a gift worth over $50.00 from any individual student. Teachers are able to accept a class gift of up to $150.00 or several smaller gifts over the course of the year totaling no more than $150.00 for the year, as long as the gift is given from the class as a whole and no individual students' names are attached. Teachers are not allowed to accept any individual gifts from students who contributed to the class gift. Teachers are also allowed to accept gifts intended to be used in the classroom (i.e. books, supplies) without being in violation of the law. Please remember, you have already given us the gift of sharing your children with us throughout the school year! I am providing this information strictly to help room parents or others plan and to prevent any uncomfortable situations from arising.
The Norfolk County Teachers Association, founded by the visionary educator Horace Mann in 1849, is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 NCTA Grants. As the oldest teachers’ association in the nation, NCTA remains steadfast in its commitment to serving teachers and students.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Kirsten Baima, Kayla Netto, and Andrea Stafford, whose innovative projects have been selected for funding. Their dedication to enhancing student learning aligns perfectly with NCTA's mission.
We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to all applicants for their time, effort, and passion for education. Your contributions to our profession are invaluable.
Please click on Employment Opportunities to join our team!
CURRENT OPENINGS:
For more information contact Roxanne Verdeaux, Human Resources @ verdeaux@norfolk.k12.ma.us
- Educational Support Personnel
- Instructional Assistants Special Education
- Extended Day Site Coordinator (SACC) - Grades 3-6
- Substitute Nurses (RN)
- Substitute Teachers
- Food Service Assistants
Let kids be kids a little longer
Join Norfolk parents (and 82,000 other parents nationwide) who have decided to delay giving smartphones to their kids until “at least” 8th grade. Wait Until 8th is a national program helping parents address the reality that early exposure to social media, internet access, and smartphone addiction is taking a toll on childrens’ mental health. The pledge is only for smartphones. If you would like your child to have a basic “call and text only” phone/watch, you still can sign the pledge! No money is involved. This is a completely free program. So far we have 44 families signed up in Norfolk Public Schools! Once your grade has 10 or more pledges, the pledge is active and Wait Until 8th will notify you all. You will be updated weekly when more families join an active pledge. If interested, join local parents at Norfolk Public Schools and sign the pledge today! If you have multiple kids in different grades, make sure you complete one form for each child. Additional questions please contact Jennifer Svalbe at jbsvalbe@yahoo.com https://www.waituntil8th.org/
Norfolk Public Schools
Email: allardi@norfolk.k12.ma.us
Website: norfolk.k12.ma.us
Location: 70 Boardman Street, Norfolk, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 528-1225