245 Connor Street Avinger, Texas 75630 Phone: 903.562.1355 Fax: 903.562.1271
On May 11, 2017, the Avinger ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt a truly unique and innovative school calendar. This calendar will provide Avinger ISD students with more opportunities than a traditional school calendar. Avinger ISD will operate on a modified 5th day optional school week for certain weeks of the year. Olfen ISD, a Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade district, was the first district in the state to adopt a 4-Day school week calendar. Union Hill ISD is the first Pre-Kindergarten through 12th district to adopt a 4-Day school week calendar. Now Avinger ISD is joining the group by offering a 5th day optional school week. Prior to September 1, 2015, Texas schools had to operate on a format requiring schools to offer a minimum of 180 instructional days. With the passage of House Bill 2610, schools are now required to adhere to 75,600 minutes of instruction per school year. This new law will allow schools to add flexibility to the school year along with opportunities to provide enhance enrichment activities. Avinger ISD’s calendar offers students over 76,000 minutes of instruction within 154 school days.
There are 19 optional Friday instructional days included in the adopted calendar. Parents who depend on a normal school week as a form of child care will not be affected as the school and all of its staff will continue to operate five days per week. On these 19 Fridays Avinger ISD will still transport students to and from school, feed students, and offer academic services. Along with academic services students will also be able to choose from a number of enrichment activities. Some of the proposed enrichment activities are gymnastics, archery, welding, art, floral design, fishing, crafts, and field trips. Almost all of these activities will be offered free of charge to students. However, there may be a small charge for activities utilizing outside vendors. Parents and students will always have the option to choose no cost enrichment activities.
Districts across the state are utilizing the minutes of instruction to add flexibility to their calendars. I recently visited with superintendents from other districts in the area about their offerings pertaining to instructional days. Most districts will offer 169-174 instructional days next year. If Avinger ISD parents choose to send their students to all 19 enrichment Fridays they will attend Avinger ISD for 173 days. What makes our calendar unique is what we will be able to offer students for the optional days. Our goal is to offer students opportunities that would enhance their life.
If you have any questions please feel free to call, email, or stop by my office for a visit. The newly adopted calendar is posted on our website. The staff at Avinger ISD is excited about the future opportunities for our students. Avinger ISD does accept transfers. It is a great time to be an Avinger Indian.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Jacquelyn Smith
jsmith@avingerisd.net
(903) 562-1355 Office
5th Day Option Plan- Parent Letter
Optional Friday
Public Meeting letter
Q&A
Volunteer Application
Background Check Form
To email questions please click on the email address. 5thDayOptionCommittee@avingerisd.net
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