 | In case of snow, ice, or other unusual conditions such as power outages and excessive heat, school officials may decide to close school, delay school opening, or send students home early. News about these decisions is communicated as soon as the decision is made in these ways:
- Posted on the North Cross School website home page.
- Sent out to all parents as an Instant Alert message.
- Recorded on the School’s main telephone line, 540-989-6641.
- Called in to local radio stations.
- Called in to television stations: Channel 7, Channel 10, and Channel 13.
Here is what happens in each situation when the school schedule changes:
Schools Closed - All school divisions are closed. The decision is usually announced by 6 a.m. on all information outlets. Extended Day is also closed. All school activities are canceled unless otherwise announced.
Delayed Opening - School will open two hours later than usual. The decision to delay opening is usually announced by 6 a.m. Morning field trips are canceled. There will not be teachers here before the delayed opening to supervise students. Extended Day program is unaffected by a delayed opening.
Early Dismissal - School will dismiss two hours early if conditions require. This decision is normally announced by 11:30 a.m. Extended Day is canceled. Extracurricular activities, interscholastic contests, team practices, field trips, and recreation programs in schools and on school grounds are canceled. |
| | | Q. | How do you decide? Who makes these decisions? | | A. | The Director of Transportation consults multiple weather information
sources and drives into neighborhoods to obtain firsthand information
on current conditions of the roads, bus stops and parking lots. Once
all of this information is gathered, he consults with the headmaster
and a decision is made. |
|
| Q. | When are decisions made? | | A. | We make every effort to announce decisions to close schools or have a
two-hour delayed opening no later than 6 a.m. Decisions about early
dismissal are normally announced by 11:30 a.m. Once a decision is made,
staff notifies local media outlets and updates our North Cross School web page. |
|
| Q. | Why aren't announcements made sooner? | | A. | Many of us frequently make jokes about local weather forecasters
"getting it wrong," but the truth of the matter is that weather
conditions can change quickly between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. So, we usually
wait until morning to make sure that what was predicted is accurate.
This allows us every opportunity to keep school open (if possible) and
operate under a normal schedule. |
|
| Q. | How are field trips, senior speeches, after school activities and Extended Day affected by closings and delays? | | A. | When school is closed, all buildings are closed, and all school
activities are canceled unless otherwise announced. Senior speeches are
rescheduled on as soon a date as is feasible. Occasionally an evening
program will go on as scheduled. That information will be on the North Cross School website and the main phone message.
When
school opening is delayed, field trips may or may not be cancelled,
depending on the timing and logistics of each one. Senior speeches are
cancelled and rescheduled as soon as possible. Faculty are not
available before school to supervise students. The Extended Day program
is not affected by a delayed opening. Finally, if school dismisses
early, all afternoon and evening activities are canceled. The Extended
Day program is cancelled as well. |
|
| Q. | Do you understand how inconvenient it is to arrange childcare at the last minute? | | A. | Yes, we do! We urge parents to make alternative plans now for the care
of their children when school schedules change. You might consider
making arrangements with a reliable teen or stay-at-home adult in your
neighborhood. Some parents also work together to support each other by
forming cooperative childcare groups. |
|
| Q. | How do I find out if schools are open? | | A. | To find out the most up-to-date information, listen to the radio or
watch local news stations; go to www.northcross.org, or call the School
at 540-989-6641. |
|
| Q. | What should I do if North Cross School is open but I do not feel the driving is safe in my neighborhood? | | A. | You should always make your own decision about whether or not you feel
it is safe to drive to school. Your child will not be penalized if we
are open and you decide to wait longer until your local roads are
better or decide to keep him or her home. It will be treated as any
other excused absence and teachers will work with him or her to make up
work missed.
|
|
| Q. | Is there an announcement when there ISN'T a delay or closing? | | A. | No announcement is made when school is operating on a normal schedule. |
|
| |