By HOLLY GASKILL
A series of changes may be coming to the Norwell 2024-25 school calendar. Notably, days off for Good Friday and President’s Day are possibly on the chopping block.
Superintendent Mike Springer told the school board Tuesday it’s been difficult to balance conflicting wants — like ending the school year earlier, a full-week fall break, and holidays — with state requirements. Good Friday coincides with spring break, the last week of March, for the current school year, but it will not in 2025, when the holiday falls on April 18.
The 2024-25 calendar, as it was presented during the meeting, shows school beginning on Aug. 7 and ending on May 21.
Several community members present expressed a desire for Good Friday to remain an observed holiday. “I would probably pull my kids from school if Good Friday was a scheduled day, honestly,” said Nicole Nussbaum.
Springer stated he would consider these ideas, including using President’s Day as a make-up day for cancellations, and see where adjustments could be made.
Alongside this conversation, the board approved several changes to the Norwell Middle School student handbook. NMS Principal Andrew Enderle said these changes primarily provided a protocol for tardies and dress code. For example, the handbook now states a seventh tardy will result in lunch detention, an eighth detention results in two lunch detentions, and so on.
Regarding the dress code, shorts and any rips in pants must be below the wearer’s fingertips when their arms are by their sides. Tights and leggings must also be worn with fingertip-length shorts, skirts, or dresses.
Additionally, Enderle proposed the middle school follows the high school’s format for grade point averages, allowing for easier transfer of middle school classes with high school credit.
Other regular board meeting items were:
• Resignations were received from Lancaster Central Elementary School teaching assistant Angela Edwards, Ossian Elementary School teaching assistant Hollie Ritschard, and food service employees Julee Bradburn and Amy Adams.
• The board approved the following employment recommendations: Kristina Riley for OES latchkey, Amy Adams as bus assistant, Emma Winget, Julee Bradburn, and Elyssa Chub as LES teaching assistants, and Carmen Schoenherr and Nicole Miller as OES teaching assistants. The board also approved Sara Robinson as a volunteer volleyball coach and Melanie Jacob as a volunteer cross country coach.
• A $200 donation was accepted from Six Mile Church Missions for LES student assistance
holly@news-banner.com
