Memo from Superintendent Morris regarding Homework during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks

November 3, 2017

Dear Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional Families and Staff:

As you know, students are expected to complete a significant amount of work outside of the school day and throughout the school year. We are committed to maintaining high expectations for our students, and we celebrate the many ways they achieve and succeed. However, we also recognize that there are times during the school year that students should be able to rest and recharge.

After deep consideration of the issue and consultation with our principals, as well as feedback from last year’s similar decision and from other districts that have taken similar measures, I have decided that no homework or professional work will be given, completed, or required by students and teachers over the Thanksgiving or the Winter Break. Long range projects will not have a due date of November 27th or January 2, respectively. Moreover, while daily reading is always recommended, it should be based on the choice of the student or family, not based on an assigned reading or text.

For our students' benefit, it is important that we recognize that these two breaks are used for not only religious or cultural observances and holiday celebrations, but also as a brief reprieve from the continuous academic assignments of the school year.

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael Morris
Superintendent of Schools

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Estimadas Familias y Personal de Amherst, Pelham y Regionales Amherst-Pelham:

Como saben, se espera que los estudiantes completen una cantidad significativa de trabajo fuera del día escolar y durante el año escolar. Estamos comprometidos en mantener altas expectativas para nuestros estudiantes, y celebramos las muchas formas en que logran y tienen éxito. Sin embargo, también reconocemos que hay momentos durante el año escolar en que los estudiantes deberían poder descansar y recargar energías.

Después de una profunda consideración del tema y consulta con nuestros directores, así como los comentarios de la decisión similar del año pasado y de otros distritos que han tomado medidas similares, he decidido que a los estudiantes y maestros no se le dará, ni se le requerirá completar tarea o trabajo profesional durante el receso de Día de Acción de Gracias o en las vacaciones de invierno. Los proyectos de largo alcance no tendrán una fecha de vencimiento del 27 de noviembre o el 2 de enero, respectivamente. Además, aunque siempre se recomienda la lectura diaria, debe basarse en la elección del alumno o de la familia, no en función de una lectura o texto asignado.

Para el beneficio de nuestros estudiantes, es importante que reconozcamos que estos dos
descansos se utilizan no solo para las celebraciones religiosas o culturales y las celebraciones festivas, sino también como un breve respiro de las tareas académicas continuas del año escolar.

Sinceramente,

Dr. Michael Morris
Superintendente de Escuelas

Elementary Homework Policy

The PGO would like to thank Superintendent Michael Morris for visiting last Friday to solicit feedback from parents and guardians on the newly proposed elementary district wide homework policy. Many parents were able to provide specific commentary and share their personal experiences. The policy can be found here:

English https://goo.gl/wLkxfW 

Spanish https://goo.gl/aHWca3

The Fort River teachers who participated on the Homework Inquiry Group include Ann Shea, Carissa Ackroyd, and Omar Almodovar. A review of the research that informed the work of the group can be found here. Finalization and implementation of the policy is scheduled for early 2018.