This week West Virginia Academy released its academic calendar for the 2022-2023 school year. "We're at about the midpoint in our pre-registration process and we are very pleased with the tremendous response by families who have committed to join our ranks next fall," said John Treu, the academy's President. "All public schools must meet for the same number of days, but there is flexibility in terms of when they meet and we're taking advantage of that flexibility by implementing a schedule that will improve student outcomes and make life easier for our families. We're excited to see these actual dates made public so that families can plan their schedules looking forward to next year."
The academic calendar is an important component of achieving the academy's mission to optimize student outcomes. The two week breaks between each term provide many opportunities for students to receive remediation during the school year in core topics and avoid falling behind. Every student that is not on track in a core topic at the end of any term will be offered additional support during the breaks and after-school programs. These breaks also free up students for intensive learning and extra-curricular activities like athletic camps and STEM clubs. "One thing for certain, is that we won't be idle during the term breaks," Treu said. "These are strategically important times for student development both academically as well as socially and physically. Additionally, the breaks can provide time for families to travel and experience new things during the off-peak travel times when venturing out is much more affordable."
A major point of frustration for many local families has been the refusal by local school districts to align breaks with similar academic breaks at WVU, the areas largest employer. Multiple requests for such alignment by faculty and staff with ties to the University have fallen on deaf ears at the school districts and so families haven't been able to take advantage of time off together. "There are also financial considerations as families must either take time off work or else arrange for childcare when these breaks do not align," Treu said. "Our academic calendar reflects a commitment to placing students and families first in everything that we do at West Virginia Academy."
West Virginia Academy's 2022-2023 Term Dates
Term 1: August 2 - October 7, 2022
Term 2: October 24 - December 22, 2022
Term 3: January 16 - March 10, 2023
Term 4: March 27 - June 7, 2023