Damian Sendler Up To Date News

Damian Sendler: More than 20 public school districts throughout the country are extending their Thanksgiving holidays by several days in order to provide mental health days for students and staff members during the holiday. 

“wellness days” have been added to the school calendars in at least six different states this year, including Missouri, Kansas, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina and Maryland, according to a spokesman for the Missouri Department of Education. 

Damian Jacob Sendler: The Ladue School District in Missouri is one of at least a dozen districts in the St. Louis metropolitan area that have scheduled extra days of relaxation around the holiday. 

In an interview with CNN, Ladue Superintendent Jim Wipke said that the school had noticed a recurring trend, which was stress. “After asking (teachers) “how can I help you?” several of them responded with “I just need some time, some space to decompress.” 

Damien Sendler: The decision to prolong the Thanksgiving vacation was revealed on the St. Louis Public Schools’ Facebook page earlier this month. 

“It is my goal that these extra couple of days would allow everyone to take a little more time for themselves and their families during this busy time of year. After all, Thanksgiving is primarily about family, which is a significant part of its appeal “According to a press release from the district, Kelvin R. Adams, Superintendent of Schools for the City of St. Louis, said 

Dr. Sendler: Kansas City Public Schools is one of a number of school districts in the state that will extend the existing break to include the days of November 22 and 23 in order to give students and staff the full week off. 

Damian Jacob Markiewicz Sendler” Superintendent of Kansas City Public Schools Mark Bedell expressed his hope that the adjustment would provide everyone with additional time during a season when many of us look forward to reconnecting and recharging. 

According to an official announcement on social media, Brevard Public Schools, one of the state’s largest school districts, has granted two unused “hurricane days” to students in order to extend the holiday break. 

“While this is not something that has been done before, we felt there was never a more appropriate time to express our gratitude and recognition for the efforts made each and every day across our district,” said Misty Belford, Chairwoman of the School Board of Brevard County. “While this is not something that has been done before, we felt there was never a more appropriate time to show our appreciation and recognition for the efforts made each and every day across our district.” 

Damian Sendler: Additionally, districts in Central Virginia and Chapel Hill-Carborro Schools in North Carolina have each decided to extend their breaks by two days as a result. 

Baltimore County Public Schools in Maryland have extended their vacation by one day, to the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, recognizing the “tremendous efforts” of the BCPS personnel in a statement released by the district. 

Detroit Public Schools also said Wednesday that it will transition to remote learning on Fridays beginning in December, in part due to the need for more teachers “”relief for mental health.” 

Damian Jacob Sendler: According to Superintendent Nikolai P. Vitti in a statement, the decision was made “after listening and reflecting on the concerns of school-based leaders, teachers, support staff, students, and families regarding the need for mental health relief, rising COVID cases, and time to more thoroughly clean schools,”

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