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No weather announcements at this time. IMPORTANT REMINDER... Hit the 'refresh' or 'reload' button on your browser to be sure you are reading the most up-to-date message. [Please be aware that some Internet service providers restrict the frequency with which users may reload web pages. Therefore, you may experience a delay in receiving the latest message. Using a different web browser (for example, Internet Explorer or Netscape instead of AOL software) may resolve this problem.] This guide has been prepared to inform parents about the procedures the district follows when inclement weather conditions affect the school day. It also explains the process by which the school district decides to close school, delay the opening of school or dismiss students early because of the weather. When bad weather is expected in the morning When snow or other dangerous weather conditions are predicted, school officials do what most of us do: monitor the weather forecasts very carefully. If snow is expected overnight or in the early morning hours, the Superintendent and the administrative staff assess the situation several hours before sunrise. Deciding whether or not to open school depends upon many variables: When is the snow expected to start? How much is expected to fall within a given period of time? Is there a potential for sleet and freezing rain? How long will the storm last? The single most important factor in deciding whether or not to open school is transportation. The ability of the buses to travel the roads safely is especially important in Roslyn because of the many hills in our community and because the vast majority of our students take the bus to school. If school buses are able to travel without risk to the safety of students, it is likely that school will be open. However, if road conditions are poor and not expected to improve during the morning hours, it is likely that school will be closed. A delayed opening will be announced only if a storm has ended by early morning, or is predicted to end shortly, and more time is needed to clear the roads. How the decision is made Assessing the weather conditions involves numerous telephone calls among the school superintendent, our Transportation Department and the private bus companies that transport students out of district. Because Roslyn operates most of its own school buses, we have the advantage of being able to test the road conditions for ourselves. The decision to close school or to delay the opening of school is usually made by 5:30 am. Once the decision is made by the Superintendent of Schools, the announcement is made promptly on this website and through the district's telephone and email announcement systems. Local news media are also notified. When bad weather develops during the day When a severe storm develops during the course of the school day, students may be dismissed early. High School and Middle School students are generally dismissed before elementary students, so they may be at home when younger siblings arrive. When there is sufficient warning of impending bad weather, letters may be sent home to elementary parents on the day before an anticipated storm to remind them of early dismissal schedules and procedures. Radio and television stations are notified of an early dismissal. The sequence and timing of dismissal (in all weather conditions) is determined largely by bus schedules. For example, after students are taken home from the middle school and high school, buses continue immediately to the elementary schools for the dismissal in those buildings. When an early dismissal is prompted by snow, the length of time required to complete the bus routes usually is much greater because of road and traffic conditions. To a parent waiting for a child to arrive at home, it may seem as though the children haven't been dismissed much earlier than usual. However, students may have left school considerably earlier than usual but spent a longer time than usual on the bus. Our drivers are trained to place safety above speed, especially in poor road conditions. As per the usual practice, pre-K, kindergarten and first grade students whose parents do not meet the school bus are brought back to school, where they remain under staff supervision until parents or other designated adults pick them up. Other points to remember Review with your children the supervisory arrangements you may have made in the event of an early dismissal. Be sure the school is notified of any change in your emergency notification telephone numbers or the persons you have designated to be contacted if you cannot be reached. Please do not call the school during a weather emergency so that phone lines can remain open for emergency communications. Instead, check this web site or call your PTA president or class parent for up-to-date information. After-school activities and Adult Education classes are generally cancelled whenever school is closed or students are dismissed early. DELAYED OPENING SCHEDULE Buses will pick up students at their regular bus stop either one or two hours later than usual, depending on which opening is announced. Morning pre-kindergarten classes are cancelled if there is a delayed opening of either one or two hours. Morning Adult Education classes are generally cancelled in the event of a two-hour delayed opening. EARLY DISMISSAL SCHEDULE In case of severe weather, schools will be dismissed in the following order and at these approximate times: PRE-KINDERGARTEN 10:45 am HIGH SCHOOL 11:11 am MIDDLE SCHOOL 11:41 am HARBOR HILL 12:11 pm EAST HILLS 12:45 pm HEIGHTS (K & Gr. 1) 12:45 pm Please note that this is an approximate schedule that may be changed because of weather conditions. RADIO, TV & INTERNET ANNOUNCEMENTS During weather emergencies, local radio and television stations receive calls from hundreds of public and private schools. As a result, our message sometimes does not get on the air in time to be useful to parents. Although the district gives weather-related announcements to local news outlets, we rely primarily on our own phone and email networks and post inclement weather announcements on this web site. REMINDER... Whenever checking this website for a weather announcement or other breaking news, be sure to hit the 'refresh' or 'reload' button on your browser to be sure you are reading the most up-to-date message.