A message from Dr. Wiles:
Dear GCSD Families,
This is to inform you of a change to the Guilderland Central School District student calendar. On Monday, April 8, all GCSD schools will dismiss early, on a half-day schedule. Staff will remain for the full day for planning and other professional activities.
Students will dismiss at the following times:
- Guilderland High School 10:30 a.m.
- Farnsworth Middle School 11:45 a.m.
- Elementary schools 1:00 p.m.
Lunch will be served to elementary students; due to timing, lunch will not be served to middle and high school students.
In coordination with the districts in the Suburban Council, all athletic practices on that day will not start before 4:30 p.m. and competitions can begin at 5:00 p.m.
This change was made by GCSD to ensure the safety of students during the solar eclipse, which will coincide with dismissal when students are in transit. While the Guilderland area is not in the path of totality, it’s anticipated that our local area will be significantly affected.
An early dismissal will allow students to arrive home safely, in advance of the eclipse. This is a rare occurance — the next total eclipse in New York State will be 2079 — and we encourage students and families to learn more about the eclipse as well as ways to observe the eclipse with the proper protection.
As always, the safety of GCSD students is our primary concern. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Marie Wiles, Ph.D.
Superintendent