The Federal Way Public Schools Winter Break has been extended to include Monday, the day after New Year's Day. At its regular board meeting on Dec. 13, the FWPS Board voted that January 2, 2006 will NOT be a school day, and May 30, 2006 will be changed to a regular school day to make up for the lost school day. School resumes on January 3rd.

The district originally developed the calendar calling for Jan. 2 to be a school day two years ago. A state attorney general's opinion indicating that it is OK for schools to be open on January 2 when January 1 falls on a Sunday came into play when the original schedule was developed.

Nevertheless, concerns that parents and students would be confused by media reports that January 2nd is a federal and state holiday prompted the board and administration to change the calendar. This confusion, they felt, was likely to be even greater because most school districts in the South Sound area are closed on January 2. Federal Way students will join the majority of students in the South Sound area in an additional day off, and are asked to return to school at the normal time on January 3.

The district is publicizing the change via its website, letters to parents, voice mail broadcasts, school readerboards, and translations for ELL parents.

Questions? Go to www.fwps.org or call 253-945-2266.