Overview. – This is New England and traditionally the Wayland Public Schools will be in session even when the weather is inclement.  Please know I am inclined to keep the schools open if the town's roads are open and passable.  People obviously need to drive carefully and exercise greater-than-usual caution.  During periods of poor weather, traffic should move slowly and everyone should be more careful.  If a parent believes the weather conditions are too severe, she/he may keep his/her children home.

Cancellations. – If in my opinion weather conditions are sufficiently severe, school will be cancelled.  The "No School" announcement decision will be made by 6:00 A.M., and by 6:30 A.M. should be carried by radio stations WBZ (1030 AM) and television channels 4, 5, 7, and 25.  Only these stations will be notified when necessary.  Please do not telephone the Police or Fire Departments, as these lines must be kept open.

Ninety-Minute Delay. – On some occasions, road and traffic conditions may warrant a ninety-minute delayed opening of schools.  On those days, the High School will start at 9:00 A.M., the Middle School will start at 9:15 A.M.  Claypit Hill and Happy Hollow elementary schools at 10:15 A.M. and Loker School at 10:30 A.M., with bused students being picked up approximately ninety minutes later than their normal pick up time.  The Children’s Way will start at 9:30 A.M.  There will be no before school child care on days when the opening of school is delayed.  The announcement for a ninety-minute delay will be carried by the radio and television stations noted above and will be specifically announced as such: "Ninety-minute delay opening, all schools, Wayland".  On such days, Kindergarten classes will be held and schools will be dismissed at their regular times.

Administrators, custodians, cafeteria workers, and central office secretaries will report to work as close to their regular hours as possible.  Teachers, aides, tutors, school secretaries, and paraprofessionals will report ninety minutes later than usual. Parents are reminded not to attempt to send their children to school early on delayed opening days since staff will not be available or responsible to supervise early arrivals.

Early Dismissals. – In the highly unlikely event that an early dismissal from school is deemed necessary, efforts will be made to contact parents by phone, email, and radio announcements.  (On days when the weather becomes unusually dangerous after school has begun, parents are advised to listen for such an announcement.)  If the schools close early, all after school activities, including BASE, will be canceled.

To Summarize:

As a small community with many working parents, Wayland traditionally has not closed school, even when other surrounding or larger districts have done so.  This practice of not closing the schools will continue, unless conditions clearly warrant closing the schools.  I remind parents that they may, by their own choice, keep their children home when they believe the weather to be too severe for travel to school.

A.           No School Announcement.  All classes and school activities cancelled for the day.

B.           Ninety-Minute Delay Opening.  Morning bus pickups approximately ninety minutes later and the start of classes postponed ninety minutes.  Afternoon dismissals and all other school activities will take place at their regularly scheduled times.  Before school child care will be cancelled on days with the ninety-minute delay opening.

C.           Early Dismissals.  Please check for phone and email messages and public announcements.  All after school and evening activities, including BASE, will be canceled.

Please do not telephone the Police Department, the Fire Department, or the Highway Department to ask about "No School" announcements.  These departments must make and receive many important phone calls of an emergency nature, and your telephone calls only interfere with the performance of their duties at a critical time in the morning.  PLEASE LISTEN TO THE RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS LISTED for school announcements.

NO SCHOOL or NINETY-MINUTE DELAY ANNOUNCEMENTS 201011                      T.V. STATIONS                  RADIO STATIONS                   Channel 4 Cancellations scrolled at bottom of screen during Storm Center operation.  The full list of cancellations also available on line at WBZ.com and WBZTV.com                            WBZ     1030 AM               Cancellation  will be heard at five past and                        thirty-five past the hour.                                                                                        Channel 5 You can log onto www.thebostonchannel.com/closings/group/index/html for no school announcements (Channel 5).  You can also sign up to have closing information sent to your email or receive a cell phone text message.                 Channel 7 (NBC)                        & Channel 56 (CW) You can log onto www.whdh.com and click on “Snow Day Alert.”  Input your cell number, the name of your carrier, and then choose the schools you are interested in hearing about.  If you have questions call 1-877-316-5990 or go [email protected].      Fox 25 (WXFT) and www.myfoxboston.com                    ________________________________________________________________________   No School Announcement: all classes & school activities cancelled all day Ninety-Minute Delay:  BASE will be canceled. Claypit Hill and Happy Hollow Schools start at: 10:15 A.M. Loker School starts at: 10:30 A.M. Middle School will start at: 9:15 A.M. High School will start at: 9:00 A.M. The Children’s Way will start at 9:30 A.M. Schools will be dismissed at their regular times.                      Early Dismissals: No after school activities, including BASE.