Back To School: School District Releases 2011-2012 Calendar

Hauppauge school officials have released the official 2011-2012 school year calendar late last week with some tweaks and changes.

Superintendent Patricia Sullivan-Kriss said that after much debate school officials decided to move Hauppauge High School's commencement ceremony to Friday evening, breaking with a long-held tradition of Sunday at noon.

"It is our hope that it will help us have a smooth transition from the activities the kids are engaged in, in terms of the prom, to graduation," Sullivan-Kriss said. "It will also allow kids and parents to have Saturday, Sunday and Friday night to celebrate."

When the possibility moving the district's graduation ceremonies to Friday was on Patch in June, Hauppauge residents took issue with the change. Commenter said a Friday ceremony will pose an issue for working parents.

It's time to start thinking about back-to-school, as classes start for all students on Sept. 7. Here's a list of other important dates parents should be aware of:

District Wide:
* Winter Recess: Dec. 26 to Jan. 2, 2012
* Mid-Winter Recess: Feb. 20 to Feb. 24, 2012
* Spring Recess: April 5 to April 11, 2012
* Budget Vote: May 15, 2012
* Memorial Day Break: May 24 to May 28, 2012

:
* Back-to-School Night: Sept. 27
* Fall School Drama Production: Oct. 14 and Oct. 15
* Homecoming: Oct. 22
* Senior Banquet: Nov. 7
* Junior Prom: May 19, 2012
* Senior Prom: June 21, 2012
* Graduation: June 22, 2012

:
* Back-to-School Night: Sept. 22
* Power of One Family Fun Run: Nov. 5
* Musical Production: April 20 and April 21, 2012
* Moving Up Ceremony: June 20, 2012

:
* Open School Night: Sept. 12 and Sept. 14
* Science Fair: March 1, 2012
* Field Day: June 5 to June 7, 2012
* Spring Carnival: June 12, 2012
* Stepping Up Ceremony: June 20, 2012

:
*Open School Night: grades kindergarten to 2, Sept. 13; grades 3 to 5, Sept. 19
* Science Fair: March 29, 2012
* Spring Carnival: June 14, 2012
* Stepping up Ceremony: June 19, 2012

Pines Elementary School:
* Open School Night: Grades kindergarten to 2, Sept. 15; grades 3 to 5, Sept. 21.
* Science Fair: April 19, 2012
* Field Day: June 1, 2012
* Stepping Up Ceremonies: June 19, 2012

View the complete 2011-2012 Hauppauge Public Schools district calendar on their website.