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Deer Lakes adopts 2020-2021 school calendar
The Deer Lakes board of school directors recently adopted the school calendar for the 2020-2021 school year.

Classes will begin for Deer Lakes students on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020 and the 183-day schedule will come to a close on Wednesday, June 9, 2021.  Just like this year, district faculty and staff will report two days before classes begin and will have a professional development day on the day after the final day of classes.  

Deer Lakes Superintendent, Dr. Janell Logue-Belden said that a question she gets from time-to-time from district students, staff and even some parents is why, if the state only requires 180 days of student instruction, does Deer Lakes always insist on a 183-day school calendar?  For Dr. Logue-Belden, the answer is really very simple.  “We don’t believe in doing anything to the minimally required level and those extra hours of instruction and mentoring from our knowledgeable and talented staff are very beneficial to our students and we don’t want them to miss out on those valuable learning opportunities,” she said.  

Deer Lakes’ faculty and staff development days are slated to be held on Aug. 24 and 25 and Nov. 11, 2020; as well as Jan. 18, June 9 (half day) and June 10, 2021.  There will be no classes on those days, except for June 9, which is the final half day of classes for Deer Lakes’ students.  Students and staff are also scheduled to be off Sept. 7 (Labor Day), Feb. 15 (Presidents’ Day), May 28 (High School Prom) and May 31 (Memorial Day).

Thanksgiving break will run from Nov. 26 to 30.  The school district’s Winter Holiday Break will again be a long one with the last day of classes, including an early dismissal, coming on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020.  Students not expected to return until Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.  Next year’s spring break is scheduled to run from April 1-6.  

However, Western Pennsylvania’s notoriously fickle weather can throw a monkey wrench in the best laid plans and that often impacts schools’ respective schedules.  If Deer Lakes loses instructional days to events beyond anyone’s control (snow days, power outages, etc.), the make-up dates will first come from the spring break dates in the following order: April 6, then April 1, followed by April 5. Should the district be forced to make up additional dates, those dates will be determined by the school district’s administration and school board and will be announced at a later date.  

The high school’s commencement ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, June 9, 2021 in Lancer Stadium.  

Finally, it is imperative to note that this initial calendar, which can be seen below, serves as an overview of what district students and their families can expect for the next school year.  However, it is imperative that everyone understands that some of the event dates listed may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.  That is why we always remind everyone that for the most up-to-date information regarding Deer Lakes’ school calendar information, please visit the school district’s website, www.deerlakes.net.

Attachments Available To Download:
Deer Lakes Calendar 2020-21 (03-02-20).pdf