THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, September 2, 1994              TAG: 9409020621
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY VANEE VINES, STAFF WRITER
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   79 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** CLARIFICATION A story about delayed school openings in Friday's MetroNews section said school districts in Virginia handle their own school calendars and determine their opening date. The story did not explain, however, that state law requires districts to start school after Labor Day unless they receive special permission from the state. Clarification published Sat. Sept. 3, 1994, P. A2 ***************************************************************** SCHOOL TO OPEN A DAY LATER IN 4 DISTRICTS THE DELAY ALLOWS JEWS TO CELEBRATE ROSH HASHANA.

Hey, parents: The first day of school in four area school districts will be a day later this year.

Hey, kids: You may have an extra day to chill out before hitting the books again.

In Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach, school will open on Wednesday instead of Tuesday, which is the day after Labor Day.

Schools in Isle of Wight and Southampton counties and the cities of Franklin and Suffolk will open on Tuesday, however.

The day after Labor Day is typically the first day of school. But this year's opening is different because Labor Day falls later than usual, on Sept. 5, and is followed immediately by Rosh Hashana, a holiday marking the beginning of the Jewish new year.

The close timing of Rosh Hashana with Labor Day will not occur again for 19 years.

During the last legislative session, the General Assembly passed a resolution urging local school boards to delay the beginning of the 1994-95 year until Sept. 8 to allow Jewish families to observe the two-day holiday Tuesday and Wednesday.

Public school calendars, however, are a matter of local control and each district can determine when its opening day will be.

Numerous school districts across the state, particularly those with sizable Jewish populations, complied with the request to prevent many students from missing the first day of school, when teachers and administrators typically explain a host of student responsibilities, distribute background information and set the tone for the upcoming year.

What does all of this mean?

For the most part, it just complicated things a bit for those who oversee school calendars. Students will still attend school for 180 days this year, as the state requires. But teachers probably will find a few changes in the scheduling of days set aside for training or other duties. And the winter break for Portsmouth students will be a day shorter this year.

If you haven't already registered your child for classes, do so immediately to avoid the opening-day rush. The state requires that sixth-graders show proof of immunization against measles, mumps and rubella. Before 1992, only children entering kindergarten and those enrolling in Virginia schools for the first time needed proof of immunization.

Call the local health department or school district for more information. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

WHO STARTS WHEN

Opening Tuesday

Isle of Wight County

Southampton County

Franklin

Suffolk

Opening Wednesday

Chesapeake

Norfolk

Portsmouth

Virginia Beach

by CNB