Aldar Academy Weather Emergency Procedures 

Throughout the school year inclement weather conditions may arise. The decision to delay or close school is made prior to 6:00 a.m., based on school policy and procedure and the best available weather information.

Parents will receive a call for any weather-related school closures or delayed starts. In addition, information will be posted on the front page of the Aldar Academy website.  The latest school closure or delay announcements will also be broadcast on local radio stations when available. We will attempt to contact as many stations as possible. Most television stations also post school closings on their individual websites.

If you feel the weather conditions pose an undue risk for your child, you are encouraged to use your own judgment in making a decision to send your child to school.

First and Foremost: You Make the Call

You are always the best judge of your own situation and what is best for your child. If school is held, and you find it is safer for your child to stay home or report late, we will strongly support your decision. Aldar Academy makes a decision prior to 6:00 a.m. about what is best for all students and staff and that decision may not fit your individual situation.

Closing Due to Snow and Ice

Although rare in our area, Aldar Academy reviews the weather conditions with meteorologists and with the Transportation Coordinator.  Safety is always our top priority. Whether or not conditions will be improving throughout the day is also considered.

Transportation Considerations

The safe movement of students is a priority at Aldar Academy at all times and inclement weather conditions can make servicing routes difficult. During snow/ice conditions Aldar Academy does not use snow routes or those identified as regularly flooded/hazardous. Aldar Academy has found that these conditions can place students in potentially unsafe situations; especially if unfamiliar streets must be utilized as alternatives to normal routes.

Therefore, if weather conditions make operating the entire fleet of transportation vehicles unfeasible, Aldar Academy will likely cancel school. Weather conditions can be unpredictable, so there may be a situation when conditions will allow school to remain open, but an individual stop or route are rendered inaccessible. In these rare instances, every attempt will be made to contact parents/guardians using the contact information contained on the student emergency card.

Closing Due to Extreme Cold

When the wind chill reaches dangerous levels, school may be delayed or canceled depending on the duration of the conditions. It is important to have your child dressed appropriately for all weather conditions.

Early Dismissal

Early dismissal is not an option we like to use unless conditions are expected to get worse throughout the day. This is primarily due to the fact that many parents work and the children are safer at school. Please try to have a plan in place to handle late starts and early dismissals. It is helpful if your child is aware of the plan.

Your Understanding and Cooperation is Appreciated

The decision to close school or alter the schedule due to weather or other considerations is not made easily, and is done with an appreciation for the impacts on students and families. We also know these decisions will not be met with universal approval. For every person who is happy with a weather-related decision, there is someone who is unhappy. The following are some of the considerations that Aldar Academy balances:

• The impact on student/staff safety
• Whether there is adequate time to inform parents/caregivers
• Conditions at present and expected during the day, as transporting students is a timely undertaking - which must be carefully coordinated given our unique student population
• Road, sidewalk, and parking lot conditions at Aldar Academy
• The ability of Aldar Academy to have the resources to properly attend to the unique needs of our student population (uninterrupted electricity, stable heating, the ability to prepare meals, etc.)
• Advice from municipal authorities

We appreciate your understanding of the difficulties and the timing of our decision. Your support in helping your child get to and from school safely on winter days is sincerely appreciated.

Digital Distance / Virtual Learning Option

As a general rule, our school will continue to use traditional weather-related cancellation solutions.  However, in the event that we have a difficult weather season resulting in multiple weather-related cancellations, delays, etc., Aldar Academy may use digital/remote learning options as part of our toolbox to mitigate schedule disruptions at the end of the year.  If school were to be closed for in-person learning and we decide to enact remote instruction for that day, we would send out clear communication as soon as we are able.  The individual instructors would follow up with particular instructions for your student(s).  We would make this decision in an effort to maintain continued learning opportunities for our students when possible.  Such a digital/remote learning day would provide concise activities for students to complete as they are able throughout the day and live check-in or support sessions from teachers. Instructional time may vary based on age/grade level.  You are likely to see your student come home with additional learning materials on the day(s) prior. If circumstances do not allow for your participation on a remote learning day due to inclement weather, please contact Aldar Academy so that extended time can be given to complete the learning activities.

Emergency Make-up Considerations

Please note that there are emergency make-up days built into the Aldar Academy school calendar that can be used if necessary (usually denoted as "Staff In-Service" days.  If one or more of these days would be needed, Aldar Academy will attempt to notify all families well in advance of their use.