The Education Department has sent out a notice reminding students, parents and guardians that school will be in session on Transfer Day, Friday, March 31.
Education Commissioner Ruby Simmonds said, "Although Transfer Day will be observed as a public holiday on Friday, March 31, all of our public schools will be in regular session. This holiday has been designated as one of the make-up days for those lost for variety of reasons since the beginning of the school year."
The other day was initially designated as a make-up day was Memorial Day, a decision which caused some controversy when it was announced. After holding several meetings with veterans, some of whom had protested the decision, Simmonds said Education officials had discovered that it was not necessary, after all, to hold school on Memorial Day.
With regard to Friday, Simmonds said, "Rather than short-change our students on their instructional development or lose the significance of Transfer Day, we firmly believe that both initiatives may be accomplished. Thus, I'm encouraging the instructional leaders in our schools to include in their plans lessons which refer to Transfer Day, and which incorporate the importance of this day, historically and developmentally, to the U.S. Virgin Islands."
Simmonds said she expects that all students will show up for school on Friday. She asked parents and guardians to "underscore the importance of Transfer Day and make it part of their discussions with their children."
