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hvparent.com n Hudson Valley Parent 17 Learning Together, where children explore the world the way they learn best, through play! • A happy, safe and caring environment encouraging a child's physical, creative, and intellectual growth • Serving children of all abilities • Early and after care hours available Kathy Masloski, Director 845-883-5151 40 Park Lane, Highland, NY 12528 LearningTogetherInc.com AN INTEGRATED PRESCHOOL PROGRAM Independently Owned and Operated Poughkeepsie Plaza 2600 South Rd Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Do the Math: Discipline & Structure + Martial Arts Training + Convenient 6:30 Pickup It adds up to a great alternative to a standard after school program We are on a Spackenkill School Bus Route! All of our classes are taught by experts certifi ed by Dance Educators of America! Hip Hop • Ballet • Pointe • Tap • Jazz • Acrobatics • Modern • Combination 1830 South Rd. • Wappingers Falls jbkita@aol.com • wappingersdanceeducators.com 845-297-2204 Mention this ad for FREE Registration (Insurance not included) Summer schedule now available. Please call for more information. Given the AAP's recommendation of 8.5-9.5 hours of sleep for teenagers, a later school start time helps ease the sleep deprivation that has become a reality for most adolescents. Late start struggles When asked why Rhinebeck did not push for an 8:30am start time as recommended by the AAP, Phelan countered that as school start times vary wildly across county lines the arrangement of after school athletic game schedules would be a logistical nightmare if one school chose to start 30 minutes after every other district in our acceptable driving area. If multiple districts take the plunge together, other aspects of scheduling could be addressed at the same time, such as a common high school bell schedule. Parents often become anxious when their ability to arrive on time to work is threatened. To ease parent's initial concerns about getting to work on time Phelan and his committee decided to open the schools earlier with additional staff monitors so parents could drop their students off early if needed. By the end of the school year, Rhinebeck school staff reported less hectic traffic patterns as the drop-off time frame was extended easing early morning stress. Some students are having trouble adjusting to the change. Eddie Tierney, a freshman at Rhinebeck High School during the fall of 2017 found the later start time challenging. He says, "I play Pine Plains Football and I wouldn't get home until 7pm and would have to start my homework. I was new to the high school and three minutes to get between classes was stressful." Sweeter dreams, better days Although it's too early to fully understand the impact of a half hour time difference on Rhinebeck students, Superintendent Phelan explains that feedback has been generally positive during the 2016-2017 school year. Parents reported that their kids feel less stressed scrambling to make the first bell, hallways are mellow and students appear more relaxed and ready to learn. Parent Kimmy Curthoys of Rhinebeck reports, "Liam, a 7th grader, was worried at first. He was not thrilled about getting out of school later. But the extra 30 minutes really makes a difference, definitely a better student, even if he has to stay up a little extra to do the homework. Mornings are a pleasure." Kymberly Breckenridge is a freelance writer living with her family in Rhinebeck.