Earlier this spring, members of the Seneca Valley School Board approved a change to the start and dismissal times for students in grades K-12.
This adjustment, which will begin on Aug. 29, 2018, for the 2018-19 school year, has been based upon extensive research of the biology of adolescent sleep and its related impact on a student’s academic achievement.

The move will extend the Seneca Valley School District start time by 35 minutes for secondary students with a slight adjustment for elementary. The following will now take place:

• 2018-19 Start/Dismissal Times for students in grades K-6: 8:55 a.m. - 3:25 p.m.
• 2018-19 Start/Dismissal Times for students in grades 7-12: 8:09 a.m. - 2:41 p.m.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help you prepare for the first day of school on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018:

Do the new start times impact the Butler County Vocational Technical School start/end times for SV students?
No, instructional start time for vo-tech will not change.

Does this impact the BCVTS bus times for SV students?
Bus times for vo-tech students are now available via the SV Portal. Vocational technical students with SV secondary campus parking permits can park on campus and ride a bus to the vocational technical school. Bus 62 will be parked at the flag pole in front of the high school and will leave campus daily at 7:15 a.m. This bus will travel to Evans City Schools where vo-tech students will then transfer over to a bus that will shuttle them to - and from - the vocational technical school. More vo-tech information can be found in this letter.

Does this impact the private/parochial start/dismissal bus times?
The private and parochial schools create their own times and will not be impacted by the new Start and End Times in the Seneca Valley School District.

Does this impact half-day kindergarten times?
Kindergarten times have been adjusted as follows:

• AM Arrival – 8:40-8:55 a.m.
• AM Dismissal – 11:30-11:37 a.m.
• PM Arrival – 12:43 – 12:50 p.m.
• PM Dismissal – 3:25 – 3:45 p.m.

What is the grades K-6 two-hour delay start time?
10:55 a.m.

What is the grades 7-12 two-hour delay start time?
10:09 a.m.

Will after-school activities/athletic practices be extended at SV?
Yes.  Practice and after-school activity end times will be set by each coach/sponsor.

Will the activity/athletic bus time change?
Yes. The activity bus for the 2018-19 school year will depart the secondary campus at 5:15 p.m.

When will 18-19 bus information be released?
The week of July 16, 2018.

Will SV utilize transfer buses for elementary students?
Moving the start times for Seneca Valley provided an opportunity for SV to remove transfer buses. There are no transfer buses for elementary students.

Will SV utilize double bus runs for elementary students?
Moving the start times for Seneca Valley provided an opportunity for SV to remove double runs. There are no double runs for elementary students.

Will secondary students have ample time to eat lunch with the new start/end times?
Yes, secondary students will have 40 minutes to eat lunch.

How much of secondary instruction is being modified so as to accommodate the new start/end times?
The vast majority of the new extended start time was collected through the elimination of an activity period.

How do I access before/after school childcare at SV?
Parents interested in before/after school childcare can contact Stepping Stones Children’s Center, the on-site provider of services at Seneca Valley. To learn more, call (724) 625-2199 or visit http://www.stepstonescc.org/stepping-stones-programs/seneca-valley-school-age

To view additional information, the District's survey results, data and articles, please visit www.svsd.net/SleepandAdolescents.