Holland-area schools set calendars for 2022-23 academic year

Mitchell Boatman, The Holland Sentinel
·2 min read

Although there’s still a month left of the 2021-22 school year, local districts have begun to announce key dates for their 2022-23 academic calendars.

The current school year marked the first time since 2005 that all local districts started before Labor Day, using a waiver to start early. This year will continue that trend, according to schedules posted on the various district websites.

A sign in front of Holland Christian's Rose Park Elementary welcomes students back to school on the first day of the 2021-22 school year.
A sign in front of Holland Christian's Rose Park Elementary welcomes students back to school on the first day of the 2021-22 school year.

Holland Christian will be the first in the area to get the school year started, with Tuesday, Aug. 23, set as the first day. Holland Public, Black River and Hamilton are all set to begin the next day, Aug. 24.

Saugatuck will welcome students back Monday, Aug. 29, with Zeeland following Aug. 30 and West Ottawa coming back Aug. 31.

More: Schools set 2021-22 calendars, Saugatuck heading back before Labor Day for first time

Thanksgiving break is set for Nov. 23-25 for schools in the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District. Spring break will begin Friday, March 31 with students returning Monday, April 10.

Next year’s winter break comes with a slight irregularity for local districts. The OAISD observes a one-week winter break, scheduled for Dec. 26 to Dec. 30. Local districts within an ISD are required to, at a minimum, take the same days off, but can add other off days as they choose. Districts traditionally add a second week onto winter break.

However, with New Year’s Day falling on a Sunday, the ISD is also observing Monday, Jan. 2, as an off day for the holiday.

A first grade class in a renovated classroom at Douglas Elementary School.
A first grade class in a renovated classroom at Douglas Elementary School.

With the extra Monday off, the options for districts are to either a later winter break from Dec. 26 to Jan. 6, or a more traditional break of Dec. 19 to Dec. 29, with an added day on Jan. 2.

Most districts in the area opted for the second choice, adding a day to winter break. For Holland, Saugatuck, Black River, Holland Christian and Hamilton, winter break will run from Dec. 19 through Jan. 2.

Zeeland Public Schools, however, chose a later winter break. The district will break starting Monday, Dec. 26, and return Monday, Jan. 9.

Winter break for Zeeland Public Schools next year will run from Dec. 26 to Jan. 6, with school resuming Jan. 9.
Winter break for Zeeland Public Schools next year will run from Dec. 26 to Jan. 6, with school resuming Jan. 9.

Holland Christian will also be the first district to end the 2022-23 year, with the last day scheduled for June 2.

Holland Public will release students June 7, while Zeeland, Saugatuck, Hamilton and Black River all have June 9 set for the final day of school. West Ottawa’s full calendar is not yet posted.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland-area schools set calendars for 2022-23 academic year