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Hours & Calendar

Students in Library

2019-20

August
Monday, August 19 — Pre-Season Fall Upper School Athletics Begins
Tuesday, August 20 — New Faculty and Staff Orientation
Wednesday, August 21 — New Faculty and Staff Orientation
Thursday, August 22 — Opening Faculty Meetings
Friday, August 23 — Opening Faculty Meetings
Monday, August 26 — Opening Faculty Meetings
Tuesday, August 27 — Opening Faculty Meetings
Wednesday, August 28 — Student Orientation

  • New 9th, 10th and 11th students
  • Middle School students

Thursday, August 29 — Student Orientation

  • All 9th grade students
  • All PreK & K students
  • New 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th students

September
Tuesday, September 3 — PreK-12 Classes Begin
Thursday, September 12 — Lower School Back-to-School Night
Thursday, September 19 — Middle School Back-to-School Night
Thursday, September 26 — Upper School Back-to-School Night
Monday, September 30 — No School, Rosh Hashanah

October
Wednesday, October 9 — No School, Yom Kippur

November
Thursday, November 7 — No Classes, Parent/Teacher Conferences
Friday, November 8 — No Classes, Parent/Teacher Conferences
Monday, November 11 — Upper School Winter Athletics Begins
Tuesday, November 26 — Thanksgiving Break begins after dismissal

December
Monday, December 2 — PreK-12 Classes Resume
Friday, December 20 — Winter Break begins after dismissal

January
Monday, January 6 — PreK-12 Classes Resume
Friday, January 17 — First Semester Ends
Monday, January 20 — No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day

February
Friday, February 14 — No School, Presidents’ Day Weekend
Monday, February 17 — No School, Presidents’ Day Weekend
Wednesday, February 26 — Upper School Spring Athletics Begins
Thursday, February 27 — Lower School Parent/Teacher Conferences (No LS Classes)

March
Friday, March 6 — Spring Break begins after dismissal
Monday, March 23 — PreK-12 Classes Resume

April
Friday, April 10 — No School, Good Friday

May
Friday, May 1 — No Classes, Spring Weekend
Monday, May 25 — No School, Memorial Day

June
Tuesday, June 2 — Lower School Final Assembly
Wednesday, June 3 — Middle School Final Assembly
Thursday, June 4 — Last Day of Upper School Classes
Friday, June 5 — Upper School Commencement

School Hours Per Division

In Lower School, the school day begins at 8am and ends at 3pm every day except Wednesday when dismissal is 2:30pm. Classroom doors open at 7:45am so the day can begin promptly at 8am For those who need to drop children off before 7:45, care is available in the library from 7:15–7:45am at no charge. Buses provide service on Wednesdays,  at 3pm and Stay and Play is available beginning at 2:30 on Wednesdays for those who travel by bus or need to leave later than 2:30pm.
 
In the Middle School, the school day begins at 8am and ends at 3:20pm. For students in grades 6th through 8th Grade who participate in sports, dismissal is 3:45 (4pm in winter) during the athletics seasons. If students participate in Middle School Sports and Activities, please note that there will no MS sports or activities on days 3 and 7, and students may be picked up at daily at 3:20pm.
 
In the Upper School, the day begins at 7:45am and ends at 3:20pm.

Highlights of the PDS 7-Day Cycle Academic Schedule

Highlights of the Princeton Day School 7-day cycle academic schedule:

  • All three divisions experience a 7-day rotation of classes rather than 5-day rotation of classes pegged to the days of the week. The purpose of a 7-day rotation is to protect academic time by avoiding the inevitable loss of particular classes that occurs when school is not in session on multiple Mondays throughout the year, such as Martin Luther King Day and Presidents Weekend.
  • Academic periods are longer to promote more student-centered, collaborative teaching and more durable learning.
  • Fewer classes meet per day, which facilitates better focus and stamina while easing the number of subjects to cover in nightly homework loads.
  • The day is more evenly paced with scheduled breaks provided throughout the day.
  • With more strategically-positioned breaks, students have far fewer "back to back" classes, thereby giving them more time to consolidate their learning and transition comfortably and confidently to their next class.
  • The schedule provides more time for deeper, more innovative, creative and  interdisciplinary programs that enliven our curriculum and better serve the needs of students.

Cycle Component Highlights Per Division

Cycle components vary by Division and include:

  • Resource Period in Middle School meets every day and is decoupled from Ensembles, ensuring that MS students can connect with their teachers every day and also have dedicated Ensemble time.
  • Resource Period in the Upper School is called the "Conference/Collaboration Period" and gives US students broad and consistent access to their teachers when they need extra help. The positioning of this Period at the end of the day also ensures that early athletic dismissals do not encroach on class time.
  • "Da Vinci Period" in Middle School creates a platform for innovative, creative, experiential programs conducted on a trimester basis.
  • The Lower School schedule maximizes the amount of time students spend with their homeroom teacher, which is the single most important determinant of student learning and well being for our LS learners.
  • Lower School dismisses at 2:30pm on Wednesdays, and at 3pm Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays..