First Day Of School For Seven Fairfax Schools

RESTON, Va. (WUSA) -- Aug. 3, 2009, marks the first day of school at Dogwood Elementary.

Dogwood and six other Fairfax County Elementary Schools run on a modified calendar year. Students go to class every nine weeks from August to June. In between, there are breaks lasting one or two weeks called intersessions.

During intersession, students may opt to attend enrichment or remedial classes. According to school officials, over 90 percent of students choose to remain in school during intersession at Dogwood.

Intersession Coordinator Sarah Aiello says the students can choose from remedial reading and math classes. There are also enrichment art and sports classes.

Principal Robyn Cochran says because of a tighter budget, her school may return to a traditional calendar year next fall. Fairfax County School System pays $2.6 million to run intersessions at the seven schools.

"When you're having modified calender for only seven elementary schools [out of 138 elementary schools in the school system, the officials] have to look at difficult choices," says Cochran.

One mom and part-time teacher says her kids were ready to go back.

"Two weeks ago they said, 'I'm over the pool,'" says Holly Vanderhoof.

She says the year-round learning model helps her children to learn more.

Vanderhoof also says the schedule benefits working parents, so they don't have to worry about finding care during the day for an entire summer break.

"When we possibly have to go to regular calendar next year, I thought, if I had another job, it would cost hundreds of dollars [to pay for daycare or camp]."