Dear WAB Parents:

As you may be aware, the Chinese government recently announced several changes to designated 2008 official holidays. Out of respect for our host country, the Board of Directors felt it was necessary to honor these holidays. They met on Wednesday night to discuss these possible changes and how they would impact the 2007-2008 WAB calendar. The Board considered several options for honoring the national holidays while trying to preserve WAB's calendar. After much discussion, they decided to adhere to the Chinese government's holiday schedule. Therefore, the following changes have been made to WAB's calendar for the remainder of the 2007-2008 school year.

The following dates will now be school holidays: Wednesday February 6; Friday April 4; and Monday June 9.

In order to make up for these dates, school will now be in session on the following days, which had previously been scheduled as school holidays:

Monday April 28, Tuesday April 29 and Wednesday April 30.

Please note that the following dates will remain as school holidays: Thursday May 1 and Friday May 2.

The school and the Board realize these changes may cause difficulties for families who have already made holiday plans for May. If your family has made plans that cannot be changed, please notify your child's teachers of any absences as soon as possible.

Finally, please note that changes may need to be made to the 2008-2009 calendar, which has not yet been distributed to the community. That is being studied now. An announcement will be made as soon as possible, but in the meantime we can confirm that the first day of school for students will remain as September 1.

David Randall
Interim Director