Norwood Public Schools Announces School Start Time, Lunchtime Updates

NORWOOD, MA - Norwood Public Schools Superintendent David Thomson announced several updates regarding the district’s work toward the implementation of the new start times for the 2022-2023 school year.

The Norwood School Committee voted to approve new start times for the district’s eight schools during the Feb. 9 School Committee meeting, with the changes to be implemented in the fall of 2022.

The new start times for students will be as follows:

• Norwood High School: start time of 8:15 a.m., dismissal time of 2:50 p.m.
• Coakley Middle School: start time of 8:45 a.m., dismissal time of 3:20 p.m.
• Elementary schools: start time of 7:50 a.m., dismissal time of 2:05 p.m.
• Willett School: start time of 8:10 a.m., dismissal time of 1:40 p.m.

There are no changes to the Little Mustangs Preschool Academy schedule.

Half-Day Dismissals

Half-day dismissal times have been adjusted in accordance with new school start times. Early release times for Thanksgiving and December breaks are 30 minutes earlier than the regular half-day dismissal times.

• Norwood High School: 8:15 a.m. – noon; Thanksgiving/December break: 8:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• Coakley Middle School: 8:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; Thanksgiving/December break: 8:45 a.m. – noon
• Elementary schools: 7:50 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.; Thanksgiving/December break: 7:50 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.
• Willett Early Childhood Center: 8:10 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.; Thanksgiving/December break: 8:10 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
• Little Mustangs Preschool Academy: dismissal at 11 a.m. with no afternoon sessions; Thanksgiving/December break: dismissal at 11 a.m. with no afternoon sessions

Lunch Times

• Norwood High School: lunch one from 11:19 a.m. – 11:46 a.m.; lunch two from 11:50 a.m. – 12:17 p.m.; lunch three from 12:21 p.m. – 12:48 p.m.
• Coakley Middle School: lunch one from 11:28 a.m. – 11:58 a.m.; lunch two from 12:20 p.m. – 12:50 p.m.; lunch three from 1:12 p.m. – 1:42 p.m.
• Elementary schools: lunchtime blocks at all elementary schools will range between 10:40 a.m. – 11:40 a.m., and they will largely be the same time into the school day as they are currently.

Grab-and-go lunch options are also being explored for early release days at all schools.

The district website has been updated to reflect the vote to change the times for next year. Additional information from the School Start Time Subcommittee, including presentations, family surveys, FAQs and more can be found here.