At The Wellington School, safety is our top priority when making decisions about inclement weather. We work proactively throughout the winter to ensure our campus remains safe and ready for our students and staff to get to school. While we prioritize opening whenever possible, we trust families to decide if travel is safe in their specific circumstances.
Our Process for Making the Decision
The decision to delay or close considers several factors including predicted conditions, recommendations from local authorities, medical advisors, decisions from local districts and schools that affect our families, staffing considerations, and the need for time to prepare to operate safely. And on rare occasion, Ms. McLaren has been known to consider persuasive messages presented by student leaders.
Timing and Communications
We aim to announce snow days or delays by 6:15 a.m., or even the night before, to give students and families time to plan for the day.
If we do decide to cancel or delay school, there are several ways you can hear about it from us:
- Text message to all parents, caregivers, faculty, staff, and upper school students
- Email to all parents, caregivers, faculty, staff, and upper school students
- If you are a prospective family with a planned visit, the Admissions team will notify you directly and work with you to reschedule your visit.
If you have difficulty receiving these updates, please email communications@wellington.org.
In addition, we post notifications on our website, Instagram, and Facebook. We will also alert the local TV stations and radio stations.
Two-Hour Delay and Early Closing
A two-hour delay may occasionally occur for weather-related incidents. Use the following guidelines for unplanned two-hour delays.
Arrival Time
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Faculty and staff will report to campus by 9:30 a.m.
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Students in all divisions will report to campus between 9:45 and 10 a.m.
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We kindly ask that no students arrive before 9:45 a.m. No Morning Care will be offered.
Buses and Transportation
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There will be no AM local school district buses.
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The Wellington AM bus will run two hours late. The transportation office will send communications ahead of time if possible.
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Wellington and local school district PM buses will run according to the usual schedules.
Early dismissal is avoided whenever possible. If absolutely necessary, we will alert families via the same communication methods as above.
Extracurricular and Evening Activities
Decisions about extracurricular and evening activities are made by noon and communicated via SportsYou (athletics) or division heads (performing arts).
Non-Uniform Days and Required Cold Weather Clothing
On especially cold days, we may implement a non-uniform day to allow for warm clothes and multiple layers. On these days, we expect students in all divisions to arrive in long pants and long sleeves and to have appropriate cold weather gear including coats, boots, hats, and gloves. Sweatpants and hoodies will be permitted. Please do not come to school without proper clothing. By being prepared, we can stay safe.