The School Calendar

LCS follow the Northern Hemisphere school calendar per the AEFE With the school year starting in August and terminating at the end of June. We follow this Northern rhythm along with other Asia Pacific Region AEFE schools. This allows our students to participate and interact within our regional network.

Pedagogical Conditions

The school calendar determines the school routine of students, the following pedagogical conditions are therefore important:

  • Avoiding long breaks -

  • Avoiding long school periods -

  • No holidays in May and June due to exams and study pathway procedures -

  • Allowing at the most 26 hours/week of school or 936 hours per year.

  • The last day of school must coincide with the date of the last baccalaureate exam (students retaking oral exams) by keeping in mind that the exam calendar is the same for all the schools in the Asia-Pacific zone.

  • To set the first day back at school on a Thursday around the 15th August, mid-week if possible, while taking into account the date of the last day of school;

AEFE Calendar Principles

  • The school year consists of 36 weeks.

  • It should be divided into 5 work periods, of comparable duration, separated by four (4) holiday periods

Per the LCS School committee general agreement for the school calendar of 2017. The following criteria is also applied

  • To have a minimum of 4 holiday periods between the first day of school and the last day of school.

  • To prioritise a school routine of: 7 weeks at school and two weeks holidays or, 5 to 6 school weeks followed by one week holiday.

LCS Planning Principles

  • Two weeks of holidays between August and December, · one of these holiday periods must coincide with the Australian school holidays at the end of September/beginning of October ; ·

  • Four weeks holidays at Christmas which include the date of 24/12 ·

  • One week holiday at the end of February/beginning of March ·

  • Two weeks holidays in April in order to: allow one week holiday which coincide with the NSW school holidays and 9 weeks of class before the last day of school. ·

  • To organise Holiday Care at the school during the short breaks and to guarantee by a contract clause with YMCA that childcare will be available during the school holidays which do not coincide with NSW holidays.

What is everyone else doing?

  • Other countries who follow the Northern Rhythm include Brasilia (Brazil), Montreal and Quebec City (Canada), Shanghai (China), Pondicherry (India), Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Mauritius, Norway, Paraguay, Sweden

  • Some countries follow the Southern rhythm with the school year starting in at the end of the southern hemisphere summer and finishing in December. These include Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil (Sao Paulo and Rio), Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Uruguay and Vanuatu.

  • For example – Rio has 5 weeks break over the summer returning on Feb 1st and 4 week vacation in July. With the school year starting in Feb and finishing in December https://www.lyceemoliere.com.br/index.php?id_menu=27

  • Establishments in the rest of the world return to school, no earlier than September 1.