To: Bureau Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Division/City Superintendents
Heads, Public and Private Elementary and Secondary Schools

1. For School Year (SY) 2009-2010, the following dates and periods shall be observed in all elementary and secondary schools:
   1. The opening of SY 2009-2010 shall be preceded by the National Schools Maintenance Week, scheduled on May 18-22, 2009 to enable the community and the school to prepare their facilities for the start of classes.
   2. The school year shall begin on Monday, June 1, 2009 and end on Wednesday, March 31, 2010. It shall consist of two hundred four (204) class days. This is inclusive of the 5-day break and the parent-teacher conferences that shall be held on a Saturday immediately following the week after the administration of the quarterly examinations. The conference is intended to apprise the parents of the progress or performance of their children and ensure parental involvement in school activities. The number of school days per month and the indicative events for the school year are listed in the Enclosure.
   3. The Christmas break shall begin on Saturday, December 19, 2009. Classes shall resume on Monday, January 4, 2010.
   4. The secondary school summer classes shall begin on Monday, April 12, 2010 and end on Saturday, May 22, 2010. It shall consist of 3-hour daily session per subject area from Monday to Saturday for 36 days exclusive of May 1, 2010 which is a legal holiday and inclusive of May 24, 2010 which is the day for the final examinations.
2. The dates given in this calendar shall be compulsory for public elementary and secondary schools. The private schools may opt to deviate from this school calendar provided they do not start classes earlier than the 1st Monday of June 2009 or not later than the 1st Monday of August. However, they need to complete the minimum number of class days and notify the appropriate DepED Office in advance regarding any deviation.
3. The observance of school celebrations or activities and holidays other than those indicated in the calendar shall be allowed provided that the minimum number of class hours and class days are maintained. Make up classes shall be held to compensate for localized suspensions due to typhoons and other calamities or local celebrations such as town or barangay fiestas, foundation day, anniversaries and holding of academic and non-academic competitions in certain schools or areas.
4. At the end of the school year, all division offices shall report the actual number of class days held in every school under their jurisdiction. Regional offices shall submit not later than two weeks after the end of the school year a report on the actual school days in the different school divisions under their jurisdiction together with recommendations on how the policy on meeting the required number of school days can be strengthened.
5. Immediate dissemination of and compliance with this Order is directed.

Encl.:
As stated
Reference:
DepED Order: No. 22, s. 2008 Allotment: 1- -(D.O. 50-97)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
CALENDAR, SCHOOL
CELEBRATIONS & FESTIVALS
CLASSES
POLICY
SCHOOLS

DO_s2009_25