Winter is Coming: Guidelines for Inclement Weather

Making the decision to alter the regular operations of school and/or school buses due to inclement weather is never an easy task. To learn more about how the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) makes this call, visit www.hrce.ca/weather.

When is the decision made?

HRCE’s goal is to make the decision as close to 6 a.m. as possible.

A 6 a.m. announcement could be:

All schools are delayed in opening by two hours and all bus pickups are delayed by two hours; or
All schools are open, but some or all buses are not operating for the day; or
Some schools (either individually or by family) are closed for the day; or
All schools are closed for the day.
If the weather deteriorates through the school day, the HRCE can decide to dismiss early. In the event of an early dismissal, the decision will be communicated as close to 11 a.m. as possible.

An 11 a.m. dismissal means:

Bused students will be picked up two hours earlier than their regular dismissal time; and
Walking students will be dismissed at their regularly-scheduled lunch hour.

Please Note: students in Grades Primary to 6 will not be released from school until parents/guardians or designates have been notified by the school.

How will families be notified?

Families will receive an email and text message (opt-in is required: text Y to 978338)*
Check our website at www.hrce.ca
Follow us on Twitter at @HRCE_NS
Call the HRCE information line at 902-464-INFO (4636)
All local radio stations are informed