School programme for 2012

I'm posting this as a reminder to myself as to our programme for next year - 2012.  This was due to a discussion on a Facebook homeschool group.  From the books I've read about homeschooling I knew about USA regulations but this is the first time I saw a reference to South African regulations for school days / weeks.

It was stated that 36 weeks of school / 180 days are compulsory in South Africa.

The calendar for 2012 from this website:

2012 school calendar

Coastal provinces: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, Western Cape

Term	Duration	Number of weeks	Number of days	Number of public holidays	Actual number of school days
1	(9) 11 Jan - 23 Mar	11	(55) 53	1	(54) 52
2	10 Apr - 22 Jun	11	54	2 + 1	51
3	16 Jul - 28 Sept	11	55	2 + 1	52
4	8 Oct - 7 (11) Dec	9	(47) 45	0	(47) 45
	Total	42	(211) 207	7 (5 + 2)	(204) 200

- Dates and days in brackets ( ) are applicable to educators

Inland provinces: Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West

Term	Duration	Number of weeks	Number of days	Number of public holidays	Actual number of school days
1	(16) 18 Jan - 30 Mar	11	(55) 53	1	(54) 52
2	10 Apr - 22 Jun	11	54	2 + 1	51
3	16 Jul - 28 Sept	11	55	2 + 1	52
4	8 Oct - 7 (11) Dec	9	(47) 45	0	(47) 45
	Total	42	(211) 207	7 (5 + 2)	(204) 200

- Dates and days in brackets ( ) are applicable to educators

Note: Schools in the coastal provinces will open a week earlier than the inland provinces in January.

Schools will therefore have a 42 week / 200 days year.  There are two school holidays during term:  30 April and 10 August.

Ideas for determining school "time" for homeschooling:
(From the discussion on Facebook)

* Follow the school  terms and holidays
* Homeschool 4 weeks, have 1 week off
* Or 8 weeks of school and 2 weeks off

The off weeks are spend at leisure, including outings - for the children - and mom catches up on whatever she wants / needs to do.

I grabbed my new day planner for next year, googled the school terms and highlighted the school holidays and public holidays / long weekends.  This just gave me an idea how next year looks like.

I hope this will also help other homeschooling moms.