The school calendar for the 2011-2012 school year was approved Tuesday by the Newton County Board of Education, with a start date of Aug. 4.

The board considered three calendar options at a called meeting Feb. 25. A committee of representatives from each school, along with central office administrators, met together to discuss system-wide goals before creating the three proposed calendars.

The calendar includes the following start/end day for students and breaks:

• Aug. 4 – First day of school

• Sept. 5 – Labor Day holiday

• Oct. 19-21 – Fall break for students

• Nov. 21-25 – Thanksgiving break

• Dec. 19-Jan. 2 – Holiday break

• Jan. 3 – Teacher work day/no school for students

• Jan. 4 – Students report for second semester

• Jan. 16 – Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday

• Feb. 20-24 – Winter Break

• April 2-6 – Spring break

• May 23 – Last day of school for students

• May 24- Last day of school for elementary teachers

• May 25 – Last day of school for secondary teachers