Build Your Calendar

Setting up your homeschool calendar is the first step to getting organized with OpenSky. This guide will walk you through creating and customizing your calendar to match your family's schedule.

Getting Started

Your calendar is the foundation of your homeschool planning. It determines which days are school days, when breaks occur so that OpenSky can properly schedule curriculum for each student enrolled in the year.

Step 1: Create Your First Calendar

1. Navigate to the Calendar section via the calendar widget on 'My Homeschool' or via the action menu next to your user name in the bottom left corner.
2. Click on Create New Calendar
3. Name the Calendar and select the start and end dates, you can change these later

Step 2: Define Your School Year

1. Set Start and End Dates
   • Choose your school year start date (e.g., September 1st)
   • Set your intended end date (e.g., May 31st)
   • The system will automatically calculate available school days and weeks
2. Select School Days
   • By default, Monday through Friday are selected
   • Toggle days on/off to match your schedule by clicking on individual circled days
   • Many families choose 4-day weeks or non-traditional schedules

Step 3: Add Breaks and Holidays

1. Add Individual Holidays
   • By default US Holidays are included, but feel free to add or remove some
2. Add Your Breaks
   • Common breaks include:
     • Fall Break (1 week)
     • Winter Break (2-3 weeks)
     • Spring Break (1 week)
     • Summer Break

Step 4: Enroll Students

1. Add students
   • At the top, choose which students will particpiate in this school year
   • Many schools enroll all students in the same year, rarely schools need the flexibility of different holidays and breaks per child
     • Optionally, choose the grade the child will be in for this term. This helps us generate transcripts, keep track of school years, and customize features such as Generate Supplementary Lesson.
2. Save
   • Make sure to click save
   • If you make changes in the future that impact enrolled courses, the Calendar will automatically prompt you with the impacts the calendar changes will make

• Start Simple: Begin with just your basic school days and major breaks
• Add Gradually: Add more details as you become familiar with the system
• Leave Buffer Days: Plan for 170-180 school days even if you only need 160
• Review Monthly: Check your calendar monthly and adjust as needed
• Copy for Next Year: Once perfected, you can duplicate your calendar for the next school year

Common Questions

Q: What if my schedule changes mid-year? A: You can edit your calendar anytime. The system will automatically reschedule lessons based on your new calendar.

Q: Can I have different calendars for different students? A: While more complex to manage, you can create multiple calendars if students have very different schedules

Q: How many school days should I plan for? A: Most families plan for 160-180 days. Check your state requirements if applicable.

Next Steps

Once your calendar is set up:

• Select Courses from our curriculum library
• Enroll Students in their courses
• Start tracking daily progress

Need Help?

If you have questions about calendar setup:

• Email us at support@openskyplanner.com
• Join our WhatsApp community for quick answers
• Watch our video tutorial on the support page