Early middle school bell crushing DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only way to avoid this is to stop offering bus service to neighborhoods. Would you be willing to have a bus depot system where you take your kid to a central spot and the bus leaves from there like TJ? Or we could stop offering bus service altogether.

You armchair experts have no idea how complicit bus routes are for a county as large as Fairfax. MS is only two years. It’s the price that has to be paid.

This is the only realistic response to the issue. The issue is buses. So you either deal with the status quo, or you agree to (1) no bus service or (2) centralized bus stops that would require you to drive.

Everything else is just jibber jabber.

[Anonymous]

It sucks but it is only 2 years. Changing it to ES early start, which would last 7 years would be far far worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To anyone reading this and getting anxiety because of all of the drama, it’s not that bad. I was so worried about the early start time because of reading this forum, but my son adjusted perfectly fine to the middle school schedule. We were at an ES that started at 9:20 or whatever too. He had to leave at 6:50 to get to school on time. He had a small cup of coffee with breakfast most days and that did help to wake him up. He’s in high school now and totally survived those two years of early waking up lol.

+1000. The amount of drama on this forum related to minor inconveniences never ceases to amaze.

+1. The amount of whining from parents because their poor, precious children have to wake up early for school is beyond me. It's school. You're supposed to wake up early. And guess what? The goal is that one day they will be gainfully employed adults who also have to wake up early. It's about discipline and scheduling. These are also skills that they are supposed to be learning. But instead of doing that, parents are crying to the school board that their children's biology PRECLUDES them from waking up at an early hour and attending class on time ....when really it's poor parenting. Take away the phones, set screen limits, arrange normal dinner times. What? Sports practice is late? Well, that's a self inflicted wound that you chose to sign up for. You have to decide between sports and academics.

I'm perpetually amazed at the parents on this board. Stop coddling.

I think it is a genuine complaint. Why do they start in darkness? Oh, right because it is the way schools have always done it and schools don't give a darn about working families and kids. Biut ok- label everyone else the problem.

They start in darkness bc it gets dark early here in the winter. Have a problem with it? Move to FL. We have seasonal changes unfortunately. Write to Congress about daylight savings and how much it sucks. If that doesn't work, I guess you can file a complaint with...the sun? The solar system clearly does not take your teenagers NEEDS into account! What is WRONG with the world?

OR, you could go to sleep on time and wake up early. But that would be too logical....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sucks but it is only 2 years. Changing it to ES early start, which would last 7 years would be far far worse.

The issue is that ES kids are generally up much earlier than teens. So it would be better for younger kids to start early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A group of principals has advocated for years that ES should be first. We were routinely ignored by the Leadership Team. This needs to come from the community or it ain’t happening.

I’d love it. Especially for kindergarten because it’s such a loooooong day for kindergarteners. Having them get out of school early would be great.

Your kid is a Kindergartner for a year.

The reality is that if Elementary School started early, a majority of the kids would have longer days because they would be in after-school “day care”. At least middle schoolers can fend for themselves.

I agree. I like my ES schedule. I wish they started at 8:30 instead of 9:20, but they don't get homework, so they just come home and play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sucks but it is only 2 years. Changing it to ES early start, which would last 7 years would be far far worse.

The issue is that ES kids are generally up much earlier than teens. So it would be better for younger kids to start early.

Yes always. But then you have ES kids end too early and need childcare which is often also provided by older kids etc. it would br best if we had smaller systems, more walkable schools so everyone can start at 8/8:30 and walk to school. But alas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any of you clamoring for 7 years of early school times for elementary school are out of your minds.

Why? My kids are up at 6:30. By the time the bus comes at 8:30 they are so ready. Earlier start time would mean i get to work esrlier and less traffic. Half my kids class is in before care so parents can get to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sucks but it is only 2 years. Changing it to ES early start, which would last 7 years would be far far worse.

The issue is that ES kids are generally up much earlier than teens. So it would be better for younger kids to start early.

I cannot imagine trying to get esp. the K-2 kids safely out in the dark all winter for several years, as a safety issue. Let alone childcare issues. Not a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any of you clamoring for 7 years of early school times for elementary school are out of your minds.

Why? My kids are up at 6:30. By the time the bus comes at 8:30 they are so ready. Earlier start time would mean i get to work esrlier and less traffic. Half my kids class is in before care so parents can get to work.

My ES kids sleep until 8:30. Your personal situation and mine are completely irrelevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To anyone reading this and getting anxiety because of all of the drama, it’s not that bad. I was so worried about the early start time because of reading this forum, but my son adjusted perfectly fine to the middle school schedule. We were at an ES that started at 9:20 or whatever too. He had to leave at 6:50 to get to school on time. He had a small cup of coffee with breakfast most days and that did help to wake him up. He’s in high school now and totally survived those two years of early waking up lol.

+1000. The amount of drama on this forum related to minor inconveniences never ceases to amaze.

+1. The amount of whining from parents because their poor, precious children have to wake up early for school is beyond me. It's school. You're supposed to wake up early. And guess what? The goal is that one day they will be gainfully employed adults who also have to wake up early. It's about discipline and scheduling. These are also skills that they are supposed to be learning. But instead of doing that, parents are crying to the school board that their children's biology PRECLUDES them from waking up at an early hour and attending class on time ....when really it's poor parenting. Take away the phones, set screen limits, arrange normal dinner times. What? Sports practice is late? Well, that's a self inflicted wound that you chose to sign up for. You have to decide between sports and academics.

I'm perpetually amazed at the parents on this board. Stop coddling.

I think it is a genuine complaint. Why do they start in darkness? Oh, right because it is the way schools have always done it and schools don't give a darn about working families and kids. Biut ok- label everyone else the problem.

They start in darkness bc it gets dark early here in the winter. Have a problem with it? Move to FL. We have seasonal changes unfortunately. Write to Congress about daylight savings and how much it sucks. If that doesn't work, I guess you can file a complaint with...the sun? The solar system clearly does not take your teenagers NEEDS into account! What is WRONG with the world?

OR, you could go to sleep on time and wake up early. But that would be too logical....

My kid goes to sleep at 9:30 so it is not like that is late for a 13 year old. Getting up at 6am sucks for everyone. My job doesn't require me to sign on before 9am so I am entitled to complain about the MS start. It is early because the schools can't figure out how to let MS and HS share buses (which is weird when they are within sight distance of each other).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any of you clamoring for 7 years of early school times for elementary school are out of your minds.

Why? My kids are up at 6:30. By the time the bus comes at 8:30 they are so ready. Earlier start time would mean i get to work esrlier and less traffic. Half my kids class is in before care so parents can get to work.

My ES kids sleep until 8:30. Your personal situation and mine are completely irrelevant.

I would guess that ES kids are more likely to be early risers then MS kids. There are always going to be outliers but my kid is in 5th grade and still up, on his own with no alarm, at 6:30. In K he was up between 5:30 and 6 AM. Based on reports from his friends parents, many of their kids were the same way. There are at least 2 kids who I know where later risers but they also tend to go to bed later. Overall, an earlier start to ES would be easier for the kids in that age group then it is for MS and HS.

The issue with ES starting earlier is safety for walkers when it is dark in the morning.

There are a good number of kids in morning care because both parents are working, an earlier start time would mean that those kids would have a longer after care situation then they currently do. It seems to be easier to find after care then it is to find morning care. I know the Karate places that provide after care for our ES do not provide morning care. The SACC waiting list for morning care is a lot longer then the afternoon care list at our school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To anyone reading this and getting anxiety because of all of the drama, it’s not that bad. I was so worried about the early start time because of reading this forum, but my son adjusted perfectly fine to the middle school schedule. We were at an ES that started at 9:20 or whatever too. He had to leave at 6:50 to get to school on time. He had a small cup of coffee with breakfast most days and that did help to wake him up. He’s in high school now and totally survived those two years of early waking up lol.

+1000. The amount of drama on this forum related to minor inconveniences never ceases to amaze.

+1. The amount of whining from parents because their poor, precious children have to wake up early for school is beyond me. It's school. You're supposed to wake up early. And guess what? The goal is that one day they will be gainfully employed adults who also have to wake up early. It's about discipline and scheduling. These are also skills that they are supposed to be learning. But instead of doing that, parents are crying to the school board that their children's biology PRECLUDES them from waking up at an early hour and attending class on time ....when really it's poor parenting. Take away the phones, set screen limits, arrange normal dinner times. What? Sports practice is late? Well, that's a self inflicted wound that you chose to sign up for. You have to decide between sports and academics.

I'm perpetually amazed at the parents on this board. Stop coddling.

I think it is a genuine complaint. Why do they start in darkness? Oh, right because it is the way schools have always done it and schools don't give a darn about working families and kids. Biut ok- label everyone else the problem.

They start in darkness bc it gets dark early here in the winter. Have a problem with it? Move to FL. We have seasonal changes unfortunately. Write to Congress about daylight savings and how much it sucks. If that doesn't work, I guess you can file a complaint with...the sun? The solar system clearly does not take your teenagers NEEDS into account! What is WRONG with the world?

OR, you could go to sleep on time and wake up early. But that would be too logical....

My kid goes to sleep at 9:30 so it is not like that is late for a 13 year old. Getting up at 6am sucks for everyone. My job doesn't require me to sign on before 9am so I am entitled to complain about the MS start. It is early because the schools can't figure out how to let MS and HS share buses (which is weird when they are within sight distance of each other).

Yep. This. It's the dumba-- admin reasons forcing this start time that piss me off. They are not prioritizing our kids' health, imo.

Whatever, a couple more years and I'm done with FCPS.

[Anonymous]

I would love centralized bus service if it fixed the start times

[Anonymous]

DD, who has always been a night owl, seems to be adjusting to the MS schedule better than I am. She picks out her clothes and preps breakfast the night before (if she's doing overnight oats, for instance). Up at 5:30, out the door by 6:15, for the 6:30 bus (which has come anywhere between 6:25-6:40). After she comes home, she finishes homework and any assignments, and relaxes, before practicing her music, getting some exercise, and so on. She tries to be in bed by 9:30, but often doesn't fall asleep until 10:00, even when she is really tired.

It will get more difficult once activities start. One of them goes until 9:30 PM. As much as she would love it, she doesn't sleep in late over the weekend. Wakes up at 7:00 (I'm trying to convince her to wake up at 7:30 or even 8:00), so going to sleep at night won't be too difficult.

I'm a night owl that usually cannot fall asleep until midnight, and this schedule really sucks. I'm up with her at 5:30, to pack her lunch and see her off. To keep from just coming home and going back to bed, I take a nice long walk, which is the only good thing to come of it. I don't agree with moving ES to 7:30, though. I know someone with 3 kids in ES in LCPS, including twin Kinders, and her life, having to wake up three little kids at 5:30 (their bus comes at 6:20), is absolutely miserable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any of you clamoring for 7 years of early school times for elementary school are out of your minds.

Why? My kids are up at 6:30. By the time the bus comes at 8:30 they are so ready. Earlier start time would mean i get to work esrlier and less traffic. Half my kids class is in before care so parents can get to work.

My ES kids sleep until 8:30. Your personal situation and mine are completely irrelevant.

I would guess that ES kids are more likely to be early risers then MS kids. There are always going to be outliers but my kid is in 5th grade and still up, on his own with no alarm, at 6:30. In K he was up between 5:30 and 6 AM. Based on reports from his friends parents, many of their kids were the same way. There are at least 2 kids who I know where later risers but they also tend to go to bed later. Overall, an earlier start to ES would be easier for the kids in that age group then it is for MS and HS.

The issue with ES starting earlier is safety for walkers when it is dark in the morning.

There are a good number of kids in morning care because both parents are working, an earlier start time would mean that those kids would have a longer after care situation then they currently do. It seems to be easier to find after care then it is to find morning care. I know the Karate places that provide after care for our ES do not provide morning care. The SACC waiting list for morning care is a lot longer then the afternoon care list at our school.

None of my own kids were ever up for school before 8, same is true for most of their friends, but their ES started at 9:15 so no need to rush around in the
morning.