MoCo 24-25 calendar feedback

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to start after labor day and end before memorial day. Plenty of time to get 180 instruction days in then.

If we have school on Saturdays...

As a teacher, I also voted for more days off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s close school for everyone’s religious holidays: Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Chinese New year. And given the big Persian population in Moco, we should add Persian new year to the list!

I don’t know if you meant any of this seriously, but —as a teacher and parent— I think we should. At least for holidays that require weekday daytime observance. It’s possible with year round schooling.

If you pay attention to the MCPS BOE, one of the schools, Roscoe Nix Elementary, that has year-round school is complaining constantly about how awful it is and how they and their families want to go back to a traditional calendar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s close school for everyone’s religious holidays: Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Chinese New year. And given the big Persian population in Moco, we should add Persian new year to the list!

I don’t know if you meant any of this seriously, but —as a teacher and parent— I think we should. At least for holidays that require weekday daytime observance. It’s possible with year round schooling.

If you pay attention to the MCPS BOE, one of the schools, Roscoe Nix Elementary, that has year-round school is complaining constantly about how awful it is and how they and their families want to go back to a traditional calendar.

Those “innovative” schools aren’t doing a true year round calendar that schools across the country have done for years. MCPS adds more days. The schools in the US with data showing evidence of year round being successful have the same number of school days as a traditional school year, not more. There are just more frequent breaks dispersed between marking periods.

[Anonymous]

Here are some examples:

https://nc01911451.schoolwires.net/cms/lib/NC01911451/Centricity/Domain/19/23-24%20YR%2015%20NOV%2022.pdf

https://www.lcsedu.net/sites/default/files/pdfs/2022-2023_bass_calendar.pdf?v=052322b

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It'd be nice if Christmas break was a full two weeks like practically every other school in the entire country.

It has never been two weeks around here; also we call it winter break. Feel free to move back to Ohio if it’s important to you.

That’s a pretty nasty reply. Many of us would like two weeks to see family or go on a real vacation with our kids.

Signed - a non Christian who would love 2 weeks of family time when things are slow everywhere

You read it as nasty but it wasn’t intended that way. People always get so offended by matter-of-fact statements on this site. You can’t see family during the 10 days off? You can’t take a “real vacation” during that time? I hear that you would like more time. However, they have done lots of polling and while people would like a two week long winter break, they don’t want to start earlier or end later in order to make it happen. As I said, if it’s important to you then you are free to move somewhere else that has a two week winter break. You all seem to think that’s most places, so you have choices. Doesn’t need to just be Ohio.

No one “read it” as nasty. It simply was. I’m the person you replied to and it’s hilarious bc I don’t even celebrate Christmas-I’m Jewish. I absent mindedly typed that because everyone around here seems to call it Christmas break. You are still rude and I’m glad everyone else called you out for it. No one needs to move just because we aren’t getting what we want. We’re not immature children. If that’s your solution to everything, you have some growing up to do. I’m from NYC, thanks, but to try and use Ohio as an insult is also equally lame. Have you ever stopped to think about the immigrant population in Montgomery County? Maybe people would like more time to visit their family overseas during holidays without having to move. Grow up.

NYC public schools are closed December 25-January 1 for winter recess in 2023-24. Not two weeks. I imagine they also have students with families overseas as we do here. Nearly everywhere in the world is able to be reached with a 10 day break and families also have plenty of opportunity to take extended trips during the summer. Did you ever think about immigrant or non-immigrant families who cannot afford to travel during the most expensive time of the year if at all and who face food insecurity and childcare difficulties with each day school is closed? I can tell you haven’t really thought this through and just want to insult me. You’re entitled to want a two week winter break. I don’t care whether it’s one week or two, I’m not even disagreeing with folks who have that preference. But no, everyone does not have the same preference as you regardless of what they do in other school systems. In other places they celebrate Halloween over the weekend and not on Oct. 31. Here we celebrate on Oct. 31. Every year someone asks or suggests that in their hometown it is different. And everyone explains that here it is on Oct. 31. That is literally all I was saying.

Please. You reference moving to Ohio as a clear pejorative comment. All Maryland schools have to have exactly the same number of school days, so families dealing with food insecurity and childcare difficulties will need support with programs to help, whether in be two full weeks at WINTER BREAK or a longer time during Summer break. Give us a break.

You tell me. Is it easier to figure out childcare when there are camps and everything is open all summer or is it easier to cobble it together for a few days in the middle of winter when many folks are traveling, after care centers are closed a number of days, parents may not have two full weeks off, and people nationwide generally report being financially stretched thin due to holiday and year end expenditures.

When I lived in NYC, it was two full weeks. Sorry I didn't bother to check another school district's calendar this year. Everyone else I know around the country currently has two full weeks. What makes you think people who are food insecure can afford camp or summer daycare? You're the one who hasn't really thought this through and seriously, you're so hostile for no apparent reason. Seems like a definite you problem. Also, it's actually easier to find winter childcare because families are in town. People are off work. No one else is off in summer to help.

DP. I'm from a different part of NY and it was really rare to have a full 2 weeks off at the holidays- presumably because we also had a week off in February.

That's nice that you can take 2 weeks off from work yourself or have family in town to help but that's awful presumptuous that it is common for most families. If the 2 week break is as common as you say then you'll have plenty of options to choose from.

Yeah IME the full 2-week break is much more common in areas that do not have a President’s week (e.g., south, Midwest). Otherwise the school year goes too long!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It'd be nice if Christmas break was a full two weeks like practically every other school in the entire country.

It has never been two weeks around here; also we call it winter break. Feel free to move back to Ohio if it’s important to you.

That’s a pretty nasty reply. Many of us would like two weeks to see family or go on a real vacation with our kids.

Signed - a non Christian who would love 2 weeks of family time when things are slow everywhere

You read it as nasty but it wasn’t intended that way. People always get so offended by matter-of-fact statements on this site. You can’t see family during the 10 days off? You can’t take a “real vacation” during that time? I hear that you would like more time. However, they have done lots of polling and while people would like a two week long winter break, they don’t want to start earlier or end later in order to make it happen. As I said, if it’s important to you then you are free to move somewhere else that has a two week winter break. You all seem to think that’s most places, so you have choices. Doesn’t need to just be Ohio.

No one “read it” as nasty. It simply was. I’m the person you replied to and it’s hilarious bc I don’t even celebrate Christmas-I’m Jewish. I absent mindedly typed that because everyone around here seems to call it Christmas break. You are still rude and I’m glad everyone else called you out for it. No one needs to move just because we aren’t getting what we want. We’re not immature children. If that’s your solution to everything, you have some growing up to do. I’m from NYC, thanks, but to try and use Ohio as an insult is also equally lame. Have you ever stopped to think about the immigrant population in Montgomery County? Maybe people would like more time to visit their family overseas during holidays without having to move. Grow up.

NYC public schools are closed December 25-January 1 for winter recess in 2023-24. Not two weeks. I imagine they also have students with families overseas as we do here. Nearly everywhere in the world is able to be reached with a 10 day break and families also have plenty of opportunity to take extended trips during the summer. Did you ever think about immigrant or non-immigrant families who cannot afford to travel during the most expensive time of the year if at all and who face food insecurity and childcare difficulties with each day school is closed? I can tell you haven’t really thought this through and just want to insult me. You’re entitled to want a two week winter break. I don’t care whether it’s one week or two, I’m not even disagreeing with folks who have that preference. But no, everyone does not have the same preference as you regardless of what they do in other school systems. In other places they celebrate Halloween over the weekend and not on Oct. 31. Here we celebrate on Oct. 31. Every year someone asks or suggests that in their hometown it is different. And everyone explains that here it is on Oct. 31. That is literally all I was saying.

Please. You reference moving to Ohio as a clear pejorative comment. All Maryland schools have to have exactly the same number of school days, so families dealing with food insecurity and childcare difficulties will need support with programs to help, whether in be two full weeks at WINTER BREAK or a longer time during Summer break. Give us a break.

You tell me. Is it easier to figure out childcare when there are camps and everything is open all summer or is it easier to cobble it together for a few days in the middle of winter when many folks are traveling, after care centers are closed a number of days, parents may not have two full weeks off, and people nationwide generally report being financially stretched thin due to holiday and year end expenditures.

When I lived in NYC, it was two full weeks. Sorry I didn't bother to check another school district's calendar this year. Everyone else I know around the country currently has two full weeks. What makes you think people who are food insecure can afford camp or summer daycare? You're the one who hasn't really thought this through and seriously, you're so hostile for no apparent reason. Seems like a definite you problem. Also, it's actually easier to find winter childcare because families are in town. People are off work. No one else is off in summer to help.

DP. I'm from a different part of NY and it was really rare to have a full 2 weeks off at the holidays- presumably because we also had a week off in February.

That's nice that you can take 2 weeks off from work yourself or have family in town to help but that's awful presumptuous that it is common for most families. If the 2 week break is as common as you say then you'll have plenty of options to choose from.

Yeah IME the full 2-week break is much more common in areas that do not have a President’s week (e.g., south, Midwest). Otherwise the school year goes too long!

The NYS school schedules get the President's Week, start after Labor Day, and run until June 27. Do we aspire to be NYS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It'd be nice if Christmas break was a full two weeks like practically every other school in the entire country.

It has never been two weeks around here; also we call it winter break. Feel free to move back to Ohio if it’s important to you.

That’s a pretty nasty reply. Many of us would like two weeks to see family or go on a real vacation with our kids.

Signed - a non Christian who would love 2 weeks of family time when things are slow everywhere

You read it as nasty but it wasn’t intended that way. People always get so offended by matter-of-fact statements on this site. You can’t see family during the 10 days off? You can’t take a “real vacation” during that time? I hear that you would like more time. However, they have done lots of polling and while people would like a two week long winter break, they don’t want to start earlier or end later in order to make it happen. As I said, if it’s important to you then you are free to move somewhere else that has a two week winter break. You all seem to think that’s most places, so you have choices. Doesn’t need to just be Ohio.

No one “read it” as nasty. It simply was. I’m the person you replied to and it’s hilarious bc I don’t even celebrate Christmas-I’m Jewish. I absent mindedly typed that because everyone around here seems to call it Christmas break. You are still rude and I’m glad everyone else called you out for it. No one needs to move just because we aren’t getting what we want. We’re not immature children. If that’s your solution to everything, you have some growing up to do. I’m from NYC, thanks, but to try and use Ohio as an insult is also equally lame. Have you ever stopped to think about the immigrant population in Montgomery County? Maybe people would like more time to visit their family overseas during holidays without having to move. Grow up.

NYC public schools are closed December 25-January 1 for winter recess in 2023-24. Not two weeks. I imagine they also have students with families overseas as we do here. Nearly everywhere in the world is able to be reached with a 10 day break and families also have plenty of opportunity to take extended trips during the summer. Did you ever think about immigrant or non-immigrant families who cannot afford to travel during the most expensive time of the year if at all and who face food insecurity and childcare difficulties with each day school is closed? I can tell you haven’t really thought this through and just want to insult me. You’re entitled to want a two week winter break. I don’t care whether it’s one week or two, I’m not even disagreeing with folks who have that preference. But no, everyone does not have the same preference as you regardless of what they do in other school systems. In other places they celebrate Halloween over the weekend and not on Oct. 31. Here we celebrate on Oct. 31. Every year someone asks or suggests that in their hometown it is different. And everyone explains that here it is on Oct. 31. That is literally all I was saying.

Please. You reference moving to Ohio as a clear pejorative comment. All Maryland schools have to have exactly the same number of school days, so families dealing with food insecurity and childcare difficulties will need support with programs to help, whether in be two full weeks at WINTER BREAK or a longer time during Summer break. Give us a break.

You tell me. Is it easier to figure out childcare when there are camps and everything is open all summer or is it easier to cobble it together for a few days in the middle of winter when many folks are traveling, after care centers are closed a number of days, parents may not have two full weeks off, and people nationwide generally report being financially stretched thin due to holiday and year end expenditures.

When I lived in NYC, it was two full weeks. Sorry I didn't bother to check another school district's calendar this year. Everyone else I know around the country currently has two full weeks. What makes you think people who are food insecure can afford camp or summer daycare? You're the one who hasn't really thought this through and seriously, you're so hostile for no apparent reason. Seems like a definite you problem. Also, it's actually easier to find winter childcare because families are in town. People are off work. No one else is off in summer to help.

DP. I'm from a different part of NY and it was really rare to have a full 2 weeks off at the holidays- presumably because we also had a week off in February.

That's nice that you can take 2 weeks off from work yourself or have family in town to help but that's awful presumptuous that it is common for most families. If the 2 week break is as common as you say then you'll have plenty of options to choose from.

Yeah IME the full 2-week break is much more common in areas that do not have a President’s week (e.g., south, Midwest). Otherwise the school year goes too long!

The NYS school schedules get the President's Week, start after Labor Day, and run until June 27. Do we aspire to be NYS?

Uh, it adds three days to the calendar. That wouldn’t throw us into June 27th but okay.

[Anonymous]

Apparently there are mistakes in the proposed calendars and revisions are coming soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It'd be nice if Christmas break was a full two weeks like practically every other school in the entire country.

It has never been two weeks around here; also we call it winter break. Feel free to move back to Ohio if it’s important to you.

That’s a pretty nasty reply. Many of us would like two weeks to see family or go on a real vacation with our kids.

Signed - a non Christian who would love 2 weeks of family time when things are slow everywhere

You read it as nasty but it wasn’t intended that way. People always get so offended by matter-of-fact statements on this site. You can’t see family during the 10 days off? You can’t take a “real vacation” during that time? I hear that you would like more time. However, they have done lots of polling and while people would like a two week long winter break, they don’t want to start earlier or end later in order to make it happen. As I said, if it’s important to you then you are free to move somewhere else that has a two week winter break. You all seem to think that’s most places, so you have choices. Doesn’t need to just be Ohio.

No one “read it” as nasty. It simply was. I’m the person you replied to and it’s hilarious bc I don’t even celebrate Christmas-I’m Jewish. I absent mindedly typed that because everyone around here seems to call it Christmas break. You are still rude and I’m glad everyone else called you out for it. No one needs to move just because we aren’t getting what we want. We’re not immature children. If that’s your solution to everything, you have some growing up to do. I’m from NYC, thanks, but to try and use Ohio as an insult is also equally lame. Have you ever stopped to think about the immigrant population in Montgomery County? Maybe people would like more time to visit their family overseas during holidays without having to move. Grow up.

NYC public schools are closed December 25-January 1 for winter recess in 2023-24. Not two weeks. I imagine they also have students with families overseas as we do here. Nearly everywhere in the world is able to be reached with a 10 day break and families also have plenty of opportunity to take extended trips during the summer. Did you ever think about immigrant or non-immigrant families who cannot afford to travel during the most expensive time of the year if at all and who face food insecurity and childcare difficulties with each day school is closed? I can tell you haven’t really thought this through and just want to insult me. You’re entitled to want a two week winter break. I don’t care whether it’s one week or two, I’m not even disagreeing with folks who have that preference. But no, everyone does not have the same preference as you regardless of what they do in other school systems. In other places they celebrate Halloween over the weekend and not on Oct. 31. Here we celebrate on Oct. 31. Every year someone asks or suggests that in their hometown it is different. And everyone explains that here it is on Oct. 31. That is literally all I was saying.

Please. You reference moving to Ohio as a clear pejorative comment. All Maryland schools have to have exactly the same number of school days, so families dealing with food insecurity and childcare difficulties will need support with programs to help, whether in be two full weeks at WINTER BREAK or a longer time during Summer break. Give us a break.

You tell me. Is it easier to figure out childcare when there are camps and everything is open all summer or is it easier to cobble it together for a few days in the middle of winter when many folks are traveling, after care centers are closed a number of days, parents may not have two full weeks off, and people nationwide generally report being financially stretched thin due to holiday and year end expenditures.

When I lived in NYC, it was two full weeks. Sorry I didn't bother to check another school district's calendar this year. Everyone else I know around the country currently has two full weeks. What makes you think people who are food insecure can afford camp or summer daycare? You're the one who hasn't really thought this through and seriously, you're so hostile for no apparent reason. Seems like a definite you problem. Also, it's actually easier to find winter childcare because families are in town. People are off work. No one else is off in summer to help.

DP. I'm from a different part of NY and it was really rare to have a full 2 weeks off at the holidays- presumably because we also had a week off in February.

That's nice that you can take 2 weeks off from work yourself or have family in town to help but that's awful presumptuous that it is common for most families. If the 2 week break is as common as you say then you'll have plenty of options to choose from.

Yeah IME the full 2-week break is much more common in areas that do not have a President’s week (e.g., south, Midwest). Otherwise the school year goes too long!

The NYS school schedules get the President's Week, start after Labor Day, and run until June 27. Do we aspire to be NYS?

Uh loved in the south, and there was 5-6 wks of breaks built into the school calendar AND we got out the end of May AND the calendar was out 1-2 years in advance. Guess who liked the schedule most…teachers even if it was frustrating sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apparently there are mistakes in the proposed calendars and revisions are coming soon.

Good!

[Anonymous]

Good that they are releasing an updated calendar, but how is it that DCUM is catching their mistakes before central office is? Did they not look at the Jewish holidays or consider that many teachers can’t do PD that day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good that they are releasing an updated calendar, but how is it that DCUM is catching their mistakes before central office is? Did they not look at the Jewish holidays or consider that many teachers can’t do PD that day?

Seems that way. It wasn't a typo type of mistake so I hope the correction comes with an apology and more consideration of the dates when they do it again every single year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good that they are releasing an updated calendar, but how is it that DCUM is catching their mistakes before central office is? Did they not look at the Jewish holidays or consider that many teachers can’t do PD that day?

They had to have looked at the Jewish holidays; that's why there's no school on that Thursday, Oct. 3rd. Their error was in coding it as PD rather than NI. There is a different staff member working on the calendars this year, so I assume this was an honest mistake and will be cleared up by next week's meeting.

[Anonymous]

December 23 and January 2 should be off annually to allow travel out of town before Christmas and return home after New Year's respectively. For 3 years including this year December 23/January 2 have been off but only needed 7 weekdays to cover that. With Christmas and New Year's Day on Wednesdays in 24-25 so the break should be two weeks to avoid a 1 day week on Friday, January 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we PLEASE go to a secular schedule. Can we stop basing Spring Break on Easter week and put it where it truly belongs. Between Q3 and Q4.

If we follow that formula, then shouldn't winter break be between Q2 and Q3 in late January, rather than late December to include the days between Christmas Eve and New Year's? I don't think many people would be happy with that idea.

Christmas/New Year is at the same time every year while Easter has a 5 week stretch where it can occur. This is a public school system so spring break should fall around the same time every year. I think they put it near Easter to eat one of the days they need to close before/after Easter to end school one day sooner. Now that Juneteenth is a holiday they should end right before that holiday weekend.