2020-2021 Proposed Calendar Options

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why isn’t Inauguration Day off? Everyone else is planning for that day off. Traffic may very well be a mess.

In DC--yes. In Montgomery County--no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is Dr. Smith's recommendation for the 2020-21 calendar. The board will vote on it on Tuesday:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BJ9NDP5E9AD3/$file/2020-2021%20SY%20Calendars%20191203.pdf

School starts 8/31/20
Schools are open on Inauguration Day
Last day of school 6/16/21

7 early release days when they have all the flexibility in the world for start and end dates? No learning happens then. Irritating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is Dr. Smith's recommendation for the 2020-21 calendar. The board will vote on it on Tuesday:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BJ9NDP5E9AD3/$file/2020-2021%20SY%20Calendars%20191203.pdf

School starts 8/31/20
Schools are open on Inauguration Day
Last day of school 6/16/21

7 early release days when they have all the flexibility in the world for start and end dates? No learning happens then. Irritating.

Most of the early release are to benefit families. 2 early release are before a holiday weekend (Labor day and Thanksgiving), 2 early release for parent conferences, and an early release on the last day of school. The only two that are for teachers are the two half days 5 weeks into each semester for interim reports. Since parents have constant access to grades, as a teacher I'd be fine to not have to produce interim reports (although I do find that half day to be very helpful to catch-up with grading.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is Dr. Smith's recommendation for the 2020-21 calendar. The board will vote on it on Tuesday:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BJ9NDP5E9AD3/$file/2020-2021%20SY%20Calendars%20191203.pdf

School starts 8/31/20
Schools are open on Inauguration Day
Last day of school 6/16/21

7 early release days when they have all the flexibility in the world for start and end dates? No learning happens then. Irritating.

Most of the early release are to benefit families. 2 early release are before a holiday weekend (Labor day and Thanksgiving), 2 early release for parent conferences, and an early release on the last day of school. The only two that are for teachers are the two half days 5 weeks into each semester for interim reports. Since parents have constant access to grades, as a teacher I'd be fine to not have to produce interim reports (although I do find that half day to be very helpful to catch-up with grading.)

These certainly are not beneficial to me as a parent. Either cancel school or put them in the whole day. I don't need a day when my kid is not going to learn. Case in point - this past Wednesday my kid spent the day watching videos at school. I would have been fine with a day off, or with a full day - but a half-day is a joke.

[Anonymous]

So.. they proposed three calendars, sought and received feedback from stakeholders, and then Smith chooses... none of the three options. Nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So.. they proposed three calendars, sought and received feedback from stakeholders, and then Smith chooses... none of the three options. Nice.

The three calendars were examples of how different options could look. I don't believe they were locked in to only those permutations.

[Anonymous]

They should not have school the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. There is no instruction - even in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is Dr. Smith's recommendation for the 2020-21 calendar. The board will vote on it on Tuesday:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BJ9NDP5E9AD3/$file/2020-2021%20SY%20Calendars%20191203.pdf

School starts 8/31/20
Schools are open on Inauguration Day
Last day of school 6/16/21

I hope they add December 23rd as an early release day.

Maybe they have planned for that already but mistakenly left it off Attachment A. In the memo itself it says there are 7 early release days, but there are only 6 marked on the calendar grid.

The 7th early release day is the last day of school. It would be nice if they added Dec. 23, but they haven't had the last day before winter break as a half day in the past few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought about after the PP's comment, and I am not sure how middle school works, but in ES a teacher gets about 1 hour and 10 minutes for lunch/recess combo. They get another 50-60min for a daily special. So the school day is 6 hours and 25min and 2 hours of that is not with the kids. So they work directly with the kids for about 4 to 4.5 hours a day.

High School teachers get the lunch period off, and they have minimum 2 more periods of no time with kids.

So why can't teachers work on things during that time. Why do they need the half days. What do they do? There are no comments on report cards anymore. There is one 10 minute conference in November.

I work about 9 hours a day minimum and still sometimes bring work to home. As do most people I know. I also 100% catch up on days like Labor Day and I definitely don't get Jewish holidays off. I mean who is celebrating these paid holidays anyway. Besides the 7% Jewish community on one day. Who is celebrating Labor Day. LOL

Sometimes it is best, when you have no idea about something, to just keep your comments to yourself or say them aloud, alone.

Since HS moved to 50 minute lunches, in theory, the students are supposed to eat for 30 minutes, then "work" for the other 20. My door is open all lunch with students coming in every minute, so no, high school students do not have a lunch period "off".

Also, HS teachers spend a SIGNIFICANT amount of time grading. I know it looks like fun to those who don't ever do it, but you try reading 135 extended essays, providing edits and feedback, in two 45 minute blocks of "free time". Lol, PP. You are a moron.

Moco has no long essays. Longest essays are only 2 pages.

Goody! I will tell my students that I am not reading pages 3-5 because they don’t actually exist! You just saved my holiday weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So.. they proposed three calendars, sought and received feedback from stakeholders, and then Smith chooses... none of the three options. Nice.

The three calendars were examples of how different options could look. I don't believe they were locked in to only those permutations.

Obviously they weren't locked in, since he didn't choose any of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is Dr. Smith's recommendation for the 2020-21 calendar. The board will vote on it on Tuesday:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BJ9NDP5E9AD3/$file/2020-2021%20SY%20Calendars%20191203.pdf

School starts 8/31/20
Schools are open on Inauguration Day
Last day of school 6/16/21

I hope they add December 23rd as an early release day.

Maybe they have planned for that already but mistakenly left it off Attachment A. In the memo itself it says there are 7 early release days, but there are only 6 marked on the calendar grid.

The 7th early release day is the last day of school. It would be nice if they added Dec. 23, but they haven't had the last day before winter break as a half day in the past few years.

Right. But usually the last day before winter break is earlier than this. Just seems weird to have a full day of school the day before Christmas Eve.

[Anonymous]

It’s been like this is past years with the 24th as the first day of break. I would not like it if I celebrated Christmas.

[Anonymous]

They should have two full weeks off for winter break every year. Nothing happens in those shortened weeks before or after.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should not have school the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. There is no instruction - even in high school.

My High School freshman had an honors Bio exam and a Spanish for exam on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. So your child may have not had instruction, but others did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should not have school the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. There is no instruction - even in high school.

My High School freshman had an honors Bio exam and a Spanish for exam on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. So your child may have not had instruction, but others did.

Mine watched a movie. Then his last period class cancelled it without a substitute and they were told to go home.