Thoughts on skipping a half-day this time of year?

[Anonymous]

We’d love to leave early for our weekend trip on Thursday evening as opposed to Friday afternoon, but DD7th has a half-day. She only has her first three hours that day, so I’m not even sure how that works for the other three classes, and assume, perhaps wrongly, that because of this nothing major will be happening on Friday.

FWIW, after Friday she has five full days of school and two half-days for their version of finals. I’m undecided because while she’s doing great in two of the classes, she’s carrying a C- in one of the classes for this marking period (social studies) because she bombed some tests. I checked and there are no tests on Friday, though. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Go!! Enjoy the extra time

(—teacher)

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't give it a second thought. Although the C- I would but there's probably not much you can do about that now anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't give it a second thought. Although the C- I would but there's probably not much you can do about that now anyway.

Thanks. Definitely not, and though she’s been really putting in a lot of effort on assignments to keep up her grade (tests account for 75% of her grade, so she’s learning from this!) I don’t want it to get worse because WE wanted to leave town early, kwim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go!! Enjoy the extra time

(—teacher)

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’d love to leave early for our weekend trip on Thursday evening as opposed to Friday afternoon, but DD7th has a half-day. She only has her first three hours that day, so I’m not even sure how that works for the other three classes, and assume, perhaps wrongly, that because of this nothing major will be happening on Friday.

FWIW, after Friday she has five full days of school and two half-days for their version of finals. I’m undecided because while she’s doing great in two of the classes, she’s carrying a C- in one of the classes for this marking period (social studies) because she bombed some tests. I checked and there are no tests on Friday, though. Thoughts?

Go. My kid goes all year. Lots of fluff in class this time of year (as well as all the testing). We do lots of early release/late arrivals etc. between now and end of year. Not sorry.

[Anonymous]

Nothing of importance ever happens on half days.

Since tests make up a huge part of the grade and finals are coming up, have her use the travel time (driving, I assume, since it sounds like you have some flexibility?) to study the social sciences material. That will be far more impactful than sitting in a classroom doing nothing. Consider that a beneficial trade-off for the missed half-day.

[Anonymous]

Definitely blow off Friday and enjoy the weekend.

[Anonymous]

7th grade is a joke and doesn’t even count on the transcript - go!!!

[Anonymous]

Early dismissal? Skip it and get a jump on your travel! I'd say this even if your kid was a HS junior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7th grade is a joke and doesn’t even count on the transcript - go!!!

Not always true. My DD is in 7th and taking 2 classes that will count on her transcript.

[Anonymous]

We skip lots of days a year - my current 10th grader has probably missed 8 or so for personal/family reasons (and similar in previous years). The C-would concern me, but you aren’t going to solve it this Friday anyway.

[Anonymous]

Teachers are hoping kids don't come on half days ...... enjoy your weekend!

Retired Teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing of importance ever happens on half days.

Since tests make up a huge part of the grade and finals are coming up, have her use the travel time (driving, I assume, since it sounds like you have some flexibility?) to study the social sciences material. That will be far more impactful than sitting in a classroom doing nothing. Consider that a beneficial trade-off for the missed half-day.

Good idea for studying during travel time. Maybe a parent who isn’t driving could even help her study.

[Anonymous]

Skip, most kids will skip.