DCPS 8th Grade End of Year Attendance

[Anonymous]

There seems to be an 8th grade culture of students skipping school at the end of the year.

I know that when all the testing is wrapped up the teachers really get laid back — but at previous grades the kids were still expected to be IN the school.

Our 8th grade graduation is tomorrow night and the students “may take the day to get ready.” They have been told they do not have to attend school Thursday as they are getting ready for their graduation dance.

The teachers are NOT accepting any late work after Friday - yet kids like mine could really use the three days next week to get work in to help improve their grades/review things they missed/get ready for Freshman algebra.

I mean what gives? I am guessing that this is a system wide problem as DCPS is offering a Kendrick Lamar ticket raffle to those with perfect attendance as an incentive . . .

[Anonymous]

I mean, what’s the big deal? Schools over - it’s not like they are starting anything new at this late date. I think you need to find something else to get riled up about. Perhaps try some Xanax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be an 8th grade culture of students skipping school at the end of the year.

I know that when all the testing is wrapped up the teachers really get laid back — but at previous grades the kids were still expected to be IN the school.

Our 8th grade graduation is tomorrow night and the students “may take the day to get ready.” They have been told they do not have to attend school Thursday as they are getting ready for their graduation dance.

The teachers are NOT accepting any late work after Friday - yet kids like mine could really use the three days next week to get work in to help improve their grades/review things they missed/get ready for Freshman algebra.

I mean what gives? I am guessing that this is a system wide problem as DCPS is offering a Kendrick Lamar ticket raffle to those with perfect attendance as an incentive . . .

What is the point to return after you have been promoted? In order to KNOW you are promoted, your grades have to be done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be an 8th grade culture of students skipping school at the end of the year.

I know that when all the testing is wrapped up the teachers really get laid back — but at previous grades the kids were still expected to be IN the school.

Our 8th grade graduation is tomorrow night and the students “may take the day to get ready.” They have been told they do not have to attend school Thursday as they are getting ready for their graduation dance.

The teachers are NOT accepting any late work after Friday - yet kids like mine could really use the three days next week to get work in to help improve their grades/review things they missed/get ready for Freshman algebra.

I mean what gives? I am guessing that this is a system wide problem as DCPS is offering a Kendrick Lamar ticket raffle to those with perfect attendance as an incentive . . .

Why should your kid be able to improve their grade now? Seems like a kid problem not a school problem. They had all year to get their grades up. They can review things they missed and get ready for Freshman algebra all summer.

[Anonymous]

Your kid can go to school through the 18th if they/you want; there are always some who do.

[Anonymous]

They definitely won't turn your child away, but don't expect them to have class with learning objectives and work. Not happening for 8th graders who have already been promoted.

[Anonymous]

My Deal eighth-grader has two projects due this week and was up late last night working on them. Both require in-person class presentations over the final three days of school this week (and Friday is a half-day with the eighth-graders allowed to leave school early to get ready for the dance).

[Anonymous]

My kid didn't want to go because they knew they would be watching TV in class, mostly. It's basically babysitting at this point, no one is actually teaching anything. (This was DCI, but I assume DCPS middle schools are similar.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be an 8th grade culture of students skipping school at the end of the year.

I know that when all the testing is wrapped up the teachers really get laid back — but at previous grades the kids were still expected to be IN the school.

Our 8th grade graduation is tomorrow night and the students “may take the day to get ready.” They have been told they do not have to attend school Thursday as they are getting ready for their graduation dance.

The teachers are NOT accepting any late work after Friday - yet kids like mine could really use the three days next week to get work in to help improve their grades/review things they missed/get ready for Freshman algebra.

I mean what gives? I am guessing that this is a system wide problem as DCPS is offering a Kendrick Lamar ticket raffle to those with perfect attendance as an incentive . . .

Do you really think three days the week school ends — and after promotion — are going to help them prepare for freshman year in high school? For an analogy: I don't feel like I was less prepared to start college my freshman year even though I didn't attend any 12th grade classes after I graduated (there was another week or so of school on the books, but seniors didn't have to go).

[Anonymous]

I think school exists to help students prepare for life - not to mention the next year in school. You snotty responders have fallen for the idea that school is there to teach to the test, not engage a child into a love of lifelong learning.

It takes little effort for the teachers to ask parents to come in and present “What I do for a living” series of presentations. We have a pastor who is very involved with our school, I’m an attorney. I would’ve loved to show the scene from “My cousin Vinny” and compare it to real litigation! One parent is a published poet and teaches university English. There’s no end to parents who want to help at our school.

How about an opportunity for the area technical and community colleges to present what they offer kids so that students at Tuttle and schools like mine can think beyond “university is not for me or my family.”

What about educational games? Why does school only exist for testing reporting instead of knowing the material, especially in a class like math that is cumulative, and is utterly dependent on confidence in the subject!?

We have been told for years and years and years that every hour of educational time matters and now suddenly a whole week doesn’t. What about the families who kids need supervision and can’t take a week off work to keep their kids off screens/help supervise them?

I feel confident that the smart alecks in this thread don’t have school-age children.

And I pulled this out of my sleeve as a final rejoinder. Truancy is against the law, whether the school is encouraging it or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think school exists to help students prepare for life - not to mention the next year in school. You snotty responders have fallen for the idea that school is there to teach to the test, not engage a child into a love of lifelong learning.

It takes little effort for the teachers to ask parents to come in and present “What I do for a living” series of presentations. We have a pastor who is very involved with our school, I’m an attorney. I would’ve loved to show the scene from “My cousin Vinny” and compare it to real litigation! One parent is a published poet and teaches university English. There’s no end to parents who want to help at our school.

How about an opportunity for the area technical and community colleges to present what they offer kids so that students at Tuttle and schools like mine can think beyond “university is not for me or my family.”

What about educational games? Why does school only exist for testing reporting instead of knowing the material, especially in a class like math that is cumulative, and is utterly dependent on confidence in the subject!?

We have been told for years and years and years that every hour of educational time matters and now suddenly a whole week doesn’t. What about the families who kids need supervision and can’t take a week off work to keep their kids off screens/help supervise them?

I feel confident that the smart alecks in this thread don’t have school-age children.

And I pulled this out of my sleeve as a final rejoinder. Truancy is against the law, whether the school is encouraging it or not.

So yes, I do have an 8th grader. We’re talking two days after promotion that they won’t be there. And, they can go if they want. I’ll reiterate - Xanax is helpful and you clearly need it.

[Anonymous]

And - do you really think they’ll remember anything from that time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think school exists to help students prepare for life - not to mention the next year in school. You snotty responders have fallen for the idea that school is there to teach to the test, not engage a child into a love of lifelong learning.

It takes little effort for the teachers to ask parents to come in and present “What I do for a living” series of presentations. We have a pastor who is very involved with our school, I’m an attorney. I would’ve loved to show the scene from “My cousin Vinny” and compare it to real litigation! One parent is a published poet and teaches university English. There’s no end to parents who want to help at our school.

How about an opportunity for the area technical and community colleges to present what they offer kids so that students at Tuttle and schools like mine can think beyond “university is not for me or my family.”

What about educational games? Why does school only exist for testing reporting instead of knowing the material, especially in a class like math that is cumulative, and is utterly dependent on confidence in the subject!?

We have been told for years and years and years that every hour of educational time matters and now suddenly a whole week doesn’t. What about the families who kids need supervision and can’t take a week off work to keep their kids off screens/help supervise them?

I feel confident that the smart alecks in this thread don’t have school-age children.

And I pulled this out of my sleeve as a final rejoinder. Truancy is against the law, whether the school is encouraging it or not.

So yes, I do have an 8th grader. We’re talking two days after promotion that they won’t be there. And, they can go if they want. I’ll reiterate - Xanax is helpful and you clearly need it.

I feel for your child to have such a judgmental and rude wanna-be adult as a role model.

[Anonymous]

My kids' ES had 5th grade promotion yesterday. Do they keep going to class through the 18th? This all seems weird.

(I don't even have a 5th grader this year, but one of my kid's classes apparently has been watching Disney+ this week ...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think school exists to help students prepare for life - not to mention the next year in school. You snotty responders have fallen for the idea that school is there to teach to the test, not engage a child into a love of lifelong learning.

It takes little effort for the teachers to ask parents to come in and present “What I do for a living” series of presentations. We have a pastor who is very involved with our school, I’m an attorney. I would’ve loved to show the scene from “My cousin Vinny” and compare it to real litigation! One parent is a published poet and teaches university English. There’s no end to parents who want to help at our school.

How about an opportunity for the area technical and community colleges to present what they offer kids so that students at Tuttle and schools like mine can think beyond “university is not for me or my family.”

What about educational games? Why does school only exist for testing reporting instead of knowing the material, especially in a class like math that is cumulative, and is utterly dependent on confidence in the subject!?

We have been told for years and years and years that every hour of educational time matters and now suddenly a whole week doesn’t. What about the families who kids need supervision and can’t take a week off work to keep their kids off screens/help supervise them?

I feel confident that the smart alecks in this thread don’t have school-age children.

And I pulled this out of my sleeve as a final rejoinder. Truancy is against the law, whether the school is encouraging it or not.

So yes, I do have an 8th grader. We’re talking two days after promotion that they won’t be there. And, they can go if they want. I’ll reiterate - Xanax is helpful and you clearly need it.

I feel for your child to have such a judgmental and rude wanna-be adult as a role model.

I feel for your child to have such a controlling and intense adult as a role model. You’ll be the subject of a lot of therapy in a few years.