May/June attendance now optional?

[Anonymous]

I get it that the end of the school year is pretty much a joke, but it’s been WEEKS of this now at the high school level. Why all the emphasis on attendance and the proper number of instructional days then? This certainly isn’t “instruction”.

My kid’s classes have such low attendance that those who show up are helping teachers pack up or watching movies. School truly feels optional now.

Are all FCPS high schools like this? What a waste of tax dollars running the buses back and forth with gas prices so high. And a waste for the student drivers.

I’m out of excuses to keep my DC home, but they are so bored. Admin/teachers: tell me why they should keep showing up?!

Parents: what are you even writing on the attendance page at this point? (Or do you just keep ignoring the phone calls and emails…)

As a newer family to the county, I am shocked and disgusted by this lack of stewardship and accountability. And I believe our kids/taxpayers deserve better than this.

Thanks to those teachers who are still finding interesting things to do and share.

[Anonymous]

My husband and I were laughing about this especially the last day of school schedule where they visit every class for 9 minutes and then have 7 minutes to get to the next one (or something like that). Although our kid has projects due still and a few finals left, it isn’t in every class.
Think of it as working the week between Christmas and New Years. Most people don’t, but if you show up it is calmer and quieter and there is a chance you network a bit (kids do need those recommendation letters).

[Anonymous]

Parent of an 8th grader here. He came home yesterday and reported that things are pretty much done. He has one final left, in his language, and kids are finishing their presentations in one class. Other then that they are watching a movie in LA, playing board games in Science, and he doesn’t know what they are going to do in math. I did get a sigh when I suggested Geometry Dash…

I have no problem with these days being light. He talks with his friends, hangs out a bit and gets to relax. All is well. And it is no different then how I remember the end of MS/HS when I was a kid.

[Anonymous]

DD has still been going but has a couple of tests and a project to finish up. She uses the other classes to work on them and study. She doesn’t care if she arrives late and just said it again this morning with the rain, that it doesn’t matter if she gets there late since her first class isn’t doing anything anymore. She missed two days last week but plans to go the rest now. She’s mostly using the time to be social.

[Anonymous]

^ you can always write “appointment” on the attendance form if you really care. Or just let it be. It doesn’t matter. I won’t write anything if she is late today.

[Anonymous]

I am sure Karnes will be mad if we air soccer games next week.

[Anonymous]

This is a direct result of the ridiculous school calendar.

School should have been over last week. Continuing to stagger into June is idiotic. The people have spoken, will the School Board listen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a direct result of the ridiculous school calendar.

School should have been over last week. Continuing to stagger into June is idiotic. The people have spoken, will the School Board listen?

THIS! If you care about the quality of education, you need to be pushing for a school calendar that gets out earlier. MUCH earlier. First week of June at the very latest. They are literally just killing time at school to fill up the required hours now and that goes for all grades, even elementary. My 4th grader is turning in their laptops at the end of the day Thursday but they still have 3.5 days after that. What’s the point?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a direct result of the ridiculous school calendar.

School should have been over last week. Continuing to stagger into June is idiotic. The people have spoken, will the School Board listen?

THIS! If you care about the quality of education, you need to be pushing for a school calendar that gets out earlier. MUCH earlier. First week of June at the very latest. They are literally just killing time at school to fill up the required hours now and that goes for all grades, even elementary. My 4th grader is turning in their laptops at the end of the day Thursday but they still have 3.5 days after that. What’s the point?!

This is going to be the case regardless of when we end.
The only good argument for ending earlier is the high school schedule regarding national dates for AP testing. Regardless of when we end, the last 5-8 days will be turning things in, fun days, etc. for elementary and middle school students. That will not change with an earlier end date.

My high school student still has finals coming up in his two classes that are mainly filled with sophomores - English 10 Honors and Honors Chem. But, the AP and electives are done and have been done because seniors have already graduated and were in those classes. But, again, no matter when the end date is, the two previous weeks will be seniors graduating and no class work for mixed grade classes. It doesn't matter if we end even on Memorial Day - that will still be the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a direct result of the ridiculous school calendar.

School should have been over last week. Continuing to stagger into June is idiotic. The people have spoken, will the School Board listen?

THIS! If you care about the quality of education, you need to be pushing for a school calendar that gets out earlier. MUCH earlier. First week of June at the very latest. They are literally just killing time at school to fill up the required hours now and that goes for all grades, even elementary. My 4th grader is turning in their laptops at the end of the day Thursday but they still have 3.5 days after that. What’s the point?!

This is going to be the case regardless of when we end.
The only good argument for ending earlier is the high school schedule regarding national dates for AP testing. Regardless of when we end, the last 5-8 days will be turning things in, fun days, etc. for elementary and middle school students. That will not change with an earlier end date.

My high school student still has finals coming up in his two classes that are mainly filled with sophomores - English 10 Honors and Honors Chem. But, the AP and electives are done and have been done because seniors have already graduated and were in those classes. But, again, no matter when the end date is, the two previous weeks will be seniors graduating and no class work for mixed grade classes. It doesn't matter if we end even on Memorial Day - that will still be the case.

It doesn't take 5-8 days to turn things in. Finals could have been last week. Everyone is just marking time at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a direct result of the ridiculous school calendar.

School should have been over last week. Continuing to stagger into June is idiotic. The people have spoken, will the School Board listen?

THIS! If you care about the quality of education, you need to be pushing for a school calendar that gets out earlier. MUCH earlier. First week of June at the very latest. They are literally just killing time at school to fill up the required hours now and that goes for all grades, even elementary. My 4th grader is turning in their laptops at the end of the day Thursday but they still have 3.5 days after that. What’s the point?!

This is going to be the case regardless of when we end.
The only good argument for ending earlier is the high school schedule regarding national dates for AP testing. Regardless of when we end, the last 5-8 days will be turning things in, fun days, etc. for elementary and middle school students. That will not change with an earlier end date.

My high school student still has finals coming up in his two classes that are mainly filled with sophomores - English 10 Honors and Honors Chem. But, the AP and electives are done and have been done because seniors have already graduated and were in those classes. But, again, no matter when the end date is, the two previous weeks will be seniors graduating and no class work for mixed grade classes. It doesn't matter if we end even on Memorial Day - that will still be the case.

This!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a direct result of the ridiculous school calendar.

School should have been over last week. Continuing to stagger into June is idiotic. The people have spoken, will the School Board listen?

THIS! If you care about the quality of education, you need to be pushing for a school calendar that gets out earlier. MUCH earlier. First week of June at the very latest. They are literally just killing time at school to fill up the required hours now and that goes for all grades, even elementary. My 4th grader is turning in their laptops at the end of the day Thursday but they still have 3.5 days after that. What’s the point?!

The last week of school has always been about filling time. It was like that in the 80's and 90's. We had half days during finals and then the last week back in the 80's. Kids take their finals, study for other finals, and then wait for Teachers to grade. The last bunch of days are more there so that kids who missed finals can retake them and for adminstrative tasks. You could change the calendar so we get out the week after Memorial day and the last week will be dead space. This has nothign to do with the screwed up claender and the timing of school ending and everything to do with finals and then down time because grades need to be completed and entered.

It is worse at HS because you hav more mixed classes and seniors have to be done before graduation which impacts the kids who are not seniors in the class.

My kid likes hanging out with friends before summer. They have some class parties. They socialize a bit. Kids who need to make up stuff make up their work. Teachers grade. It has always been this way.

[Anonymous]

My tenth grader has had assignments, projects, tests, and labs up until today. Finals start tomorrow and I am thankful her finals schedule is more project based than test based this year.

[Anonymous]

My 9th grader has finals this week and next week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a direct result of the ridiculous school calendar.

School should have been over last week. Continuing to stagger into June is idiotic. The people have spoken, will the School Board listen?

THIS! If you care about the quality of education, you need to be pushing for a school calendar that gets out earlier. MUCH earlier. First week of June at the very latest. They are literally just killing time at school to fill up the required hours now and that goes for all grades, even elementary. My 4th grader is turning in their laptops at the end of the day Thursday but they still have 3.5 days after that. What’s the point?!

Its sad that turning in a laptop for a FOURTH GRADER marks the end of learning.