New school start times survey

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope they settle this before the transfer window so teachers can move schools or counties.

Nope they're going to announce it over the summer and make us all scramble for after care. They're not doing the 9:50 ES time, it's just in there to make people think they have a choice. They're going with the early ES start times and late MS start times. I guarantee it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a new 7th grader here (my first). I know a lot of parents and literally NONE of them want middle school start times to change to the 9:30 - 4:00 option. Most of them don't want to change to the 8:00pm option at the expense of elementary schoolers. I want them to keep everything as is.

See, and I'm a middle school parent (7th grader) AND MS teacher and I do want the start times changed later. 7:30 start time is ridiculous. Would rather the county could figure it out without making unpopular ES schedules, but the fact is no school should start before 8AM.

Would you prefer 9:35 - 4:20? Because that is 100% what they are going with, as a way to eliminate county funding for the middle school after school program. We know that's what they want to do because they tried to do it this year.

I'm a different MS teacher and I think you're right. I also think there will be a huge exodus if they do it. I can try to dig up the survey from last year where well over half the middle school teachers were very opposed to the plan.

[Anonymous]

FYI I’ve been able to submit the survey multiple times on the same device. Either they already have a plan and the data is for giggles, or they don’t even know how to limit responses.

Sigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FYI I’ve been able to submit the survey multiple times on the same device. Either they already have a plan and the data is for giggles, or they don’t even know how to limit responses.

Sigh.

What is last day to take survey?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a new 7th grader here (my first). I know a lot of parents and literally NONE of them want middle school start times to change to the 9:30 - 4:00 option. Most of them don't want to change to the 8:00pm option at the expense of elementary schoolers. I want them to keep everything as is.

See, and I'm a middle school parent (7th grader) AND MS teacher and I do want the start times changed later. 7:30 start time is ridiculous. Would rather the county could figure it out without making unpopular ES schedules, but the fact is no school should start before 8AM.

Would you prefer 9:35 - 4:20? Because that is 100% what they are going with, as a way to eliminate county funding for the middle school after school program. We know that's what they want to do because they tried to do it this year.

PP here. It's not a choice between these 2 options (7:30 or 9:35) unless we let it be. I can and will stay firm that 7:30 start time for middle school is ridiculous (we can't do "story time because the kids can't focus" like ES teachers claim to do in the afternoon). That doesn't mean I think 9:35-4:20 is great...though I do actually think it's better than the current schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option 2 is the obvious choice. Survey results have to be tilted like 90-10.

no freaking way do elementary parents want their kids starting at almost 10am. that is so late. little kids learn better early. they will be in school until almost 5

This has been pointed out multiple times to Gatehouse. And yet they keep coming back to ask about this option. They clearly are leaning towards this option. I guess they don’t care about families or teachers at those schools.

Well they should care. I currently teach at a late ES and by 3:45, all I can do is a read aloud cause my kids are done. No kid will be effectively learning till 4:35. When kids are not making adequate progress because they aren’t available for learning, maybe they will care.

So now you’ll just do your read aloud and maybe a snack at 4:00 pm. Chill.

Based off my kids schedule this year, this would be his schedule with a 30 minute pushback.

10:00-11:00 -Specials
11:00-11:20-Morning Meeting
11:20-12:40- Math
12:40-1:10- Intervention
1:10-1:40- Content
1:40-2:10- Recess
2:10-2:40-Lunch
2:40-4:35- Lang Arts

I don’t think any parent would want this schedule for their kids.

Lunch would never be at 2:10 you idiot.

I'm not the "idiot" but you likely do not understand how lunch works. But, believe me, the "idiot" is likely more correct than you.

First, with the very late elementary school starts (and I imagine it is likely this way with the late start schools now) some kids will be dropped off very early and others will likely sleep in and have brunch. The ones who arrive at 10 will not want lunch right away.

I taught first grade. Some years, our lunch was at 10:50-when school began at 8. I taught first. Sixth grade could be at 1.

So, it will be interesting to see how this works out.

Again, I cannot imagine teaching first graders after 3 p.m. They start shutting down in the afternoon.

This is a terrible, terrible idea.

OR - just imagine for a minute - they'll go to bed a bit later and get up a bit later. And be OK at 3PM. It honestly could happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI I’ve been able to submit the survey multiple times on the same device. Either they already have a plan and the data is for giggles, or they don’t even know how to limit responses.

Sigh.

What is last day to take survey?

Who knows, just take it now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a new 7th grader here (my first). I know a lot of parents and literally NONE of them want middle school start times to change to the 9:30 - 4:00 option. Most of them don't want to change to the 8:00pm option at the expense of elementary schoolers. I want them to keep everything as is.

See, and I'm a middle school parent (7th grader) AND MS teacher and I do want the start times changed later. 7:30 start time is ridiculous. Would rather the county could figure it out without making unpopular ES schedules, but the fact is no school should start before 8AM.

Would you prefer 9:35 - 4:20? Because that is 100% what they are going with, as a way to eliminate county funding for the middle school after school program. We know that's what they want to do because they tried to do it this year.

I'm a different MS teacher and I think you're right. I also think there will be a huge exodus if they do it. I can try to dig up the survey from last year where well over half the middle school teachers were very opposed to the plan.

They're opposed but are likely not independently wealthy, so let's be real about the exodus. I wish the Superintendent and SB would propose better options too but when it comes down to it don't have the ability to walk away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a new 7th grader here (my first). I know a lot of parents and literally NONE of them want middle school start times to change to the 9:30 - 4:00 option. Most of them don't want to change to the 8:00pm option at the expense of elementary schoolers. I want them to keep everything as is.

See, and I'm a middle school parent (7th grader) AND MS teacher and I do want the start times changed later. 7:30 start time is ridiculous. Would rather the county could figure it out without making unpopular ES schedules, but the fact is no school should start before 8AM.

Would you prefer 9:35 - 4:20? Because that is 100% what they are going with, as a way to eliminate county funding for the middle school after school program. We know that's what they want to do because they tried to do it this year.

I'm a different MS teacher and I think you're right. I also think there will be a huge exodus if they do it. I can try to dig up the survey from last year where well over half the middle school teachers were very opposed to the plan.

They're opposed but are likely not independently wealthy, so let's be real about the exodus. I wish the Superintendent and SB would propose better options too but when it comes down to it don't have the ability to walk away.

Yes. But they can switch counties. Fairfax is already competing with Arlington, Loudoun, and PWC for teachers. The hardest to staff schools tend to be the late ES. We have lost many candidates cause they preferred ES that ended earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a new 7th grader here (my first). I know a lot of parents and literally NONE of them want middle school start times to change to the 9:30 - 4:00 option. Most of them don't want to change to the 8:00pm option at the expense of elementary schoolers. I want them to keep everything as is.

See, and I'm a middle school parent (7th grader) AND MS teacher and I do want the start times changed later. 7:30 start time is ridiculous. Would rather the county could figure it out without making unpopular ES schedules, but the fact is no school should start before 8AM.

Would you prefer 9:35 - 4:20? Because that is 100% what they are going with, as a way to eliminate county funding for the middle school after school program. We know that's what they want to do because they tried to do it this year.

I'm a different MS teacher and I think you're right. I also think there will be a huge exodus if they do it. I can try to dig up the survey from last year where well over half the middle school teachers were very opposed to the plan.

They're opposed but are likely not independently wealthy, so let's be real about the exodus. I wish the Superintendent and SB would propose better options too but when it comes down to it don't have the ability to walk away.

Yes. But they can switch counties. Fairfax is already competing with Arlington, Loudoun, and PWC for teachers. The hardest to staff schools tend to be the late ES. We have lost many candidates cause they preferred ES that ended earlier.

+1, and many have endorsements that will let them teach at the HS level. I’m licensed K-12 in special ed and would never go back to elementary but high school wouldn’t be a hard sell.

[Anonymous]

The market will adjust .
Teachers will find jobs acceptable to them. With luck, FCPC will do the smart thing and keep raising teacher pay. And childcare and activities will adjust. Just bc we now have ungodly early start times for some students doesn't mean we have to live with that.
Change happens, we adjust, it's ok

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option 2 is the obvious choice. Survey results have to be tilted like 90-10.

no freaking way do elementary parents want their kids starting at almost 10am. that is so late. little kids learn better early. they will be in school until almost 5

This has been pointed out multiple times to Gatehouse. And yet they keep coming back to ask about this option. They clearly are leaning towards this option. I guess they don’t care about families or teachers at those schools.

Well they should care. I currently teach at a late ES and by 3:45, all I can do is a read aloud cause my kids are done. No kid will be effectively learning till 4:35. When kids are not making adequate progress because they aren’t available for learning, maybe they will care.

So now you’ll just do your read aloud and maybe a snack at 4:00 pm. Chill.

Based off my kids schedule this year, this would be his schedule with a 30 minute pushback.

10:00-11:00 -Specials
11:00-11:20-Morning Meeting
11:20-12:40- Math
12:40-1:10- Intervention
1:10-1:40- Content
1:40-2:10- Recess
2:10-2:40-Lunch
2:40-4:35- Lang Arts

I don’t think any parent would want this schedule for their kids.

Lunch would never be at 2:10 you idiot.

I'm not the "idiot" but you likely do not understand how lunch works. But, believe me, the "idiot" is likely more correct than you.

First, with the very late elementary school starts (and I imagine it is likely this way with the late start schools now) some kids will be dropped off very early and others will likely sleep in and have brunch. The ones who arrive at 10 will not want lunch right away.

I taught first grade. Some years, our lunch was at 10:50-when school began at 8. I taught first. Sixth grade could be at 1.

So, it will be interesting to see how this works out.

Again, I cannot imagine teaching first graders after 3 p.m. They start shutting down in the afternoon.

This is a terrible, terrible idea.

OR - just imagine for a minute - they'll go to bed a bit later and get up a bit later. And be OK at 3PM. It honestly could happen.

Just imagine someone needs to be home when they wake up. It’s not like they will go to bed at midnight and wake up at 9

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The market will adjust .
Teachers will find jobs acceptable to them. With luck, FCPC will do the smart thing and keep raising teacher pay. And childcare and activities will adjust. Just bc we now have ungodly early start times for some students doesn't mean we have to live with that.
Change happens, we adjust, it's ok

Just bc we have ungodly early start times (fully agree with this statement btw) doesn’t mean that we now need to accept ungodly late start times, weird logic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The market will adjust .
Teachers will find jobs acceptable to them. With luck, FCPC will do the smart thing and keep raising teacher pay. And childcare and activities will adjust. Just bc we now have ungodly early start times for some students doesn't mean we have to live with that.
Change happens, we adjust, it's ok

Just bc we have ungodly early start times (fully agree with this statement btw) doesn’t mean that we now need to accept ungodly late start times, weird logic

Well, while they claim the "research" shows teens do better with later starts, are we ignoring the fact that younger kids do better with earlier starts?

Most primary teachers try to do their reading and math instruction in the morning and do the science and social studies later. Now, why is that? Because the kids are far more alert then.

[Anonymous]

I think if they made middle school hours 9:20-4:05 (the same as late ES currently are), it wouldn’t be as problematic. 1/2 of the 7th graders would be used to that time already. Plus, they would not be leaving a campus any later than what late ES teachers do now.