School Calendar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does this come up every single year? How do people still not understand that we have to have 180 days of schools and districts choose the days they have off within those 180 days. It's still 180 days (more for MCPS bc of built in snow days) of school. Every. Single. Year. Yet every year we have a stupid thread like this.

DCUM gonna DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just counted, it's almost an even number of weeks with no days off/early release vs weeks with one. Complain about something else.

So you are saying that only half of the weeks in the calendar disrupt learning and inconvenience parents...?? Yeah, that's not convincing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teachers union.

Absolutely not. The board decided to take off every single religious holiday that could possibly celebrated by someone residing in MoCo

That’s not why there are so many half days. Who do you think pushed for those?

Absolutely noone. "Half days" are inane. No recess, specials schedule is wonky, and school only dismisses 2 hours early.

Full days (fewer) would be much less stressful for all involved and less disruptive but the state won't allow it because #180days

Or they could just do more full days and provide more education. 180 days is hardly onerous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just counted, it's almost an even number of weeks with no days off/early release vs weeks with one. Complain about something else.

Lol, I agree with the other PP. Not a great argument.

Would probably make more sense to simply go to a 4 day week to allow parents more consistency in planning. Versus all the random half days that we currently have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish we could have a weeklong February break.

Like ski week in upstate NY?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does this come up every single year? How do people still not understand that we have to have 180 days of schools and districts choose the days they have off within those 180 days. It's still 180 days (more for MCPS bc of built in snow days) of school. Every. Single. Year. Yet every year we have a stupid thread like this.

So you'd be cool if MCPS decides to open for just 3 days a week during the winter and send kids to school for 2 days per week through the summer because it all adds up to 180 days of instruction at the end of the day? Why can't people complain about how MCPS decides to allocate those 180 days? For example, I think it's perfectly reasonable for folks to complain about the number of half days or random closed days during the first few months of school. I'm sure many (most?) would prefer that this off time be rolled into a string of days off for a fall break or to have the entire Thanksgiving week off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish we could have a weeklong February break.

Like ski week in upstate NY?

I grew up in Massachusetts and we always had a week off in February. Never heard of it being called ski week, but it was still nice.

[Anonymous]

I work at MCPS and I hate half days as well. I work in HS but don’t get dismissed until 3:30 and my kid gets off at 1:15pm. I have a kid in PEP and whenever there is an early dismissal, there is no PEP. Half days are very disruptive imo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just counted, it's almost an even number of weeks with no days off/early release vs weeks with one. Complain about something else.

So you are saying that only half of the weeks in the calendar disrupt learning and inconvenience parents...?? Yeah, that's not convincing.

Exactly. And the fact that it comes up every year should be evidence that it’s time to move to a year round or some modified version m(read innovative school calendar). At the very least ditch most of the half days for longer or more breaks throughout the year. And yes I know the half days and days off are for Religous and other diversity which I completely support. Which is why anyone wanting or needing to take those days should be allowed an excused absence. I’d even be for making those days that we focus on things like Geography, culture, tolerance, diversity. Kids could still go to school and learn something or at the very least be engaged.

[Anonymous]

I think the problem is they try and give all the religious holidays off from various faiths even when they don't officially say they are doing so (schedule a PD day on that day).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does this come up every single year? How do people still not understand that we have to have 180 days of schools and districts choose the days they have off within those 180 days. It's still 180 days (more for MCPS bc of built in snow days) of school. Every. Single. Year. Yet every year we have a stupid thread like this.

So you'd be cool if MCPS decides to open for just 3 days a week during the winter and send kids to school for 2 days per week through the summer because it all adds up to 180 days of instruction at the end of the day? Why can't people complain about how MCPS decides to allocate those 180 days? For example, I think it's perfectly reasonable for folks to complain about the number of half days or random closed days during the first few months of school. I'm sure many (most?) would prefer that this off time be rolled into a string of days off for a fall break or to have the entire Thanksgiving week off.

That’s not even close to what’s happening, but sure… make asinine theoretical scenarios just to argue for the sake of arguing. You sound like a treat

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does this come up every single year? How do people still not understand that we have to have 180 days of schools and districts choose the days they have off within those 180 days. It's still 180 days (more for MCPS bc of built in snow days) of school. Every. Single. Year. Yet every year we have a stupid thread like this.

So you'd be cool if MCPS decides to open for just 3 days a week during the winter and send kids to school for 2 days per week through the summer because it all adds up to 180 days of instruction at the end of the day? Why can't people complain about how MCPS decides to allocate those 180 days? For example, I think it's perfectly reasonable for folks to complain about the number of half days or random closed days during the first few months of school. I'm sure many (most?) would prefer that this off time be rolled into a string of days off for a fall break or to have the entire Thanksgiving week off.

Anonymous wrote:That’s not even close to what’s happening, but sure… make asinine theoretical scenarios just to argue for the sake of arguing. You sound like a treat

It's just the reductio ad absurdum endpoint, and well recognized rhetorical device.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work at MCPS and I hate half days as well. I work in HS but don’t get dismissed until 3:30 and my kid gets off at 1:15pm. I have a kid in PEP and whenever there is an early dismissal, there is no PEP. Half days are very disruptive imo.

Obligatory DCUM response: MCPS is not child care!

[Anonymous]

How many families actually stick around the week of thanksgiving? Looking at the Monday & Tuesday half days and thinking it’s absurd to stay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work at MCPS and I hate half days as well. I work in HS but don’t get dismissed until 3:30 and my kid gets off at 1:15pm. I have a kid in PEP and whenever there is an early dismissal, there is no PEP. Half days are very disruptive imo.

+1 - also an MCPS employee and parent of MCPS students. Full days off are so much less disruptive - easier to find/plan childcare, more actual time for teachers/staff to work, etc.