Yay! Another religious holiday!

[Anonymous]

Pull the plug on stupid religious holidays, end sooner in June, start after Labor Day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've had 3 (4?) religious holidays so far this year... and endless more to come.

Liberals fought hard to remove any entanglement between public school and Christian religion, now these hypocrites can't add enough religious holidays to the schedule.

Wish my kids were in school and learning. Wish the School Board even cared about that.

Maybe you should send your kid to private. Homeschooling is also an option.

Maybe Public Schools should have a sensible schedule. I don't think that we have a month left this year were the kids have a full week of school every week. We have a few were there is only one short week but most have 2-3 weeks that are off or shortened. Say what you will about diversity but many kids need a more stable schedule.

Between Teacher Workdays and Religious holidays and Federal Holidays the kids are out of school in a way that is disruptive. Something needs to change. And yes, I filled out the survey. And I have looked at the survey results and it sure as hell looks to me like most parents are not happy with the schedule.

Actually, the first 3 weeks in December are full weeks.

And then time off so not a full month of school. The Winter Holiday is normal but the disruptions in September and October are new. January and February are traditionally a mess because it is near impossible to get back into a routine due to the various Federal Holidays and then snow days. Now we are extending that with extra days off in April.

The fall used to be reasonably stable but no more.

A complete mess.

My kid is fine but he doesn't have any issues and is chill and goes with the flow well. My friends kid with anxiety and ADHD is having issues with refusal this year because of all the disruptions. I can only imagine the trouble that kids with executive functioning issues are having because there are consistent changes to schedules.

It is unnecessary. Make these days O days where there are no tests or homework or assignments due. Let people who want to miss, miss without punishment, but stop disrupting the routines that are needed for lots of kids.

And if your high school kid needs the extra time to do the work and is stressed about the work load, revisit your kids workload.

Of course you assume that the 2 week "Winter Holiday is normal" because it is the one that works for you. O days were a mess last year, which is why they aren't doing them again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like the breaks, it helps my HS stay on top of their studies and be able to have enough down time.

+1

I think it’s fine for high school, but for working parents with younger kids the inconsistent schedule is really hard.

So this is about what’s best for working parents?

I have an elementary student and a middle school student. I’m a SAHM. I love the random days off as it give my kids a break and time to keep up on their studies and for us to relax.

[Anonymous]

Your kids can learn plenty today.

-- Have them research Diwali.

-- Have them research empathy.

-- Have them research kindness.

-- Have them research equality.

-- Have them research the difference between a religious observance and a cultural observance.

-- Have them bake you a humble pie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pull the plug on stupid religious holidays, end sooner in June, start after Labor Day.

No thanks. I love starting before Labor Day. Summer is too long as it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kids can learn plenty today.

-- Have them research Diwali.

-- Have them research empathy.

-- Have them research kindness.

-- Have them research equality.

-- Have them research the difference between a religious observance and a cultural observance.

-- Have them bake you a humble pie.

The working parents just want the free childcare. That’s all this is about.

[Anonymous]

Reminds me: Merrrrrry Christmas!!!! The most wonderful time of the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kids can learn plenty today.

-- Have them research Diwali.

-- Have them research empathy.

-- Have them research kindness.

-- Have them research equality.

-- Have them research the difference between a religious observance and a cultural observance.

-- Have them bake you a humble pie.

Ah, no, but it is a good day to do some enrichment in the academics they are missing out on in FCPS due to all the extra holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've had 3 (4?) religious holidays so far this year... and endless more to come.

Liberals fought hard to remove any entanglement between public school and Christian religion, now these hypocrites can't add enough religious holidays to the schedule.

Wish my kids were in school and learning. Wish the School Board even cared about that.

Maybe you should send your kid to private. Homeschooling is also an option.

Maybe Public Schools should have a sensible schedule. I don't think that we have a month left this year were the kids have a full week of school every week. We have a few were there is only one short week but most have 2-3 weeks that are off or shortened. Say what you will about diversity but many kids need a more stable schedule.

Between Teacher Workdays and Religious holidays and Federal Holidays the kids are out of school in a way that is disruptive. Something needs to change. And yes, I filled out the survey. And I have looked at the survey results and it sure as hell looks to me like most parents are not happy with the schedule.

Actually, the first 3 weeks in December are full weeks.

And then time off so not a full month of school. The Winter Holiday is normal but the disruptions in September and October are new. January and February are traditionally a mess because it is near impossible to get back into a routine due to the various Federal Holidays and then snow days. Now we are extending that with extra days off in April.

The fall used to be reasonably stable but no more.

A complete mess.

My kid is fine but he doesn't have any issues and is chill and goes with the flow well. My friends kid with anxiety and ADHD is having issues with refusal this year because of all the disruptions. I can only imagine the trouble that kids with executive functioning issues are having because there are consistent changes to schedules.

It is unnecessary. Make these days O days where there are no tests or homework or assignments due. Let people who want to miss, miss without punishment, but stop disrupting the routines that are needed for lots of kids.

And if your high school kid needs the extra time to do the work and is stressed about the work load, revisit your kids workload.

Of course you assume that the 2 week "Winter Holiday is normal" because it is the one that works for you. O days were a mess last year, which is why they aren't doing them again.

We are not religious so I could care less when the Winter Break happens. We don't travel and will happily Celebrate Christmas in our secular fashion with low stress. We like the time as a family and enjoy giving and receiving presents but that is about it. I would be fine with a one week Winter Break, that is what I grew up with. I suspect that the 2 week Winter Break is due to the number of families who travel to foreign countries over the Winter Break and little to nothing to do with Christmas travel. I know that my son has several classmates who miss a third week of class because their family is visiting relatives abroad and the parents want the extra time for the visit.

That said, the number of student and Teacher absences that would occur if Winter Break was not during that Christmas week would be stupid high. I would guess that is the reason why Christmas is the only religious holiday that is a Federal Holiday.

You don't have the same issue with Easter or any of the holidays that are being given off this year. Feel free to complain about it as much as you want but there are not that many kids who miss school for the Jewish holidays or Dawali or Eid or Orthodox Greek Easter. Christmas is another story. I am glad that Spring Break was set to a specific week and is supposed to stay in that week regardless of when Easter falls. I understand that is at risk because the surrounding counties have not done the same thing so it makes Spring Break hard for Teachers who are parents in near by counties. That would suck because I think Spring Break should be decoupled from Easter.

But call me crazy, I want my kid to have a regular routine at school. I happen to know as an Adult that I don't get nearly as many 3 and 4 day weekends as my kid is. And I know that there has been a significant uptick in the number, and duration, of these long weekends and I have a fifth grader. This is new and it is disruptive. If I wanted my kid missing school for a religious holiday, I would have enrolled him in a religious school that gives those days off not public school and then expect to have those days off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pull the plug on stupid religious holidays, end sooner in June, start after Labor Day.

This includes Christian holidays right? School on Christmas, hooray!

[Anonymous]

We do not need a new thread every time some poorly informed parent realizes it’s a school day. Post your insightful comments on one of the other FCPS calendar threads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kids can learn plenty today.

-- Have them research Diwali.

-- Have them research empathy.

-- Have them research kindness.

-- Have them research equality.

-- Have them research the difference between a religious observance and a cultural observance.

-- Have them bake you a humble pie.

You forgot the big one - schedule orthodontist appointments where they don’t need to miss school.

[Anonymous]

Great day for this story to drop: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/24/us/math-reading-scores-pandemic.html

Gee willickers if only there was some way to help kids catch up. But how? HOW? I'm going to spend Diwali home with my kids reflecting upon this seemingly unsolvable problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kids can learn plenty today.

-- Have them research Diwali.

-- Have them research empathy.

-- Have them research kindness.

-- Have them research equality.

-- Have them research the difference between a religious observance and a cultural observance.

-- Have them bake you a humble pie.

The working parents just want the free childcare. That’s all this is about.

The working parents have to find child care coverage today or during the summer. I would prefer another week of summer vacation and summer camp to one day camps for random religious holidays and the disruption to my kids school routine.

My kid already knows about Diwali, he has friends who celebrate and celebrated without it being a day off school. He is already kind and has plenty of empathy. And we have a different definition of equality then you, I am worried about the kids who losing out n school because their school week is disrupted for religious holidays, Teacher Workdays, Professional Development days, and Federal holidays. And he bakes, but not pie. He prefers cookies. But that has nothing to do with a series of new religious holidays requiring him being home from school again.

I guess the pro is that he has far fewer eye doctor and dentist visits on the weekends because he can go on the extra days off of school. I mean, his Dentist celebrates Diwali but he is still holding appointments today because it is a work day.

[Anonymous]

Here's what I don't get... why are some of the religious holidays teacher workdays, and others are just holidays with everyone off? It almost seems like FCPS is using these religious holidays as an excuse to have teacher workdays, if the holidays come at the right time in the calendar.