Presenting a mock 23-24 calendar based on DCUM's preference for 5-day weeks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have the perfect calendar...

Q1 - 45 days (start on 21 Aug and end on 26 Oct)
-- 4 day Labor Day weekend
-- Yom Kippur as holiday
-- Indigenous Day as Teacher Work Day
-- 5 day weekend at the end of the quarter (27, 30, 31 Oct as Teacher Work Days)

Q2 - 45 days (start on 1 Nov and end on 24 Jan)
-- Election Day as holiday
-- 3 day Thanksgiving break
-- Winter Break from 18 Dec to 1 Jan
-- MLK Day as holiday
-- Quarter ends with 2 Teacher Work Days on 25-26 Jan

Q3 - 44 days (start on 29 Jan and end on 29 Mar)
-- President's Day as holiday
-- Quarter ends with a Teacher Work Day on 1 Apr

Q4 - 46 days (start on 2 Apr and end on 12 Jun)
-- Spring Break from 8-12 April
-- Memorial Day as holiday
-- School year ends with 2 Teacher Work Days on 13-14 Jun

At first glance, I like this.
—FCPS administrator

We need a TWD towards the end of the fourth quarter, (a week or so before the end), when grades are due. If not, then grades shouldn’t be due until the actual end of the quarter. In the case above that would be June 13 or 14. With final grades in addition to quarter grades, there are twice as many to complete and no TWD in which to do so.

ES Teacher

[Anonymous]

Why Yom Kippur but not the other religious holidays?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why Yom Kippur but not the other religious holidays?

The other religious holidays are on the weekend during the 2023/2024 school year. I believe the school board wants to keep these 5 days off:
Rosh Hashanah
Yom Kippur
Diwali
Christmas
Eid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why Yom Kippur but not the other religious holidays?

The other religious holidays are on the weekend during the 2023/2024 school year. I believe the school board wants to keep these 5 days off:
Rosh Hashanah
Yom Kippur
Diwali
Christmas
Eid

Hopefully there is less drama with making the calendar.

Except spring break/Good Friday/Easter issues.

[Anonymous]

I say we keep the current calendar AND take every Monday off for a teacher work day. Working parents will just have to figure something out. The teachers really need more time for in-service meetings and to grade papers. Everyone else is moving to a 4-day work week, why not FCPS?

[Anonymous]

Start me the day after Labor Day and end me the week after Memorial Day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS should choose either to honor the Federal Holidays or Religious/Cultural/Equity days but not both. We didn’t need Columbus Day or Veterans Day off. We don’t need MLK or President’s Day off. Choose one or the other and the calendar would be far better but we should not do both.

It is really fall where the issue is - well and I guess Jan too if Chinese New Year ends up falling on a weekend. Pick the cultural holiday OR the federal one.

February would be better without the Fed Holidays because that is the time period you end up with cold/snow/bad weather days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I say we keep the current calendar AND take every Monday off for a teacher work day. Working parents will just have to figure something out. The teachers really need more time for in-service meetings and to grade papers. Everyone else is moving to a 4-day work week, why not FCPS?

Troll post

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I say we keep the current calendar AND take every Monday off for a teacher work day. Working parents will just have to figure something out. The teachers really need more time for in-service meetings and to grade papers. Everyone else is moving to a 4-day work week, why not FCPS?

I am a teacher and do not want a 4 day work week. I wouldn’t be able to get through the curriculum. What I do want is unencumbered planning time daily that actually meets the regulation. I would like all Teacher Work Days to be unencumbered and the ability to work from home. I would like administrative tasks that have nothing to do with teaching taken off my plate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like the random days off!

I think it's mainly parents of young ones who have to find childcare that don't like them.

I have older kids and hate the random days. My kids need to hit a stride and it’s been impossible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I say we keep the current calendar AND take every Monday off for a teacher work day. Working parents will just have to figure something out. The teachers really need more time for in-service meetings and to grade papers. Everyone else is moving to a 4-day work week, why not FCPS?

I am a teacher and do not want a 4 day work week. I wouldn’t be able to get through the curriculum. What I do want is unencumbered planning time daily that actually meets the regulation. I would like all Teacher Work Days to be unencumbered and the ability to work from home. I would like administrative tasks that have nothing to do with teaching taken off my plate.

You would like these things. You need a collective bargaining agreement so that these things become contractual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Start me the day after Labor Day and end me the week after Memorial Day

I think there are private schools that do this now. Anyone know what their calendars look like?

I found this online for Trinity Christian but it starts way before Labor Day.
Interesting Fall/Winter/Spring Breaks

Important Student Dates Holidays Important Staff Dates

Orientation events - TBD
First day of school – August 8
Remote Learning – September 6
Remote Learning – October 7
End of 1st Quarter – October 7
Last Day of 1st Semester – December 15
First day of 2nd Semester – January 3
Remote Learning – January 17
End of 3rd Quarter – March 10
Remote Learning – March 17
Last Day – May 25

179 student school days

Labor Day – September 5
Fall Break – October 10
Thanksgiving Break – November 21-25
Christmas Break – December 17-January 2
MLK Holiday – January 16
Winter Break – February 13-17
Spring Break – April 3-7
Good Friday – April 7
Memorial Day – May 29

Pre-planning:
August 1-5
All-School Professional Development:
October 7, March 17
School or Discipline-Specific Professional
Development:
September 6, January 17
The Gathering (all staff):
October 7, December 16, March 17, May 26
Work Days:
December 16, May 26

Post-planning:
May 26-June 2
New Staff/Teacher Induction – TBD

190 staff days (not including New Staff Induction)

[Anonymous]

I haven’t counted, so let me know if you have, but isn’t first quarter usually a little longer than the other quarters to give some “get to know you” time?

[Anonymous]

I would like to see a calendar that has 1-2 weeks between quarters and a shorter summer (6-8 weeks).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would like to see a calendar that has 1-2 weeks between quarters and a shorter summer (6-8 weeks).

16:49 "perfect calendar" PP here. I would LOVE that as well. But too many other people seem to be against it, unfortunately.