Winter Break Starting on Thursday — We May Be Those People

[Anonymous]

When did they do away with our two week Winter Break? I must have missed that. Damn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of kids are going to be “getting wisdom teeth out” or have a “minor medical procedure” that week.

Back in my day the school would have required a note from the doctor/dentist. On official practice letterhead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of kids are going to be “getting wisdom teeth out” or have a “minor medical procedure” that week.

Back in my day the school would have required a note from the doctor/dentist. On official practice letterhead.

How old are you? I’m in my late 40s and we didn’t do this. I remember my parents calling us in for appointments to go to a family wedding because they were worried it wouldn’t be excused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of kids are going to be “getting wisdom teeth out” or have a “minor medical procedure” that week.

Back in my day the school would have required a note from the doctor/dentist. On official practice letterhead.

How old are you? I’m in my late 40s and we didn’t do this. I remember my parents calling us in for appointments to go to a family wedding because they were worried it wouldn’t be excused.

I'm also in my late 40s (graduated high school in '93.) But I didn't go to school in NoVA.

[Anonymous]

Well, the issue is that OPs kid is an eighth grader and would potentially be taking classes that count for high school credit which ends up on their college transcript.

Missing two days before winter break in 8th grade is not going to affect their college admission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When did they do away with our two week Winter Break? I must have missed that. Damn.

12/16 Update: At the December 15 School Board meeting, the School Board approved the Revised Option Two 2023-24 School Year Calendar. The approved 2023-24 School Year Calendar includes 180 student instructional days, a start date of Aug. 28, and a shorter Winter Break (8 days).
https://www.apsva.us/engage/engage-past-initiatives/development-of-the-2023-24-school-year-calendar/

[Anonymous]

Go right ahead. As a teacher, I’m looking forward to that last half-week being blissfully low-attendance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Well, the issue is that OPs kid is an eighth grader and would potentially be taking classes that count for high school credit which ends up on their college transcript.

Missing two days before winter break in 8th grade is not going to affect their college admission.

Newsflash. This 100% does not end up on your college transcript.

OP. Go and have fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Well, the issue is that OPs kid is an eighth grader and would potentially be taking classes that count for high school credit which ends up on their college transcript.

Missing two days before winter break in 8th grade is not going to affect their college admission.

I guess you’re not following. If there is a test on one of those two days, the teacher is not required to have them make it up since it’s an unexcused absence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Well, the issue is that OPs kid is an eighth grader and would potentially be taking classes that count for high school credit which ends up on their college transcript.

Missing two days before winter break in 8th grade is not going to affect their college admission.

Newsflash. This 100% does not end up on your college transcript.

OP. Go and have fun.

Your final grade does, what on earth do you think we mean? If your eighth grader is taking a language, algebra or higher, or world GEO, those are high school level classes, and will be on the transcript. Hope he was asking if there are test right before break that are children can mess. If there’s a test and it’s an unexcused absence, it will bring down their grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When did they do away with our two week Winter Break? I must have missed that. Damn.

It’s only for the 23-24 school year. They plan to bring it back forever if you saw their draft calendar policy a few months ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Well, the issue is that OPs kid is an eighth grader and would potentially be taking classes that count for high school credit which ends up on their college transcript.

Missing two days before winter break in 8th grade is not going to affect their college admission.

Newsflash. This 100% does not end up on your college transcript.

OP. Go and have fun.

Your final grade does, what on earth do you think we mean? If your eighth grader is taking a language, algebra or higher, or world GEO, those are high school level classes, and will be on the transcript. Hope he was asking if there are test right before break that are children can mess. If there’s a test and it’s an unexcused absence, it will bring down their grade.

I do not know a single teacher who would not accommodate this in one way or another. We know kids will miss before breaks when they fall at odd times. We know that when a family travels is outside of a child’s control.

[Anonymous]

I would do it in 8th grade, maybe not high school.

[Anonymous]

You do you

[Anonymous]

I’m a teacher. I usually do have activities that “count” toward their grades, but I also make them fairly low stakes and easy to make up. It also helps when the kids are proactive and communicate their planned absences, because I can send them them things. Life is short. Be those people!