Here is what bothers me about preschools following FCPS closings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the many reasons we picked our preschool was that it didn't follow Fairfax Cty. The year we were at a school that did, my kid was out of school almost as much as he was in, between holidays, teacher workdays, vacation days, and snow days or delays. It was nonsense. Now we're at a school that follows the federal government for snow stuff and has federal holidays off, reasonable vacation breaks (our old school had 3.5 weeks at Christmas and 2 for spring break!). I felt so cheated at the old school--why does a preschool teacher need the same teacher workdays off as Fairfax?! They weren't at school doing anything --it was just a day off.

Former preschool teacher here, who would write mid year assessments at home on teacher workdays or they would schedule in-service training sessions. Just because it is preschool doesn't mean we don't have work to do outside of school or during teacher workdays...

The reason pre-schools and other small private schools like to follow the county is so they don't have to hear about it when they make the wrong call. YOU parents will complain no matter what happens so they might as well pass the buck and save themselves the heartache.

My preschool doesn't have Spring student assessments. So what's the day for?

My school did... You don't have a fall and spring conferences? No reports to write at the end, only at the beginning when you barely know the child?! If you really are a teacher you know that the end of year is typically busier...

[Anonymous]

We had our preschool change it's policy to follow the DC Schools. It was in Bethesda and the weather conditions there were much more like DC than the rest of Montgomery County. They may have changed it back to going by the Montgomery County public schools for all I know. We've been out of preschool for a few years now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just get pissed that they "follow FCPS" with regard to closures -- I doubt they will make up the days as FCPS plans to. We shall see.

Our preschool follows FCPS and no, they do not make up the missed days. That said, I have no issue with it. If the weather is bad enough out there I dont plan on compromising my safety or that of my child
just to go to preschool. Seriously, for 3 hours a day/5 mornings a week? Not like they are in Harvard. And I wouldnt want to see the teachers taking a risk either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the many reasons we picked our preschool was that it didn't follow Fairfax Cty. The year we were at a school that did, my kid was out of school almost as much as he was in, between holidays, teacher workdays, vacation days, and snow days or delays. It was nonsense. Now we're at a school that follows the federal government for snow stuff and has federal holidays off, reasonable vacation breaks (our old school had 3.5 weeks at Christmas and 2 for spring break!). I felt so cheated at the old school--why does a preschool teacher need the same teacher workdays off as Fairfax?! They weren't at school doing anything --it was just a day off.

Former preschool teacher here, who would write mid year assessments at home on teacher workdays or they would schedule in-service training sessions. Just because it is preschool doesn't mean we don't have work to do outside of school or during teacher workdays...

The reason pre-schools and other small private schools like to follow the county is so they don't have to hear about it when they make the wrong call. YOU parents will complain no matter what happens so they might as well pass the buck and save themselves the heartache.

It sounds like you were at a more rigorous school. Ours didn't do evaluations or trainings. I was friends with one of the teachers and she admitted that they just had lots of days off with no obligations. Maybe not the best example for this thread!

[Anonymous]

All I can say is thank God our daycare follows the Federal government for closures and not the school system. We considered several providers who followed FCPS and I really feel like we dodged a bullet.

[Anonymous]

And when FCPS is on a two hour delay, morning preschool is canceled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the many reasons we picked our preschool was that it didn't follow Fairfax Cty. The year we were at a school that did, my kid was out of school almost as much as he was in, between holidays, teacher workdays, vacation days, and snow days or delays. It was nonsense. Now we're at a school that follows the federal government for snow stuff and has federal holidays off, reasonable vacation breaks (our old school had 3.5 weeks at Christmas and 2 for spring break!). I felt so cheated at the old school--why does a preschool teacher need the same teacher workdays off as Fairfax?! They weren't at school doing anything --it was just a day off.

Former preschool teacher here, who would write mid year assessments at home on teacher workdays or they would schedule in-service training sessions. Just because it is preschool doesn't mean we don't have work to do outside of school or during teacher workdays...

The reason pre-schools and other small private schools like to follow the county is so they don't have to hear about it when they make the wrong call. YOU parents will complain no matter what happens so they might as well pass the buck and save themselves the heartache.

It sounds like you were at a more rigorous school. Ours didn't do evaluations or trainings. I was friends with one of the teachers and she admitted that they just had lots of days off with no obligations. Maybe not the best example for this thread!

If they are accredited every teacher is required a certain amount of training hours per year- so for example one year we went to NAEYC conference when it was tin DC for those two fall teacher workdays and got our training hours for the year.