Longer days in FCPS?

[Anonymous]

The "bus departure" times are confusing in our e-mail, too - they should really clarify that the actual start times aren't changing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went to elementary school from 9-3 with an hour long lunch-recess combo. I think that is a normal school day. These days seem sooo long! 9-4 every day is too long.

We? I went to elementary school from 7:30 to 3:50. It was in Miami, not FCPS, a long time ago. 9-4:00 185 days a year is not much.

[Anonymous]

It is an administrative finagle, just the the way they skirt the Commonwealth rules on class sizes. Who cares about the the intent as long as you can manipulate with technicalities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is an administrative finagle, just the the way they skirt the Commonwealth rules on class sizes. Who cares about the the intent as long as you can manipulate with technicalities.

this

Just another attempt to appear like they're trying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Instructional times have not changed at all. The only difference is that the school's official "start time" will be when the buses arrive, which is when the doors are officially opened for all kids to come in.

At our school, kids could sit in the cafeteria for up to 15 minutes, but no earlier, before school started. Once the doors officially opened, say at 8:50, they could make their way to their classrooms. At 9:00, announcements would start. Last year, 9:00 was our school's official "start time". This year it will be 8:50. But nothing has changed - the time by which a kid has to be in his/her seat is still 9:00.

That actually is a few more minutes of instructional time, since the children will be in their seats at 9 but will not need to listen through the announcements, they can start their day immediately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Instructional times have not changed at all. The only difference is that the school's official "start time" will be when the buses arrive, which is when the doors are officially opened for all kids to come in.

At our school, kids could sit in the cafeteria for up to 15 minutes, but no earlier, before school started. Once the doors officially opened, say at 8:50, they could make their way to their classrooms. At 9:00, announcements would start. Last year, 9:00 was our school's official "start time". This year it will be 8:50. But nothing has changed - the time by which a kid has to be in his/her seat is still 9:00.

That actually is a few more minutes of instructional time, since the children will be in their seats at 9 but will not need to listen through the announcements, they can start their day immediately.

Actually no, you are not correct PP. Announcements will begin at 9:00am, just like they always did. Instruction begins when they end. Nothing changes.

[Anonymous]

Why does VA DoE allow this farce to count as more more instructional time? Just like looking the other way when FCPS added three days to the end of the school year to meet requirements but still handed out report cards and did 6th grade graduations and encouraged 6th grade students not to come in for the last days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:which school is this?

Wanting to know this too.

Nothing sent (snail mail or email) from our school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually it's not really going to be 20 minutes longer. The starting bell and ending bell will be the same. What's changed is that the "technical" start time will be when buses arrive and when they leave. Those 10 minutes on either end will now "count" towards the minutes that kids are in school. It helps with making the snow day situation work.

So if your official school day last year was 8:45 to 3:25, the bell will still ring at those times. Instruction will start at 8:45 and dismissal will be at 3:25.

This year, the "official" start time on paper will be 8:35 which is when buses arrive. And the "official" end time will be 3:35 which is when buses have left. Again, the actual instruction time will still be exactly the same: 8:45-3:25.

I prefer fcps to be more honest. There isn't a lot of quality instruction while kids are packing up and leaving or arriving fir the day.

[Anonymous]

I prefer fcps to be more honest. There isn't a lot of quality instruction while kids are packing up and leaving or arriving fir the day.

Curious: Do you go to work early so you can be ready to start on the dot? Do you pack up to leave after the workday is over?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I prefer fcps to be more honest. There isn't a lot of quality instruction while kids are packing up and leaving or arriving fir the day.

Curious: Do you go to work early so you can be ready to start on the dot? Do you pack up to leave after the workday is over?

Yes, I have always done that.

[Anonymous]

This type of tracking of time is really nothing new. Think about it. Social Studies ends at 11:50, recess begins at 11:50. Recess ends at 12:10, lunch starts at 12:10. Lunch ends at 12:40, math starts at 12:40. Time is always lost to transitions, but it is counted as part of the entire block.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually it's not really going to be 20 minutes longer. The starting bell and ending bell will be the same. What's changed is that the "technical" start time will be when buses arrive and when they leave. Those 10 minutes on either end will now "count" towards the minutes that kids are in school. It helps with making the snow day situation work.

So if your official school day last year was 8:45 to 3:25, the bell will still ring at those times. Instruction will start at 8:45 and dismissal will be at 3:25.

This year, the "official" start time on paper will be 8:35 which is when buses arrive. And the "official" end time will be 3:35 which is when buses have left. Again, the actual instruction time will still be exactly the same: 8:45-3:25.

I prefer fcps to be more honest. There isn't a lot of quality instruction while kids are packing up and leaving or arriving fir the day.

Meh. Students are getting full-day Monday. Snow days are built in. Parents can now have a more consistent schedule both weekly and across the year. I guess someone will always find something to complain about.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- I don't have a problem with FCPS paying teachers for the time the kids are getting packed up or coming into the classroom in the morning. I just wish it was clear what time the kids (1) need to be in their seats and (2) are being dismissed from the room.

Do they need to be in the classroom and in their seats at 8:00 or 8:10? Are they getting dismissed at 2:50 (with the busses pulling away at 3:00) or are they being dismissed from the classroom at 3:00? Confusing.

If they are paying the teachers for supervising arrival and dismissal -- I'm all for that. But, it is a little hinky to count it as "instructional time" for purposes of the state standards. It's not instructional time. They don't count lunch and recess as instructional time. They shouldn't be counting arrival (i.e. hang up your coat) and dismissal (walk to the bus or walk out the school door) as "instructional time." That's the kind of stuff that makes you wonder if they are legitimately interested in being a great school district or one that does the bare minimum (and treads on the fact that the parents are highly educated and therefore produce higher achieving kids regardless of the public school system.)

I do believe the School Board generally makes decisions based on what they believe to be in the best interests of the student body... but fudging the numbers just to meet the "minimum standards" does not invite confidence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- I don't have a problem with FCPS paying teachers for the time the kids are getting packed up or coming into the classroom in the morning. I just wish it was clear what time the kids (1) need to be in their seats and (2) are being dismissed from the room.

Do they need to be in the classroom and in their seats at 8:00 or 8:10? Are they getting dismissed at 2:50 (with the busses pulling away at 3:00) or are they being dismissed from the classroom at 3:00? Confusing.

If they are paying the teachers for supervising arrival and dismissal -- I'm all for that. But, it is a little hinky to count it as "instructional time" for purposes of the state standards. It's not instructional time. They don't count lunch and recess as instructional time. They shouldn't be counting arrival (i.e. hang up your coat) and dismissal (walk to the bus or walk out the school door) as "instructional time." That's the kind of stuff that makes you wonder if they are legitimately interested in being a great school district or one that does the bare minimum (and treads on the fact that the parents are highly educated and therefore produce higher achieving kids regardless of the public school system.)

I do believe the School Board generally makes decisions based on what they believe to be in the best interests of the student body... but fudging the numbers just to meet the "minimum standards" does not invite confidence.

Teachersdo not nor have they ever been paid for only "instructional time." The work day hours for an FCPS teachers is 7.5 hours. Students are in the school building for about 7 hours. And to be clear, teachers are not "on contract" or "off contract." They are NOT hourly employees. Teachers can be directed to stay beyond the 7.5 hours as needed (a staff or parent meeting, a field trip returning late, etc) Teachers do not qualify for overtime.

OP, ask your principal for the time "announcements start." This is the exact time that your child needs to be in his/her seat. For every FCPS school except Bailey's, this time that the child needed to be in his/her seat is EXACTLY THE SAME as the 2013-14 school year.