FCPS School Calendar Survey

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree and said so in my survey. I like the after Labor Day start and one week later in June end.

It may depend on what age your kids are.

I have little kids and teens.

Starting in August and getting out in early June is the best option for both age groups.

Little kids are bored by the end of August and eager to get back to school and their friends.

They shut down soon after the SOLs and by June all they want is to get out of school. There is very little productive learning happening in elementary schools in June. It essentially becomes babysitting time for 3 weeks.

The SOLs are a red herring. When they moved the school start date a week earlier this year, they moved the SOL dates up a week too. SOL timing is not linked to start date timing. I believe this is a serious misconception that should be corrected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the idea of a set spring break, say the last week in March every year. Would be great some years to not pay peak travel prices!

I actually voted for that option, too. I hadn’t considered it before the survey, but when I saw it, I thought “that sounds better!”

I live in Loudoun. Our school board discussed this and voted against it because it would be a burden on teachers/staff who live in Loudoun but work in FCPS or vice versa. Maybe we could all agree to a set week!

I voted against it as well as my kids are in APS and I teach in FCPS. Would not mind it if all the surrounding counties could agree on the same week!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree and said so in my survey. I like the after Labor Day start and one week later in June end.

It may depend on what age your kids are.

I have little kids and teens.

Starting in August and getting out in early June is the best option for both age groups.

Little kids are bored by the end of August and eager to get back to school and their friends.

They shut down soon after the SOLs and by June all they want is to get out of school. There is very little productive learning happening in elementary schools in June. It essentially becomes babysitting time for 3 weeks.

The SOLs are a red herring. When they moved the school start date a week earlier this year, they moved the SOL dates up a week too. SOL timing is not linked to start date timing. I believe this is a serious misconception that should be corrected.

True, and if they start earlier don’t they just get bored earlier?

My DS doesn’t seem to get bored. Middle to the end of August is perfect pool weather.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher, I wasn't thrilled with the pre-labor day start idea. But this year went SO smoothly! We got all the "getting to know you", procedural stuff out of the way the first week, and were able to hit intensive learning week 2. The 3 day weekend was actually enjoyable, instead of me being a bag of nerves. I really liked the results. I hope it continues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS does a lot just-for-show

They should just post here to get feedback responses that have less duplicates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree and said so in my survey. I like the after Labor Day start and one week later in June end.

It may depend on what age your kids are.

I have little kids and teens.

Starting in August and getting out in early June is the best option for both age groups.

Little kids are bored by the end of August and eager to get back to school and their friends.

They shut down soon after the SOLs and by June all they want is to get out of school. There is very little productive learning happening in elementary schools in June. It essentially becomes babysitting time for 3 weeks.

This unfortunately is the low-quality education offered by FCPS. All the need to do is shift the SOL schedule.

[Anonymous]

I filled it out and then remembered that my younger kid is graduating next year. Oh well! I like the idea of a set spring break and a shorter winter break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, I wasn't thrilled with the pre-labor day start idea. But this year went SO smoothly! We got all the "getting to know you", procedural stuff out of the way the first week, and were able to hit intensive learning week 2. The 3 day weekend was actually enjoyable, instead of me being a bag of nerves. I really liked the results. I hope it continues.

I tend to agree, but I do not want to move it back yet another week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree and said so in my survey. I like the after Labor Day start and one week later in June end.

It may depend on what age your kids are.

I have little kids and teens.

Starting in August and getting out in early June is the best option for both age groups.

Little kids are bored by the end of August and eager to get back to school and their friends.

They shut down soon after the SOLs and by June all they want is to get out of school. There is very little productive learning happening in elementary schools in June. It essentially becomes babysitting time for 3 weeks.

This unfortunately is the low-quality education offered by FCPS. All the need to do is shift the SOL schedule.

Unfortunately, thanks to the stupid retakes, they can't. We are doing remediation and retakes until June 12th this year, and school is out on the 15th.

[Anonymous]

Please let FCPS change that damn 2-week winter break! I responded for a shorter winter break and, for teacher planning, 3 full days rather than 6 half days. How productive are those half days for teachers and students? Plus, I'd rather adjust my work schedule for three days rather than six to accommodate the planning days. Also responded to make President's Day a full school day- because that's right around the time we get winter weather that closes FCPS, and they seem to be out of school sporadically as a result.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree and said so in my survey. I like the after Labor Day start and one week later in June end.

It may depend on what age your kids are.

I have little kids and teens.

Starting in August and getting out in early June is the best option for both age groups.

Little kids are bored by the end of August and eager to get back to school and their friends.

They shut down soon after the SOLs and by June all they want is to get out of school. There is very little productive learning happening in elementary schools in June. It essentially becomes babysitting time for 3 weeks.

This unfortunately is the low-quality education offered by FCPS. All the need to do is shift the SOL schedule.

Unfortunately, thanks to the stupid retakes, they can't. We are doing remediation and retakes until June 12th this year, and school is out on the 15th.

Right - the SOL schedule was already "back loaded" as much as possible under the old schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please let FCPS change that damn 2-week winter break! I responded for a shorter winter break and, for teacher planning, 3 full days rather than 6 half days. How productive are those half days for teachers and students? Plus, I'd rather adjust my work schedule for three days rather than six to accommodate the planning days. Also responded to make President's Day a full school day- because that's right around the time we get winter weather that closes FCPS, and they seem to be out of school sporadically as a result.

I felt more strongly that we should have Pres Day off, rather than Columbus Day or Veteran's Day - but I guess that's because I always have to work on the latter 2, but I have off on the former.

[Anonymous]

I voted for the half day teacher works days b/c at least the children get half day of school, plus they only have to be in SACC for half the day vs. a full day. Also it doesn't make sense to have two days off in November during same week at Veterans Day. Make Veteran's Day a teacher work day since a lot of parents are off on Veteran's Day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I voted for the half day teacher works days b/c at least the children get half day of school, plus they only have to be in SACC for half the day vs. a full day. Also it doesn't make sense to have two days off in November during same week at Veterans Day. Make Veteran's Day a teacher work day since a lot of parents are off on Veteran's Day.

this assumes your kid goes to SACC in the afternoon. My kid goes to morning SACC only (we have such a late dismissal one of us can be home to meet the bus). MUCH easier to send DS to SACC the whole day than meet the bus 3 hours early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, I wasn't thrilled with the pre-labor day start idea. But this year went SO smoothly! We got all the "getting to know you", procedural stuff out of the way the first week, and were able to hit intensive learning week 2. The 3 day weekend was actually enjoyable, instead of me being a bag of nerves. I really liked the results. I hope it continues.

Are you saying you didn't use time to do the "getting to know you" procedural stuff when the start date was labor day? Weren't you then having an intensive week the 2nd week?