FCPS is considering extending the school day to make up for snow days

[Anonymous]

This is Arlington's plan for make-up days as of today. They have other plans if more days are missed. To me it looks like 2 full days and lots of early release Wednesday's are now full days.


Phase I (This phase provides the make-up time needed as of 2/16/10.)

· Elementary School Conference Days: Thu, March 4 and Fri, March 5 will become make-up student attendance days for all elementary school students. (Note: For Campbell Elementary, the Parent/Teacher Conference Days on March 11 and 12 and the Work Sample Preparation/Early Release Day on June 4 will become make-up student attendance days.)

· Middle School Conference Day: Fri, March 5 will become a make-up student attendance day for all middle school students.

· Teacher Grade Preparation Day: Mon, April 5 will become a make-up student attendance day for all students (elementary, middle and high).

· Early Release Wednesdays:

- Elementary Schools with Early Release: Early Release Wednesdays will become full student attendance days from March 3 through June 9. These schools include Arlington Science Focus, Arlington Traditional, Barrett, Campbell, Carlin Springs, Drew, Hoffman-Boston, Long Branch, Nottingham, Oakridge, Taylor and Tuckahoe.

- Limited Early Release Elementary Schools: Students will attend school for full days on March 10 and April 28 which were originally designated as Early Release Days. These schools include Abingdon, Ashlawn, Barcroft, Claremont, Glebe, Henry, Jamestown, Key, McKinley and Randolph.

- NOTE: June 16 and 23 will remain Early Release Days for all elementary schools to allow time for teacher record/close out activities.

[Anonymous]

OK, so it sounds like Arlington IS making up the time.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I guess I was looking at it from a high school standpoint. Arlington HS students are only making up one day - a previous grade prep. day on April 5. I am sure it all works out in the end - it just seems so much less cumbersome than what FCPS is proposing.

[Anonymous]

I think they should hold school on four Saturdays to make up the time. (It's what they do in New England.)

[Anonymous]

Loudoun also has longer school days than Fairfax, and it's the hours in school that count.

[Anonymous]

Is cancelling Spring Break an option? There's a week right there, before the May exams.

[Anonymous]

Can't FCPS just make Mondays a full day from here on out? Then maybe we can make that a permanent change....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't FCPS just make Mondays a full day from here on out? Then maybe we can make that a permanent change....

That would only help the elementary school children. But I agree with you about the permanent change.

[Anonymous]

Is cancelling Spring Break an option? There's a week right there, before the May exams.

I don't see how they could do that. SO many families travel that week and have already made plans. We have non-refundable airline tickets for that week (purchased before the blizzard) and I know we are not the only ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Is cancelling Spring Break an option? There's a week right there, before the May exams.

I don't see how they could do that. SO many families travel that week and have already made plans. We have non-refundable airline tickets for that week (purchased before the blizzard) and I know we are not the only ones.

Teachers also have plans, too, and it might cause problems for teachers who live in other counties where their children would still be off.

[Anonymous]

They should extend the school year by three days in June.

Kids can't really concentrate for that long. The extra minutes each day would go to an extra recess or non academic activities anyway.

Plus it would solve the childcare problem for that first "stub" week of summer.