snow day makeup for private schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS parent: very upset that there is only going to be one makeup.

Why?

[Anonymous]

NPS is also "probably" doing nothing, and I agree with those of you who object to this. I think it sends a bad message to the kids that their education -- actually being in school -- is not top priority. If those 4 extra days aren't important, why were they scheduled in the school year in the first place? Why not just shorten the year altogether?

[Anonymous]

sheridan did nothing as well. Wow, 2 weeks of spring break at St. pats? Is that usual, I thought most schools just did a week unless they were extended year or something.

[Anonymous]

Privates do have a minimum numbers of days that they have to have school to keep their accreditation. Assuming they have a legitimate accreditation and they are not just a member of some organization they call accreditation.

[Anonymous]

PP is correct. My guess is that like all schools the privates build some snow days into their calendars. For those who only missed four days and weren't closed earlier in the winter for any snow, they may still be meeting their min days.

[Anonymous]

I am a B parent and an extra 30 minutes for 8 weeks seems completely insufficient. B, as with the other privates, could easily add 4 days at the end of the year. Most parents would, in fact, be supportive. The rest of the world, including some US public and charter schools, are moving toward longer years. It is simply arrogant for the privates to say we do not need to. On the one hand, they claim that they teach material in greater depth than public schools. On the other hand, their school calendars are 2 weeks shorter already. No doubt, all private school students are that much smarter than all public school students, so we can get away with it. And that would be the definition of arrogance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a B parent and an extra 30 minutes for 8 weeks seems completely insufficient. B, as with the other privates, could easily add 4 days at the end of the year. Most parents would, in fact, be supportive. The rest of the world, including some US public and charter schools, are moving toward longer years. It is simply arrogant for the privates to say we do not need to. On the one hand, they claim that they teach material in greater depth than public schools. On the other hand, their school calendars are 2 weeks shorter already. No doubt, all private school students are that much smarter than all public school students, so we can get away with it. And that would be the definition of arrogance.

St. Pats mom here. I would agree with the above poster, but to that I will add apathy on the part of the administration. They act as though they don't want to inconvenience the parents by changing the schedule. I would happily accomodate whatever suggestion they made to make up those days. We lost a full week of school, and that's a lot of instructional time that will never be. Its hard for me to understand; I have nothing but the most respect for the staff at St. Pats and I'm so surprised that they would make this decision.

[Anonymous]

I could not agree with the last two posters more. We are at a private that is doing the same thing (no make up days.)

How can we address this with the schools without being labeled a PITA parent?

[Anonymous]

Stone Ridge added two days by delaying the start of spring break.

[Anonymous]

I think parents should speak up. In my view, private schools could use some shaking up. There is too much emphasis on avoiding waves and controversy. Adding 2-4 days at the end of the year would be fine with me.

[Anonymous]

There is a bigger problem than just adding days. Most teachers(including me) are only contractually required to be there through the last day of staff week, which usually follows the last week for students. If you push that back, it then shortens the amount of time that teachers have to order, pack away their rooms, etc.. Also, If you go beyond that week, many teachers begin immediately working at area schools for summer programs like sidwell and beauvoir. I know I am already under contract to start working at a summer camp beginning after the last day of school. Adding on two to three extra school days is just not that easy to do.

[Anonymous]

So what about cutting into spring break, PP?

[Anonymous]

If you feel strongly about adding extra days, I would say tell the school in a polite way that you would not be inconvenienced by adding on a couple extra days to the end of the year. Schools may be assuming it will upset parent plans and hearing otherwise could help them make a decision to add back a couple of days. Re: the teacher issue, my guess is that most schools could absorb say, 2 extra days and not go beyond any contractual end date and/or interfere with faculty summer jobs. I think less time to order or pack up the room is just one of those things folks have to deal with as a reasonable result of a once in the lifetime snowstorm. (I am not being dismissive; I've taught myself.) Adding days at spring break is probably more difficult--for one thing, at the upper school level many sports teams have out-of-state trips during the spring break time

[Anonymous]

I would have no issue with cutting into spreak break, though it might be too late for that. Our school has a 2-week spring break, which is nice but way too long. High schools would have issues with sports, but not the rest of the school. I also would support adding a few days at the end of the year. There is plenty of time to sort out other commitments. Moreover, we all occassionally need to do some late nights or weekend catch up.