FCPS 2018-2019 school calendar?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please keep in mind that this change has NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SOLs. It is SOLELY for the AP/IB students who have to take national exams.

I know some of you know that but I still see people talking about the SOLs in the conversation (both here and a thread I'm following elsewhere on this topic).

When the school year shifts, SO DO THE SOLs. The entire FCPS testing window moved up a week this year due to the one week earlier start date. The county window goes to May 31 this year which is a week earlier than last year. No matter what you do to the schedule the SOLs will move with it.

I think you're right here - do you have anything you can share like the SOL calendar for last year or this year?

PP you quoted is exactly right. Last year, SOL window opened on Monday, May 16, 2017. This year, they begin on May 7, 2018. The calendars are inside our intranet, so I can’t post a link.
— an FCPS elementary principal

Thanks - I think this SOL point needs to be clarified for the public! Really the only thing they'll have more time for with a calendar move is the AP exams. Secondly, I saw yesterday a college counselor point out that the common app gets released on 8/1 and kids used to have 5 weeks to work on it before school - then they only had 4 this year & now they're considering moving it to 3. Honestly I think the schedule change moving before Labor Day is a wash for college prep kids (pros and cons) and no benefits for anyone else.

[Anonymous]

I prefer a 3-4 day fall break but a shorter winter one. 2+ weeks out of school is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

I prefer the traditional schedule of a post Labor Day start, shorter winter breaks, and mid June end date. What's the rationale for the 16 day winter break?

[Anonymous]

There's a survey to provide input: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe9vUJVYh5ovZfd0wWtc-1to3FFKXzmShS0jIg-Qqyf4J0JWQ/viewform

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's a survey to provide input: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe9vUJVYh5ovZfd0wWtc-1to3FFKXzmShS0jIg-Qqyf4J0JWQ/viewform

It seems like kind of a dumb survey because if you prefer the latest start date, wouldn't that imply getting the latest finish date? Yet, you can pick latest start as the "best", as well as the earliest start as the "best" (even though in reality there's no way you could get that combination.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a survey to provide input: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe9vUJVYh5ovZfd0wWtc-1to3FFKXzmShS0jIg-Qqyf4J0JWQ/viewform

It seems like kind of a dumb survey because if you prefer the latest start date, wouldn't that imply getting the latest finish date? Yet, you can pick latest start as the "best", as well as the earliest start as the "best" (even though in reality there's no way you could get that combination.)

Oops meant to say earliest "finish"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a survey to provide input: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe9vUJVYh5ovZfd0wWtc-1to3FFKXzmShS0jIg-Qqyf4J0JWQ/viewform

It seems like kind of a dumb survey because if you prefer the latest start date, wouldn't that imply getting the latest finish date? Yet, you can pick latest start as the "best", as well as the earliest start as the "best" (even though in reality there's no way you could get that combination.)

I started the survey and stopped because I didn't like many of the questions.

The FCPS Facebook page says the board is going to put forth option D for approval.

[Anonymous]

The statement in the newsletter says Option D is “being proposed”. Which means they’re decided on option D.

[Anonymous]

I didn't understand that they were saying they had decided on Option D already, but I had wondered as much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't understand that they were saying they had decided on Option D already, but I had wondered as much.

No they don’t need to. Any time they “propose” something for more opinion and ‘discussion’, it’s just a check for their boxes. They’ve already decided.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The statement in the newsletter says Option D is “being proposed”. Which means they’re decided on option D.

Sadly, that seems to be the pattern. They have no backbone and even less foresight. They create a process/timeline that they then point to as a reason why they can't make the hard decisions. And then look to bolster the conclusion by having "surveys".

[Anonymous]

Here is video of the work session:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd-pR1bgkCY

I was amused by some board members saying that they were "appalled," "angry," and "blindsided" that the committee tasked with creating calendar options included some with the start dates outlined in options A and B. Seriously, board members? Just because you heard a mouthful from the community doesn't mean you have to be so dramatic in a public work session. I think one board member even said sane thing like, "Let the trcord show that this Board was NOT aware those options would be presented..."

Get a backbone! Options A and B only proposed starting school a handful of days earlier! You heard from the community and you can make your preference known. But the admonishment of the committee that devised OPTIONS and overall grandstanding is absolutely ridiculous!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is video of the work session:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd-pR1bgkCY

I was amused by some board members saying that they were "appalled," "angry," and "blindsided" that the committee tasked with creating calendar options included some with the start dates outlined in options A and B. Seriously, board members? Just because you heard a mouthful from the community doesn't mean you have to be so dramatic in a public work session. I think one board member even said sane thing like, "Let the trcord show that this Board was NOT aware those options would be presented..."

Get a backbone! Options A and B only proposed starting school a handful of days earlier! You heard from the community and you can make your preference known. But the admonishment of the committee that devised OPTIONS and overall grandstanding is absolutely ridiculous!!

I'll have to watch it. Thanks for posting. I'll probably be supportive of anyone who doesn't want to move the calendar up, though. In their defense they are elected representatives and I think it did make it look like these options came from the school board - when apparently they learned the same time as the public.

[Anonymous]

I took the survey. I didn't see any difference between Options C and D. What were the differences?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took the survey. I didn't see any difference between Options C and D. What were the differences?

option D has one more early release day. so really not much different.

table here lays thing out nicely

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=ASRJ9T4C2262