School closed 1/19/24

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Goodness. Shut the F up people.
Every F'ing school district in the DMV is closed tomorrow.
MoCo parents are so insufferable.

There was no reason to close when we could go virtual.

Everybody is closed. No one is going virtual.

Parents who are so convinced that we can easily go virtual (and should) are beyond dense. I feel bad for your children as you clearly don’t see the value of how much learning can happen during a snow day. But you’d rather stick your kids behind a tablet, screen, whatever, instead of being a parent and making memories with your child? I actually feel badly for your children and no amount of virtual learning will undo poor parenting and the complex your children will have as they get older.

Exactly! I've got a full day of cuddles, sledding, hot cocoa, and crafts planned.

In other words: you have no career obligations

If your career can't pay for a nanny or other sub to parent your kid, you may need a new one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#January29

April 22 is the first make up day. January 29 is needed due to end of the term grading and S2 planning.

They've had three days to catch up on grading.

That only works if students have already submitted the work. There’s one more week left in the marking period. At minimum, two more assignments per student at my school x 160 students. How do I go back in time to grade what I haven’t yet received?

Move those assignments grades to next marking period. Problem solved.

Arithmetic and writing doesn't stop being arithmetic and writing after a magic date.

Distinguish external reality from artificial arbitrary creations.

Yeah, that’s not going to work at my school where there’s a required minimum and maximum number of grades per marking period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Goodness. Shut the F up people.
Every F'ing school district in the DMV is closed tomorrow.
MoCo parents are so insufferable.

There was no reason to close when we could go virtual.

Everybody is closed. No one is going virtual.

Parents who are so convinced that we can easily go virtual (and should) are beyond dense. I feel bad for your children as you clearly don’t see the value of how much learning can happen during a snow day. But you’d rather stick your kids behind a tablet, screen, whatever, instead of being a parent and making memories with your child? I actually feel badly for your children and no amount of virtual learning will undo poor parenting and the complex your children will have as they get older.

Exactly! I've got a full day of cuddles, sledding, hot cocoa, and crafts planned.

In other words: you have no career obligations

If your career can't pay for a nanny or other sub to parent your kid, you may need a new one.

Never change, Dcum!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a budget freeze as of today. Rumor is MCPS is in the hole 50 million

no virtual day tomorrow partly because after changing the 3rd party log in permissions with student Google accounts they can no longer log into zoom.

Seriously?

This will be fixed, right?

Read above. It's not the issue.

Virtual school on snow days isn’t my concern about it. My students use Zoom for virtual field trips and other activities. If it isn’t fixed, we lose those opportunities.

+1 It should be fixed to functionality because there's no point in having it otherwise.

And today should be a snow day, not a virtual day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So busy! Yet you seem to be making time for DCUM.

Always this. Always.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Goodness. Shut the F up people.
Every F'ing school district in the DMV is closed tomorrow.
MoCo parents are so insufferable.

There was no reason to close when we could go virtual.

Everybody is closed. No one is going virtual.

Parents who are so convinced that we can easily go virtual (and should) are beyond dense. I feel bad for your children as you clearly don’t see the value of how much learning can happen during a snow day. But you’d rather stick your kids behind a tablet, screen, whatever, instead of being a parent and making memories with your child? I actually feel badly for your children and no amount of virtual learning will undo poor parenting and the complex your children will have as they get older.

Exactly! I've got a full day of cuddles, sledding, hot cocoa, and crafts planned.

In other words: you have no career obligations

Well, aren't you a bundle of joy. I'm a different poster, but I'm working from home today and managing, ironically, a remote client audit. And interspersed there will be cocoa, sledding, and, you might want to cover your ears, but there will also be.... video games with my daughter. Our crafting will most likely be straight from the 3D printer so she can complete a robotics project on her day off. Boy, it's tough being a dad these days.

Your daughter is in for a great day, but I’m glad I am not your client.

WTF kind of work do you do that's so mission-critical you can't ease off for a snow day? Neurosurgery? Actual rocket science?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Goodness. Shut the F up people.
Every F'ing school district in the DMV is closed tomorrow.
MoCo parents are so insufferable.

There was no reason to close when we could go virtual.

Everybody is closed. No one is going virtual.

Parents who are so convinced that we can easily go virtual (and should) are beyond dense. I feel bad for your children as you clearly don’t see the value of how much learning can happen during a snow day. But you’d rather stick your kids behind a tablet, screen, whatever, instead of being a parent and making memories with your child? I actually feel badly for your children and no amount of virtual learning will undo poor parenting and the complex your children will have as they get older.

Exactly! I've got a full day of cuddles, sledding, hot cocoa, and crafts planned.

In other words: you have no career obligations

Well, aren't you a bundle of joy. I'm a different poster, but I'm working from home today and managing, ironically, a remote client audit. And interspersed there will be cocoa, sledding, and, you might want to cover your ears, but there will also be.... video games with my daughter. Our crafting will most likely be straight from the 3D printer so she can complete a robotics project on her day off. Boy, it's tough being a dad these days.

Your daughter is in for a great day, but I’m glad I am not your client.

WTF kind of work do you do that's so mission-critical you can't ease off for a snow day? Neurosurgery? Actual rocket science?

Many technology jobs serve customers in critical functions globally. I can say that I have had jobs where if something breaks, somebody could die within minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#January29

April 22 is the first make up day. January 29 is needed due to end of the term grading and S2 planning.

They've had three days to catch up on grading.

That only works if students have already submitted the work. There’s one more week left in the marking period. At minimum, two more assignments per student at my school x 160 students. How do I go back in time to grade what I haven’t yet received?

Move those assignments grades to next marking period. Problem solved.

Arithmetic and writing doesn't stop being arithmetic and writing after a magic date.

Distinguish external reality from artificial arbitrary creations.

Yeah, that’s not going to work at my school where there’s a required minimum and maximum number of grades per marking period.

It's almost like there are a bunch of meaningless systems behind-the-scenes, arguably meant to make sure no child gets left behind, serving no one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Goodness. Shut the F up people.
Every F'ing school district in the DMV is closed tomorrow.
MoCo parents are so insufferable.

There was no reason to close when we could go virtual.

Everybody is closed. No one is going virtual.

Parents who are so convinced that we can easily go virtual (and should) are beyond dense. I feel bad for your children as you clearly don’t see the value of how much learning can happen during a snow day. But you’d rather stick your kids behind a tablet, screen, whatever, instead of being a parent and making memories with your child? I actually feel badly for your children and no amount of virtual learning will undo poor parenting and the complex your children will have as they get older.

Exactly! I've got a full day of cuddles, sledding, hot cocoa, and crafts planned.

In other words: you have no career obligations

Well, aren't you a bundle of joy. I'm a different poster, but I'm working from home today and managing, ironically, a remote client audit. And interspersed there will be cocoa, sledding, and, you might want to cover your ears, but there will also be.... video games with my daughter. Our crafting will most likely be straight from the 3D printer so she can complete a robotics project on her day off. Boy, it's tough being a dad these days.

Your daughter is in for a great day, but I’m glad I am not your client.

WTF kind of work do you do that's so mission-critical you can't ease off for a snow day? Neurosurgery? Actual rocket science?

Many technology jobs serve customers in critical functions globally. I can say that I have had jobs where if something breaks, somebody could die within minutes.

If your tech job is global, you can probably do it from home, where you also have the internet connection that connects you globally, yeah?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#January29

April 22 is the first make up day. January 29 is needed due to end of the term grading and S2 planning.

They've had three days to catch up on grading.

It’s not just about end of the marking period grading. Finalizing grades through Synergy is VERY time consuming. It’s not a simple, one-step click a button and you’re done. There are many steps to go through for each class/section taught. At the high school level, there are many students who turn in late work and since all work needs to be accepted, this is yet one more thing that has to be done in the final hours.

That's a problem with Synergy and the grading process, not a problem with snow days. Point the blame where it belongs.

It takes TIME to go through the process using the platform…a lot of time. Since so many people are on Synergy at the same time, it will frequently freeze or shut you out so you need to close the platform, go back in and try all over again. The professional days at the end of the marking period are needed to go through all the steps needed to finalize grades. Teachers are on their laptops for hours on these days (most all day). Making this day a half-day for students instead of a day off would not allow teachers the time needed to do what needs to be done.

Since we’ve lost three days this week, and the marking period ends next Friday, teachers will have many additional things to grade next week. Students will also turn in late work from the marking period that must also be graded.

I’m caught up with all of the grading I can possibly do at this point. I can’t use today for grading. However, I have so many things to teach and assess next week.

To the poster who suggested just pushing an assignment and its grade to the next marking period (“math is still math”), that can’t be done. Measurement topics change and a certain number of grades are required for each measurement topic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#January29

April 22 is the first make up day. January 29 is needed due to end of the term grading and S2 planning.

They've had three days to catch up on grading.

That only works if students have already submitted the work. There’s one more week left in the marking period. At minimum, two more assignments per student at my school x 160 students. How do I go back in time to grade what I haven’t yet received?

Move those assignments grades to next marking period. Problem solved.

Arithmetic and writing doesn't stop being arithmetic and writing after a magic date.

Distinguish external reality from artificial arbitrary creations.

Yeah, that’s not going to work at my school where there’s a required minimum and maximum number of grades per marking period.

A policy no doubt delivered by Moses himself on stone tablets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#January29

April 22 is the first make up day. January 29 is needed due to end of the term grading and S2 planning.

They've had three days to catch up on grading.

It’s not just about end of the marking period grading. Finalizing grades through Synergy is VERY time consuming. It’s not a simple, one-step click a button and you’re done. There are many steps to go through for each class/section taught. At the high school level, there are many students who turn in late work and since all work needs to be accepted, this is yet one more thing that has to be done in the final hours.

That's a problem with Synergy and the grading process, not a problem with snow days. Point the blame where it belongs.

It takes TIME to go through the process using the platform…a lot of time. Since so many people are on Synergy at the same time, it will frequently freeze or shut you out so you need to close the platform, go back in and try all over again. The professional days at the end of the marking period are needed to go through all the steps needed to finalize grades. Teachers are on their laptops for hours on these days (most all day). Making this day a half-day for students instead of a day off would not allow teachers the time needed to do what needs to be done.

Since we’ve lost three days this week, and the marking period ends next Friday, teachers will have many additional things to grade next week. Students will also turn in late work from the marking period that must also be graded.

I’m caught up with all of the grading I can possibly do at this point. I can’t use today for grading. However, I have so many things to teach and assess next week.

To the poster who suggested just pushing an assignment and its grade to the next marking period (“math is still math”), that can’t be done. Measurement topics change and a certain number of grades are required for each measurement topic.

This! There are so many silly systems and expectations in MCPS that non-teachers simply don't understand. We are micromanaged about trivial matters that really shouldn't matter such as required measurement topics per quarter. However, finding a direct answer to a serious question is next to impossible when you try and consult with a "specialist" at central office. They are so far removed from the realities of life in a school building. Even area directors will come to meetings and say things that make you question why a former HS principal is responsible for overseeing elementary school instruction. They just have no clue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#January29

April 22 is the first make up day. January 29 is needed due to end of the term grading and S2 planning.

They've had three days to catch up on grading.

That only works if students have already submitted the work. There’s one more week left in the marking period. At minimum, two more assignments per student at my school x 160 students. How do I go back in time to grade what I haven’t yet received?

Move those assignments grades to next marking period. Problem solved.

Arithmetic and writing doesn't stop being arithmetic and writing after a magic date.

Distinguish external reality from artificial arbitrary creations.

Yeah, that’s not going to work at my school where there’s a required minimum and maximum number of grades per marking period.

A policy no doubt delivered by Moses himself on stone tablets.

DP. Which policies established by your upper management affect you, and how do you plan to change those policies by the end of the day today?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#January29

April 22 is the first make up day. January 29 is needed due to end of the term grading and S2 planning.

They've had three days to catch up on grading.

That only works if students have already submitted the work. There’s one more week left in the marking period. At minimum, two more assignments per student at my school x 160 students. How do I go back in time to grade what I haven’t yet received?

Move those assignments grades to next marking period. Problem solved.

Arithmetic and writing doesn't stop being arithmetic and writing after a magic date.

Distinguish external reality from artificial arbitrary creations.

Yeah, that’s not going to work at my school where there’s a required minimum and maximum number of grades per marking period.

A policy no doubt delivered by Moses himself on stone tablets.

DP. Which policies established by your upper management affect you, and how do you plan to change those policies by the end of the day today?

Why would that need to be addressed by the end of the day? It can be part of the broader plan to use January 29th as a make-up day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#January29

April 22 is the first make up day. January 29 is needed due to end of the term grading and S2 planning.

They've had three days to catch up on grading.

That only works if students have already submitted the work. There’s one more week left in the marking period. At minimum, two more assignments per student at my school x 160 students. How do I go back in time to grade what I haven’t yet received?

Move those assignments grades to next marking period. Problem solved.

Arithmetic and writing doesn't stop being arithmetic and writing after a magic date.

Distinguish external reality from artificial arbitrary creations.

Yeah, that’s not going to work at my school where there’s a required minimum and maximum number of grades per marking period.

It's almost like there are a bunch of meaningless systems behind-the-scenes, arguably meant to make sure no child gets left behind, serving no one.

OR many classes switch at the end of the semester. So no. Can’t move the grades. I won’t see these students anymore. It’s crunch time. Please stop making assumptions about our jobs.
It’s not a good look for you all.

I just would never think that blaming a lone employee for all their manager’s or organization’s inadequacies is appropriate or productive.

And before someone thinks they are clever and tells teachers they should just leave if they aren’t happy……

By doing so you are encourage teachers to break an employment contract, put their professional license at risk, and potentially lose vestment in a retirement system because Jan on DCUM said it’s what teachers should do. This forum is really incredible. It’s like a fever dream of intrusive thoughts. You all don’t need to express every thought that comes into your heads you know. Many teachers are just trying to give some helpful insight. You don’t have control over every thing in your professional life! The pros are larger than the cons right now for many teachers. That’s why many stay. But it still doesn’t mean there aren’t things that are incredibly frustrating about our jobs!