Why did FCPS screw up on Diwali?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought this was why they created 0 days, so kids who want to take off the day to celebrate a religious holiday wouldn't miss any new material at school. The way they're doing the calendar these days makes no sense at all.

We should also not have an easter "spring" break.

Yes, the practicing Christians and Catholics agree that spring break should not be Easter Holy Week.

Unfortunately, every school district in northern Virginia schedules spring break during Holy Week, so when FCPS tried to move it away from Holy Week, it caused a lot of childcare issues for teachers and staff who live in other counties.

Don't blame the Christians for spring break being on Holy Week. We would prefer it to fall away from Holy Week and just be scheduled at the end of the quarter.

I mean I don't know why you're blaming Hindus for Diwali. We didn't ask for this day off, FCPS just gave it to us. Ask any Hindu family you know and they will tell you that they would much prefer their child to be in school on Diwali. I guarantee it.

Curious, why would you not want your kids home? I would not have lobbied for our in any way, but happy that kids get it off now

I don't get 39 days of leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought this was why they created 0 days, so kids who want to take off the day to celebrate a religious holiday wouldn't miss any new material at school. The way they're doing the calendar these days makes no sense at all.

We should also not have an easter "spring" break.

Yes, the practicing Christians and Catholics agree that spring break should not be Easter Holy Week.

Unfortunately, every school district in northern Virginia schedules spring break during Holy Week, so when FCPS tried to move it away from Holy Week, it caused a lot of childcare issues for teachers and staff who live in other counties.

Don't blame the Christians for spring break being on Holy Week. We would prefer it to fall away from Holy Week and just be scheduled at the end of the quarter.

I mean I don't know why you're blaming Hindus for Diwali. We didn't ask for this day off, FCPS just gave it to us. Ask any Hindu family you know and they will tell you that they would much prefer their child to be in school on Diwali. I guarantee it.

Curious, why would you not want your kids home? I would not have lobbied for our in any way, but happy that kids get it off now

I don't get 39 days of leave.

I think FCPS did a survey of: longer summer vs more holidays in the school year; seeing majority of families in FCPS have both parents work they probably voted for more holidays - my guess is child care?

And since FCPS now have 39 days they can assign a holiday to everyone - bring a smile; They just didn't figure MAGA taking offense that it's not an "Merican" holiday and when does the "War on Christmas" season officially start?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools should not be off on religious holidays in the first place. If your family celebrates a religious holiday your kid should be allowed to stay home that day with an excused absence. They should not close the whole school system down so you can celebrate.

What happened to the separation of church and state in America?! If I wanted that, I would have stayed in my own country, not immigrated here.

Why do all the schools close on basically every religious holiday?!

That’s fine. Are you okay with getting rid of the week and half off around Christmas then?

Always with the Christmas. Seriously, give up.

Well the hypocrisy is stunning and I say this as someone who is Christian and celebrates Christmas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools should not be off on religious holidays in the first place. If your family celebrates a religious holiday your kid should be allowed to stay home that day with an excused absence. They should not close the whole school system down so you can celebrate.

What happened to the separation of church and state in America?! If I wanted that, I would have stayed in my own country, not immigrated here.

Why do all the schools close on basically every religious holiday?!

That’s fine. Are you okay with getting rid of the week and half off around Christmas then?

Always with the Christmas. Seriously, give up.

Why? Diwali is 1 day and there is 1 day off from school - and I know that there are a few of those days. Christmas is 1 day and we get 10 days off, that 10x the amount for one day.

It may be customary, but it is very clearly built around Christmas. Stop deluding yourself.

It's not just Christmas, it's winter break. It just happens to fall the week before new years, which is a very common time for families to take a break. Many work places are closed. It's customary and not a big inconvenience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought this was why they created 0 days, so kids who want to take off the day to celebrate a religious holiday wouldn't miss any new material at school. The way they're doing the calendar these days makes no sense at all.

We should also not have an easter "spring" break.

Yes, the practicing Christians and Catholics agree that spring break should not be Easter Holy Week.

Unfortunately, every school district in northern Virginia schedules spring break during Holy Week, so when FCPS tried to move it away from Holy Week, it caused a lot of childcare issues for teachers and staff who live in other counties.

Don't blame the Christians for spring break being on Holy Week. We would prefer it to fall away from Holy Week and just be scheduled at the end of the quarter.

I mean I don't know why you're blaming Hindus for Diwali. We didn't ask for this day off, FCPS just gave it to us. Ask any Hindu family you know and they will tell you that they would much prefer their child to be in school on Diwali. I guarantee it.

Curious, why would you not want your kids home? I would not have lobbied for our in any way, but happy that kids get it off now

I don't get 39 days of leave.

I think FCPS did a survey of: longer summer vs more holidays in the school year; seeing majority of families in FCPS have both parents work they probably voted for more holidays - my guess is child care?

And since FCPS now have 39 days they can assign a holiday to everyone - bring a smile; They just didn't figure MAGA taking offense that it's not an "Merican" holiday and when does the "War on Christmas" season officially start?

This makes zero sense.

Summers have camps for childcare. Random workdays during the schoolyear don't. I remember that was hell during my short tenure as an FCPS mom. The school rarely had a 5-day week. What is it now - 50% of weeks are 3.5 to 4 days a week? It's anti-woman. We bear the brunt usually of kids staying home during work days outside of summer (camps). They must assume we are homemakers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools should not be off on religious holidays in the first place. If your family celebrates a religious holiday your kid should be allowed to stay home that day with an excused absence. They should not close the whole school system down so you can celebrate.

What happened to the separation of church and state in America?! If I wanted that, I would have stayed in my own country, not immigrated here.

Why do all the schools close on basically every religious holiday?!

That’s fine. Are you okay with getting rid of the week and half off around Christmas then?

Always with the Christmas. Seriously, give up.

Well the hypocrisy is stunning and I say this as someone who is Christian and celebrates Christmas.

What hypocrisy? Christmas isn't even an FCPS holiday.

[Anonymous]

If we had school on the religious holidays celebrated by a high percentage of the population you know that means all the teachers will be out too? You need teachers, staff, bus drivers to have a school day.

Finding subs is part of the challenge.

This is also part of why MoCo has always had Jewish holidays off. Higher percentage Jewish population in county means more teachers are Jewish and would be out.

It’s not about religion. It’s about staffing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If we had school on the religious holidays celebrated by a high percentage of the population you know that means all the teachers will be out too? You need teachers, staff, bus drivers to have a school day.

Finding subs is part of the challenge.

This is also part of why MoCo has always had Jewish holidays off. Higher percentage Jewish population in county means more teachers are Jewish and would be out.

It’s not about religion. It’s about staffing.

Correct. And the evidence showed there were no staffing issues in FCPS on any of these religious holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought this was why they created 0 days, so kids who want to take off the day to celebrate a religious holiday wouldn't miss any new material at school. The way they're doing the calendar these days makes no sense at all.

We should also not have an easter "spring" break.

Yes, the practicing Christians and Catholics agree that spring break should not be Easter Holy Week.

Unfortunately, every school district in northern Virginia schedules spring break during Holy Week, so when FCPS tried to move it away from Holy Week, it caused a lot of childcare issues for teachers and staff who live in other counties.

Don't blame the Christians for spring break being on Holy Week. We would prefer it to fall away from Holy Week and just be scheduled at the end of the quarter.

I mean I don't know why you're blaming Hindus for Diwali. We didn't ask for this day off, FCPS just gave it to us. Ask any Hindu family you know and they will tell you that they would much prefer their child to be in school on Diwali. I guarantee it.

Curious, why would you not want your kids home? I would not have lobbied for our in any way, but happy that kids get it off now

+1 Speak for yourself. ---Hindu Indian who is happy to have their kids have a day off to celebrate.

You might be the only one.

You might be the only one who thinks that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools should not be off on religious holidays in the first place. If your family celebrates a religious holiday your kid should be allowed to stay home that day with an excused absence. They should not close the whole school system down so you can celebrate.

What happened to the separation of church and state in America?! If I wanted that, I would have stayed in my own country, not immigrated here.

Why do all the schools close on basically every religious holiday?!

That’s fine. Are you okay with getting rid of the week and half off around Christmas then?

Always with the Christmas. Seriously, give up.

Why? Diwali is 1 day and there is 1 day off from school - and I know that there are a few of those days. Christmas is 1 day and we get 10 days off, that 10x the amount for one day.

Every college and school in this country has a winter break that separates the semesters, you ding dong. It’s been that way for quite a while. Very few school systems in this country give Diwali off. It’s not a national holiday. It’s not a federal holiday. It’s a ridiculous day off.

But FCPS's winter break doesn't fall at the end of the quarter like colleges do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought this was why they created 0 days, so kids who want to take off the day to celebrate a religious holiday wouldn't miss any new material at school. The way they're doing the calendar these days makes no sense at all.

We should also not have an easter "spring" break.

Yes, the practicing Christians and Catholics agree that spring break should not be Easter Holy Week.

Unfortunately, every school district in northern Virginia schedules spring break during Holy Week, so when FCPS tried to move it away from Holy Week, it caused a lot of childcare issues for teachers and staff who live in other counties.

Don't blame the Christians for spring break being on Holy Week. We would prefer it to fall away from Holy Week and just be scheduled at the end of the quarter.

I mean I don't know why you're blaming Hindus for Diwali. We didn't ask for this day off, FCPS just gave it to us. Ask any Hindu family you know and they will tell you that they would much prefer their child to be in school on Diwali. I guarantee it.

Curious, why would you not want your kids home? I would not have lobbied for our in any way, but happy that kids get it off now

There are dozens upon dozens of camp options on FCPS holidays. If you can't find any then you either aren't looking or are the worst user of the internet possible.

I don't get 39 days of leave.

I think FCPS did a survey of: longer summer vs more holidays in the school year; seeing majority of families in FCPS have both parents work they probably voted for more holidays - my guess is child care?

And since FCPS now have 39 days they can assign a holiday to everyone - bring a smile; They just didn't figure MAGA taking offense that it's not an "Merican" holiday and when does the "War on Christmas" season officially start?

This makes zero sense.

Summers have camps for childcare. Random workdays during the schoolyear don't. I remember that was hell during my short tenure as an FCPS mom. The school rarely had a 5-day week. What is it now - 50% of weeks are 3.5 to 4 days a week? It's anti-woman. We bear the brunt usually of kids staying home during work days outside of summer (camps). They must assume we are homemakers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools should not be off on religious holidays in the first place. If your family celebrates a religious holiday your kid should be allowed to stay home that day with an excused absence. They should not close the whole school system down so you can celebrate.

What happened to the separation of church and state in America?! If I wanted that, I would have stayed in my own country, not immigrated here.

Why do all the schools close on basically every religious holiday?!

That’s fine. Are you okay with getting rid of the week and half off around Christmas then?

Always with the Christmas. Seriously, give up.

Why? Diwali is 1 day and there is 1 day off from school - and I know that there are a few of those days. Christmas is 1 day and we get 10 days off, that 10x the amount for one day.

Every college and school in this country has a winter break that separates the semesters, you ding dong. It’s been that way for quite a while. Very few school systems in this country give Diwali off. It’s not a national holiday. It’s not a federal holiday. It’s a ridiculous day off.

But FCPS's winter break doesn't fall at the end of the quarter like colleges do.

Colleges have about a month off for winter break and many actually offer a “winter session.” They resume regular classes mid to end of January. And their spring semester is over by early May.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools should not be off on religious holidays in the first place. If your family celebrates a religious holiday your kid should be allowed to stay home that day with an excused absence. They should not close the whole school system down so you can celebrate.

What happened to the separation of church and state in America?! If I wanted that, I would have stayed in my own country, not immigrated here.

Why do all the schools close on basically every religious holiday?!

That’s fine. Are you okay with getting rid of the week and half off around Christmas then?

Always with the Christmas. Seriously, give up.

Why? Diwali is 1 day and there is 1 day off from school - and I know that there are a few of those days. Christmas is 1 day and we get 10 days off, that 10x the amount for one day.

Every college and school in this country has a winter break that separates the semesters, you ding dong. It’s been that way for quite a while. Very few school systems in this country give Diwali off. It’s not a national holiday. It’s not a federal holiday. It’s a ridiculous day off.

But FCPS's winter break doesn't fall at the end of the quarter like colleges do.

Colleges have about a month off for winter break and many actually offer a “winter session.” They resume regular classes mid to end of January. And their spring semester is over by early May.

Yes?

What does that have to do with FCPS's winter break, which falls about a month before the end of the second quarter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought this was why they created 0 days, so kids who want to take off the day to celebrate a religious holiday wouldn't miss any new material at school. The way they're doing the calendar these days makes no sense at all.

We should also not have an easter "spring" break.

Yes, the practicing Christians and Catholics agree that spring break should not be Easter Holy Week.

Unfortunately, every school district in northern Virginia schedules spring break during Holy Week, so when FCPS tried to move it away from Holy Week, it caused a lot of childcare issues for teachers and staff who live in other counties.

Don't blame the Christians for spring break being on Holy Week. We would prefer it to fall away from Holy Week and just be scheduled at the end of the quarter.

I mean I don't know why you're blaming Hindus for Diwali. We didn't ask for this day off, FCPS just gave it to us. Ask any Hindu family you know and they will tell you that they would much prefer their child to be in school on Diwali. I guarantee it.

Every Hindu family I know is happy about it. I'm not Hindu myself, but our family also enjoys all these days off - nice to catch up on schoolwork and sleep. Our younger one can't stay home alone. We plan ahead with a few other families and it ends up being a fun day for them as well. I prefer a shorter summer. No downside for us. I'm happy for everyone to have whatever days off they want. I can't imagine getting upset about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought this was why they created 0 days, so kids who want to take off the day to celebrate a religious holiday wouldn't miss any new material at school. The way they're doing the calendar these days makes no sense at all.

We should also not have an easter "spring" break.

Yes, the practicing Christians and Catholics agree that spring break should not be Easter Holy Week.

Unfortunately, every school district in northern Virginia schedules spring break during Holy Week, so when FCPS tried to move it away from Holy Week, it caused a lot of childcare issues for teachers and staff who live in other counties.

Don't blame the Christians for spring break being on Holy Week. We would prefer it to fall away from Holy Week and just be scheduled at the end of the quarter.

I mean I don't know why you're blaming Hindus for Diwali. We didn't ask for this day off, FCPS just gave it to us. Ask any Hindu family you know and they will tell you that they would much prefer their child to be in school on Diwali. I guarantee it.

Every Hindu family I know is happy about it. I'm not Hindu myself, but our family also enjoys all these days off - nice to catch up on schoolwork and sleep. Our younger one can't stay home alone. We plan ahead with a few other families and it ends up being a fun day for them as well. I prefer a shorter summer. No downside for us. I'm happy for everyone to have whatever days off they want. I can't imagine getting upset about this.

+1 I don't know why there's some people here think they have the knowledge to speak for all families who celebrate Diwali. We're happy about having the holidays, just as we're happy that there are days off for Rosh Hashanah, Eid etc.