FCPS Early Release Mondays

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I taught when we had early release Mondays and I got so much done on those afternoons. I had time to sit and work and get lessons ready and have meetings and attend trainings. This will make it so much easier for elementary teachers and will help with teacher retention. Kids can only benefit from this. And yes, on occasion I scheduled a medical appointment on a Monday afternoon for myself or my child, which was a lot better than trying to find a substitute and leaving the class with busywork if a qualified sub couldn’t be found.

Exactly this! Give teachers every Monday off. All day! It would be so much better for everyone. My hope is this step will prime the pump to do just that next year. Teachers need more planning time!

I’m sure that is what the union will want. I can never forget when the union was requesting for return to school
during Covid. If we were unionized during Covid our kids would have never been in school.

[Anonymous]

As a reading specialist, we had to do the VLP modules this year- each one takes between 2-4 hours and there are nine of them. They are very time consuming. I do not think as parents you truly understand the scope of the shift in language arts- nor should you as that is why we have masters and doctorates in education. If it were as easy as "just teach them to read", our scores wouldn't be in the shitter. This is not a union issue, a pd company trying to make more money or teachers trying not to teach- this is an attempt to give teachers time to do their job so that everyone doesn't jump ship.

[Anonymous]

Didn’t go through all pages so sorry if covered but how do snow days work for all of FCPS as the fcps page says “ The three-hour early release will not impact the state-mandated number of instructional hours, but it will reduce the amount of built in snow days. ” that means less snow days all around right? Would never say snow day for hs but not es?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn’t go through all pages so sorry if covered but how do snow days work for all of FCPS as the fcps page says “ The three-hour early release will not impact the state-mandated number of instructional hours, but it will reduce the amount of built in snow days. ” that means less snow days all around right? Would never say snow day for hs but not es?

So now if big snow could go even later into June

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd rather just have 3-4 full days off. Easier for childcare, plus it's not like much learning happens on a half day anyway.

I agree. Half days are the worst. Just take a while Monday - if I have to take off work at least we could travel or do something fun.

But it doesn't sound like any parent has to take time: "While these are designated as early release days — where necessary — we will ensure that every student has supervised enrichment activities at the school and returns home at the regular time if that is what works best for your family. Licensed educators from central office will support schools as well. High-impact tutoring will be available for identified students.
"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a reading specialist, we had to do the VLP modules this year- each one takes between 2-4 hours and there are nine of them. They are very time consuming. I do not think as parents you truly understand the scope of the shift in language arts- nor should you as that is why we have masters and doctorates in education. If it were as easy as "just teach them to read", our scores wouldn't be in the shitter. This is not a union issue, a pd company trying to make more money or teachers trying not to teach- this is an attempt to give teachers time to do their job so that everyone doesn't jump ship.

I have no issues with teachers getting the necessary time for teaching and planning. In fact I support it wholeheartedly.

My issues with this are (1) what horrible rollout and communication, (2) between these days and all of the religious and other holidays, the calendar is insane. So much for consistency and structure for the kids. I really miss the calendar I had growing up when we only got off federal holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a reading specialist, we had to do the VLP modules this year- each one takes between 2-4 hours and there are nine of them. They are very time consuming. I do not think as parents you truly understand the scope of the shift in language arts- nor should you as that is why we have masters and doctorates in education. If it were as easy as "just teach them to read", our scores wouldn't be in the shitter. This is not a union issue, a pd company trying to make more money or teachers trying not to teach- this is an attempt to give teachers time to do their job so that everyone doesn't jump ship.

I have no issues with teachers getting the necessary time for teaching and planning. In fact I support it wholeheartedly.

My issues with this are (1) what horrible rollout and communication, (2) between these days and all of the religious and other holidays, the calendar is insane. So much for consistency and structure for the kids. I really miss the calendar I had growing up when we only got off federal holidays.

*meant to say training and planning

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a reading specialist, we had to do the VLP modules this year- each one takes between 2-4 hours and there are nine of them. They are very time consuming. I do not think as parents you truly understand the scope of the shift in language arts- nor should you as that is why we have masters and doctorates in education. If it were as easy as "just teach them to read", our scores wouldn't be in the shitter. This is not a union issue, a pd company trying to make more money or teachers trying not to teach- this is an attempt to give teachers time to do their job so that everyone doesn't jump ship.

What scores are in the toilet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd rather just have 3-4 full days off. Easier for childcare, plus it's not like much learning happens on a half day anyway.

I agree. Half days are the worst. Just take a while Monday - if I have to take off work at least we could travel or do something fun.

But it doesn't sound like any parent has to take time: "While these are designated as early release days — where necessary — we will ensure that every student has supervised enrichment activities at the school and returns home at the regular time if that is what works best for your family. Licensed educators from central office will support schools as well. High-impact tutoring will be available for identified students.
"

I need a little more information than this vague “assurance” before I’m comfortable on that point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should go back to every Monday being an early release day and reduce the number of random full days they have off.

(We figured out childcare in that era, you can too.)

This!! Agree....every one survived. It's exhausting hearing that schools are your babysitters-figure this out as parents. I love how on this site the shock and horror of the teacher shortage and parents asking what can we do as parents to help teachers....here is your chance the county is trying to respect teachers time for a change and ensure they are not doing trainings on their own time. You all are crying about how unfair it is and no one cares about the kids. Make up your mind teachers can't do it all during the day and we all know people in the corporate world, federal world-get paid for their time even during trainings. FCPS offers ridiculous stipends to teachers over the sumer-here's 15 an hour for your non-contract time. Teachers are done and saying NO. Good for them! And BTW you all have ample time to figure out actual child care for YOUR children.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to get started on trip planning

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn’t go through all pages so sorry if covered but how do snow days work for all of FCPS as the fcps page says “ The three-hour early release will not impact the state-mandated number of instructional hours, but it will reduce the amount of built in snow days. ” that means less snow days all around right? Would never say snow day for hs but not es?

So now if big snow could go even later into June

We barely get snow here anymore. Your chances of a 2010 style snow with a week out of school are done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd rather just have 3-4 full days off. Easier for childcare, plus it's not like much learning happens on a half day anyway.

I agree. Half days are the worst. Just take a while Monday - if I have to take off work at least we could travel or do something fun.

But it doesn't sound like any parent has to take time: "While these are designated as early release days — where necessary — we will ensure that every student has supervised enrichment activities at the school and returns home at the regular time if that is what works best for your family. Licensed educators from central office will support schools as well. High-impact tutoring will be available for identified students.
"

I need a little more information than this vague “assurance” before I’m comfortable on that point.

You act like they need your signature to approve this lmao

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a reading specialist, we had to do the VLP modules this year- each one takes between 2-4 hours and there are nine of them. They are very time consuming. I do not think as parents you truly understand the scope of the shift in language arts- nor should you as that is why we have masters and doctorates in education. If it were as easy as "just teach them to read", our scores wouldn't be in the shitter. This is not a union issue, a pd company trying to make more money or teachers trying not to teach- this is an attempt to give teachers time to do their job so that everyone doesn't jump ship.

I have no issues with teachers getting the necessary time for teaching and planning. In fact I support it wholeheartedly.

My issues with this are (1) what horrible rollout and communication, (2) between these days and all of the religious and other holidays, the calendar is insane. So much for consistency and structure for the kids. I really miss the calendar I had growing up when we only got off federal holidays.

My thesis is we have de facto year round schooling without the benefit of the actual structure of year round schooling with consistent 2 week breaks between quarters and a 6 week summer. Instead we get a 7.5 week summer and endless choppy weeks with random 1-2 days off all year long that mean we go longer and start earlier but never get the actual pros of a real year round schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What the hell? Where was the public notice on this???

I know. The schedules were posted for 3 years out. Now they are scamming by making half days everywhere in it. This was going to be our first year without SACC. I might need childcare all over again.

scamming lol