Transition day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems ludicrous that they wasted an entire day with bussing, teachers, and admin on a noninstructional school day. My kid found it painful and too long. In addition, some of the teachers said they would have to repeat the information given in class on Tuesday because there were sophomores enrolled as well.

I agree it was not really useful for HS in part because so many classes are not just freshman. And it didn’t do anything to alleviate my kids anxiety about HS—it made it significantly worse because all the teachers used it as an opportunity to just talk about rules and how much homework there will be. Having an entire day with person after person telling you what not to do and how much work it will be does not lessen anxiety, if that was the goal for transition day. Maybe other kids experienced it differently but for our family, I’d say it was not super successful. Wonder what the teachers thought.

Yes my 9th grader also came home anxious -- all they did was introduce themselves and then teachers talked about the cell phone policy over and over again.

Mine is in 10th but said that happened today, too, and it made for a very negative first day of school. Double whammy for the ninth graders. My kid, who is a positive, high-achieving student, just came home angry and disappointed. She was ready to learn and just got lectured repeatedly all day.

Wait until day 3, more of the same. Ist week and last week in school year is for nothing.

[Anonymous]

I understand that they beat them over the heads both days with the new grading policy in every single class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand that they beat them over the heads both days with the new grading policy in every single class.

I get that the teachers want to set expectations. But it really does feel like a lot especially for the sensitive kids. Mine ended up with the impression that the admin and most of the teachers don’t respect or like the kids. It felt sort of like the first day of prison. I’m usually pretty okay with McPS but these are the sort of days that make me wonder if we made a mistake not doing private. She just came home so heat down. I hope they get more into the actual substantive stuff soon … maybe that will help reframe. This isn’t my first kid starting HS but the first started during Covid so had a very different experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that they beat them over the heads both days with the new grading policy in every single class.

I get that the teachers want to set expectations. But it really does feel like a lot especially for the sensitive kids. Mine ended up with the impression that the admin and most of the teachers don’t respect or like the kids. It felt sort of like the first day of prison. I’m usually pretty okay with McPS but these are the sort of days that make me wonder if we made a mistake not doing private. She just came home so heat down. I hope they get more into the actual substantive stuff soon … maybe that will help reframe. This isn’t my first kid starting HS but the first started during Covid so had a very different experience.

There's rarely anything substantive on the first day of school. My kid mostly had icebreaker activities in each class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that they beat them over the heads both days with the new grading policy in every single class.

I get that the teachers want to set expectations. But it really does feel like a lot especially for the sensitive kids. Mine ended up with the impression that the admin and most of the teachers don’t respect or like the kids. It felt sort of like the first day of prison. I’m usually pretty okay with McPS but these are the sort of days that make me wonder if we made a mistake not doing private. She just came home so heat down. I hope they get more into the actual substantive stuff soon … maybe that will help reframe. This isn’t my first kid starting HS but the first started during Covid so had a very different experience.

Same feelings here. Also not my first kid going through. I think it’s tough on the rule-following kids who are ready to learn and looking forward a good year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that they beat them over the heads both days with the new grading policy in every single class.

I get that the teachers want to set expectations. But it really does feel like a lot especially for the sensitive kids. Mine ended up with the impression that the admin and most of the teachers don’t respect or like the kids. It felt sort of like the first day of prison. I’m usually pretty okay with McPS but these are the sort of days that make me wonder if we made a mistake not doing private. She just came home so heat down. I hope they get more into the actual substantive stuff soon … maybe that will help reframe. This isn’t my first kid starting HS but the first started during Covid so had a very different experience.

Same feelings here. Also not my first kid going through. I think it’s tough on the rule-following kids who are ready to learn and looking forward a good year.

I’ll add that I’ve taught and been on the other side and do empathize with the teachers. I tried to explain to my kid that they’re starting out strong because it’s much more difficult to go the other way and regain control of a class. At the end of the day, I’m really annoyed by the parents who raised brats who hog stalls to vape. This group project we call life can be a real pita.

[Anonymous]

The feedback we are hearing at my HS is that 1/2 day would have been PLENTY! I would be curious to see what an exit survey would have shown.

[Anonymous]

I feel like most people at secondary level knew ahead of time that a half day was enough.

I also hate that it create another 4day week early in the school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that they beat them over the heads both days with the new grading policy in every single class.

I get that the teachers want to set expectations. But it really does feel like a lot especially for the sensitive kids. Mine ended up with the impression that the admin and most of the teachers don’t respect or like the kids. It felt sort of like the first day of prison. I’m usually pretty okay with McPS but these are the sort of days that make me wonder if we made a mistake not doing private. She just came home so heat down. I hope they get more into the actual substantive stuff soon … maybe that will help reframe. This isn’t my first kid starting HS but the first started during Covid so had a very different experience.

m

Well one thing is for sure, kids and parents won’t be able to say they didn’t know or weren’t warned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand that they beat them over the heads both days with the new grading policy in every single class.

Necessary. Some students at my school are already challenging it. A few say their mental health depends on being able to turn in late work during the last five days of quarter. If a kid tells you this in August, they don’t plan to work hard in September.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems ludicrous that they wasted an entire day with bussing, teachers, and admin on a noninstructional school day. My kid found it painful and too long. In addition, some of the teachers said they would have to repeat the information given in class on Tuesday because there were sophomores enrolled as well.

I agree it was not really useful for HS in part because so many classes are not just freshman. And it didn’t do anything to alleviate my kids anxiety about HS—it made it significantly worse because all the teachers used it as an opportunity to just talk about rules and how much homework there will be. Having an entire day with person after person telling you what not to do and how much work it will be does not lessen anxiety, if that was the goal for transition day. Maybe other kids experienced it differently but for our family, I’d say it was not super successful. Wonder what the teachers thought.

Yes my 9th grader also came home anxious -- all they did was introduce themselves and then teachers talked about the cell phone policy over and over again.

Mine is in 10th but said that happened today, too, and it made for a very negative first day of school. Double whammy for the ninth graders. My kid, who is a positive, high-achieving student, just came home angry and disappointed. She was ready to learn and just got lectured repeatedly all day.

The point of transition day was to go over policies and procedures. You should have made sure your rising high schooler was aware.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that they beat them over the heads both days with the new grading policy in every single class.

I get that the teachers want to set expectations. But it really does feel like a lot especially for the sensitive kids. Mine ended up with the impression that the admin and most of the teachers don’t respect or like the kids. It felt sort of like the first day of prison. I’m usually pretty okay with McPS but these are the sort of days that make me wonder if we made a mistake not doing private. She just came home so heat down. I hope they get more into the actual substantive stuff soon … maybe that will help reframe. This isn’t my first kid starting HS but the first started during Covid so had a very different experience.

Oh shut up.

Really shut up MAGA or Moms4liberty garbage.

Your comment about "most of the teachers don’t respect or like the kids" is absurd.

There is not one private in Montgomery county better than public for college admissions and an education. Go back to the hole you climbed out of.

[Anonymous]

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2025/09/mcps-transition-day-gets-high-marks/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2025/09/mcps-transition-day-gets-high-marks/

Was there any real data presented or just people’s individual antidotes? The K’ers never had anything so yes they love it, but at the secondary school level do they love it more than the half day that already existed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2025/09/mcps-transition-day-gets-high-marks/

Was there any real data presented or just people’s individual antidotes? The K’ers never had anything so yes they love it, but at the secondary school level do they love it more than the half day that already existed?

Exactly! No surveys sent home asking kids or parents for feedback so should we just write the BOE to let them know what waste of time it was?