APS Bell schedule review

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:quick question - how would the a later MS time impact those 8th graders that may make a high school JV sports team?

I'm in favor of a later time for my middle schooler but he is also very active after school in activities (at school) and outside school. He loves it and he NEEDS all the physical activity he can get.

If middle school got out later, they would not be able to participate in most high school sports. Practices would start before middle school ends. And little to no middle school sports would be an option.

How many MS kids participate in HS sports? This is a thing?

Also, it’s not any different than kids at HB who go to their “home” HS for sports. They do it, so can the 5 MS kids who play HS sports.

Good point. HB ends latest and they’ve found a way to make it work

For HS. Kids at HB cannot participate in MS sports.

If they were on the same bell schedule they likely could moving forward.

[Anonymous]

Why are they adding time to each day? I'd like to start later for my high schooler without adding more time on at the back end, thus making practices end even later than they currently do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are they adding time to each day? I'd like to start later for my high schooler without adding more time on at the back end, thus making practices end even later than they currently do.

We had the second lowest instructional time in the region. Lots of parents are asking for additional instruction time (not me)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


Seriously? Sorry, I'm not buying it. Teachers go into teaching for whatever reasons; but they take the job they can get that best suits them. Yeah, sure, they're used to their existing schedules and such; but if you're trying to convince people MS teachers can't do a schedule ES teachers do, you're not convincing me. ES teachers can also have a second job or help with after-school activities.

And "people going into the profession" do not know where they're going to be teaching or what that school or school system's bell schedules are beforehand. Bell schedules are not the same everywhere and graduating teachers-to-be don't know where they're going to end up. Like any profession, you can't always be too choosey and you take what you can and work your way through your career to more desirable situations.

Yes, some teachers might have a drastic change to their schedules after this. But you don't make decisions like this just because it's what everyone is used to. APS shouldn't be implementing this next year - that's the consideration they should give staff and parents both who will have to re-arrange logistics.


That was my point. And the people I see complaining aren’t running to second jobs. They are mad because they live in Fairfax and want to avoid traffic.

They can, but they don't. Most after-school activities at ES schools are run by parents or others. Virtually all clubs and coaching in MS schools are done by the teachers. There is no comparison.

Why can’t Baroody run middle school activities if teachers aren’t interested?

Many (most?) middle a school clubs are run by students, with a specific area of interest, and are overseen by a teacher, in that teacher’s classroom. It’s a different animal than elementary school enrichment classes that parents pay for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


They can, but they don't. Most after-school activities at ES schools are run by parents or others. Virtually all clubs and coaching in MS schools are done by the teachers. There is no comparison.


Why can’t Baroody run middle school activities if teachers aren’t interested?

The MS teachers *are* interested. That's why they would like to keep the schedule the way it is so that they can still run clubs after school. Some of them are very academic-based and shouldn't be run by Baroody.

Ok, but there’s no reason outside providers can’t fill in some gaps if needed. I’m sure not all yea hers will decide not to do clubs if the schedule changes.

Many schools have MS clubs that are created by the students and require a teacher sponsor. This would be very difficult with a random outside provider. Also, who would pay for the provider, APS? These activities are "free" to the kids because the teachers donate their time.

Again, some teachers will still sponsor clubs. They don’t all object to the potential changes. I just don’t think we should throw out ideas that could give tweens and teens much needed sleep and start elementary students a start time that better aligns with their sleep rhythms based on the idea that some clubs may not happen. Over the last two years I’ve seen the APS teachers group flooded with people threatening to quit or predicting doom and gloom that has not come to fruition so I’m skeptical it will be so dire.

It’s one thing to quit your job. It’s much easier to quit coaching/sponsoring the activity you’ve had for years because you have a 30-minute drive home at 4, but now have a 50-60 minute drive home at 5:30.

I’m a fan of the three options that make minor adjustments to the middle school bell schedule.

Haven’t we asked these middle school students to adjust to enough in the last few years? It seems cruel to propose these major changes for the 2022-23 school year, given what the last two years of school looked like for these kids.

I think a lot of middle school kids would love extra sleep.

Virtually every one of those kids could get extra sleep by going to bed earlier. Lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:quick question - how would the a later MS time impact those 8th graders that may make a high school JV sports team?

I'm in favor of a later time for my middle schooler but he is also very active after school in activities (at school) and outside school. He loves it and he NEEDS all the physical activity he can get.

If middle school got out later, they would not be able to participate in most high school sports. Practices would start before middle school ends. And little to no middle school sports would be an option.

How many MS kids participate in HS sports? This is a thing?

Also, it’s not any different than kids at HB who go to their “home” HS for sports. They do it, so can the 5 MS kids who play HS sports.

Good point. HB ends latest and they’ve found a way to make it work

For HS. Kids at HB cannot participate in MS sports.

But that's because they don't have MS sports at HB to begin with. HS students go back to their neighborhood HS for sports (except Ultimate). Do MS go back to their home MS for sports now?

[Anonymous]

My kid shouldn't have to wake up at 6:30 so your kid can kick a ball after school. Come on people...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid shouldn't have to wake up at 6:30 so your kid can kick a ball after school. Come on people...

6am...yours gets to sleep until 6:30?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid shouldn't have to wake up at 6:30 so your kid can kick a ball after school. Come on people...

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


Seriously? Sorry, I'm not buying it. Teachers go into teaching for whatever reasons; but they take the job they can get that best suits them. Yeah, sure, they're used to their existing schedules and such; but if you're trying to convince people MS teachers can't do a schedule ES teachers do, you're not convincing me. ES teachers can also have a second job or help with after-school activities.

And "people going into the profession" do not know where they're going to be teaching or what that school or school system's bell schedules are beforehand. Bell schedules are not the same everywhere and graduating teachers-to-be don't know where they're going to end up. Like any profession, you can't always be too choosey and you take what you can and work your way through your career to more desirable situations.

Yes, some teachers might have a drastic change to their schedules after this. But you don't make decisions like this just because it's what everyone is used to. APS shouldn't be implementing this next year - that's the consideration they should give staff and parents both who will have to re-arrange logistics.


That was my point. And the people I see complaining aren’t running to second jobs. They are mad because they live in Fairfax and want to avoid traffic.

They can, but they don't. Most after-school activities at ES schools are run by parents or others. Virtually all clubs and coaching in MS schools are done by the teachers. There is no comparison.

Why can’t Baroody run middle school activities if teachers aren’t interested?

Many (most?) middle a school clubs are run by students, with a specific area of interest, and are overseen by a teacher, in that teacher’s classroom. It’s a different animal than elementary school enrichment classes that parents pay for.

It is now, maybe we will have to be a bit more flexible moving forward. That’s no reason to shelve the idea of it has numerous other benefits across several grade levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:quick question - how would the a later MS time impact those 8th graders that may make a high school JV sports team?

I'm in favor of a later time for my middle schooler but he is also very active after school in activities (at school) and outside school. He loves it and he NEEDS all the physical activity he can get.

If middle school got out later, they would not be able to participate in most high school sports. Practices would start before middle school ends. And little to no middle school sports would be an option.

How many MS kids participate in HS sports? This is a thing?

Also, it’s not any different than kids at HB who go to their “home” HS for sports. They do it, so can the 5 MS kids who play HS sports.

Good point. HB ends latest and they’ve found a way to make it work

For HS. Kids at HB cannot participate in MS sports.

But that's because they don't have MS sports at HB to begin with. HS students go back to their neighborhood HS for sports (except Ultimate). Do MS go back to their home MS for sports now?

To clarify, some MS kids (eg Swanson) okay on their high School (eg W&L) when they are in eighth grade. It’s a way of playing up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:quick question - how would the a later MS time impact those 8th graders that may make a high school JV sports team?

I'm in favor of a later time for my middle schooler but he is also very active after school in activities (at school) and outside school. He loves it and he NEEDS all the physical activity he can get.

If middle school got out later, they would not be able to participate in most high school sports. Practices would start before middle school ends. And little to no middle school sports would be an option.

How many MS kids participate in HS sports? This is a thing?

Also, it’s not any different than kids at HB who go to their “home” HS for sports. They do it, so can the 5 MS kids who play HS sports.

Good point. HB ends latest and they’ve found a way to make it work

For HS. Kids at HB cannot participate in MS sports.

But that's because they don't have MS sports at HB to begin with. HS students go back to their neighborhood HS for sports (except Ultimate). Do MS go back to their home MS for sports now?

To clarify, some MS kids (eg Swanson) play on their high School (eg W&L) teams when they are in eighth grade. It’s a way of playing up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:quick question - how would the a later MS time impact those 8th graders that may make a high school JV sports team?

I'm in favor of a later time for my middle schooler but he is also very active after school in activities (at school) and outside school. He loves it and he NEEDS all the physical activity he can get.

If middle school got out later, they would not be able to participate in most high school sports. Practices would start before middle school ends. And little to no middle school sports would be an option.

How many MS kids participate in HS sports? This is a thing?

Also, it’s not any different than kids at HB who go to their “home” HS for sports. They do it, so can the 5 MS kids who play HS sports.

Good point. HB ends latest and they’ve found a way to make it work

For HS. Kids at HB cannot participate in MS sports.

But that's because they don't have MS sports at HB to begin with. HS students go back to their neighborhood HS for sports (except Ultimate). Do MS go back to their home MS for sports now?

No. HB MS kids cannot participate in MS sports at any school. By the time they get out of school, all the MS practices/games/meets are over or nearly over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


They can, but they don't. Most after-school activities at ES schools are run by parents or others. Virtually all clubs and coaching in MS schools are done by the teachers. There is no comparison.


Why can’t Baroody run middle school activities if teachers aren’t interested?

The MS teachers *are* interested. That's why they would like to keep the schedule the way it is so that they can still run clubs after school. Some of them are very academic-based and shouldn't be run by Baroody.

Ok, but there’s no reason outside providers can’t fill in some gaps if needed. I’m sure not all yea hers will decide not to do clubs if the schedule changes.

Many schools have MS clubs that are created by the students and require a teacher sponsor. This would be very difficult with a random outside provider. Also, who would pay for the provider, APS? These activities are "free" to the kids because the teachers donate their time.

Again, some teachers will still sponsor clubs. They don’t all object to the potential changes. I just don’t think we should throw out ideas that could give tweens and teens much needed sleep and start elementary students a start time that better aligns with their sleep rhythms based on the idea that some clubs may not happen. Over the last two years I’ve seen the APS teachers group flooded with people threatening to quit or predicting doom and gloom that has not come to fruition so I’m skeptical it will be so dire.

It’s one thing to quit your job. It’s much easier to quit coaching/sponsoring the activity you’ve had for years because you have a 30-minute drive home at 4, but now have a 50-60 minute drive home at 5:30.

I’m a fan of the three options that make minor adjustments to the middle school bell schedule.

Haven’t we asked these middle school students to adjust to enough in the last few years? It seems cruel to propose these major changes for the 2022-23 school year, given what the last two years of school looked like for these kids.

I think a lot of middle school kids would love extra sleep.

Virtually every one of those kids could get extra sleep by going to bed earlier. Lol.

Ah, there goes the research denier again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:quick question - how would the a later MS time impact those 8th graders that may make a high school JV sports team?

I'm in favor of a later time for my middle schooler but he is also very active after school in activities (at school) and outside school. He loves it and he NEEDS all the physical activity he can get.

If middle school got out later, they would not be able to participate in most high school sports. Practices would start before middle school ends. And little to no middle school sports would be an option.

How many MS kids participate in HS sports? This is a thing?

Also, it’s not any different than kids at HB who go to their “home” HS for sports. They do it, so can the 5 MS kids who play HS sports.

Good point. HB ends latest and they’ve found a way to make it work

For HS. Kids at HB cannot participate in MS sports.

But that's because they don't have MS sports at HB to begin with. HS students go back to their neighborhood HS for sports (except Ultimate). Do MS go back to their home MS for sports now?

To clarify, some MS kids (eg Swanson) okay on their high School (eg W&L) when they are in eighth grade. It’s a way of playing up.

Do we know how many kids actually do this?