1/2 day Wed for 2025-25 school year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're doing Wednesdays to make their attendance numbers look better. Half day Mondays allowed for nice long weekend trips for families. Can't have that! Reid's stated reasoning is insulting to the intelligence of parents. As is the suggestion that less classroom time benefits students who are are already woefully behind.

At least one of her reasons for switching to Mondays makes A LOT of sense and directly impacted my child this year. My child has art on Mondays - between Monday holidays (President's Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Memorial Day, etc...) and the Monday half days, my child's class is FOUR projects behind in art. I know most of the DCUM parents are strivers and don't care about the arts, but my child cares about art and is really upset that she didn't get picked for the art show this year because she was rushed to complete the project that the art teacher selected for the show (that the other kids had completed weeks before over the course of three classes). So I'm fine with choosing a day other than Monday, that particular reason (that no one here is talking about -- specials like art and music) MATTER, especially to the kids.

Sorry that should have read FROM Mondays. Switching to Wednesdays.

But maybe your child will have art on Wednesdays next year, right? ARt teachers in elemetnary teach every day, and it's random what day your child's class has art each year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Problem is there is also zero instruction on these days. Teachers can stay after school for an hour to plan for the next day. I see teachers in and out the same 7 hours the kids are in school. Add 30m for lunch and you have 1.5hrs every day to plan. That’s 7.5hrs a week.

I take home over 3 hours of work A NIGHT. When you see me leave shortly after the students, that’s so I can pick up my own child and take her to therapy. I work while she’s there. I then go home, make dinner, and work an extra 2-3 hours. This is 5 days a week. I then work a full day on Saturdays.

So just because I’m leaving doesn’t mean I’m not working. You’re getting PLENTY of hours out of me, more than my own children get.

Are you an elementary school teacher? I'm really curious about what it is that you're doing during this time at home - 3 hrs a night and all day Saturday? I'm not being mean or rude here, I truly want to know.

Are you serious or are you a troll? I’m a different elementary teacher and have to put in lots of extra hours to prepare all the lessons for my classes. I work on things in the evenings and on weekends (and sometimes early mornings) because there is no time during the school day as I am teaching a roomful of kids with a variety of needs. It takes a lot of time, energy, creativity, stamina, and patience to be a teacher.

yes... this is why ES can't keep teachers-we don't get the planning time the MS and HS teachers get. The job is not doable without the prep and planning. There are days ES teachers barely get to eat lunch~ it's all encompassing and now with all the funding being cut from schools it will get worse.

[Anonymous]

Wait a min...I just learned that prior to 2017 EVERY Monday was a half day?!

How on earth did that get pushed thru? And it went on for years?? No wonder why teachers think this is NBD.

Ffx is nuts. I'm so mad we moved here...for the schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait a min...I just learned that prior to 2017 EVERY Monday was a half day?!

How on earth did that get pushed thru? And it went on for years?? No wonder why teachers think this is NBD.

Ffx is nuts. I'm so mad we moved here...for the schools.

It's very common, and it existed for many years in Fairfax. City of Falls Church still has weekly early release.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're doing Wednesdays to make their attendance numbers look better. Half day Mondays allowed for nice long weekend trips for families. Can't have that! Reid's stated reasoning is insulting to the intelligence of parents. As is the suggestion that less classroom time benefits students who are are already woefully behind.

At least one of her reasons for switching to Mondays makes A LOT of sense and directly impacted my child this year. My child has art on Mondays - between Monday holidays (President's Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Memorial Day, etc...) and the Monday half days, my child's class is FOUR projects behind in art. I know most of the DCUM parents are strivers and don't care about the arts, but my child cares about art and is really upset that she didn't get picked for the art show this year because she was rushed to complete the project that the art teacher selected for the show (that the other kids had completed weeks before over the course of three classes). So I'm fine with choosing a day other than Monday, that particular reason (that no one here is talking about -- specials like art and music) MATTER, especially to the kids.

My child has art on Wednesday's this year. It's not like art only happens 4 days a week. Someone still gets screwed at the end of the day.

Yes but there aren't Wednesday holidays on top of the half day Wednesdays. My child missed several art classes because of Monday holidays PLUS the shortened classes from 1/2 days Mondays. This way, no one is extra behind and the art teacher can pace kids so that the Monday holiday classes have some accelerated days and the Wednesday 1/2 day kids get accelerated lessons once a month. It's surprising to me that you didn't understand this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're doing Wednesdays to make their attendance numbers look better. Half day Mondays allowed for nice long weekend trips for families. Can't have that! Reid's stated reasoning is insulting to the intelligence of parents. As is the suggestion that less classroom time benefits students who are are already woefully behind.

At least one of her reasons for switching to Mondays makes A LOT of sense and directly impacted my child this year. My child has art on Mondays - between Monday holidays (President's Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Memorial Day, etc...) and the Monday half days, my child's class is FOUR projects behind in art. I know most of the DCUM parents are strivers and don't care about the arts, but my child cares about art and is really upset that she didn't get picked for the art show this year because she was rushed to complete the project that the art teacher selected for the show (that the other kids had completed weeks before over the course of three classes). So I'm fine with choosing a day other than Monday, that particular reason (that no one here is talking about -- specials like art and music) MATTER, especially to the kids.

But what if your kid has art on Wednesday next year?

OMG, it will be fine because there are no Wednesday holidays. The idiocy of some of you....not understanding the cumulative effect of Monday holidays AND Monday half days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're doing Wednesdays to make their attendance numbers look better. Half day Mondays allowed for nice long weekend trips for families. Can't have that! Reid's stated reasoning is insulting to the intelligence of parents. As is the suggestion that less classroom time benefits students who are are already woefully behind.

At least one of her reasons for switching to Mondays makes A LOT of sense and directly impacted my child this year. My child has art on Mondays - between Monday holidays (President's Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Memorial Day, etc...) and the Monday half days, my child's class is FOUR projects behind in art. I know most of the DCUM parents are strivers and don't care about the arts, but my child cares about art and is really upset that she didn't get picked for the art show this year because she was rushed to complete the project that the art teacher selected for the show (that the other kids had completed weeks before over the course of three classes). So I'm fine with choosing a day other than Monday, that particular reason (that no one here is talking about -- specials like art and music) MATTER, especially to the kids.

My child has art on Wednesday's this year. It's not like art only happens 4 days a week. Someone still gets screwed at the end of the day.

Yes but there aren't Wednesday holidays on top of the half day Wednesdays. My child missed several art classes because of Monday holidays PLUS the shortened classes from 1/2 days Mondays. This way, no one is extra behind and the art teacher can pace kids so that the Monday holiday classes have some accelerated days and the Wednesday 1/2 day kids get accelerated lessons once a month. It's surprising to me that you didn't understand this.

Because neither day is comparable to say having art on Tuesdays or Thursdays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're doing Wednesdays to make their attendance numbers look better. Half day Mondays allowed for nice long weekend trips for families. Can't have that! Reid's stated reasoning is insulting to the intelligence of parents. As is the suggestion that less classroom time benefits students who are are already woefully behind.

At least one of her reasons for switching to Mondays makes A LOT of sense and directly impacted my child this year. My child has art on Mondays - between Monday holidays (President's Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Memorial Day, etc...) and the Monday half days, my child's class is FOUR projects behind in art. I know most of the DCUM parents are strivers and don't care about the arts, but my child cares about art and is really upset that she didn't get picked for the art show this year because she was rushed to complete the project that the art teacher selected for the show (that the other kids had completed weeks before over the course of three classes). So I'm fine with choosing a day other than Monday, that particular reason (that no one here is talking about -- specials like art and music) MATTER, especially to the kids.

But don't other kids have art on Wednesdays??

🤦🏼‍♀️

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait a min...I just learned that prior to 2017 EVERY Monday was a half day?!

How on earth did that get pushed thru? And it went on for years?? No wonder why teachers think this is NBD.

Ffx is nuts. I'm so mad we moved here...for the schools.

It's very common, and it existed for many years in Fairfax. City of Falls Church still has weekly early release.

It existed in FCPS and was ended very clearly and definitively. Now Reid is trying to start it back up by slipping it into the last 5 minutes of a late night board meeting and an end of year newsletter without explaining why she said it was for state mandated training this year but is forcing it again next year. It’s very shady and not transparent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're doing Wednesdays to make their attendance numbers look better. Half day Mondays allowed for nice long weekend trips for families. Can't have that! Reid's stated reasoning is insulting to the intelligence of parents. As is the suggestion that less classroom time benefits students who are are already woefully behind.

At least one of her reasons for switching to Mondays makes A LOT of sense and directly impacted my child this year. My child has art on Mondays - between Monday holidays (President's Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Memorial Day, etc...) and the Monday half days, my child's class is FOUR projects behind in art. I know most of the DCUM parents are strivers and don't care about the arts, but my child cares about art and is really upset that she didn't get picked for the art show this year because she was rushed to complete the project that the art teacher selected for the show (that the other kids had completed weeks before over the course of three classes). So I'm fine with choosing a day other than Monday, that particular reason (that no one here is talking about -- specials like art and music) MATTER, especially to the kids.

But don't other kids have art on Wednesdays??

The issue is that when the 1 half day a month falls on Mondays that's on top of the other Mondays when school is out for holidays meaning taken together Mondays end up with much much fewer specials. Shifting the 1/2 day to a day when holidays less commonly fall means there are fewer (not none) conflicts on that given day.

This issue could be solved at the local level. When there is an early release Monday, have the Monday schedule on Tuesday that week and skip Tuesday. The next time, have the Monday schedule on Wednesday and skip the Wednesday schedule that week.

I hope every parent here that objects to this becoming a permanent thing is emailing Dr. Reid and their school board reps.

It's fine, they provide free childcare. Or are you upset because you'll miss lunch and exercise class with your girlfriends?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're doing Wednesdays to make their attendance numbers look better. Half day Mondays allowed for nice long weekend trips for families. Can't have that! Reid's stated reasoning is insulting to the intelligence of parents. As is the suggestion that less classroom time benefits students who are are already woefully behind.

At least one of her reasons for switching to Mondays makes A LOT of sense and directly impacted my child this year. My child has art on Mondays - between Monday holidays (President's Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Memorial Day, etc...) and the Monday half days, my child's class is FOUR projects behind in art. I know most of the DCUM parents are strivers and don't care about the arts, but my child cares about art and is really upset that she didn't get picked for the art show this year because she was rushed to complete the project that the art teacher selected for the show (that the other kids had completed weeks before over the course of three classes). So I'm fine with choosing a day other than Monday, that particular reason (that no one here is talking about -- specials like art and music) MATTER, especially to the kids.

My child has art on Wednesday's this year. It's not like art only happens 4 days a week. Someone still gets screwed at the end of the day.

Yes but there aren't Wednesday holidays on top of the half day Wednesdays. My child missed several art classes because of Monday holidays PLUS the shortened classes from 1/2 days Mondays. This way, no one is extra behind and the art teacher can pace kids so that the Monday holiday classes have some accelerated days and the Wednesday 1/2 day kids get accelerated lessons once a month. It's surprising to me that you didn't understand this.

Because neither day is comparable to say having art on Tuesdays or Thursdays.

God help your child with a mama this clueless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really don't like it being on Wednesdays. The half day Mondays was due to Governor, but now this is more permanent by FCPS?

??? It certainly wasn't because of "Governor." Other districts didn't need half day Mondays to adopt the new LA curriculum. FCPS just likes to blame the state for things. Maybe the reason LA scores are up are because of Benchmark, the new state-mandated LA program and not because the kids missed seven Monday afternoons in school (which is a ridiculous hypothesis).

[Anonymous]

I’m just signing my kid up to stay. It “works best for my family” - as the email states.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're doing Wednesdays to make their attendance numbers look better. Half day Mondays allowed for nice long weekend trips for families. Can't have that! Reid's stated reasoning is insulting to the intelligence of parents. As is the suggestion that less classroom time benefits students who are are already woefully behind.

At least one of her reasons for switching to Mondays makes A LOT of sense and directly impacted my child this year. My child has art on Mondays - between Monday holidays (President's Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Memorial Day, etc...) and the Monday half days, my child's class is FOUR projects behind in art. I know most of the DCUM parents are strivers and don't care about the arts, but my child cares about art and is really upset that she didn't get picked for the art show this year because she was rushed to complete the project that the art teacher selected for the show (that the other kids had completed weeks before over the course of three classes). So I'm fine with choosing a day other than Monday, that particular reason (that no one here is talking about -- specials like art and music) MATTER, especially to the kids.

Sorry that should have read FROM Mondays. Switching to Wednesdays.

But maybe your child will have art on Wednesdays next year, right? ARt teachers in elemetnary teach every day, and it's random what day your child's class has art each year.

And that's totally fine. It will just be once a month shorter classes instead of once a month holiday AND once a month shorter classes!!

Silly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't like it being on Wednesdays. The half day Mondays was due to Governor, but now this is more permanent by FCPS?

??? It certainly wasn't because of "Governor." Other districts didn't need half day Mondays to adopt the new LA curriculum. FCPS just likes to blame the state for things. Maybe the reason LA scores are up are because of Benchmark, the new state-mandated LA program and not because the kids missed seven Monday afternoons in school (which is a ridiculous hypothesis).

Try to keep up, lady. You're giving out FALSE INFORMATION. There are two separate things here.

1. Benchmark is NOT a state mandated language arts program. Benchmark is THE NEW FCPS-PURCHASED CURRICULUM. You had the opportunity to review and comment on it last year. We got a million emails about it, there was a website, there were materials available in person to anyone who wanted to schlep over there, etc., it was NOT a surprise to anyone except people who weren't paying attention.

2. The governor signed the Virginia Literacy Act in which THE LAW REQUIRED ADDITIONAL LITERACY TRAINING for teachers. FCPS chose to give once a month half day Mondays to give teachers the time to take that training. Other school systems implemented it differently and used other time for the training.