End of year conferences?

[Anonymous]

We're new to MCPS this year and I'm wondering if there are end-of-year conferences? I just assumed there would be a conference, but I've heard nothing and the school year is winding down. I've asked around and other parents seem to think there will be no conferences. Don't we need these to discuss how the year has progressed?

[Anonymous]

This is one my pet peeves as well-- they do parent teacher conferences in Nov., when the teacher is just barely getting to know the kid, but they don't ever do them in the Spring. It was surprising to me too, but that just seems to be the way they do it (and I have to admit, given all the scheduling issues that P-T conferences create I guess I can live with it).

[Anonymous]

You can meet with the teacher anytime, just email them and set it up. It isn't that hard to do.

[Anonymous]

We didn't get any type of spring conference last year. This year, DD's teacher scheduled report card conferences with third marking period report cards. I would recommend e-mailing the teacher and asking for a conference or a detailed e-mail with feedback.

[Anonymous]

There is no official period, like in November when MCPS has the 2 half-days to schedule conferences.

I strongly recommend that you contact the teacher and ask for a brief conference for feedback on how the year has gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're new to MCPS this year and I'm wondering if there are end-of-year conferences? I just assumed there would be a conference, but I've heard nothing and the school year is winding down. I've asked around and other parents seem to think there will be no conferences. Don't we need these to discuss how the year has progressed?

not really, no

If there were issues throughout the year, you would have had other conferences along the way. A report card should be enough.

And if YOU, as a parent, had concerns, did you email the teacher for feedback? If not, then you've been satisfied with results. Teachers are not mind readers, after all, and when the year winds down, there is little time to devote to conferences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no official period, like in November when MCPS has the 2 half-days to schedule conferences.

I strongly recommend that you contact the teacher and ask for a brief conference for feedback on how the year has gone.

Really? Do many/most parents do this? I have to say that this year we seem to have a good relationship with the teacher and we've been able to check in on a couple of things here and there so I am not feeling the need that much this year. However, the one year we had an ok teacher I really would have appreciated some feedback later in the year (but part of the problem was that I found her not that responsive when I did try to engage her).

[Anonymous]

11:38 here.

PP, I was telling OP to contact the teacher because she seemed to think she needed an end-of-year assessment beyond the report card. Since it isn't on the school's calendar, if she wants feedback, she should ask for a 15-minute conference! If you have a great relationship with your child's teacher and are secure in how your child is performaing, then there is no need.

Our school has repeatedly said to parents something to the effect of "if you have a concern or question about your child's success/scores/academic performace/whatever, let your teacher know." I also think in that regard that "no news is good news."

I also do not think many people ask for an end-of-year conference. I have not in the past. But if I had a concern, I would.