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

[Anonymous]

2.5 - It was a one-time literacy training.

3. The FCPS administration is now implementing a new ONCE A MONTH half-day Wednesday for PLANNING. It's not tied to 1 or 2 above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It's art. Who cares..

[Anonymous]

When my kids started in FCPS I was surprised they had dropped half day Mondays. It makes sense as a tactic for planning time! While Wednesday's are tough from a family perspective, they will for sure help reduce less ideal habits (just taking long weekends), plus Wednesday is an ideal day for planning time, teachers can use the time to react to things from the start of the week and prepare for the remainder of the week. I do wish there were some more creative solutions for this time for students--assembly, extra recess, electives, etc. Only have busses at regular time, but let parents know that there are no attendance impacts if they want to pick up kids for appointments or other activities.

I do really wish the email wasn't so transparently trying to make up a reason. Instead it just showcased poor critical thinking about causation-which doesn't bode well for teaching kids to be good critical thinkers.

I would also like to see the school system keeping track of data on things like teacher absences on planning Wednesdays, how many meetings get scheduled for that time, and if after implementing teachers actually indicate that they have the time they need to plan. I could easily see it becoming a catchall time for more meetings, unimportant tasks, or an easy day for teachers to justify taking their own appointments. If it's not being used properly id like to see the system adapt based on new information.

[Anonymous]

The "half day Mondays" prior to 2017 were 2 hour early releases...not half days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my kids started in FCPS I was surprised they had dropped half day Mondays. It makes sense as a tactic for planning time! While Wednesday's are tough from a family perspective, they will for sure help reduce less ideal habits (just taking long weekends), plus Wednesday is an ideal day for planning time, teachers can use the time to react to things from the start of the week and prepare for the remainder of the week. I do wish there were some more creative solutions for this time for students--assembly, extra recess, electives, etc. Only have busses at regular time, but let parents know that there are no attendance impacts if they want to pick up kids for appointments or other activities.

I do really wish the email wasn't so transparently trying to make up a reason. Instead it just showcased poor critical thinking about causation-which doesn't bode well for teaching kids to be good critical thinkers.

I would also like to see the school system keeping track of data on things like teacher absences on planning Wednesdays, how many meetings get scheduled for that time, and if after implementing teachers actually indicate that they have the time they need to plan. I could easily see it becoming a catchall time for more meetings, unimportant tasks, or an easy day for teachers to justify taking their own appointments. If it's not being used properly id like to see the system adapt based on new information.

Thinking about creative solutions, wouldn't this be a great time to create high school/elementary school partnerships.

[Anonymous]

Huh? High school students are in class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The "half day Mondays" prior to 2017 were 2 hour early releases...not half days.

They stopped in 2014. School year 2013-2014 was the last year they did early release Mondays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

My work has mandatory meetings on Wednesday. It’s easier to take time off on Monday or Friday.
This year my DS went to the childcare once and said they just sat there and had to be silent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The "half day Mondays" prior to 2017 were 2 hour early releases...not half days.

+1
Correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It's art. Who cares..

My kid cares, and that's important to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The "half day Mondays" prior to 2017 were 2 hour early releases...not half days.

And these are 3 hr early release, not half days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "half day Mondays" prior to 2017 were 2 hour early releases...not half days.

And these are 3 hr early release, not half days.

That makes a HUGE difference. They get 3 hours and 45 minutes at school. Way more than a half day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The "half day Mondays" prior to 2017 were 2 hour early releases...not half days.

Thank you. This is absolutely correct. And it did not include childcare. That’s the part that is killing my principal. She has to put together a 3-hour childcare program. It’s not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "half day Mondays" prior to 2017 were 2 hour early releases...not half days.

They stopped in 2014. School year 2013-2014 was the last year they did early release Mondays.

You're right, sorry about that. And if I read right it was actually a 2.5 hour early release.
https://wtop.com/news/2014/06/fairfax-county-school-board-eliminates-monday-half-days/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

My work has mandatory meetings on Wednesday. It’s easier to take time off on Monday or Friday.
This year my DS went to the childcare once and said they just sat there and had to be silent.

I highly doubt your kid had to be silent for 3 hours. My kid did the childcare, and yes, there was a portion that was reading or doing something quiet… which there would be on a normal afternoon. The rest of the time was playing outside or playing board games.

While my kid wasn’t thrilled to stay after when others went home, it was fine. I was thankful as a parent. And these things build resilience in kids — they make the best of it.

If you are taking time off because of these, that’s on you - the school is giving you a reasonable option.