half-day vs. full-day kindergarten

[Anonymous]

We are moving from Howard County, MD to Fairfax County. We are in the market for a rental th or sfh, and looking mostly in Vienna and the areas reasonably close to Mclean. I thought all fairfax county schools offered full-day kindergarten, like Howard County. I had no idea a good number of their schools only offer half-day. Does anyone know the hours of half-day vs. full-day? Any insight? Pros and Cons? My daughter will be young (turning 5 at the end of August) and starting kindergarten this fall. Since she is younger, going half-day might be beneficial. I don't know?!

[Anonymous]

As of 2011-2012, all Fairfax County Schools have full day Kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

I thought full-day kindergarten was in all schools in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

This was done as of last year. All fcps schools are full day kindergarten and have been for a year now.

[Anonymous]

Oh good! I'm glad that's another factor I don't have to look into now.

[Anonymous]

OP, you may want to know that Mondays is 1/2 day in most FFC schools. The dismissal time varies depending on the school Bell schedule. Just as a heads up.

[Anonymous]

It's not a half-day per se. Dismissal on Mondays is 2 hours earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not a half-day per se. Dismissal on Mondays is 2 hours earlier.

At our school, Mondays are a 2-1/2 hour early dismissal. Tues.-Fri dismissal is 3:55, Mon is 1:25. On days when all FCPS dismiss "2 hours early," our school dismisses a 2:55.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you may want to know that Mondays is 1/2 day in most FFC schools. The dismissal time varies depending on the school Bell schedule. Just as a heads up.

Is this just for K, or for all grades?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you may want to know that Mondays is 1/2 day in most FFC schools. The dismissal time varies depending on the school Bell schedule. Just as a heads up.

Is this just for K, or for all grades?

All elementary. The teachers use Monday afternoons for planning. Been this way since beginning of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you may want to know that Mondays is 1/2 day in most FFC schools. The dismissal time varies depending on the school Bell schedule. Just as a heads up.

Is this just for K, or for all grades?

All elementary. The teachers use Monday afternoons for planning. Been this way since beginning of time.

Good to know. Not very nice for working parents. I'm sure there's a thread somewhere about this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you may want to know that Mondays is 1/2 day in most FFC schools. The dismissal time varies depending on the school Bell schedule. Just as a heads up.

Is this just for K, or for all grades?

All elementary. The teachers use Monday afternoons for planning. Been this way since beginning of time.

Good to know. Not very nice for working parents. I'm sure there's a thread somewhere about this?

Ummm, no. It's been in place since the mid 1990's.
And no, it doesn't mean less instruction. When the switch was made, a half hour was added to the school day Tues-Fri.

[Anonymous]

It's not just Fairfax county. Arlington and Falls Church City both release early on Wednesdays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you may want to know that Mondays is 1/2 day in most FFC schools. The dismissal time varies depending on the school Bell schedule. Just as a heads up.

Is this just for K, or for all grades?

All elementary. The teachers use Monday afternoons for planning. Been this way since beginning of time.

Good to know. Not very nice for working parents. I'm sure there's a thread somewhere about this?

Ummm, no. It's been in place since the mid 1990's.
And no, it doesn't mean less instruction. When the switch was made, a half hour was added to the school day Tues-Fri.

It started well before the mid-90s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not a half-day per se. Dismissal on Mondays is 2 hours earlier.

At our school, Mondays are a 2-1/2 hour early dismissal. Tues.-Fri dismissal is 3:55, Mon is 1:25. On days when all FCPS dismiss "2 hours early," our school dismisses a 2:55.

Correct. They are dismissed 2 1/2 hours early. They are still in school for more than a half day.