Is the 22-23 Calendar designed to be an f-u to parents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I, for one, love the new schedule.

It allows us a family to do quick, luxurious vacations when other families have school. Halloween weekend is perfect for a trip to Hilton Head. The two weeks off for winter break is perfect for seeing both families. January- quick pops over for Ski trips. April is perfect for Hawaii.

I understand the backlash. But considering the average household income of the county- I’m not quite sure the complaints here side with the majority. Even when you look at the survey results- 2/3 of the population is generally happy with the calendar.

I prefer long weekends over random half days. I prefer the ability to go away and see family on those long weekends.

I feel bad for those of you who want the kids in school all of the time. But you really should look at the school calendars for other counties. Loudoun is very similar to our. Stafford is a poop show. MCPS- similar.

As for working or single parents not being able to do this- this is why you pay for SACC. This is why SACC exists. It’s super affordable and scaled based on poverty levels.

Finally- for those of you who can’t afford any vacation- which is about 30%- look at other county school calendars. It is the same. Find a county that you like better and post it. We will encourage you to move there!

You are correct, but just because all school calendars contain unnecessary disruptions does not mean that it is not worth considering alternatives.

You can “consider” anything you like. Just don’t expect it to happen.

SACC exists? What a joke? Do you have any idea how long the wait times are to get your kid to SACC?

DP. Yeah I love how PP just assumes SACC is readily available for everyone. We have been on the waiting list since my now second grader was four years old and are still 20-something on the list for afternoon care. We don’t even know if they will get in for third grade. Never mind their younger sibling starting K. They aren’t even letting us put them on the waitlist yet. SACC is a mess thanks to Covid.

I hate this calendar. Winter break should not start until December 22 or 23. Guess which neighboring county does this? Montgomery. Let’s not act like some county further away in VA is more of our neighbor than MCPS. Every public district north of VA that I have ever heard of has a shorter winter break. Two weeks is ridiculous and I say that as a Catholic. Starting two full weeks before Labor Day and not getting out until mid June, with a bunch of short weeks, is awful. I can’t just plan around it as I have to be at work in person on many of those days with no one to take my place if I’m not there. It’s not as simple as just marking the calendar for some of us. Guess I will be spending $$$ on drop in care. Incredibly annoying.

Well, technically Catholic Christmas starts on Christmas Eve and runs through the Epiphany.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“ Oh, how convenient. “And don’t talk about my holiday — just take away everyone else’s.” ”

Not PP but the social reality in this country is that most professional offices shut down the last week of the year and many do in practice for at least part of the week before Xmas. I work with embassies, people I know celebrate other religions, etc - no one emails over Xmas and almost no one emails the week before. Same with Xmas Eve.

The cultural reality is there is no other holiday like this in the US where thing basically just all shut down and so yes it is reasonable for school to align with that timing.

Easter is not the case and I think you saw that from most parents saying it did not matter if we aligned with other districts (that have kept the break with Easter). It was school staff that said not aligning with other districts was too hard.

Federal government doesn’t shut down. Do you not get your mail?

My fed office has about 70% of staff off then, at least in part because...

kids are off too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“ Oh, how convenient. “And don’t talk about my holiday — just take away everyone else’s.” ”

Not PP but the social reality in this country is that most professional offices shut down the last week of the year and many do in practice for at least part of the week before Xmas. I work with embassies, people I know celebrate other religions, etc - no one emails over Xmas and almost no one emails the week before. Same with Xmas Eve.

The cultural reality is there is no other holiday like this in the US where thing basically just all shut down and so yes it is reasonable for school to align with that timing.

Easter is not the case and I think you saw that from most parents saying it did not matter if we aligned with other districts (that have kept the break with Easter). It was school staff that said not aligning with other districts was too hard.

Federal government doesn’t shut down. Do you not get your mail?

My fed office has about 70% of staff off then, at least in part because...

kids are off too.

Chicken-egg

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For all the parents saying screw this, I did. I had a kid at TJ who had to be back for summer classes, then sport and a kid at the base school with a similar situation. And one week for vacation. And I decided we were doing a big family trip to Europe before my older kid graduated. So, I talked to their counselors and explained we needed some family time, and the APs signed off and the kids knew months in advance and scheduled final papers, projects and exams early. And there were no issues and no teachers griped— across 2 different HS.

The next summer was COVID. I am so thankful we travelled when did. It was an amazing trip, and as it turned out, most teachers wrapped up before finals week and getting out early didn’t mean my kids were working 20 hours a day. It did not affect grades. Certainly didn’t affect admissions.

If your kid is in ES or MS, do it. COVID should have taught us to seize chances when they come. And for HS, it can be done. Just talk to the counselor or AP in advance and hold the line of needing family time. They cancel so much school and don’t teach on so many O Days. I don’t want to hear that my kids will be academically harmed by a week in Europe and not school.

What? We’re wondering how we can get kids in school so we can work and your response is ‘go to Europe’? This highlights exactly how out of touch both this area and school board really are. Wow

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they’re back to doing all they can to shorten the summer vacation. The shorter they can make the time out of school, the less kids will need to relearn in the fall.

To add, they’ve been trying to do this for years. Nothing new.

[Anonymous]

“ Federal governmemt essentially shuts down that week from Christmas Eve through January 2nd ”

+1
I work with several Gov agencies and Congress. Yes blue color jobs like mail delivery still are done. But for office type jobs no one is around that time. It is a ghost town

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think summer break is too long? I think it’s actually too short! I prefer the mid June end and starting after Labor Day.

Agree. It is far too short. It is ridiculous that school gets out so late. It is the same number of days just stretched out. Seems easier to have a routine over a longer summer period. Actually I’d prefer a trimester system with longer in between breaks than the usual death by a thousand cuts approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For all the parents saying screw this, I did. I had a kid at TJ who had to be back for summer classes, then sport and a kid at the base school with a similar situation. And one week for vacation. And I decided we were doing a big family trip to Europe before my older kid graduated. So, I talked to their counselors and explained we needed some family time, and the APs signed off and the kids knew months in advance and scheduled final papers, projects and exams early. And there were no issues and no teachers griped— across 2 different HS.

The next summer was COVID. I am so thankful we travelled when did. It was an amazing trip, and as it turned out, most teachers wrapped up before finals week and getting out early didn’t mean my kids were working 20 hours a day. It did not affect grades. Certainly didn’t affect admissions.

If your kid is in ES or MS, do it. COVID should have taught us to seize chances when they come. And for HS, it can be done. Just talk to the counselor or AP in advance and hold the line of needing family time. They cancel so much school and don’t teach on so many O Days. I don’t want to hear that my kids will be academically harmed by a week in Europe and not school.

What? We’re wondering how we can get kids in school so we can work and your response is ‘go to Europe’? This highlights exactly how out of touch both this area and school board really are. Wow

LOL! Let them eat cake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For all the parents saying screw this, I did. I had a kid at TJ who had to be back for summer classes, then sport and a kid at the base school with a similar situation. And one week for vacation. And I decided we were doing a big family trip to Europe before my older kid graduated. So, I talked to their counselors and explained we needed some family time, and the APs signed off and the kids knew months in advance and scheduled final papers, projects and exams early. And there were no issues and no teachers griped— across 2 different HS.

The next summer was COVID. I am so thankful we travelled when did. It was an amazing trip, and as it turned out, most teachers wrapped up before finals week and getting out early didn’t mean my kids were working 20 hours a day. It did not affect grades. Certainly didn’t affect admissions.

If your kid is in ES or MS, do it. COVID should have taught us to seize chances when they come. And for HS, it can be done. Just talk to the counselor or AP in advance and hold the line of needing family time. They cancel so much school and don’t teach on so many O Days. I don’t want to hear that my kids will be academically harmed by a week in Europe and not school.

What? We’re wondering how we can get kids in school so we can work and your response is ‘go to Europe’? This highlights exactly how out of touch both this area and school board really are. Wow

LOL! Let them eat cake.

I guess Europe is closed in July?

[Anonymous]

Most people don't work for the government so they don't get these holidays off, even then FCPS created holidays the federal govt doesn't even use.

[Anonymous]

Do teacher get 4 less pto days? Ridiculous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For all the parents saying screw this, I did. I had a kid at TJ who had to be back for summer classes, then sport and a kid at the base school with a similar situation. And one week for vacation. And I decided we were doing a big family trip to Europe before my older kid graduated. So, I talked to their counselors and explained we needed some family time, and the APs signed off and the kids knew months in advance and scheduled final papers, projects and exams early. And there were no issues and no teachers griped— across 2 different HS.

The next summer was COVID. I am so thankful we travelled when did. It was an amazing trip, and as it turned out, most teachers wrapped up before finals week and getting out early didn’t mean my kids were working 20 hours a day. It did not affect grades. Certainly didn’t affect admissions.

If your kid is in ES or MS, do it. COVID should have taught us to seize chances when they come. And for HS, it can be done. Just talk to the counselor or AP in advance and hold the line of needing family time. They cancel so much school and don’t teach on so many O Days. I don’t want to hear that my kids will be academically harmed by a week in Europe and not school.

What? We’re wondering how we can get kids in school so we can work and your response is ‘go to Europe’? This highlights exactly how out of touch both this area and school board really are. Wow

LOL! Let them eat cake.

The person posting was simply making the point that you should try not to let FCPS and their operations rule your life. If there’s something you want to do and you can do try not to let the school schedule hinder you. For her it’s a family vacation to Europe, for me it might be a road trip to Ohio for a big family wedding.

The world can change in an instant and some opportunities and events are worth missing school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do teacher get 4 less pto days? Ridiculous

Can you explain please?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think summer break is too long? I think it’s actually too short! I prefer the mid June end and starting after Labor Day.

Agree. It is far too short. It is ridiculous that school gets out so late. It is the same number of days just stretched out. Seems easier to have a routine over a longer summer period. Actually I’d prefer a trimester system with longer in between breaks than the usual death by a thousand cuts approach.

Those who don’t want this point to learning loss over the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most people don't work for the government so they don't get these holidays off, even then FCPS created holidays the federal govt doesn't even use.

I work in an office and those weeks are dead. People take time to travel, relax, etc. I go in because it’s SO quiet and very little is expected- it’s like a vacation.