Calendar survey

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think January - Spring break in late March/early April is too long with no break.

The Fall is full of lots of breaks. That winter slog sucks for both teachers and students. But, that wasn't an option either!

Agree! So many days in Fall. No need for more on Thanksgiving week. Put it mid-winter when we are dragging!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It need an other option or comments field so people could vote for less half days. And if we’re going to have them let them all be Fridays or late start.

+1 Consensus!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd love a 2-week winter break.

That would take away from so many other days we have off. I get antsy after a week off and would rather have other long weekends here and there. It's so expensive to travel that time of year, and the weather is junk that I don't want to sit around being cold and bored.

It wouldn't have to take away from other days off if the first day of school was a week earlier. That was one of the questions on the survey.

Ick that's a BIG no from me if that's the trade off. I was the one who said 2 week winter break is too long.

And yes, I'm sure it's based on what you're used to. My family is all in NY and every year they're confused why we can't plan something with them over mid winter/ Feb break.

What two week winter break are you referring to? It's ten days. It's so short already. Plan better. Use that time to for break with your NY family. This isnt hard or difficult.

I don't feel like it's too short. With it being expensive and crowded to travel Christmas week, I really don't want it to be any longer, which is one of the proposals. I find that it already drags on. I don't want extra days to be taken from the beginning or end of the year to make that longer.

And I wasn't complaining about not having Feb. My family who still gets Fed thinks it's weird that I don't.

My family in AZ has a week long fall break. They also have half days every Wednesday. We all recognize that different states/ cities/ counties have different calendars. It's not "weird," that's life. It's amazing there are people out there who think this way.

[Anonymous]

They have another survey (or two) later on in the process, after the committee first meets to look at the options. IIRC, last year that survey included a comments field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It need an other option or comments field so people could vote for less half days. And if we’re going to have them let them all be Fridays or late start.

+1 Consensus!

I get the sense they know this would be overwhelmingly popular with parents but must do it for other reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It need an other option or comments field so people could vote for less half days. And if we’re going to have them let them all be Fridays or late start.

+1 Consensus!

I get the sense they know this would be overwhelmingly popular with parents but must do it for other reasons.

They omit questions like that to steer the conversation away from things like that. This is mostly a way they give employees more time off while meeting state reqs. Parents and students lose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It need an other option or comments field so people could vote for less half days. And if we’re going to have them let them all be Fridays or late start.

+1 Consensus!

I get the sense they know this would be overwhelmingly popular with parents but must do it for other reasons.

They omit questions like that to steer the conversation away from things like that. This is mostly a way they give employees more time off while meeting state reqs. Parents and students lose.

Employees aren't getting more time off with most of the half days. They're in meetings and trainings, and most would probably rather be with their students or given time to catch up on planning or grading. And they don't put them on Fridays becuase then teachers would figure it was an easy day to take off, and not have enough sub coverage. Everyone loses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It need an other option or comments field so people could vote for less half days. And if we’re going to have them let them all be Fridays or late start.

+1 Consensus!

I get the sense they know this would be overwhelmingly popular with parents but must do it for other reasons.

They omit questions like that to steer the conversation away from things like that. This is mostly a way they give employees more time off while meeting state reqs. Parents and students lose.

Employees aren't getting more time off with most of the half days. They're in meetings and trainings, and most would probably rather be with their students or given time to catch up on planning or grading. And they don't put them on Fridays becuase then teachers would figure it was an easy day to take off, and not have enough sub coverage. Everyone loses.

Isn’t this Friday a half day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It need an other option or comments field so people could vote for less half days. And if we’re going to have them let them all be Fridays or late start.

+1 Consensus!

I get the sense they know this would be overwhelmingly popular with parents but must do it for other reasons.

They omit questions like that to steer the conversation away from things like that. This is mostly a way they give employees more time off while meeting state reqs. Parents and students lose.

Employees aren't getting more time off with most of the half days. They're in meetings and trainings, and most would probably rather be with their students or given time to catch up on planning or grading. And they don't put them on Fridays becuase then teachers would figure it was an easy day to take off, and not have enough sub coverage. Everyone loses.

Isn’t this Friday a half day?

Yes. Interim grading.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why they have to say that cultural celebrations are marked as non instructional days. Why can't they say Eid or Lunar New Year or Rosh Hashanah

[Anonymous]

I don't understand how a late start half day would be better than an early release day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how a late start half day would be better than an early release day.

I would hate this!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how a late start half day would be better than an early release day.

I would hate this!!

Agreed. I understand the necessity if there's bad weather/driving conditions but not as a half day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how a late start half day would be better than an early release day.

I would hate this!!

Agreed. I understand the necessity if there's bad weather/driving conditions but not as a half day

+2. But to be clear, I don't think MCPS is considering this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why they have to say that cultural celebrations are marked as non instructional days. Why can't they say Eid or Lunar New Year or Rosh Hashanah

It's because the board members in 2014 made that decision. Here is how they explained their thinking at the time:

https://news.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/mcps-board-of-education/following-the-law-on-the-school-calendar/