Senior Skip day on Friday

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD went in and took a test on senior skip day last year, but then skipped the rest of the day. I think I may have called in with an excuse ("previously-planned appointment") for her to leave.

C'mon people! Why are y'all so uptight? Did you not do something similar when you were a senior?

Sure, I skipped classes. I never had my mom lie for me though. Actions have consequences and helping your kid avoid those is pretty crummy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just let your kid sleep in and upon return the next day, just say they were sick. No one cares honestly.

I care. It means I have to write a new version of the test they’re taking Friday, because a significant number will be out. I can’t delay the test because it’s spring break next week, the following two days are work days, and I can’t test the next two blocks after that. If they don’t take it Friday, they have to wait 2.5 weeks to take it.

Those who are out for vacation prearranged taking it early—great! Those who skip won’t do that. They’ll come back from break panicky and begging for extra study materials, asking me to stay after to help them review, etc. They’ll turn in their review assignments late so it will take me longer to grade them. All things I would happily do if they were truly ill, but it’s a sh*t ton of work for me for a kid who just skipped for funsies. (But since mom called it in as a cold, I have to do it)

Sorry, you probably think I have a stick up my butt, but I spend hours planning and preparing plans and contingency plans, and stuff like this is just frustrating. I get it. 17/18 year olds make dumb choices, but it’s frustrating when parents sign off on these dumb choices and say it’s no big deal.

I truly appreciate your perspective. Unfortunately for me, as a parent, the schools have made it so difficult for a parent to sign out a student for anything but illness or doctors appts, I just always use that as an excuse now. Too difficult to be honest and “hope” they excuse the absence. It’s too risky to say, leaving on a plane for a trip and risk not being able to complete the school work. Heck DC was in the school, meeting with his counselor and a teacher marked him unexcused and unable to make up work. Counselor vouched DC was with him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD went in and took a test on senior skip day last year, but then skipped the rest of the day. I think I may have called in with an excuse ("previously-planned appointment") for her to leave.

C'mon people! Why are y'all so uptight? Did you not do something similar when you were a senior?

Sure, I skipped classes. I never had my mom lie for me though. Actions have consequences and helping your kid avoid those is pretty crummy.

Do they have any consequences now? I am not sure about the skipping rules because I have a 6th grader, but when I was in high school we would get assigned detention if we had unexcused absence. After 3 unexcused absence or 6 tardy we got an F for the quarter for that class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since when does senior skip day involve parents??? Kids should skills or not, but what a joke to have parents call in an excused absence. Own it and skip or just go to class.

I graduated in 2007, if we ever skip class we would get a automated phone message saying that we were marked absent for at least one class, My son is in elementary school, but I know they call doing the day now, so don't tell them to call in the absence but let them know so they don't worry that much..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD went in and took a test on senior skip day last year, but then skipped the rest of the day. I think I may have called in with an excuse ("previously-planned appointment") for her to leave.

C'mon people! Why are y'all so uptight? Did you not do something similar when you were a senior?

Yes, and we just took the detention.... Do they even have consequces if they skip ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD went in and took a test on senior skip day last year, but then skipped the rest of the day. I think I may have called in with an excuse ("previously-planned appointment") for her to leave.

C'mon people! Why are y'all so uptight? Did you not do something similar when you were a senior?

Sure, I skipped classes. I never had my mom lie for me though. Actions have consequences and helping your kid avoid those is pretty crummy.

Do they have any consequences now? I am not sure about the skipping rules because I have a 6th grader, but when I was in high school we would get assigned detention if we had unexcused absence. After 3 unexcused absence or 6 tardy we got an F for the quarter for that class.

Not like that, but the consequence is that teachers don’t have to give an opportunity to make up assessments, they can give the 50 and move on. Classwork can be marked late without giving two additional class periods to complete it “on time”.

10 unexcused tardies in one period per quarter = detention (which is pretty impressive how many kids get it since I only see kids ~20-25x per quarter). As far as I know UNX absences don’t have a penalty since often it’s out of kids’ control.

Right now we bend over backwards to accommodate kids’ vacations, soccer tournaments, skip days, etc. if it was just a Friday afternoon once or twice a year for a wedding or funeral, it would be no big deal. On any given day though I have roughly 10% of my class out for a non medical reason. 2-3 kids every block, every day, on a field trip, vacation, sporting event, visiting colleges, etc. The amount of planning to get everyone to take a test is insane. I have to give it on day 1 and then offer 3-4 makeup times over the next week (a mix of 4th period, lunch, after school) to try to get everyone. It is exhausting to coordinate.

[Anonymous]

Since when is senior skip day this early? It used to be after APs and everything else that mattered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just let your kid sleep in and upon return the next day, just say they were sick. No one cares honestly.

I care. It means I have to write a new version of the test they’re taking Friday, because a significant number will be out. I can’t delay the test because it’s spring break next week, the following two days are work days, and I can’t test the next two blocks after that. If they don’t take it Friday, they have to wait 2.5 weeks to take it.

Those who are out for vacation prearranged taking it early—great! Those who skip won’t do that. They’ll come back from break panicky and begging for extra study materials, asking me to stay after to help them review, etc. They’ll turn in their review assignments late so it will take me longer to grade them. All things I would happily do if they were truly ill, but it’s a sh*t ton of work for me for a kid who just skipped for funsies. (But since mom called it in as a cold, I have to do it)

Sorry, you probably think I have a stick up my butt, but I spend hours planning and preparing plans and contingency plans, and stuff like this is just frustrating. I get it. 17/18 year olds make dumb choices, but it’s frustrating when parents sign off on these dumb choices and say it’s no big deal.

Why on earth are you having a test on the Friday before Spring Break? Ridiculous! Poor planning on your part.

Tests should be finished the week before so students have time for retakes.

Because that's how our units work out. I had a test on Friday in one of my classes and then a test this Th/F in another class. We can't test on O-days (like last Monday), we can't test the school two days after Spring Break, that really constrains us when we have 5-7 day units on Block Schedule (secondary math) and are running up against early May AP/SOL dates.

Is it fcps rule cannot give test first 2 days back from any long holiday? So different from private then— several privates in NOVA area, for example, had their major unit tests the first days/week back from winter break. Guess FCPS parents would go nuts on that.

It may just be our school. Then again, it hasn't come out as policy direct to staff but was published in the newsletter to families 🙄.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just let your kid sleep in and upon return the next day, just say they were sick. No one cares honestly.

I care. It means I have to write a new version of the test they’re taking Friday, because a significant number will be out. I can’t delay the test because it’s spring break next week, the following two days are work days, and I can’t test the next two blocks after that. If they don’t take it Friday, they have to wait 2.5 weeks to take it.

Those who are out for vacation prearranged taking it early—great! Those who skip won’t do that. They’ll come back from break panicky and begging for extra study materials, asking me to stay after to help them review, etc. They’ll turn in their review assignments late so it will take me longer to grade them. All things I would happily do if they were truly ill, but it’s a sh*t ton of work for me for a kid who just skipped for funsies. (But since mom called it in as a cold, I have to do it)

Sorry, you probably think I have a stick up my butt, but I spend hours planning and preparing plans and contingency plans, and stuff like this is just frustrating. I get it. 17/18 year olds make dumb choices, but it’s frustrating when parents sign off on these dumb choices and say it’s no big deal.

Why on earth are you having a test on the Friday before Spring Break? Ridiculous! Poor planning on your part.

Tests should be finished the week before so students have time for retakes.

Because that's how our units work out. I had a test on Friday in one of my classes and then a test this Th/F in another class. We can't test on O-days (like last Monday), we can't test the school two days after Spring Break, that really constrains us when we have 5-7 day units on Block Schedule (secondary math) and are running up against early May AP/SOL dates.

Don’t feel like you need to justify it. That’s a school day, and therefore you can schedule a test for it. It’s perfectly reasonable.

Vacations, skip days… those are not valid excuses. The “poor planning” poster has no leg to stand on here.

Parent, not a teacher, and agree.

I am blown away by the anti- teacher posters, who likely wouldn't last a day in the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since when is senior skip day this early? It used to be after APs and everything else that mattered.

I guess is before Spring Break, and last day of the marking period, so there grades will not change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just let your kid sleep in and upon return the next day, just say they were sick. No one cares honestly.

I care. It means I have to write a new version of the test they’re taking Friday, because a significant number will be out. I can’t delay the test because it’s spring break next week, the following two days are work days, and I can’t test the next two blocks after that. If they don’t take it Friday, they have to wait 2.5 weeks to take it.

Those who are out for vacation prearranged taking it early—great! Those who skip won’t do that. They’ll come back from break panicky and begging for extra study materials, asking me to stay after to help them review, etc. They’ll turn in their review assignments late so it will take me longer to grade them. All things I would happily do if they were truly ill, but it’s a sh*t ton of work for me for a kid who just skipped for funsies. (But since mom called it in as a cold, I have to do it)

Sorry, you probably think I have a stick up my butt, but I spend hours planning and preparing plans and contingency plans, and stuff like this is just frustrating. I get it. 17/18 year olds make dumb choices, but it’s frustrating when parents sign off on these dumb choices and say it’s no big deal.

Agree 100%. Another teacher.

Teaching 101. Plan better. Don't schedule a test the Friday before spring break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since when is senior skip day this early? It used to be after APs and everything else that mattered.

Hah. My high school has had 4 or 5 so far this year. They are rampant.

—teacher

[Anonymous]

So glad my kids don't have teachers giving tests on Friday. My kids will be there but it's just poor planning. My HS kid had 5 exams this week. None on Friday. Last 2 will be tomorrow. My kids will be in school but come Friday they're checked out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So glad my kids don't have teachers giving tests on Friday. My kids will be there but it's just poor planning. My HS kid had 5 exams this week. None on Friday. Last 2 will be tomorrow. My kids will be in school but come Friday they're checked out.

My kid also has 5 or 6 exams this week and two of them are on Friday. So much for all of the times admin said a rolling grade book would alleviate this since there was no need to fit things into a particular quarter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So glad my kids don't have teachers giving tests on Friday. My kids will be there but it's just poor planning. My HS kid had 5 exams this week. None on Friday. Last 2 will be tomorrow. My kids will be in school but come Friday they're checked out.

My kid also has 5 or 6 exams this week and two of them are on Friday. So much for all of the times admin said a rolling grade book would alleviate this since there was no need to fit things into a particular quarter.

It’s less about the end of the quarter and more about spring break. Just like the week before winter break is filled with tests (even though it’s not the end of the quarter). Kids don’t retain knowledge over breaks, it is a kindness to them to get assessments done before they forget about school for almost 2 weeks.