FCPS early release Mondays- updates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sure didn't take long for the teachers union to screw us over.

What does this have to do with the teachers union? They had nothing to do with it. Perhaps you can cite something that shows otherwise.

You don't think it's a coincidence they're going with half days, which are good for teachers, but terrible for kids and families?

The half days are because of Youngkin’s literacy act, not teacher unions.

Did that act specify half days to accommodate the training? No, it didn't.

Do they have the money to pay teachers for this training on non-contracted time....not they didn't. Here we are.

Exactly, it always comes down to money.

Weird the district with the highest budget can’t do what neighboring districts with significantly lower costs do.

It has nothing to do with budget, it has to do with teacher salaries and per student costs. FCPS does spend more than LCPS, but they also have more ESOL students. I don’t know how the SPED numbers compare….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the pyramids have a three hour early release on Nov 25. This is the week of Thanksgiving where they have Wednesday through Friday off, too. They are pushing families now to just take the whole week off.
There is only one full day of school that week on Tuesday, Nov 26.

Right. This is not helpful. If anything, give the early release on Tuesday, so families can get a jump start on DMV traffic to drive to family out of town. Who wants to wait around, piddling around with only 3 hours of school on a Monday and then only 1 full day on Tuesday to then jump on 495 to travel. The kids will rightfully be very unfocused on Tuesday, excited for trips, and holidays. The half Monday adds to this lack of ability to focus.

What is it about any of this which makes you think FCPS remotely cares what’s better for parents, who they routinely vilify?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of the pyramids have a three hour early release on Nov 25. This is the week of Thanksgiving where they have Wednesday through Friday off, too. They are pushing families now to just take the whole week off.
There is only one full day of school that week on Tuesday, Nov 26.

But remember we must all combat absenteeism and if you go to the travel page you’ll find parents being scolded for taking their kids out for such things as traveling abroad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the pyramids have a three hour early release on Nov 25. This is the week of Thanksgiving where they have Wednesday through Friday off, too. They are pushing families now to just take the whole week off.
There is only one full day of school that week on Tuesday, Nov 26.

But remember we must all combat absenteeism and if you go to the travel page you’ll find parents being scolded for taking their kids out for such things as traveling abroad.

Well, many of those students are gone for 3 to 4 weeks

[Anonymous]

Why didn't they just give families full days off?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why didn't they just give families full days off?

Teacher here. Please make the choice with what works best for your family. In all honesty, these days will be chaotic and having one less kid in the class will make my job easier. I say this without snark.

By the time we do opening, mandated recess/lunch, it will be time to start packing up. I maybe will be able to cover one short LA lesson, but pretty much doubt it. Your child will not miss anything I promise. Of course, if you would like you child to attend school, please send them. But don’t feel guilty about taking a family day!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the pyramids have a three hour early release on Nov 25. This is the week of Thanksgiving where they have Wednesday through Friday off, too. They are pushing families now to just take the whole week off.
There is only one full day of school that week on Tuesday, Nov 26.

But remember we must all combat absenteeism and if you go to the travel page you’ll find parents being scolded for taking their kids out for such things as traveling abroad.

Teacher from above. There will be nothing academic covered for ES on 11/25 and only about 30 mins of instruction on 11/26.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why didn't they just give families full days off?

I was told by my principal that that option was discussed quite a bit, but was eliminated because parents already complain about not having five day weeks on the calendar and there weren’t enough resources to spread out across the pyramids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sure didn't take long for the teachers union to screw us over.

You sound really ignorant about how things work in FCPS.

And other people will read it and believe it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sure didn't take long for the teachers union to screw us over.

What does this have to do with the teachers union? They had nothing to do with it. Perhaps you can cite something that shows otherwise.

You don't think it's a coincidence they're going with half days, which are good for teachers, but terrible for kids and families?

The half days are because of Youngkin’s literacy act, not teacher unions.

Did that act specify half days to accommodate the training? No, it didn't.

Do they have the money to pay teachers for this training on non-contracted time....not they didn't. Here we are.

Exactly, it always comes down to money.

Weird the district with the highest budget can’t do what neighboring districts with significantly lower costs do.

It has nothing to do with budget, it has to do with teacher salaries and per student costs. FCPS does spend more than LCPS, but they also have more ESOL students. I don’t know how the SPED numbers compare….

Higher than Loudon, higher than Richmond, higher than Arlington? Weird that no other district took seven half days to implement a statewide requirement…FCPS is just so special.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why didn't they just give families full days off?

I was told by my principal that that option was discussed quite a bit, but was eliminated because parents already complain about not having five day weeks on the calendar and there weren’t enough resources to spread out across the pyramids.

An early departure Monday isn’t a five day week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the pyramids have a three hour early release on Nov 25. This is the week of Thanksgiving where they have Wednesday through Friday off, too. They are pushing families now to just take the whole week off.
There is only one full day of school that week on Tuesday, Nov 26.

But remember we must all combat absenteeism and if you go to the travel page you’ll find parents being scolded for taking their kids out for such things as traveling abroad.

Teacher from above. There will be nothing academic covered for ES on 11/25 and only about 30 mins of instruction on 11/26.

Oh I know. And yet parents who have their kids out will be scolded for contributing to the absenteeism problem in FCPS…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why didn't they just give families full days off?

I was told by my principal that that option was discussed quite a bit, but was eliminated because parents already complain about not having five day weeks on the calendar and there weren’t enough resources to spread out across the pyramids.

An early departure Monday isn’t a five day week.

It really doesn’t matter cause you guys would’ve complained either way

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the pyramids have a three hour early release on Nov 25. This is the week of Thanksgiving where they have Wednesday through Friday off, too. They are pushing families now to just take the whole week off.
There is only one full day of school that week on Tuesday, Nov 26.

But remember we must all combat absenteeism and if you go to the travel page you’ll find parents being scolded for taking their kids out for such things as traveling abroad.

Teacher from above. There will be nothing academic covered for ES on 11/25 and only about 30 mins of instruction on 11/26.

Oh I know. And yet parents who have their kids out will be scolded for contributing to the absenteeism problem in FCPS…

Who is scolding anyone? Just call your child in as absent. Nothing is going to happen to a parent who chooses not to send their child to school on a 1/2 day.

You can even send an email to the attendance line at the beginning if the school year telling them your could will miss these days. Here is a draft that you can send at the beginning of the school year. It is respectful and clear.


Subject: Notification of Scheduled Absences on Early Release Days

Dear [Attendance Office],

I am writing to inform you that my child, [Child’s Name], who is in [Grade/Class], will be absent on the following early release dates due to appointments and family commitments:

- September 16
- October 21
- November 18
- February 10
- March 10
- April 21
- May 12

These dates align with the early releases scheduled this year.

Please let me know if there are any additional steps I need to take to ensure these absences are properly recorded.

Thank you for your understanding and assistance.

Best regards,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the pyramids have a three hour early release on Nov 25. This is the week of Thanksgiving where they have Wednesday through Friday off, too. They are pushing families now to just take the whole week off.
There is only one full day of school that week on Tuesday, Nov 26.

But remember we must all combat absenteeism and if you go to the travel page you’ll find parents being scolded for taking their kids out for such things as traveling abroad.

Teacher from above. There will be nothing academic covered for ES on 11/25 and only about 30 mins of instruction on 11/26.

Oh I know. And yet parents who have their kids out will be scolded for contributing to the absenteeism problem in FCPS…

Who is scolding anyone? Just call your child in as absent. Nothing is going to happen to a parent who chooses not to send their child to school on a 1/2 day.

You can even send an email to the attendance line at the beginning if the school year telling them your could will miss these days. Here is a draft that you can send at the beginning of the school year. It is respectful and clear.


Subject: Notification of Scheduled Absences on Early Release Days

Dear [Attendance Office],

I am writing to inform you that my child, [Child’s Name], who is in [Grade/Class], will be absent on the following early release dates due to appointments and family commitments:

- September 16
- October 21
- November 18
- February 10
- March 10
- April 21
- May 12

These dates align with the early releases scheduled this year.

Please let me know if there are any additional steps I need to take to ensure these absences are properly recorded.

Thank you for your understanding and assistance.

Best regards,

You haven’t seen all the material FCPS has been putting out about avoiding absences and prioritizing time in the classroom? No, nothing is going to “happen” but the tone deafness of complaining when parents take their kids out of school while simultaneously announcing seven wasted schooldays without consulting parents is breathtaking.