Why not late opening instead of early dismissal?

[Anonymous]

I love the idea of late starts for so many reasons
- kids can sleep in (great for MS and HS)
- easier for me as a parent to go in 2 hours late than come home early (this is likely family specific)
- also easier for a conference for some parents
- better for professional development - I've found teachers more focused for morning sessions than afternoon when they are exhausted from teaching a 1/2 day

However -- I think it is harder for many families to get their kids to school or plan for child care in the morning. Also - to count as a school day, lunch must be offered, lunch periods start extremely early in some buildings so that scheduling could be difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the idea of late starts for so many reasons
- kids can sleep in (great for MS and HS)
- easier for me as a parent to go in 2 hours late than come home early (this is likely family specific)
- also easier for a conference for some parents
- better for professional development - I've found teachers more focused for morning sessions than afternoon when they are exhausted from teaching a 1/2 day

However -- I think it is harder for many families to get their kids to school or plan for child care in the morning. Also - to count as a school day, lunch must be offered, lunch periods start extremely early in some buildings so that scheduling could be difficult.

You can go in later but many of us cannot and taking off the afternoon is better for me. Kids cannot sleep in if parents have to drop them off early as there is no bus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the idea of late starts for so many reasons
- kids can sleep in (great for MS and HS)
- easier for me as a parent to go in 2 hours late than come home early (this is likely family specific)
- also easier for a conference for some parents
- better for professional development - I've found teachers more focused for morning sessions than afternoon when they are exhausted from teaching a 1/2 day

However -- I think it is harder for many families to get their kids to school or plan for child care in the morning. Also - to count as a school day, lunch must be offered, lunch periods start extremely early in some buildings so that scheduling could be difficult.

You can go in later but many of us cannot and taking off the afternoon is better for me. Kids cannot sleep in if parents have to drop them off early as there is no bus.

Yeah obviously different people have different work schedules and preferences. I’m not so sure the early release is easier for more people than late start. I’d be curious if they did a poll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids would love a late opening instead of an early dismissal, but to keep things simple, MCPS tries to keep things consistent and only have 2 hour delayed openings or early dismissal 2 1/2 hours early. Either p/t conferences would have to fit into a shorter period in the mornings or MCPS would have to introduce a whole new delayed opening time.

I think this is the real explanation.

We would definitely love a late opening.

[Anonymous]

Can't parent teacher conferences be scheduled over a week M-Thurs eve 5pm - 8pm if 12 hours is even necessary. Require parents to sign up. Some parents need the entire time period, others don't use up all 10-15min.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the idea of late starts for so many reasons
- kids can sleep in (great for MS and HS)
- easier for me as a parent to go in 2 hours late than come home early (this is likely family specific)
- also easier for a conference for some parents
- better for professional development - I've found teachers more focused for morning sessions than afternoon when they are exhausted from teaching a 1/2 day

However -- I think it is harder for many families to get their kids to school or plan for child care in the morning. Also - to count as a school day, lunch must be offered, lunch periods start extremely early in some buildings so that scheduling could be difficult.

You can go in later but many of us cannot and taking off the afternoon is better for me. Kids cannot sleep in if parents have to drop them off early as there is no bus.

Yeah obviously different people have different work schedules and preferences. I’m not so sure the early release is easier for more people than late start. I’d be curious if they did a poll.

Most elementary schools have morning child care if space is available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't parent teacher conferences be scheduled over a week M-Thurs eve 5pm - 8pm if 12 hours is even necessary. Require parents to sign up. Some parents need the entire time period, others don't use up all 10-15min.

Because teachers have to be paid for that time and it's an unreasonable ask given they have their own families and lives.

[Anonymous]

Because teachers want to be done early

[Anonymous]

I love this idea. DC will graduate in a few years anyway, but this would have been very helpful.

[Anonymous]

I think consistent start schedule is better for the routine than the small benefit of extra sleep on random late start days.

I think lunchtime is stupid, though. They should dismiss before lunch, and serve food at lunch club for people who need school lunch, and hold the busses for 20minutes so kids can eat before bus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't parent teacher conferences be scheduled over a week M-Thurs eve 5pm - 8pm if 12 hours is even necessary. Require parents to sign up. Some parents need the entire time period, others don't use up all 10-15min.

That is such a hard time for parents with young kids to attend a conference

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't parent teacher conferences be scheduled over a week M-Thurs eve 5pm - 8pm if 12 hours is even necessary. Require parents to sign up. Some parents need the entire time period, others don't use up all 10-15min.

That is such a hard time for parents with young kids to attend a conference

Attend as a parent? It's about 1.5 hrs or less one night a year if in MS or HS. Hire a babysitter, or if you have a co-parent, one of you stay with kids.

If it's hard for teachers to be there for 1-2 nights, maybe the school ptsa can organize babysitting services through an after care program for potty trained and older kids of the teachers who are working late hours on one or two nights that week. English and Math teachers have conferences on Mondays, Social Studies and Science on Tues eve, other teachers the other night. Etc. Kids can also stay home on own after age 9yrs in most states.

[Anonymous]

Instead of two half days in a row, why not just one full day?!? I personally HATE half days.

While I don't have an issue making in person teacher conferences, my spouse does. He works like 30 min away. Private sector mostly uses zoom and it would be a nice option if it were offered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't parent teacher conferences be scheduled over a week M-Thurs eve 5pm - 8pm if 12 hours is even necessary. Require parents to sign up. Some parents need the entire time period, others don't use up all 10-15min.

That is such a hard time for parents with young kids to attend a conference

Attend as a parent? It's about 1.5 hrs or less one night a year if in MS or HS. Hire a babysitter, or if you have a co-parent, one of you stay with kids.

If it's hard for teachers to be there for 1-2 nights, maybe the school ptsa can organize babysitting services through an after care program for potty trained and older kids of the teachers who are working late hours on one or two nights that week. English and Math teachers have conferences on Mondays, Social Studies and Science on Tues eve, other teachers the other night. Etc. Kids can also stay home on own after age 9yrs in most states.

Im just saying I would not like that time. My youngest is a toddler. Often the case for parents with ES kids. My ES kids are in bed by 8. We need that after school time to do homework, have dinner…. Things that are difficult to outsource. Obviously there are events we have to do this for, but I much prefer the earlier times and I think the teachers do too.

[Anonymous]

Im a teacher and i said screw it and took this whole week off work. No regrets