Calendar Adjustments: Please advocate to end Transition Day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I support ending transition day. We were new to the county last year and had kids attending transition day at both the elementary and middle school levels. A full day of "orientation" activities was just too much. A shorter orientation activity prior to the first week of school would have served that purpose much better. Both schools, in our experience, were just trying to fill the time that day, kind of waiting it out before starting school the next day. And then they seemed to repeat similar activities on the first day of school, which certainly didn't make my sixth grader happy. Kids can only do so many scavenger hunts and team building games before they are entirely over it. I personally wouldn't even send my kids to transition day again if it applied to us.

Does anyone understand where this concept came from or why Taylor clings to it for dear life? It's so counterintuitive to introduce kids of any age to a new environment by subjecting them to six hours of orientation. And to use a full day for this instead of using it to start the year off strong at the start of a week seems very shortsighted. I'm just not sure why Taylor and the Board don't let it go, return that lost emergency day, and move on.

It was an "innovation" he brought from his last school district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The addition of Transition Day is what dropped us from 2 to 1 snow day. If we get rid of transition day and return to the preserve orientation model, we will automatically get an additional snow day back in the calendar. There is no downside to that.

No we won't. They will still plan for 181 days. They won't go back to 182.

The entire goal of the proposed calendar adjustments is to add days to the school year. They are trying to get from 181 to 184. If they revert Transition Day to a regular school day, they get to 182 immediately. That leaves only two other calendar adjustments to get to their proposed goal: Make November 9 and December 23 school days. Done.

Wrong they aren't proposing adding any days. They want to start the school year three days early so they can end it three days early so they can make up snow days after the school year ends but before Juneteenth to comply with what the State BOE directed.

Exactly. They will still only have 181 days, no matter what they choose.

Not true - if they eliminate transition day, they will automatically be up to 182 days without changing anything else. When transition day was added, it dropped our total instructional days from 182 to 181. They literally used an emergency day to implement that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they need to keep transition day for this year. Families that need their kids to attend have made summer plans already. It's not fair for them to have to send their kids the week before. I'd support getting rid of transition day in the future as long as families are told that they will need to have their kids go to school during preservice week if they want them to experirence it.

Yeah but if they don't get rid of transition day, that potentially means the entire week earlier of school. Missing orientation during the pre-service week is much less of a big deal. Not going to orientation isn't the end of the world. Kids will figure it out. None of us had these days growing up and we all figured life out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they need to keep transition day for this year. Families that need their kids to attend have made summer plans already. It's not fair for them to have to send their kids the week before. I'd support getting rid of transition day in the future as long as families are told that they will need to have their kids go to school during preservice week if they want them to experirence it.

Yeah but if they don't get rid of transition day, that potentially means the entire week earlier of school. Missing orientation during the pre-service week is much less of a big deal. Not going to orientation isn't the end of the world. Kids will figure it out. None of us had these days growing up and we all figured life out.

I have a rising 9th grader who is not planning to attend transition day based on the terrible reviews from parents and students who went last year. A huge waste of time, apparently. They repeat the same information on the first day of school. They have to because so many kids don't attend orientation no matter what the format.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The addition of Transition Day is what dropped us from 2 to 1 snow day. If we get rid of transition day and return to the preserve orientation model, we will automatically get an additional snow day back in the calendar. There is no downside to that.

No we won't. They will still plan for 181 days. They won't go back to 182.

The entire goal of the proposed calendar adjustments is to add days to the school year. They are trying to get from 181 to 184. If they revert Transition Day to a regular school day, they get to 182 immediately. That leaves only two other calendar adjustments to get to their proposed goal: Make November 9 and December 23 school days. Done.

Wrong they aren't proposing adding any days. They want to start the school year three days early so they can end it three days early so they can make up snow days after the school year ends but before Juneteenth to comply with what the State BOE directed.

Exactly. They will still only have 181 days, no matter what they choose.

Not true - if they eliminate transition day, they will automatically be up to 182 days without changing anything else. When transition day was added, it dropped our total instructional days from 182 to 181. They literally used an emergency day to implement that.

They will still have 181. Their goal is to add contingency days to the end of the calendar so they can apply for a waiver. There are new requirements to be able to obtain a waiver.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether they have transition day or not doesn’t really matter for the calendar. Are you advocating for us to start on 8/19 instead of 8/20 then? Because I want to make sure we start as scheduled on 8/24. My focus is them using the days they actually have already designated as makeup days as such regardless of if they are holidays or not

Respectfully, I think you're missing the point. August 24 is not really the first day of school - it is Transition Day. This day does not count toward the 180 day school year. Even if we start the week of August 24, orientation/transition should be returned to being a 1/2 day the week before school starts. The first day of school, no matter which week, should be on Monday and should be the first day of school for all students - not a made up full day orientation for grades K, 6, and 9 that doesn't count as a school day.

OP is saying that the elimination of the August 24 transition day (instead making it day one of the school year) helps to solve the problem of getting one snow day back.

My point is that this could backfire and make it start even earlier. No thanks. MCPS already has a calendar that works if they’re willing to use the makeup days they’ve designated, they’re just unwilling to say that yes they will use Eid or Passover.

1 of the makeup days tbe Superintendent is designating is in December. 5 of them are after the last day of school. We are literally going to repeat history next year

That's only if the Board passes the Superintendent's proposal... I know that's the most likely outcome with this rubber stamp of a board. But the more we can advocate for them to actually use what they already passed, the better.

They aren't going to use those makeup days. It does not matter what we say. The politicians only care about optics.

If the survey results show the public strongly prefers to use the religious holiday makeup days, rather than starting early or shortening breaks, then how about those optics?

The problem is that the minute the announce that they are using Eid as a make up day the Muslim groups will make a big stink and they will be kind of right because Eid is a big deal and Christians don't need Easter Monday and Good Friday (on top of Christmas). Instead of lobbying to reduce instructional days, MCPS should be lobbying to be allowed to have school on Good Friday and Easter Monday and Presidents Day. They added a bunch of holidays and they need to take some away that don't really matter to people. It's not hard.

Most of the Muslims I know have no problem with Eid being a school day because celebration doesn’t begin until the evening. So that’s one day.

Getting rid of the transition day would be another day.

Ditching Easter Monday would be another day.

And ditching one teacher in service day and making it a floating day of the teacher’s choice, would give a third day. Not to mention allow teachers and teams to take the training that is actually needed or helpful to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether they have transition day or not doesn’t really matter for the calendar. Are you advocating for us to start on 8/19 instead of 8/20 then? Because I want to make sure we start as scheduled on 8/24. My focus is them using the days they actually have already designated as makeup days as such regardless of if they are holidays or not

Respectfully, I think you're missing the point. August 24 is not really the first day of school - it is Transition Day. This day does not count toward the 180 day school year. Even if we start the week of August 24, orientation/transition should be returned to being a 1/2 day the week before school starts. The first day of school, no matter which week, should be on Monday and should be the first day of school for all students - not a made up full day orientation for grades K, 6, and 9 that doesn't count as a school day.

OP is saying that the elimination of the August 24 transition day (instead making it day one of the school year) helps to solve the problem of getting one snow day back.

My point is that this could backfire and make it start even earlier. No thanks. MCPS already has a calendar that works if they’re willing to use the makeup days they’ve designated, they’re just unwilling to say that yes they will use Eid or Passover.

1 of the makeup days tbe Superintendent is designating is in December. 5 of them are after the last day of school. We are literally going to repeat history next year

That's only if the Board passes the Superintendent's proposal... I know that's the most likely outcome with this rubber stamp of a board. But the more we can advocate for them to actually use what they already passed, the better.

They aren't going to use those makeup days. It does not matter what we say. The politicians only care about optics.

If the survey results show the public strongly prefers to use the religious holiday makeup days, rather than starting early or shortening breaks, then how about those optics?

The problem is that the minute the announce that they are using Eid as a make up day the Muslim groups will make a big stink and they will be kind of right because Eid is a big deal and Christians don't need Easter Monday and Good Friday (on top of Christmas). Instead of lobbying to reduce instructional days, MCPS should be lobbying to be allowed to have school on Good Friday and Easter Monday and Presidents Day. They added a bunch of holidays and they need to take some away that don't really matter to people. It's not hard.

Most of the Muslims I know have no problem with Eid being a school day because celebration doesn’t begin until the evening. So that’s one day.

Getting rid of the transition day would be another day.

Ditching Easter Monday would be another day.

And ditching one teacher in service day and making it a floating day of the teacher’s choice, would give a third day. Not to mention allow teachers and teams to take the training that is actually needed or helpful to them.

They can't schedule for Easter Monday without a change in state law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether they have transition day or not doesn’t really matter for the calendar. Are you advocating for us to start on 8/19 instead of 8/20 then? Because I want to make sure we start as scheduled on 8/24. My focus is them using the days they actually have already designated as makeup days as such regardless of if they are holidays or not

Respectfully, I think you're missing the point. August 24 is not really the first day of school - it is Transition Day. This day does not count toward the 180 day school year. Even if we start the week of August 24, orientation/transition should be returned to being a 1/2 day the week before school starts. The first day of school, no matter which week, should be on Monday and should be the first day of school for all students - not a made up full day orientation for grades K, 6, and 9 that doesn't count as a school day.

OP is saying that the elimination of the August 24 transition day (instead making it day one of the school year) helps to solve the problem of getting one snow day back.

My point is that this could backfire and make it start even earlier. No thanks. MCPS already has a calendar that works if they’re willing to use the makeup days they’ve designated, they’re just unwilling to say that yes they will use Eid or Passover.

1 of the makeup days tbe Superintendent is designating is in December. 5 of them are after the last day of school. We are literally going to repeat history next year

That's only if the Board passes the Superintendent's proposal... I know that's the most likely outcome with this rubber stamp of a board. But the more we can advocate for them to actually use what they already passed, the better.

They aren't going to use those makeup days. It does not matter what we say. The politicians only care about optics.

If the survey results show the public strongly prefers to use the religious holiday makeup days, rather than starting early or shortening breaks, then how about those optics?

The problem is that the minute the announce that they are using Eid as a make up day the Muslim groups will make a big stink and they will be kind of right because Eid is a big deal and Christians don't need Easter Monday and Good Friday (on top of Christmas). Instead of lobbying to reduce instructional days, MCPS should be lobbying to be allowed to have school on Good Friday and Easter Monday and Presidents Day. They added a bunch of holidays and they need to take some away that don't really matter to people. It's not hard.

Most of the Muslims I know have no problem with Eid being a school day because celebration doesn’t begin until the evening. So that’s one day.

Getting rid of the transition day would be another day.

Ditching Easter Monday would be another day.

And ditching one teacher in service day and making it a floating day of the teacher’s choice, would give a third day. Not to mention allow teachers and teams to take the training that is actually needed or helpful to them.

They can't schedule for Easter Monday without a change in state law.

We could also have school on November 9. It's a closure for Diwali, but Diwali occurs on November 8.
We could also have school on December 23 or make that a half day.
Or make any of the professional days 1/2 days and one or two of the teacher grading days 1/2 days (like this week).

[Anonymous]

I have a rising 9th grader not currently in MCPS but will be for HS
Is the transition day not a normal day where they go to classes, figure out where stuff is, without having the 10th-12th grade there clogging the hallways as it were?

[Anonymous]

I teach 9th grade and I like transition day because it allows the kids to navigate their schedules in a less crowded setting so they don't get lost on the 1st day. Other than that, I don't really care either way because I don't do any actual instruction until the 2nd week of school anyway. That whole first week is dedicated to icebreakers, classroom policies and expectations, etc. Too many kids get shuffled around that first week to where I don't waste my time until the dust settles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I teach 9th grade and I like transition day because it allows the kids to navigate their schedules in a less crowded setting so they don't get lost on the 1st day. Other than that, I don't really care either way because I don't do any actual instruction until the 2nd week of school anyway. That whole first week is dedicated to icebreakers, classroom policies and expectations, etc. Too many kids get shuffled around that first week to where I don't waste my time until the dust settles.

They did the same thing for years by having the 1/2 day orientation day during preservice week. Kids still did their schedules, toured the building, met the administration, etc. No need to do it for a full day that does not count as a school day and takes one of our emergency days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a rising 9th grader not currently in MCPS but will be for HS
Is the transition day not a normal day where they go to classes, figure out where stuff is, without having the 10th-12th grade there clogging the hallways as it were?

It is, but prior to last year it was always done in a 1/2 day orientation format the Thursday before the first day of school. They still ran through their schedules, met the administration, and toured the building on the 1/2 day and rode the bus there and back.

Last year, they used one of our two snow days to have a FULL transition day orientation - the day was just too long and kids were fully tired of those types of activities by lunch. Then, all the same information was repeated on the first day of school for those who hadn't attended, so kids generally disliked it.

With our calendar constraints, we really cannot give up that emergency day to have transition day. It's just not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether they have transition day or not doesn’t really matter for the calendar. Are you advocating for us to start on 8/19 instead of 8/20 then? Because I want to make sure we start as scheduled on 8/24. My focus is them using the days they actually have already designated as makeup days as such regardless of if they are holidays or not

Respectfully, I think you're missing the point. August 24 is not really the first day of school - it is Transition Day. This day does not count toward the 180 day school year. Even if we start the week of August 24, orientation/transition should be returned to being a 1/2 day the week before school starts. The first day of school, no matter which week, should be on Monday and should be the first day of school for all students - not a made up full day orientation for grades K, 6, and 9 that doesn't count as a school day.

OP is saying that the elimination of the August 24 transition day (instead making it day one of the school year) helps to solve the problem of getting one snow day back.

My point is that this could backfire and make it start even earlier. No thanks. MCPS already has a calendar that works if they’re willing to use the makeup days they’ve designated, they’re just unwilling to say that yes they will use Eid or Passover.

1 of the makeup days tbe Superintendent is designating is in December. 5 of them are after the last day of school. We are literally going to repeat history next year

That's only if the Board passes the Superintendent's proposal... I know that's the most likely outcome with this rubber stamp of a board. But the more we can advocate for them to actually use what they already passed, the better.

They aren't going to use those makeup days. It does not matter what we say. The politicians only care about optics.

If the survey results show the public strongly prefers to use the religious holiday makeup days, rather than starting early or shortening breaks, then how about those optics?

The problem is that the minute the announce that they are using Eid as a make up day the Muslim groups will make a big stink and they will be kind of right because Eid is a big deal and Christians don't need Easter Monday and Good Friday (on top of Christmas). Instead of lobbying to reduce instructional days, MCPS should be lobbying to be allowed to have school on Good Friday and Easter Monday and Presidents Day. They added a bunch of holidays and they need to take some away that don't really matter to people. It's not hard.

Most of the Muslims I know have no problem with Eid being a school day because celebration doesn’t begin until the evening. So that’s one day.

Getting rid of the transition day would be another day.

Ditching Easter Monday would be another day.

And ditching one teacher in service day and making it a floating day of the teacher’s choice, would give a third day. Not to mention allow teachers and teams to take the training that is actually needed or helpful to them.

Um...
1. Muslim groups advocated to have school off on Eid and complained when it was suggested to use it as a makeup day
2. I don't know about the people you know but in my family Eid is an all day affair starting with prayers at the mosque in the morning..If it falls on a workday people make do but ideally, we visit multiple houses and eat, eat, eat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a rising 9th grader not currently in MCPS but will be for HS
Is the transition day not a normal day where they go to classes, figure out where stuff is, without having the 10th-12th grade there clogging the hallways as it were?

Transition Day is not a regular day of school for 9th graders. It's just an orientation day where they tour around, run through their schedules, and generally get the lay of the land. In other words, not something that needs a six hour block of time to accomplish.

[Anonymous]

What was nice at our HS is the afternoon was dedicated to an Extracurricular Fair where 9th graders got to learn about all the clubs and activities. It led to a lot of participation that we normally don't see throughout the year