APS calendar options are here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope they do the right thing and go with Option 2. Especially after wasting everyone’s time and taxpayer money on yet another survey.

And peoples vacation deposits!

yeah lets prioritize people's recreation over instruction.

Haha! No, but its unreasonable to keep changing start dates year after year. Many families rent the same spot year after year and have to reserve almost a year in advance. 6 months out is not reasonable.

So their kid misses some days early in the year. Nothing un-missable happens anyway. And before someone cries hardship on behalf of students missing out on meeting their classmates the first day or week of school, sometimes that's how the cookie crumbles and it's life. People make choices. If people make choices based on information set A and the information changes afterward, that's what happens in life. I don't think it's as important for a family to have the same vacation rental every year as it is to make school calendar/administration decisions for the greatest common good. I guess some peoples' vacations are more important to them - and they're free to proceed with them. Schools can't accommodate every individual family's preferences. Is there any good reasons the school calendar can't be set farther ahead? No. But it isn't APS' concern when you want to have your family vacation.

As you say, there is no good reason NOT to give people this information much further in advance (as in, years), with the understanding that there might be some small tweaks (eg, moving the day off for Eid). It’s not just about vacations. People should be able to plan ahead.

They can. They can plan for school to start sometime in August. Or they can simply plan ahead 9 months out instead of 12, even if it means having to make a less-preferred plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of the bus drivers and their community celebrate Ethiopian new year and many extended workers celebrate Vietnamese New Year. We should consider adding those to the calendar. I also would like to see Good Friday and Easter Monday added. This will ensure families can celebrate those days no matter when spring break is scheduled in future. I find it offensive it’s not named on the current calendar, frankly.

We already get Easter Monday troll

Well this comment didn’t age well. Revised proposed calendar removes Easter Monday. That’s why Good Friday (holiest Christian holiday along w Easter) and Easter Monday need to be observed - it’s not guaranteed that APS will overlap spring break. Why is no one calling this out?

Why is Easter Monday necessary??? It is not a religious holiday.

I have no idea. I grew up going to Catholic school and it was never considered a holiday. As students we would say it should be since it was called "Easter" Monday.

It turns out there is a state law regarding designating religious holidays "The calendar must have a secular reason to establish a holiday, such as a significant amount of student absences that would impact operations. View a summary of absences on religious observances and holidays. "
from the FCPS website - https://www.fcps.edu/calendars/how-fcps-develops-its-school-year-calendar

Note that one of their considered factors is alignment with neighboring jurisdictions. Instead of each system considering alignment with others, why not all the systems talk to each other and establish the alignment!!!!????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of the bus drivers and their community celebrate Ethiopian new year and many extended workers celebrate Vietnamese New Year. We should consider adding those to the calendar. I also would like to see Good Friday and Easter Monday added. This will ensure families can celebrate those days no matter when spring break is scheduled in future. I find it offensive it’s not named on the current calendar, frankly.

We already get Easter Monday troll

Well this comment didn’t age well. Revised proposed calendar removes Easter Monday. That’s why Good Friday (holiest Christian holiday along w Easter) and Easter Monday need to be observed - it’s not guaranteed that APS will overlap spring break. Why is no one calling this out?

Why is Easter Monday necessary??? It is not a religious holiday.

I have no idea. I grew up going to Catholic school and it was never considered a holiday. As students we would say it should be since it was called "Easter" Monday.

It turns out there is a state law regarding designating religious holidays "The calendar must have a secular reason to establish a holiday, such as a significant amount of student absences that would impact operations. View a summary of absences on religious observances and holidays. "
from the FCPS website - https://www.fcps.edu/calendars/how-fcps-develops-its-school-year-calendar

It is so obviously a first amendment issue w separation of church and state. This ripe for a lawsuit. Too bad the ACLU has lost its way.

[Anonymous]

As a Catholic, I say skip Easter Monday. As a Catholic married to a Jew, I am very much in favor of being off for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. My daughter is a junior in HS now, and her anxiety was off-the-charts about us pulling her out for both, to the point that we sent her to school on YK. They are the holiest days of the calendar for Jews, and it's only 2 days. Send the kids to school on Indigenous People's Day and Veteran's Day and call it a wash. Fairfax and Loudoun are already in school on Vet's day.

We grew up on LI where we always had those days off, plus a spring break in February and another week off in April, and by the way, we also did just fine on our AP exams, even though we started after Labor Day -- the horror! I honestly don't remember if we were off Easter Monday, although I think we were. We didn't go to mass or anything. We did go to mass on Good Friday, and I think we were off from school then.

God, I feel old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope they do the right thing and go with Option 2. Especially after wasting everyone’s time and taxpayer money on yet another survey.

And peoples vacation deposits!

yeah lets prioritize people's recreation over instruction.

Haha! No, but its unreasonable to keep changing start dates year after year. Many families rent the same spot year after year and have to reserve almost a year in advance. 6 months out is not reasonable.

So their kid misses some days early in the year. Nothing un-missable happens anyway. And before someone cries hardship on behalf of students missing out on meeting their classmates the first day or week of school, sometimes that's how the cookie crumbles and it's life. People make choices. If people make choices based on information set A and the information changes afterward, that's what happens in life. I don't think it's as important for a family to have the same vacation rental every year as it is to make school calendar/administration decisions for the greatest common good. I guess some peoples' vacations are more important to them - and they're free to proceed with them. Schools can't accommodate every individual family's preferences. Is there any good reasons the school calendar can't be set farther ahead? No. But it isn't APS' concern when you want to have your family vacation.

As you say, there is no good reason NOT to give people this information much further in advance (as in, years), with the understanding that there might be some small tweaks (eg, moving the day off for Eid). It’s not just about vacations. People should be able to plan ahead.

They can. They can plan for school to start sometime in August. Or they can simply plan ahead 9 months out instead of 12, even if it means having to make a less-preferred plan.

That's ridiculous. There's no reason APS couldn't set a calendar 2-5 years out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a Catholic, I say skip Easter Monday. As a Catholic married to a Jew, I am very much in favor of being off for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. My daughter is a junior in HS now, and her anxiety was off-the-charts about us pulling her out for both, to the point that we sent her to school on YK. They are the holiest days of the calendar for Jews, and it's only 2 days. Send the kids to school on Indigenous People's Day and Veteran's Day and call it a wash. Fairfax and Loudoun are already in school on Vet's day.

We grew up on LI where we always had those days off, plus a spring break in February and another week off in April, and by the way, we also did just fine on our AP exams, even though we started after Labor Day -- the horror! I honestly don't remember if we were off Easter Monday, although I think we were. We didn't go to mass or anything. We did go to mass on Good Friday, and I think we were off from school then.

God, I feel old.

Also grew up on LI and had off for all the Jewish holidays but not Diwali or Muslim holidays. We had off one week btwn Xmas and New years. Literally had school until dec 23 and back Jan 2. 1 week off in February and 1 week off for spring break. But we didn’t get out until 4th week in June. I’d love to do what the NY school do but start mid-Aug and get out early June. The NY schools still have 180 days but they get there by going late into June. I’d rather make the 180 by starting earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope they do the right thing and go with Option 2. Especially after wasting everyone’s time and taxpayer money on yet another survey.

And peoples vacation deposits!

yeah lets prioritize people's recreation over instruction.

Haha! No, but its unreasonable to keep changing start dates year after year. Many families rent the same spot year after year and have to reserve almost a year in advance. 6 months out is not reasonable.

So their kid misses some days early in the year. Nothing un-missable happens anyway. And before someone cries hardship on behalf of students missing out on meeting their classmates the first day or week of school, sometimes that's how the cookie crumbles and it's life. People make choices. If people make choices based on information set A and the information changes afterward, that's what happens in life. I don't think it's as important for a family to have the same vacation rental every year as it is to make school calendar/administration decisions for the greatest common good. I guess some peoples' vacations are more important to them - and they're free to proceed with them. Schools can't accommodate every individual family's preferences. Is there any good reasons the school calendar can't be set farther ahead? No. But it isn't APS' concern when you want to have your family vacation.

As you say, there is no good reason NOT to give people this information much further in advance (as in, years), with the understanding that there might be some small tweaks (eg, moving the day off for Eid). It’s not just about vacations. People should be able to plan ahead.

They can. They can plan for school to start sometime in August. Or they can simply plan ahead 9 months out instead of 12, even if it means having to make a less-preferred plan.

That's ridiculous. There's no reason APS couldn't set a calendar 2-5 years out.

+1. Yeah, that’s dumb. No reason not to know for sure, at least 1-2 years in advance. Nothing is gained by waiting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope they do the right thing and go with Option 2. Especially after wasting everyone’s time and taxpayer money on yet another survey.

And peoples vacation deposits!

yeah lets prioritize people's recreation over instruction.

Haha! No, but its unreasonable to keep changing start dates year after year. Many families rent the same spot year after year and have to reserve almost a year in advance. 6 months out is not reasonable.

So their kid misses some days early in the year. Nothing un-missable happens anyway. And before someone cries hardship on behalf of students missing out on meeting their classmates the first day or week of school, sometimes that's how the cookie crumbles and it's life. People make choices. If people make choices based on information set A and the information changes afterward, that's what happens in life. I don't think it's as important for a family to have the same vacation rental every year as it is to make school calendar/administration decisions for the greatest common good. I guess some peoples' vacations are more important to them - and they're free to proceed with them. Schools can't accommodate every individual family's preferences. Is there any good reasons the school calendar can't be set farther ahead? No. But it isn't APS' concern when you want to have your family vacation.

As you say, there is no good reason NOT to give people this information much further in advance (as in, years), with the understanding that there might be some small tweaks (eg, moving the day off for Eid). It’s not just about vacations. People should be able to plan ahead.

They can. They can plan for school to start sometime in August. Or they can simply plan ahead 9 months out instead of 12, even if it means having to make a less-preferred plan.

I understand that this may not affect you, but some families have children involved in swim and other summer sports, that go through the end of July so they cannot vacation or visit family, etc until august. There is very little time and they were able to get away. High schools have already posted when tryouts will be next summer, which is early August. For some families there’s literally only one or two weeks that they would be able to choose from, and then balance out with their work schedules/demands. It’s not a simple as choosing a random week in July.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope they do the right thing and go with Option 2. Especially after wasting everyone’s time and taxpayer money on yet another survey.

And peoples vacation deposits!

yeah lets prioritize people's recreation over instruction.

Haha! No, but its unreasonable to keep changing start dates year after year. Many families rent the same spot year after year and have to reserve almost a year in advance. 6 months out is not reasonable.

So their kid misses some days early in the year. Nothing un-missable happens anyway. And before someone cries hardship on behalf of students missing out on meeting their classmates the first day or week of school, sometimes that's how the cookie crumbles and it's life. People make choices. If people make choices based on information set A and the information changes afterward, that's what happens in life. I don't think it's as important for a family to have the same vacation rental every year as it is to make school calendar/administration decisions for the greatest common good. I guess some peoples' vacations are more important to them - and they're free to proceed with them. Schools can't accommodate every individual family's preferences. Is there any good reasons the school calendar can't be set farther ahead? No. But it isn't APS' concern when you want to have your family vacation.

As you say, there is no good reason NOT to give people this information much further in advance (as in, years), with the understanding that there might be some small tweaks (eg, moving the day off for Eid). It’s not just about vacations. People should be able to plan ahead.

They can. They can plan for school to start sometime in August. Or they can simply plan ahead 9 months out instead of 12, even if it means having to make a less-preferred plan.

I understand that this may not affect you, but some families have children involved in swim and other summer sports, that go through the end of July so they cannot vacation or visit family, etc until august. There is very little time and they were able to get away. High schools have already posted when tryouts will be next summer, which is early August. For some families there’s literally only one or two weeks that they would be able to choose from, and then balance out with their work schedules/demands. It’s not a simple as choosing a random week in July.

You can't really expect schools to choose their start date to accommodate summer swim team, can you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope they do the right thing and go with Option 2. Especially after wasting everyone’s time and taxpayer money on yet another survey.

And peoples vacation deposits!

yeah lets prioritize people's recreation over instruction.

Haha! No, but its unreasonable to keep changing start dates year after year. Many families rent the same spot year after year and have to reserve almost a year in advance. 6 months out is not reasonable.

So their kid misses some days early in the year. Nothing un-missable happens anyway. And before someone cries hardship on behalf of students missing out on meeting their classmates the first day or week of school, sometimes that's how the cookie crumbles and it's life. People make choices. If people make choices based on information set A and the information changes afterward, that's what happens in life. I don't think it's as important for a family to have the same vacation rental every year as it is to make school calendar/administration decisions for the greatest common good. I guess some peoples' vacations are more important to them - and they're free to proceed with them. Schools can't accommodate every individual family's preferences. Is there any good reasons the school calendar can't be set farther ahead? No. But it isn't APS' concern when you want to have your family vacation.

As you say, there is no good reason NOT to give people this information much further in advance (as in, years), with the understanding that there might be some small tweaks (eg, moving the day off for Eid). It’s not just about vacations. People should be able to plan ahead.

They can. They can plan for school to start sometime in August. Or they can simply plan ahead 9 months out instead of 12, even if it means having to make a less-preferred plan.

I understand that this may not affect you, but some families have children involved in swim and other summer sports, that go through the end of July so they cannot vacation or visit family, etc until august. There is very little time and they were able to get away. High schools have already posted when tryouts will be next summer, which is early August. For some families there’s literally only one or two weeks that they would be able to choose from, and then balance out with their work schedules/demands. It’s not a simple as choosing a random week in July.

You can't really expect schools to choose their start date to accommodate summer swim team, can you?

No, but I can expect them to plan ahead with enough notice that I can book a vacation house that works around both swim and school. There's absolutely no reason APS couldn't be deciding the 2024-2025 calendar right now. It's not like we don't already know the date of every holiday except Eid (which apparently can't even be forecast a month out, so just asterisks that one).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My people are not being considered and there are a lot of us.

We need 12th night off, Lundi Gras, Mardi Gras and of course Ash Wednesday b/c we need to get over our hangovers and go to Church.

Don’t forget Candlemas!

And Festivus.

As a devout Pastafarian, I am deeply concerned about the lack of a day off for our holiest holiday, Yeaster. Go back to the drawing board, APS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope they do the right thing and go with Option 2. Especially after wasting everyone’s time and taxpayer money on yet another survey.

And peoples vacation deposits!

yeah lets prioritize people's recreation over instruction.

Haha! No, but its unreasonable to keep changing start dates year after year. Many families rent the same spot year after year and have to reserve almost a year in advance. 6 months out is not reasonable.

So their kid misses some days early in the year. Nothing un-missable happens anyway. And before someone cries hardship on behalf of students missing out on meeting their classmates the first day or week of school, sometimes that's how the cookie crumbles and it's life. People make choices. If people make choices based on information set A and the information changes afterward, that's what happens in life. I don't think it's as important for a family to have the same vacation rental every year as it is to make school calendar/administration decisions for the greatest common good. I guess some peoples' vacations are more important to them - and they're free to proceed with them. Schools can't accommodate every individual family's preferences. Is there any good reasons the school calendar can't be set farther ahead? No. But it isn't APS' concern when you want to have your family vacation.

As you say, there is no good reason NOT to give people this information much further in advance (as in, years), with the understanding that there might be some small tweaks (eg, moving the day off for Eid). It’s not just about vacations. People should be able to plan ahead.

They can. They can plan for school to start sometime in August. Or they can simply plan ahead 9 months out instead of 12, even if it means having to make a less-preferred plan.

I understand that this may not affect you, but some families have children involved in swim and other summer sports, that go through the end of July so they cannot vacation or visit family, etc until august. There is very little time and they were able to get away. High schools have already posted when tryouts will be next summer, which is early August. For some families there’s literally only one or two weeks that they would be able to choose from, and then balance out with their work schedules/demands. It’s not a simple as choosing a random week in July.

You can't really expect schools to choose their start date to accommodate summer swim team, can you?

No, but I can expect them to plan ahead with enough notice that I can book a vacation house that works around both swim and school. There's absolutely no reason APS couldn't be deciding the 2024-2025 calendar right now. It's not like we don't already know the date of every holiday except Eid (which apparently can't even be forecast a month out, so just asterisks that one).

I totally agree on that!!! I have to book flights for this summer and it is super annoying that we don't know when school will start. Not to mention camp sign ups starting and not knowing whether to reserve a camp for that week when school may or may not start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My people are not being considered and there are a lot of us.

We need 12th night off, Lundi Gras, Mardi Gras and of course Ash Wednesday b/c we need to get over our hangovers and go to Church.

Don’t forget Candlemas!

And Festivus.

As a devout Pastafarian, I am deeply concerned about the lack of a day off for our holiest holiday, Yeaster. Go back to the drawing board, APS!

Wait until all the high school pagan/wiccans hear about this. I can't wait to see a bunch of goth kids at a school board meeting demanding Samhain and Ostara off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope they do the right thing and go with Option 2. Especially after wasting everyone’s time and taxpayer money on yet another survey.

And peoples vacation deposits!

yeah lets prioritize people's recreation over instruction.

Haha! No, but its unreasonable to keep changing start dates year after year. Many families rent the same spot year after year and have to reserve almost a year in advance. 6 months out is not reasonable.

So their kid misses some days early in the year. Nothing un-missable happens anyway. And before someone cries hardship on behalf of students missing out on meeting their classmates the first day or week of school, sometimes that's how the cookie crumbles and it's life. People make choices. If people make choices based on information set A and the information changes afterward, that's what happens in life. I don't think it's as important for a family to have the same vacation rental every year as it is to make school calendar/administration decisions for the greatest common good. I guess some peoples' vacations are more important to them - and they're free to proceed with them. Schools can't accommodate every individual family's preferences. Is there any good reasons the school calendar can't be set farther ahead? No. But it isn't APS' concern when you want to have your family vacation.

As you say, there is no good reason NOT to give people this information much further in advance (as in, years), with the understanding that there might be some small tweaks (eg, moving the day off for Eid). It’s not just about vacations. People should be able to plan ahead.

They can. They can plan for school to start sometime in August. Or they can simply plan ahead 9 months out instead of 12, even if it means having to make a less-preferred plan.

That's ridiculous. There's no reason APS couldn't set a calendar 2-5 years out.

I agree; but that doesn't change my previous comment. Parents need to make choices based on the situation they have. Until APS figures out how to get its act together, parents will continue to face these choices and decisions and they just might have to choose their less-preferred option. So what? APS' concern is not wealthy families' vacations or downpayments or ensuring they can go where they want to go when they want to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope they do the right thing and go with Option 2. Especially after wasting everyone’s time and taxpayer money on yet another survey.

And peoples vacation deposits!

yeah lets prioritize people's recreation over instruction.

Haha! No, but its unreasonable to keep changing start dates year after year. Many families rent the same spot year after year and have to reserve almost a year in advance. 6 months out is not reasonable.

So their kid misses some days early in the year. Nothing un-missable happens anyway. And before someone cries hardship on behalf of students missing out on meeting their classmates the first day or week of school, sometimes that's how the cookie crumbles and it's life. People make choices. If people make choices based on information set A and the information changes afterward, that's what happens in life. I don't think it's as important for a family to have the same vacation rental every year as it is to make school calendar/administration decisions for the greatest common good. I guess some peoples' vacations are more important to them - and they're free to proceed with them. Schools can't accommodate every individual family's preferences. Is there any good reasons the school calendar can't be set farther ahead? No. But it isn't APS' concern when you want to have your family vacation.

As you say, there is no good reason NOT to give people this information much further in advance (as in, years), with the understanding that there might be some small tweaks (eg, moving the day off for Eid). It’s not just about vacations. People should be able to plan ahead.

They can. They can plan for school to start sometime in August. Or they can simply plan ahead 9 months out instead of 12, even if it means having to make a less-preferred plan.

I understand that this may not affect you, but some families have children involved in swim and other summer sports, that go through the end of July so they cannot vacation or visit family, etc until august. There is very little time and they were able to get away. High schools have already posted when tryouts will be next summer, which is early August. For some families there’s literally only one or two weeks that they would be able to choose from, and then balance out with their work schedules/demands. It’s not a simple as choosing a random week in July.

You can't really expect schools to choose their start date to accommodate summer swim team, can you?

No, but I can expect them to plan ahead with enough notice that I can book a vacation house that works around both swim and school. There's absolutely no reason APS couldn't be deciding the 2024-2025 calendar right now. It's not like we don't already know the date of every holiday except Eid (which apparently can't even be forecast a month out, so just asterisks that one).

You know that swim team and summer camps are optional, right? You can, in fact, book a vacation in late June, the entire month of July, or the first two weeks in August without worrying about school. The hold up is that APS is trying to wait for FCPS, so you should actually be calling them up and complaining about your vacation constraints.