APS Holiday 6/6

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We need to get rid of the religious holiday closures in the schedule. It picks winners and losers and pits people against each other. It makes more sense to let people take their own holidays off than have everyone take every holiday off. Yes, I’m willing to decouple Easter from Spring Break and schedule school on Christmas if that would make you feel better about it.

I agree with this. Decouple spring break from Easter and pick a week that breaks up the second term logically.

I think the week between Christmas and New Years has to stay as the break between first and second term. Plus Christmas Day is a federal holiday. It is what it is. People of all stripes will be mad if that gets taken away.

[Anonymous]

I think we should keep religious holidays. APS screwed up here by 1) allowing schools to plan end of year activities around a holiday that can move, and 2) NOT clearly commutation to parents that there could be a calendar change. The note from Duran on Wednesday didn’t even explain why the change was being proposed so late in the year.

Poor planning. Poor communicating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is any other district considering this? Why is APS doing this?

*EquItY*

Even Fairfax isn’t doing it. Not sure who decided to die on this hill at APS.

Syphax did. They wanted another paid holiday. But they didn’t get it this time.

No I think this is more about proving how progressive we are, rebuking Trump, getting DEI street cred. Operational efficiency was not mentioned so it wasn’t staff requesting off. They did not expect a fight which is why it wasn’t going to go up for a vote initially

These folks are detached from reality not understanding this would be a big deal. Which is not great.

Agreed. They moved this last minute to a no–consent item? Initially Duran (?) was just going to have this quietly approved?

They really have no idea what happens in school buildings, do they? They really thought they could cancel school 2 weeks before the end of the year without cancelling a ton of events that are important to people.

Reminds me of when we had a snow storm on a Thursday so they went ahead and closed school buildings all weekend. Not a single person at Syphax considered that would mean cancelling sports, a school play, cultural school, etc.

Reminds me of how teachers get a grade prep day for EVERY other quarter except the last one which is the most busy.
Flame away but this would have been helpful to have and include a grade prep day form now on!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need to get rid of the religious holiday closures in the schedule. It picks winners and losers and pits people against each other. It makes more sense to let people take their own holidays off than have everyone take every holiday off. Yes, I’m willing to decouple Easter from Spring Break and schedule school on Christmas if that would make you feel better about it.

I agree with this. Decouple spring break from Easter and pick a week that breaks up the second term logically.

I think the week between Christmas and New Years has to stay as the break between first and second term. Plus Christmas Day is a federal holiday. It is what it is. People of all stripes will be mad if that gets taken away.

Saying we observe all federal holidays is a totally rational response. Giving staff and students an excused absence for religious purposes is fine. I would also add that non-religious people should get the equivalent.
This is a good time to advocate for change while it’s fresh on their minds. If it matters to you email the school board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We need to get rid of the religious holiday closures in the schedule. It picks winners and losers and pits people against each other. It makes more sense to let people take their own holidays off than have everyone take every holiday off. Yes, I’m willing to decouple Easter from Spring Break and schedule school on Christmas if that would make you feel better about it.

I agree, except having school on Christmas would be dumb because there would be way too many people absent (& it’s a federal holiday). If there is another religious holiday that >50% of the county population celebrates, by all means have that day off, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think we should keep religious holidays. APS screwed up here by 1) allowing schools to plan end of year activities around a holiday that can move, and 2) NOT clearly commutation to parents that there could be a calendar change. The note from Duran on Wednesday didn’t even explain why the change was being proposed so late in the year.

Poor planning. Poor communicating.

Having a holiday that is determined by when somebody sees the moon is poor planning to me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think we should keep religious holidays. APS screwed up here by 1) allowing schools to plan end of year activities around a holiday that can move, and 2) NOT clearly commutation to parents that there could be a calendar change. The note from Duran on Wednesday didn’t even explain why the change was being proposed so late in the year.

Poor planning. Poor communicating.

Why do we have the holidays we have? Who picked Christian, Jewish, and Muslim holidays plus Diwali? What about the Mongolians and other Asians? What about Orthodox Easter when it decouples from western Easter? We have far more Ethiopians and Mongolians than Jewish people in this district. The whole thing is just performative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need to get rid of the religious holiday closures in the schedule. It picks winners and losers and pits people against each other. It makes more sense to let people take their own holidays off than have everyone take every holiday off. Yes, I’m willing to decouple Easter from Spring Break and schedule school on Christmas if that would make you feel better about it.

I agree, except having school on Christmas would be dumb because there would be way too many people absent (& it’s a federal holiday). If there is another religious holiday that >50% of the county population celebrates, by all means have that day off, too.

Of course it would be dumb. My family would stay home that week and so would most other people. However, if that’s what we need to do to demonstrate a true operational issue so be it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think we should keep religious holidays. APS screwed up here by 1) allowing schools to plan end of year activities around a holiday that can move, and 2) NOT clearly commutation to parents that there could be a calendar change. The note from Duran on Wednesday didn’t even explain why the change was being proposed so late in the year.

Poor planning. Poor communicating.

I agree with your numbered points 1 and 2 completely. But I also think religious holidays (except the federal holiday of Christmas Day) need to go. The only way to respect everyone's religious traditions is to offer a certain number of excused absences. If they hold school on Christmas Eve (assuming that is even operationally possible), so be it, we can use an excused absence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we should keep religious holidays. APS screwed up here by 1) allowing schools to plan end of year activities around a holiday that can move, and 2) NOT clearly commutation to parents that there could be a calendar change. The note from Duran on Wednesday didn’t even explain why the change was being proposed so late in the year.

Poor planning. Poor communicating.

I agree with your numbered points 1 and 2 completely. But I also think religious holidays (except the federal holiday of Christmas Day) need to go. The only way to respect everyone's religious traditions is to offer a certain number of excused absences. If they hold school on Christmas Eve (assuming that is even operationally possible), so be it, we can use an excused absence.

In this area, it totally makes sense to follow OPM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we should keep religious holidays. APS screwed up here by 1) allowing schools to plan end of year activities around a holiday that can move, and 2) NOT clearly commutation to parents that there could be a calendar change. The note from Duran on Wednesday didn’t even explain why the change was being proposed so late in the year.

Poor planning. Poor communicating.

I agree with your numbered points 1 and 2 completely. But I also think religious holidays (except the federal holiday of Christmas Day) need to go. The only way to respect everyone's religious traditions is to offer a certain number of excused absences. If they hold school on Christmas Eve (assuming that is even operationally possible), so be it, we can use an excused absence.

I think they should try this and see how many Muslims come to defend the rights of Christians to have their holiday off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need to get rid of the religious holiday closures in the schedule. It picks winners and losers and pits people against each other. It makes more sense to let people take their own holidays off than have everyone take every holiday off. Yes, I’m willing to decouple Easter from Spring Break and schedule school on Christmas if that would make you feel better about it.

I agree, except having school on Christmas would be dumb because there would be way too many people absent (& it’s a federal holiday). If there is another religious holiday that >50% of the county population celebrates, by all means have that day off, too.

Of course it would be dumb. My family would stay home that week and so would most other people. However, if that’s what we need to do to demonstrate a true operational issue so be it.

And also, It’s not just about Christmas or Hanukkah being in that timeframe, culturally in this country for at least 30 years, There has been a winter break in schools where families take time to be with each other and or travel. Could that move to the first two weeks of January, sure, but when 80 to 90% of your school will be absent for Christmas, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Day being a federal holiday, it just makes sense to close during that time. It’s one thing to be inclusive and it’s another to be a poor planner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is any other district considering this? Why is APS doing this?

*EquItY*

Even Fairfax isn’t doing it. Not sure who decided to die on this hill at APS.

Syphax did. They wanted another paid holiday. But they didn’t get it this time.

No I think this is more about proving how progressive we are, rebuking Trump, getting DEI street cred. Operational efficiency was not mentioned so it wasn’t staff requesting off. They did not expect a fight which is why it wasn’t going to go up for a vote initially

These folks are detached from reality not understanding this would be a big deal. Which is not great.

Agreed. They moved this last minute to a no–consent item? Initially Duran (?) was just going to have this quietly approved?

They really have no idea what happens in school buildings, do they? They really thought they could cancel school 2 weeks before the end of the year without cancelling a ton of events that are important to people.

Reminds me of when we had a snow storm on a Thursday so they went ahead and closed school buildings all weekend. Not a single person at Syphax considered that would mean cancelling sports, a school play, cultural school, etc.

This is exactly why we need someone who has been a school employee on the school board. Anyone from janitor to principal can tell you how packed the last few weeks of school are.

+1

Dems messed up again.

Fck off

i'm a dem and the only time I've ever voted R or I is the ARL school board. They make the most stupid decisions, like this one. F them. Also, we have to listen to this maggot. They are saying that these extreme measures (by dems) are why they exist. If we don't listen to these voices, we go all the way into fascism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we should keep religious holidays. APS screwed up here by 1) allowing schools to plan end of year activities around a holiday that can move, and 2) NOT clearly commutation to parents that there could be a calendar change. The note from Duran on Wednesday didn’t even explain why the change was being proposed so late in the year.

Poor planning. Poor communicating.

I agree with your numbered points 1 and 2 completely. But I also think religious holidays (except the federal holiday of Christmas Day) need to go. The only way to respect everyone's religious traditions is to offer a certain number of excused absences. If they hold school on Christmas Eve (assuming that is even operationally possible), so be it, we can use an excused absence.

I think they should try this and see how many Muslims come to defend the rights of Christians to have their holiday off.

Why should they have to? When we have religious holidays for SOME people, yeah, of course others want to be included. I get that. But since we can't accomodate everyone and since some holidays can't be planned in advance, the religious holidays just need to go. Excused absences should be the accommodation for all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need to get rid of the religious holiday closures in the schedule. It picks winners and losers and pits people against each other. It makes more sense to let people take their own holidays off than have everyone take every holiday off. Yes, I’m willing to decouple Easter from Spring Break and schedule school on Christmas if that would make you feel better about it.

I agree, except having school on Christmas would be dumb because there would be way too many people absent (& it’s a federal holiday). If there is another religious holiday that >50% of the county population celebrates, by all means have that day off, too.

Of course it would be dumb. My family would stay home that week and so would most other people. However, if that’s what we need to do to demonstrate a true operational issue so be it.

And also, It’s not just about Christmas or Hanukkah being in that timeframe, culturally in this country for at least 30 years, There has been a winter break in schools where families take time to be with each other and or travel. Could that move to the first two weeks of January, sure, but when 80 to 90% of your school will be absent for Christmas, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Day being a federal holiday, it just makes sense to close during that time. It’s one thing to be inclusive and it’s another to be a poor planner.

Don’t forget Kwanzaa is Dec 26- Jan 1. Hanukkah always begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, but that date can fall anywhere between late November and late December on the Gregorian calendar. For “Christmas,” actually can’t just say it’s Dec 25–yes, most in US celebrate on 25th, but Orthodox celebrate on Jan 6 and many in US from Europe grew up with Dec 25 but even bigger holiday was on Jan 6. All to say, agree better to have quarter end set the winter break and have observed holiday excused absences.