New school start times survey

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I think they are going with option 2, as it only shifts everyone by 30 minutes.

That 30 minutes takes late start elementary schools (9:20 am right now) from late but reasonably doable to a completely unreasonable 9:50-4:35. There's no way that lower elementary kids are going to be functionally learning until 4:35 pm, especially if a lot of them are up early to be dropped at before care so their parents can make it to work.

The only reasonable option is leaving things as is.

This was brought up at our community conversation and they agreed a 9:50 start time is not good for ES, so don’t think it will be happening.

But yet a 7:30 am start time isn’t good for middle school.

No one is disagreeing, but middle school is 2 years while ES ranges from preschool to grade 6. There are 141 ES and only and 25 middle schools. The 9:20-4:05 schedule already sucks with young kids. There are no schools in the US that have ES kids starting school at 9:50 (almost 10:00). They should choose neither plan.

Middle school kids are a little over 10% of the student population.

Elementary is a little over half the population, and high school is close to 40% of the student population.

The 10% of middle school kids can take one for the team

100% agree. Keep things how they are. Use the next bond to buy more school busses, then start middle school at 8:00.

Or better yet, stop bussing to AAP programs.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Here's an idea that will cost the school system nothing. FCPS should adopt a liberal tardy policy for middle schoolers. Your kids can roll in after they got their 8 hours of sleep, at the next class start time. The benefits of more sleep can only help them academically and it won't interrupt the students that are already there. It's a pretty genius idea, if I do say so myself. :)

And while we're at it, kick the boundary change can down the road instead. No one seems on board with those changes.

Or, take away your middle schoolwrs phone by 9PM so they can fall asleep, and wake them up on time.

#BasicParentingSkills

Actually they need 9-12 hours of sleep, it varies per child, and there is a natural tendency to stay up later. A 9 PM bedtime would mean some kids would still need to sleep until 7-9 a.m., so they would still be sleep deprived with the same start times. If the school really cares about sleep, and it's a health problem, it should be treated like any other illness or health condition--up to the parents' discretion.

Actually, the CDC recommends 6-12 year olds get 9-12 hours of sleep per night and 13-18 year olds should get 8-10. So really, the later start times for the elementary kids are ideal. Shifting middle school no later than 8/830 am would get the middle schoolers 8 hours if they're in bed by 11, even more if they're in bed earlier.

DP, it's not just about amount of sleep, but also when. Many ES kids are in bed by 8p or sooner and it's no problem for them to get to sleep then and/or adjust earlier. MS/HS kids bodies are changing / have changed and a bedtime of 10pm is more normal, and trying to force sleep earlier is far more challenging for them.

Are there some kids who are exceptions at any/all ages? Sure. But we shouldn't have a policy of trying to force kids to sleep on schedules that aren't natural or appropriate for the vast majority of them.

Nope, this is not the thing that you think it in. Kids aren't going to sleep late because of their changing bodies, LOL! They're going to sleep late because they have a lot to do/a lot that they want to do.

The growth hormones are produced during sleep, so yes they do need extra sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a child in middle school right now. She comes home at 2:45 and does at least 2 hours of homework every night and then a couple nights a week she has sports practice or Girl Scouts. It would be HORRIBLE if school ended at 4:30 or 4:45. She wouldn't have time to do all of her homework plus her activities. And no, she's not going to do homework in the morning. People keep suggesting that and maybe it's fine for your elementary schooler, but it doesn't work for 7th+. I am NOT okay with Option A

"does at least 2 hours of homework every night"....not a chance this is the truth unless she's taking high school math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child in middle school right now. She comes home at 2:45 and does at least 2 hours of homework every night and then a couple nights a week she has sports practice or Girl Scouts. It would be HORRIBLE if school ended at 4:30 or 4:45. She wouldn't have time to do all of her homework plus her activities. And no, she's not going to do homework in the morning. People keep suggesting that and maybe it's fine for your elementary schooler, but it doesn't work for 7th+. I am NOT okay with Option A

"does at least 2 hours of homework every night"....not a chance this is the truth unless she's taking high school math.

Tell me you don't have a child in MS AAP without telling me you don't have a child in MS AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Y'all know that there is a way to make this work so no one starts after 9am, right? ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS

I'll say it again ELLIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS. They are a choice school. There shouldn't be busses for choice schools. That will free up busses for middle schools.

ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS

IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN

CALM DOWN

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Couldn't girl scouts could meet on the weekend?

Is this a joke? My daughter has games all weekend, literally the only time to meet for GS is immediately after school on a week day. Sports practices start as early as 5:00.

So she’ll have to drop an activity. Life is like that sometimes…it happens to all families.

Is Reid posting on this thread? Sounds like it.

Just drop your activities! Just shift your child’s schedule later! Just find a new place for Scouts to meet or a new field to practice on! It’s not hard to bend over and take it because your betters obviously know what’s best for you … oops did I say that out loud, I meant, AdApT!!!!!1

If you don’t like your public school offering, there’s always homeschooling. Then you set the schedule. Yes, you can do it even if both parents work FT. If that means you need childcare, pay for it. Problem solved!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not my middle schooler!

They’ll cope.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Option 2 is the obvious choice. Survey results have to be tilted like 90-10.

no freaking way do elementary parents want their kids starting at almost 10am. that is so late. little kids learn better early. they will be in school until almost 5

This has been pointed out multiple times to Gatehouse. And yet they keep coming back to ask about this option. They clearly are leaning towards this option. I guess they don’t care about families or teachers at those schools.

Well they should care. I currently teach at a late ES and by 3:45, all I can do is a read aloud cause my kids are done. No kid will be effectively learning till 4:35. When kids are not making adequate progress because they aren’t available for learning, maybe they will care.

So now you’ll just do your read aloud and maybe a snack at 4:00 pm. Chill.

Based off my kids schedule this year, this would be his schedule with a 30 minute pushback.

10:00-11:00 -Specials
11:00-11:20-Morning Meeting
11:20-12:40- Math
12:40-1:10- Intervention
1:10-1:40- Content
1:40-2:10- Recess
2:10-2:40-Lunch
2:40-4:35- Lang Arts

I don’t think any parent would want this schedule for their kids.

Lunch would never be at 2:10 you idiot.

yes it would. my elementary starts at 9:15 now. first lunch is 10:30am. last lunch starts at 1:30. if you push start times back kids will be starting lunch at 2pm or later.

With a later start the first lunch can still be 1030. Why do you think it needs to shift?

If school stars at 9:50, that’s 40 minutes after the bell. How much time does the cafeteria need to transition between breakfast and lunch?

I admittedly hadn't thought of breakfast service. I suppose it's not an option to eliminate that? It wouldn't be needed with later starts, but Im guessing it's guaranteed as part of FARMS.

No, it’s bad enough they’re making kids who rely on school breakfast wait an extra 30 minutes to eat. On top of that, some elementary schools would still be starting at or before 9:00 when breakfast service is still appropriate. Equitable access.

I wish feeding county residents wasnt so entwined with the education system.

Take it up with FDR. Shrug.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y'all know that there is a way to make this work so no one starts after 9am, right? ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS

I'll say it again ELLIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS. They are a choice school. There shouldn't be busses for choice schools. That will free up busses for middle schools.

ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS

IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN

CALM DOWN

it wil happen actually. they are going to put AAP in all middle schools so there won’t be center MS to bus to

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y'all know that there is a way to make this work so no one starts after 9am, right? ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS

I'll say it again ELLIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS. They are a choice school. There shouldn't be busses for choice schools. That will free up busses for middle schools.

ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS

IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN

CALM DOWN

it wil happen actually. they are going to put AAP in all middle schools so there won’t be center MS to bus to

Might they leave the option of going to the center, like they do for ES? Kind of like the local program vs center scenario.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y'all know that there is a way to make this work so no one starts after 9am, right? ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS

I'll say it again ELLIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS. They are a choice school. There shouldn't be busses for choice schools. That will free up busses for middle schools.

ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS

IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN

CALM DOWN

it wil happen actually. they are going to put AAP in all middle schools so there won’t be center MS to bus to

Might they leave the option of going to the center, like they do for ES? Kind of like the local program vs center scenario.

i don’t think so. i think they want to make each MS their own center so kids aren’t leaving their zoned schools.

[Anonymous]

Current set up is fine.

[Anonymous]

If people have to pay for more child care, they may as well put their kids in private schools. I suspect that is why some of our enrollment is going down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y'all know that there is a way to make this work so no one starts after 9am, right? ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS

I'll say it again ELLIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS. They are a choice school. There shouldn't be busses for choice schools. That will free up busses for middle schools.

ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS

IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN

CALM DOWN

it wil happen actually. they are going to put AAP in all middle schools so there won’t be center MS to bus to

Might they leave the option of going to the center, like they do for ES? Kind of like the local program vs center scenario.

There is no reason for middle school centers. Every middle school has the critical mass of kids they need for full AAP classes. I say that an AAP teacher and AAP parent who is very protective of the center option for elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y'all know that there is a way to make this work so no one starts after 9am, right? ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS

I'll say it again ELLIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS. They are a choice school. There shouldn't be busses for choice schools. That will free up busses for middle schools.

ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS
ELIMINATE BUSSING FOR AAP CENTERS

IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN
IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN

CALM DOWN

it wil happen actually. they are going to put AAP in all middle schools so there won’t be center MS to bus to

Might they leave the option of going to the center, like they do for ES? Kind of like the local program vs center scenario.

Nope. That would be incredibly dumb and a huge waste of money. I think once they have LLIV in all elementaries, they will also eliminate the ES centers. I wish they had combined that with the boundary study, but I think we'll have to wait another five years for that.