Is FCPS considering closing for Friday June 6 now that Eid begins earlier?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't we a secular public school system?

A secular public school system— that, conveniently, schedules to accommodate some religious holidays but not others.

FCPS didn't have any religious holidays until the School Board added them.

Before it was called Winter Break it was called Christmas Break......

Not in the past 20 years since I have had kids in school.

I think that change happened in the 1980s.

So you agree that the PP is incorrect and at one time there was a school break based on a religious holiday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't we a secular public school system?

A secular public school system— that, conveniently, schedules to accommodate some religious holidays but not others.

FCPS didn't have any religious holidays until the School Board added them.

Before it was called Winter Break it was called Christmas Break......

Not in the past 20 years since I have had kids in school.

I think that change happened in the 1980s.

So you agree that the PP is incorrect and at one time there was a school break based on a religious holiday.

i am just guessing because the late 80s early 90s is when the "don't say Merry Christmas" movement started to get traction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't we a secular public school system?

A secular public school system— that, conveniently, schedules to accommodate some religious holidays but not others.

FCPS didn't have any religious holidays until the School Board added them.

Before it was called Winter Break it was called Christmas Break......

Not in the past 20 years since I have had kids in school.

I think that change happened in the 1980s.

So you agree that the PP is incorrect and at one time there was a school break based on a religious holiday.

I don't think it was ever called "Easter Break" at least not in modern times.

It was always called "Spring Break"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't we a secular public school system?

A secular public school system— that, conveniently, schedules to accommodate some religious holidays but not others.

Yes.
FCPS didn't have any religious holidays until the School Board added them.

Before it was called Winter Break it was called Christmas Break......

Not in the past 20 years since I have had kids in school.

I think that change happened in the 1980s.

So you agree that the PP is incorrect and at one time there was a school break based on a religious holiday.

I don't think it was ever called "Easter Break" at least not in modern times.

It was always called "Spring Break"

Yes. I grew up in the South. Our Spring Break was rarely at Easter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't we a secular public school system?

A secular public school system— that, conveniently, schedules to accommodate some religious holidays but not others.

Yes.
FCPS didn't have any religious holidays until the School Board added them.

Before it was called Winter Break it was called Christmas Break......

Not in the past 20 years since I have had kids in school.

I think that change happened in the 1980s.

So you agree that the PP is incorrect and at one time there was a school break based on a religious holiday.

I don't think it was ever called "Easter Break" at least not in modern times.

It was always called "Spring Break"

Yes. I grew up in the South. Our Spring Break was rarely at Easter.

Midwest Catholic school 1970s-80s

We called it spring break too, and it did not occur at Easter or Holy Week, unless Easter was early and coincided with the end of the quarter

[Anonymous]

Reid just sent out the following. Apparently nobody has figured out how to predict where the moon will be, so FCPS needs to insert a surprise O day and schedule additional graduation ceremonies.

Reid wrote:Dear FCPS Community,

I am writing to share an update on FCPS’ school calendar following a recent shift in the planned observance dates for Eid al-Adha, a religious holiday observed by many of our students, staff, and families.

Until a few days ago, the holiday was anticipated to begin at sundown on Friday, June 6. Due to this week’s updated lunar sightings, the holiday now begins at sundown on Thursday, June 5, and continues through Friday, June 6, one day earlier than originally anticipated and planned. We understand that globally, some mosques vary in their interpretation of this date change.

We are working to support our students and staff who observe Eid al-Adha, while recognizing that there are important events and activities including graduations, that we are not able to shift at this late date. With that in mind, the following changes are planned:

The evening of Thursday, June 5, will now be designated as a modified observance evening (i.e., O day).
Friday, June 6, will now be a modified observance day (i.e., O day), allowing students to be excused from school without academic penalty for the duration of the observance.
We are unable to reschedule graduations for the two high schools scheduled for the evening of Thursday, June 5. These schools will be in communication with students and families to announce alternative plans to recognize this milestone for those who cannot attend due to the change in date of the holiday.

During observance days, activities such as quizzes, tests, field trips, or FCPS-scheduled athletic contests typically will not occur. However, due to the late date change, there is a need to modify the observance day expectations. During this modified observance period, all activities that cannot be rescheduled at this late date will continue as planned. Students observing the holiday will be provided an alternative day after the holiday to make up their work.

Due to the likely number of transportation staff celebrating this holiday, there may be some bus delays on Friday, June 6. Families can use the Bus Delay Notification System or use the FCPS Mobile App to receive the bus delay information should it become necessary.

I appreciate your understanding as we work to remain responsive to our diverse community, while we are just days away from the end of the school year.

Take Good Care,
Dr. Michelle C. Reid
Superintendent

[Anonymous]

This has to do with the procedure for “sighting the moon” several days before Eid. It requires actual visual confirmation, not just calculation, and there is always a small degree of uncertainty since clouds and/or the brightness of the sky at the time of intended sighting can affect whether the sighting actually occurs when predicted. Eid can’t be determined with certainty until after the sighting.

This is Google-able.

It’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation for FCPS. If they planned ahead of time for the 6th (which there was only a small likelihood of) and it turned out to be the 7th as originally thought, people would gripe about that.

[Anonymous]

Maybe keep religion out of public schools. Or, easier, end school before Memorial Day.

[Anonymous]

So what happens with finals?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reid just sent out the following. Apparently nobody has figured out how to predict where the moon will be, so FCPS needs to insert a surprise O day and schedule additional graduation ceremonies.

Reid wrote:Dear FCPS Community,

I am writing to share an update on FCPS’ school calendar following a recent shift in the planned observance dates for Eid al-Adha, a religious holiday observed by many of our students, staff, and families.

Until a few days ago, the holiday was anticipated to begin at sundown on Friday, June 6. Due to this week’s updated lunar sightings, the holiday now begins at sundown on Thursday, June 5, and continues through Friday, June 6, one day earlier than originally anticipated and planned. We understand that globally, some mosques vary in their interpretation of this date change.

We are working to support our students and staff who observe Eid al-Adha, while recognizing that there are important events and activities including graduations, that we are not able to shift at this late date. With that in mind, the following changes are planned:

The evening of Thursday, June 5, will now be designated as a modified observance evening (i.e., O day).
Friday, June 6, will now be a modified observance day (i.e., O day), allowing students to be excused from school without academic penalty for the duration of the observance.
We are unable to reschedule graduations for the two high schools scheduled for the evening of Thursday, June 5. These schools will be in communication with students and families to announce alternative plans to recognize this milestone for those who cannot attend due to the change in date of the holiday.

During observance days, activities such as quizzes, tests, field trips, or FCPS-scheduled athletic contests typically will not occur. However, due to the late date change, there is a need to modify the observance day expectations. During this modified observance period, all activities that cannot be rescheduled at this late date will continue as planned. Students observing the holiday will be provided an alternative day after the holiday to make up their work.

Due to the likely number of transportation staff celebrating this holiday, there may be some bus delays on Friday, June 6. Families can use the Bus Delay Notification System or use the FCPS Mobile App to receive the bus delay information should it become necessary.

I appreciate your understanding as we work to remain responsive to our diverse community, while we are just days away from the end of the school year.

Take Good Care,
Dr. Michelle C. Reid
Superintendent

Families will have possible bus delays (a particular problem for those with elementary and/or special needs students) due to the unpredictability of moon sightings causing some people to possibly call off work.

This is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Lol FCPS is such a joke

[Anonymous]

I am confused because Eid was a couple months ago

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reid just sent out the following. Apparently nobody has figured out how to predict where the moon will be, so FCPS needs to insert a surprise O day and schedule additional graduation ceremonies.

Reid wrote:Dear FCPS Community,

I am writing to share an update on FCPS’ school calendar following a recent shift in the planned observance dates for Eid al-Adha, a religious holiday observed by many of our students, staff, and families.

Until a few days ago, the holiday was anticipated to begin at sundown on Friday, June 6. Due to this week’s updated lunar sightings, the holiday now begins at sundown on Thursday, June 5, and continues through Friday, June 6, one day earlier than originally anticipated and planned. We understand that globally, some mosques vary in their interpretation of this date change.

We are working to support our students and staff who observe Eid al-Adha, while recognizing that there are important events and activities including graduations, that we are not able to shift at this late date. With that in mind, the following changes are planned:

The evening of Thursday, June 5, will now be designated as a modified observance evening (i.e., O day).
Friday, June 6, will now be a modified observance day (i.e., O day), allowing students to be excused from school without academic penalty for the duration of the observance.
We are unable to reschedule graduations for the two high schools scheduled for the evening of Thursday, June 5. These schools will be in communication with students and families to announce alternative plans to recognize this milestone for those who cannot attend due to the change in date of the holiday.

During observance days, activities such as quizzes, tests, field trips, or FCPS-scheduled athletic contests typically will not occur. However, due to the late date change, there is a need to modify the observance day expectations. During this modified observance period, all activities that cannot be rescheduled at this late date will continue as planned. Students observing the holiday will be provided an alternative day after the holiday to make up their work.

Due to the likely number of transportation staff celebrating this holiday, there may be some bus delays on Friday, June 6. Families can use the Bus Delay Notification System or use the FCPS Mobile App to receive the bus delay information should it become necessary.

I appreciate your understanding as we work to remain responsive to our diverse community, while we are just days away from the end of the school year.

Take Good Care,
Dr. Michelle C. Reid
Superintendent

Families will have possible bus delays (a particular problem for those with elementary and/or special needs students) due to the unpredictability of moon sightings causing some people to possibly call off work.

This is ridiculous.

What exactly do you expect the school district to do. They are anticipating and warning what may happen if too many call out that day. You could always become a bus driver.

[Anonymous]

Turns out religion does comes first in public education in Fairfax county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Turns out religion does comes first in public education in Fairfax county.

Offering those impacted by a religious holiday they may celebrate the option to make up missed work or alternative ways to celebrate graduating is putting religion first. Other than a passive transportation delay (that is really out of the schools control) this does not impact you. Why do you care?