How DO we get the calendar changed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are absolutely ridiculous!

No one wants surveys. Just fix the silly calendar in a manner that minimizes all these fragmented weeks!

You can’t fix the calendar without getting rid of religious/cultural holidays in an extraordinarily diverse county. Constituents of those communities should have the say on whether those days are student holidays. If Indians are good with school on Diwali, great. If Jewish folks are good with only one of Rosh/Yom and Muslims are good with only one of the Eid’s, also great. But, no, you can’t have a bunch of white/black school board members simply stating that we aren’t going to observe the non-Christian holidays anymore because parents are annoyed that they have to find child care.

Some of the holidays recognized are for populations in the low single digits, where the numbers of student and staff taking off is less than an average stomach virus running through an elementary school

The days off should be based on pre O day attendance numbers, period. Pick a set number of absences, say 5%, and only give those holidays off. Give liberal make up options to those who practice smaller religious holidays where school is in session.

Stop putting teachers workdays on the cultural and religious holidays that have miniscule numbers of absences. I can shave off a full week plus one by just being practical. For example:

The Ds have a supermajority. FCPS needs to simply request that their friends in Richmond eliminate the mandated Kings Dominion Friday, a state forced holiday 10 days into the school year. Simply call Rachna and Laura Jane and make it happen.

Day of the Dead/All Saints Day is NOT a holiday celebrated in the US to the point of needing a day off school. Yes, it is a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics, but there are almost hourly Mass options within 15-20 minutes of every FCPS resident, including evening options. Stop masking that religious/cultural holiday with an unnecessary teacher workday.

Eliminate Bohdi Day and Theravada. There are fewer than 10,000 Buddhists in all of Fairfax County, and not every sect celebrates both holidays Adherents to this fairh in FCPS is in the very low single digits. There is zero justification to not have the other 99% of FCPS students and teachers in school that day. Be generous with the make up policy for the handful of kids at each school that are practicing Buddhists.


Eliminate Orthodox Epiphany. There are only 3 orthodox churches in all of Fairfax County. The numbers do not justify giving Orthodox holidays off. Be liberal with the make up policies.

Remove Lunar New Year as a fake teachers workday. We do not celebrate Lunar New Year in the US like they do in Asia, not even us asian families. Lunar New Year should be a regular school day with regular assignment policies, no O day and no special accommodations.

Leave Eid, Rosh Hoshona, Diwali, etc. The populations ars smaller, but more significant than the 1%-2% of the Buddhist and Orthodox holidays, and non culturally significant nature of Day of the Dead and Lunar New Year, or the pointlessness of Kings Dominion Friday.


Easy and done.


https://www.thearda.com/us-religion/census/congregational-membership?y=2020&t=0&c=51059


https://www.oca.org/parishes/state/VA

Oh, so you just don’t like Teacher Workdays

BTW, OCA isn’t even the only kind of Orthodox Christian

Orthodox Christians are about 1-2% of Fairfax County, even lumping all of them together.


That means that our of the roughly 177,000 fcps students, we are talking about 2500-maybe 3000 students, or around a dozen +/- students per school.

One dozen ish students per school, when our schools are in the hundreds to 3000 per school is not a large enough number of students to justify a day off or even an O day.

It is fewer students than the number who miss for doctors appointments or the common cold each day.

Those students from tiny religious populations such as Orthodox Christians can be graciously accomodated at in individual level by generous homework extensions and absence accomodations without affecting a single one of the other 175,000 FCPS students who are not Orthodox Christians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high schooler is on his way to a 5 on his AP exams thanks to the break. We love it!!!!

I'm so glad you were able to get a ton of tutoring in on those days off!! Wish I could afford that for my children!

How did you get tutoring for my kid from my post? Weird. My high schooler doesn’t need a tutor and doesn’t have one. He just gets more study time for the AP exams due to the days off which is a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So do the 8 early release days include early release Wednesdays? Or will that be a totally different thing since it only applies to elementary schools? They have been so dumb.

The motion turned into a disaster. Dunne was trying to stop elementary early releases by using language in the calendar planning policy, but then it was pointed out that there are a ton of high school early releases that aren’t on the calendar either, and we can’t just make high schoolers sit around at school after they’ve finished their AP exam or final because the school board said they couldn’t leave early!

Then the new guy threw out 8 days as a compromise and the language specifying elementary schools got added.

Basically, the attempt to kill the Wednesday early releases resulted in the death of end of quarter early releases, which isn’t going to be popular with the long weekend travelers.

Updated calendar from today still has the QE early dismissals. The long weekends are safe.

Could you please link to this?

https://www.fcps.edu/system/files/forms/2025-04/2026-2027-standard-school-year-calendar.pdf

Updated 4/10, QE days unchanged

PP wasn't kidding, they did forget the first week of August, LOL!

That Calendar is awful, but hey the complainers who don’t like being with their elementary kids are happy. We are being ruled by complainers on social media rather than surveys and thinking things through.

Yup. You’ve solved it. Parents go to work because they don’t like being with their young kids. Not because they like feeding, clothing, and housing those kids. Thanks Sherlock for solving that mystery.

If you are not making it because of 4 days off, I do honestly feel for you, but summer camps are pricey too.

DP. Summer camps allow a consistent schedule. There are also a multitude of options that allow kids to explore all kinds of interests... music, arts, theater, robotics, sports... you name it. Most parents would much prefer to select summer camps based on their childrens' interests than be at the mercy of whatever crappy one day camp is offered by some random martial arts place. No one is putting on a series of high quality camps for one or two days at a time at random times throughout a school year. Who would work at such a camp?

People like you also tend to studiously ignore the parents are saying they prefer a longer summer. Maybe because that goes against your narrative that parents just don't want to deal with their kids.

People like me have zero say in what happens to the calendar, and I am responding to your calendar comment, so I’m not ignoring you.

I just disagree with you about summers.

And, yes if taking 4 days off- or just 2 like I do switching off with my partner as necessary to cover those days rather than paying for camps is too hard for you, I do feel sorry for you.

FCPS didn’t poll parents this time to ask about summer camps vs. the day off camps, so you have zero clue whether the “majority” agrees with you or me. They should absolutely done some surveys (as they ahve done in the past) before making these changes.

But Mateo Dunne and Melanie Meren of the board are ruling by social media and emails rather than better data that could prove your point.

Meren is the worst. She is clearly trying to make a name for herself by promoting whatever cause seems like it will get her the most attention. And her statements at the board meeting? Clueless. Nonsensical. She mugged for the cameras, gave an embarrassingly phony and overly dramatic little speech, and said nothing of substance. She needs to go.

And what did you do to help any of Meren’s constituents who were dissatisfied with the calendar?

You don’t have to like her but she delivered for the people she works for.

Again, you don’t KNOW that. She delivered for the angry parents who complained. Did she send out a survey? Did she poll the rest of the county?

When calendar changes were made last time, there were several surveys for parents to fill out and a focus group who worked on the 3 school year calendar.

This time, there was nothing, but 2 board members listening to social media. This is how bad policy gets made>. When people overreact and act quickly.

The majority shouldn’t be decided only by the angriest few, but the actual majority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So do the 8 early release days include early release Wednesdays? Or will that be a totally different thing since it only applies to elementary schools? They have been so dumb.

The motion turned into a disaster. Dunne was trying to stop elementary early releases by using language in the calendar planning policy, but then it was pointed out that there are a ton of high school early releases that aren’t on the calendar either, and we can’t just make high schoolers sit around at school after they’ve finished their AP exam or final because the school board said they couldn’t leave early!

Then the new guy threw out 8 days as a compromise and the language specifying elementary schools got added.

Basically, the attempt to kill the Wednesday early releases resulted in the death of end of quarter early releases, which isn’t going to be popular with the long weekend travelers.

Updated calendar from today still has the QE early dismissals. The long weekends are safe.

Could you please link to this?

https://www.fcps.edu/system/files/forms/2025-04/2026-2027-standard-school-year-calendar.pdf

Updated 4/10, QE days unchanged

PP wasn't kidding, they did forget the first week of August, LOL!

That Calendar is awful, but hey the complainers who don’t like being with their elementary kids are happy. We are being ruled by complainers on social media rather than surveys and thinking things through.

Yup. You’ve solved it. Parents go to work because they don’t like being with their young kids. Not because they like feeding, clothing, and housing those kids. Thanks Sherlock for solving that mystery.

If you are not making it because of 4 days off, I do honestly feel for you, but summer camps are pricey too.

DP. Summer camps allow a consistent schedule. There are also a multitude of options that allow kids to explore all kinds of interests... music, arts, theater, robotics, sports... you name it. Most parents would much prefer to select summer camps based on their childrens' interests than be at the mercy of whatever crappy one day camp is offered by some random martial arts place. No one is putting on a series of high quality camps for one or two days at a time at random times throughout a school year. Who would work at such a camp?

People like you also tend to studiously ignore the parents are saying they prefer a longer summer. Maybe because that goes against your narrative that parents just don't want to deal with their kids.

People like me have zero say in what happens to the calendar, and I am responding to your calendar comment, so I’m not ignoring you.

I just disagree with you about summers.

And, yes if taking 4 days off- or just 2 like I do switching off with my partner as necessary to cover those days rather than paying for camps is too hard for you, I do feel sorry for you.

FCPS didn’t poll parents this time to ask about summer camps vs. the day off camps, so you have zero clue whether the “majority” agrees with you or me. They should absolutely done some surveys (as they ahve done in the past) before making these changes.

But Mateo Dunne and Melanie Meren of the board are ruling by social media and emails rather than better data that could prove your point.

It is in fact too hard to just take those days off due to the nature of our jobs. I’m not going to say what I do because I want to be anonymous, but if I did you would understand. It is simply not possible for me to take off work on certain days. My spouse can sometimes take off on those days, but it’s rare. I honestly don’t know too many working professionals for whom every work day is equally easy to just call out. There are busy seasons, days on which important events and conferences are scheduled, etc. It’s not like workplaces plan their calendars around the ridiculous FCPS calendar. It’s much easier to plan summer camps.

And because of your very important jobs, FCPS should cater to your schedule and not people like me who chose to make other sacrifices to be able to be home with their kids?

Or who hate the summer camp sign up mess? And prefer shorter summers?

In short, you are saying other’s opinions and situations shouldn’t matter as much as yours. Meanwhile, I think a survey would have clarified what meets the majority’s needs and you are pontificating about your important needs. There is the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So do the 8 early release days include early release Wednesdays? Or will that be a totally different thing since it only applies to elementary schools? They have been so dumb.

The motion turned into a disaster. Dunne was trying to stop elementary early releases by using language in the calendar planning policy, but then it was pointed out that there are a ton of high school early releases that aren’t on the calendar either, and we can’t just make high schoolers sit around at school after they’ve finished their AP exam or final because the school board said they couldn’t leave early!

Then the new guy threw out 8 days as a compromise and the language specifying elementary schools got added.

Basically, the attempt to kill the Wednesday early releases resulted in the death of end of quarter early releases, which isn’t going to be popular with the long weekend travelers.

Updated calendar from today still has the QE early dismissals. The long weekends are safe.

Could you please link to this?

https://www.fcps.edu/system/files/forms/2025-04/2026-2027-standard-school-year-calendar.pdf

Updated 4/10, QE days unchanged

PP wasn't kidding, they did forget the first week of August, LOL!

That Calendar is awful, but hey the complainers who don’t like being with their elementary kids are happy. We are being ruled by complainers on social media rather than surveys and thinking things through.

Yup. You’ve solved it. Parents go to work because they don’t like being with their young kids. Not because they like feeding, clothing, and housing those kids. Thanks Sherlock for solving that mystery.

If you are not making it because of 4 days off, I do honestly feel for you, but summer camps are pricey too.

DP. Summer camps allow a consistent schedule. There are also a multitude of options that allow kids to explore all kinds of interests... music, arts, theater, robotics, sports... you name it. Most parents would much prefer to select summer camps based on their childrens' interests than be at the mercy of whatever crappy one day camp is offered by some random martial arts place. No one is putting on a series of high quality camps for one or two days at a time at random times throughout a school year. Who would work at such a camp?

People like you also tend to studiously ignore the parents are saying they prefer a longer summer. Maybe because that goes against your narrative that parents just don't want to deal with their kids.

People like me have zero say in what happens to the calendar, and I am responding to your calendar comment, so I’m not ignoring you.

I just disagree with you about summers.

And, yes if taking 4 days off- or just 2 like I do switching off with my partner as necessary to cover those days rather than paying for camps is too hard for you, I do feel sorry for you.

FCPS didn’t poll parents this time to ask about summer camps vs. the day off camps, so you have zero clue whether the “majority” agrees with you or me. They should absolutely done some surveys (as they ahve done in the past) before making these changes.

But Mateo Dunne and Melanie Meren of the board are ruling by social media and emails rather than better data that could prove your point.

Meren is the worst. She is clearly trying to make a name for herself by promoting whatever cause seems like it will get her the most attention. And her statements at the board meeting? Clueless. Nonsensical. She mugged for the cameras, gave an embarrassingly phony and overly dramatic little speech, and said nothing of substance. She needs to go.

And what did you do to help any of Meren’s constituents who were dissatisfied with the calendar?

You don’t have to like her but she delivered for the people she works for.

Again, you don’t KNOW that. She delivered for the angry parents who complained. Did she send out a survey? Did she poll the rest of the county?

When calendar changes were made last time, there were several surveys for parents to fill out and a focus group who worked on the 3 school year calendar.

This time, there was nothing, but 2 board members listening to social media. This is how bad policy gets made>. When people overreact and act quickly.

The majority shouldn’t be decided only by the angriest few, but the actual majority.

This is exactly why I am so angry. Meren did zero research, polled exactly nobody, and then had the audacity to lecture the board about embarrassment - an overly rehearsed performance aimed at the cameras and a handful of helicopter parents who want free babysitting.

That's not leadership and that's not delivering. That's called not doing your homework. The only embarrassment in the room was her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So do the 8 early release days include early release Wednesdays? Or will that be a totally different thing since it only applies to elementary schools? They have been so dumb.

The motion turned into a disaster. Dunne was trying to stop elementary early releases by using language in the calendar planning policy, but then it was pointed out that there are a ton of high school early releases that aren’t on the calendar either, and we can’t just make high schoolers sit around at school after they’ve finished their AP exam or final because the school board said they couldn’t leave early!

Then the new guy threw out 8 days as a compromise and the language specifying elementary schools got added.

Basically, the attempt to kill the Wednesday early releases resulted in the death of end of quarter early releases, which isn’t going to be popular with the long weekend travelers.

Updated calendar from today still has the QE early dismissals. The long weekends are safe.

Could you please link to this?

https://www.fcps.edu/system/files/forms/2025-04/2026-2027-standard-school-year-calendar.pdf

Updated 4/10, QE days unchanged

PP wasn't kidding, they did forget the first week of August, LOL!

That Calendar is awful, but hey the complainers who don’t like being with their elementary kids are happy. We are being ruled by complainers on social media rather than surveys and thinking things through.

Yup. You’ve solved it. Parents go to work because they don’t like being with their young kids. Not because they like feeding, clothing, and housing those kids. Thanks Sherlock for solving that mystery.

If you are not making it because of 4 days off, I do honestly feel for you, but summer camps are pricey too.

DP. Summer camps allow a consistent schedule. There are also a multitude of options that allow kids to explore all kinds of interests... music, arts, theater, robotics, sports... you name it. Most parents would much prefer to select summer camps based on their childrens' interests than be at the mercy of whatever crappy one day camp is offered by some random martial arts place. No one is putting on a series of high quality camps for one or two days at a time at random times throughout a school year. Who would work at such a camp?

People like you also tend to studiously ignore the parents are saying they prefer a longer summer. Maybe because that goes against your narrative that parents just don't want to deal with their kids.

People like me have zero say in what happens to the calendar, and I am responding to your calendar comment, so I’m not ignoring you.

I just disagree with you about summers.

And, yes if taking 4 days off- or just 2 like I do switching off with my partner as necessary to cover those days rather than paying for camps is too hard for you, I do feel sorry for you.

FCPS didn’t poll parents this time to ask about summer camps vs. the day off camps, so you have zero clue whether the “majority” agrees with you or me. They should absolutely done some surveys (as they ahve done in the past) before making these changes.

But Mateo Dunne and Melanie Meren of the board are ruling by social media and emails rather than better data that could prove your point.

Meren is the worst. She is clearly trying to make a name for herself by promoting whatever cause seems like it will get her the most attention. And her statements at the board meeting? Clueless. Nonsensical. She mugged for the cameras, gave an embarrassingly phony and overly dramatic little speech, and said nothing of substance. She needs to go.

And what did you do to help any of Meren’s constituents who were dissatisfied with the calendar?

You don’t have to like her but she delivered for the people she works for.

Again, you don’t KNOW that. She delivered for the angry parents who complained. Did she send out a survey? Did she poll the rest of the county?

When calendar changes were made last time, there were several surveys for parents to fill out and a focus group who worked on the 3 school year calendar.

This time, there was nothing, but 2 board members listening to social media. This is how bad policy gets made>. When people overreact and act quickly.

The majority shouldn’t be decided only by the angriest few, but the actual majority.

This is exactly why I am so angry. Meren did zero research, polled exactly nobody, and then had the audacity to lecture the board about embarrassment - an overly rehearsed performance aimed at the cameras and a handful of helicopter parents who want free babysitting.

That's not leadership and that's not delivering. That's called not doing your homework. The only embarrassment in the room was her.

Were you outraged when Reid added the three hour early releases, having done zero research and polled nobody? Because all this has done (other than Veterans day which by policy was supposed to be in school anyway) was marginally roll back the early releases. This time action taken by the board who was elected versus Reid, who is not.

[Anonymous]

How do you all manage ES & MS during school year when there are many no school days with dual working parents? Are aftercare or nanny the only options?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So do the 8 early release days include early release Wednesdays? Or will that be a totally different thing since it only applies to elementary schools? They have been so dumb.

The motion turned into a disaster. Dunne was trying to stop elementary early releases by using language in the calendar planning policy, but then it was pointed out that there are a ton of high school early releases that aren’t on the calendar either, and we can’t just make high schoolers sit around at school after they’ve finished their AP exam or final because the school board said they couldn’t leave early!

Then the new guy threw out 8 days as a compromise and the language specifying elementary schools got added.

Basically, the attempt to kill the Wednesday early releases resulted in the death of end of quarter early releases, which isn’t going to be popular with the long weekend travelers.

Updated calendar from today still has the QE early dismissals. The long weekends are safe.

Could you please link to this?

https://www.fcps.edu/system/files/forms/2025-04/2026-2027-standard-school-year-calendar.pdf

Updated 4/10, QE days unchanged

PP wasn't kidding, they did forget the first week of August, LOL!

That Calendar is awful, but hey the complainers who don’t like being with their elementary kids are happy. We are being ruled by complainers on social media rather than surveys and thinking things through.

Yup. You’ve solved it. Parents go to work because they don’t like being with their young kids. Not because they like feeding, clothing, and housing those kids. Thanks Sherlock for solving that mystery.

If you are not making it because of 4 days off, I do honestly feel for you, but summer camps are pricey too.

DP. Summer camps allow a consistent schedule. There are also a multitude of options that allow kids to explore all kinds of interests... music, arts, theater, robotics, sports... you name it. Most parents would much prefer to select summer camps based on their childrens' interests than be at the mercy of whatever crappy one day camp is offered by some random martial arts place. No one is putting on a series of high quality camps for one or two days at a time at random times throughout a school year. Who would work at such a camp?

People like you also tend to studiously ignore the parents are saying they prefer a longer summer. Maybe because that goes against your narrative that parents just don't want to deal with their kids.

People like me have zero say in what happens to the calendar, and I am responding to your calendar comment, so I’m not ignoring you.

I just disagree with you about summers.

And, yes if taking 4 days off- or just 2 like I do switching off with my partner as necessary to cover those days rather than paying for camps is too hard for you, I do feel sorry for you.

FCPS didn’t poll parents this time to ask about summer camps vs. the day off camps, so you have zero clue whether the “majority” agrees with you or me. They should absolutely done some surveys (as they ahve done in the past) before making these changes.

But Mateo Dunne and Melanie Meren of the board are ruling by social media and emails rather than better data that could prove your point.

Meren is the worst. She is clearly trying to make a name for herself by promoting whatever cause seems like it will get her the most attention. And her statements at the board meeting? Clueless. Nonsensical. She mugged for the cameras, gave an embarrassingly phony and overly dramatic little speech, and said nothing of substance. She needs to go.

And what did you do to help any of Meren’s constituents who were dissatisfied with the calendar?

You don’t have to like her but she delivered for the people she works for.

Again, you don’t KNOW that. She delivered for the angry parents who complained. Did she send out a survey? Did she poll the rest of the county?

When calendar changes were made last time, there were several surveys for parents to fill out and a focus group who worked on the 3 school year calendar.

This time, there was nothing, but 2 board members listening to social media. This is how bad policy gets made>. When people overreact and act quickly.

The majority shouldn’t be decided only by the angriest few, but the actual majority.

This is exactly why I am so angry. Meren did zero research, polled exactly nobody, and then had the audacity to lecture the board about embarrassment - an overly rehearsed performance aimed at the cameras and a handful of helicopter parents who want free babysitting.

That's not leadership and that's not delivering. That's called not doing your homework. The only embarrassment in the room was her.

Were you outraged when Reid added the three hour early releases, having done zero research and polled nobody? Because all this has done (other than Veterans day which by policy was supposed to be in school anyway) was marginally roll back the early releases. This time action taken by the board who was elected versus Reid, who is not.

It should be pointed out that when Dr Anderson requested surveys be used to help shape the 27-28 and 28-29 calendars, Karl Frisch sneered at this because they aren’t getting responses from the voices they care about. Reid agreed with him that the surveys weren’t helpful in accomplishing HER agenda. Basically, nobody cares about what parents think of the calendar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So do the 8 early release days include early release Wednesdays? Or will that be a totally different thing since it only applies to elementary schools? They have been so dumb.

The motion turned into a disaster. Dunne was trying to stop elementary early releases by using language in the calendar planning policy, but then it was pointed out that there are a ton of high school early releases that aren’t on the calendar either, and we can’t just make high schoolers sit around at school after they’ve finished their AP exam or final because the school board said they couldn’t leave early!

Then the new guy threw out 8 days as a compromise and the language specifying elementary schools got added.

Basically, the attempt to kill the Wednesday early releases resulted in the death of end of quarter early releases, which isn’t going to be popular with the long weekend travelers.

Updated calendar from today still has the QE early dismissals. The long weekends are safe.

Could you please link to this?

https://www.fcps.edu/system/files/forms/2025-04/2026-2027-standard-school-year-calendar.pdf

Updated 4/10, QE days unchanged

PP wasn't kidding, they did forget the first week of August, LOL!

That Calendar is awful, but hey the complainers who don’t like being with their elementary kids are happy. We are being ruled by complainers on social media rather than surveys and thinking things through.

Yup. You’ve solved it. Parents go to work because they don’t like being with their young kids. Not because they like feeding, clothing, and housing those kids. Thanks Sherlock for solving that mystery.

If you are not making it because of 4 days off, I do honestly feel for you, but summer camps are pricey too.

DP. Summer camps allow a consistent schedule. There are also a multitude of options that allow kids to explore all kinds of interests... music, arts, theater, robotics, sports... you name it. Most parents would much prefer to select summer camps based on their childrens' interests than be at the mercy of whatever crappy one day camp is offered by some random martial arts place. No one is putting on a series of high quality camps for one or two days at a time at random times throughout a school year. Who would work at such a camp?

People like you also tend to studiously ignore the parents are saying they prefer a longer summer. Maybe because that goes against your narrative that parents just don't want to deal with their kids.

People like me have zero say in what happens to the calendar, and I am responding to your calendar comment, so I’m not ignoring you.

I just disagree with you about summers.

And, yes if taking 4 days off- or just 2 like I do switching off with my partner as necessary to cover those days rather than paying for camps is too hard for you, I do feel sorry for you.

FCPS didn’t poll parents this time to ask about summer camps vs. the day off camps, so you have zero clue whether the “majority” agrees with you or me. They should absolutely done some surveys (as they ahve done in the past) before making these changes.

But Mateo Dunne and Melanie Meren of the board are ruling by social media and emails rather than better data that could prove your point.

Meren is the worst. She is clearly trying to make a name for herself by promoting whatever cause seems like it will get her the most attention. And her statements at the board meeting? Clueless. Nonsensical. She mugged for the cameras, gave an embarrassingly phony and overly dramatic little speech, and said nothing of substance. She needs to go.

And what did you do to help any of Meren’s constituents who were dissatisfied with the calendar?

You don’t have to like her but she delivered for the people she works for.

Again, you don’t KNOW that. She delivered for the angry parents who complained. Did she send out a survey? Did she poll the rest of the county?

When calendar changes were made last time, there were several surveys for parents to fill out and a focus group who worked on the 3 school year calendar.

This time, there was nothing, but 2 board members listening to social media. This is how bad policy gets made>. When people overreact and act quickly.

The majority shouldn’t be decided only by the angriest few, but the actual majority.

This is exactly why I am so angry. Meren did zero research, polled exactly nobody, and then had the audacity to lecture the board about embarrassment - an overly rehearsed performance aimed at the cameras and a handful of helicopter parents who want free babysitting.

That's not leadership and that's not delivering. That's called not doing your homework. The only embarrassment in the room was her.

Meren has always been an embarrassment on the SB. You shouldn’t be surprised

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So do the 8 early release days include early release Wednesdays? Or will that be a totally different thing since it only applies to elementary schools? They have been so dumb.

The motion turned into a disaster. Dunne was trying to stop elementary early releases by using language in the calendar planning policy, but then it was pointed out that there are a ton of high school early releases that aren’t on the calendar either, and we can’t just make high schoolers sit around at school after they’ve finished their AP exam or final because the school board said they couldn’t leave early!

Then the new guy threw out 8 days as a compromise and the language specifying elementary schools got added.

Basically, the attempt to kill the Wednesday early releases resulted in the death of end of quarter early releases, which isn’t going to be popular with the long weekend travelers.

Updated calendar from today still has the QE early dismissals. The long weekends are safe.

Could you please link to this?

https://www.fcps.edu/system/files/forms/2025-04/2026-2027-standard-school-year-calendar.pdf

Updated 4/10, QE days unchanged

PP wasn't kidding, they did forget the first week of August, LOL!

That Calendar is awful, but hey the complainers who don’t like being with their elementary kids are happy. We are being ruled by complainers on social media rather than surveys and thinking things through.

Yup. You’ve solved it. Parents go to work because they don’t like being with their young kids. Not because they like feeding, clothing, and housing those kids. Thanks Sherlock for solving that mystery.

If you are not making it because of 4 days off, I do honestly feel for you, but summer camps are pricey too.

DP. Summer camps allow a consistent schedule. There are also a multitude of options that allow kids to explore all kinds of interests... music, arts, theater, robotics, sports... you name it. Most parents would much prefer to select summer camps based on their childrens' interests than be at the mercy of whatever crappy one day camp is offered by some random martial arts place. No one is putting on a series of high quality camps for one or two days at a time at random times throughout a school year. Who would work at such a camp?

People like you also tend to studiously ignore the parents are saying they prefer a longer summer. Maybe because that goes against your narrative that parents just don't want to deal with their kids.

People like me have zero say in what happens to the calendar, and I am responding to your calendar comment, so I’m not ignoring you.

I just disagree with you about summers.

And, yes if taking 4 days off- or just 2 like I do switching off with my partner as necessary to cover those days rather than paying for camps is too hard for you, I do feel sorry for you.

FCPS didn’t poll parents this time to ask about summer camps vs. the day off camps, so you have zero clue whether the “majority” agrees with you or me. They should absolutely done some surveys (as they ahve done in the past) before making these changes.

But Mateo Dunne and Melanie Meren of the board are ruling by social media and emails rather than better data that could prove your point.

Meren is the worst. She is clearly trying to make a name for herself by promoting whatever cause seems like it will get her the most attention. And her statements at the board meeting? Clueless. Nonsensical. She mugged for the cameras, gave an embarrassingly phony and overly dramatic little speech, and said nothing of substance. She needs to go.

And what did you do to help any of Meren’s constituents who were dissatisfied with the calendar?

You don’t have to like her but she delivered for the people she works for.

Again, you don’t KNOW that. She delivered for the angry parents who complained. Did she send out a survey? Did she poll the rest of the county?

When calendar changes were made last time, there were several surveys for parents to fill out and a focus group who worked on the 3 school year calendar.

This time, there was nothing, but 2 board members listening to social media. This is how bad policy gets made>. When people overreact and act quickly.

The majority shouldn’t be decided only by the angriest few, but the actual majority.

1. No surveys were sent before adding early release. In Loudoun there *was* polling and they decided not to do early release because it was so unpopular.

2. If it’s bad policy to limit early release and have one more instructional day, the rest of the board could have voted it down. They didn’t.

3. The current policy of early release was decided by Reid without the board. Thats an even smaller “angriest few” so I assume we could agree that was also bad policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So do the 8 early release days include early release Wednesdays? Or will that be a totally different thing since it only applies to elementary schools? They have been so dumb.

The motion turned into a disaster. Dunne was trying to stop elementary early releases by using language in the calendar planning policy, but then it was pointed out that there are a ton of high school early releases that aren’t on the calendar either, and we can’t just make high schoolers sit around at school after they’ve finished their AP exam or final because the school board said they couldn’t leave early!

Then the new guy threw out 8 days as a compromise and the language specifying elementary schools got added.

Basically, the attempt to kill the Wednesday early releases resulted in the death of end of quarter early releases, which isn’t going to be popular with the long weekend travelers.

Updated calendar from today still has the QE early dismissals. The long weekends are safe.

Could you please link to this?

https://www.fcps.edu/system/files/forms/2025-04/2026-2027-standard-school-year-calendar.pdf

Updated 4/10, QE days unchanged

PP wasn't kidding, they did forget the first week of August, LOL!

That Calendar is awful, but hey the complainers who don’t like being with their elementary kids are happy. We are being ruled by complainers on social media rather than surveys and thinking things through.

The person who keeps bringing up the "you hate your kids" thing is projecting so hard I am actually worried about their children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So do the 8 early release days include early release Wednesdays? Or will that be a totally different thing since it only applies to elementary schools? They have been so dumb.

The motion turned into a disaster. Dunne was trying to stop elementary early releases by using language in the calendar planning policy, but then it was pointed out that there are a ton of high school early releases that aren’t on the calendar either, and we can’t just make high schoolers sit around at school after they’ve finished their AP exam or final because the school board said they couldn’t leave early!

Then the new guy threw out 8 days as a compromise and the language specifying elementary schools got added.

Basically, the attempt to kill the Wednesday early releases resulted in the death of end of quarter early releases, which isn’t going to be popular with the long weekend travelers.

Updated calendar from today still has the QE early dismissals. The long weekends are safe.

Could you please link to this?

https://www.fcps.edu/system/files/forms/2025-04/2026-2027-standard-school-year-calendar.pdf

Updated 4/10, QE days unchanged

PP wasn't kidding, they did forget the first week of August, LOL!

That Calendar is awful, but hey the complainers who don’t like being with their elementary kids are happy. We are being ruled by complainers on social media rather than surveys and thinking things through.

The person who keeps bringing up the "you hate your kids" thing is projecting so hard I am actually worried about their children.

The only one talking about hate is you…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So do the 8 early release days include early release Wednesdays? Or will that be a totally different thing since it only applies to elementary schools? They have been so dumb.

The motion turned into a disaster. Dunne was trying to stop elementary early releases by using language in the calendar planning policy, but then it was pointed out that there are a ton of high school early releases that aren’t on the calendar either, and we can’t just make high schoolers sit around at school after they’ve finished their AP exam or final because the school board said they couldn’t leave early!

Then the new guy threw out 8 days as a compromise and the language specifying elementary schools got added.

Basically, the attempt to kill the Wednesday early releases resulted in the death of end of quarter early releases, which isn’t going to be popular with the long weekend travelers.

Updated calendar from today still has the QE early dismissals. The long weekends are safe.

Could you please link to this?

https://www.fcps.edu/system/files/forms/2025-04/2026-2027-standard-school-year-calendar.pdf

Updated 4/10, QE days unchanged

PP wasn't kidding, they did forget the first week of August, LOL!

That Calendar is awful, but hey the complainers who don’t like being with their elementary kids are happy. We are being ruled by complainers on social media rather than surveys and thinking things through.

Yup. You’ve solved it. Parents go to work because they don’t like being with their young kids. Not because they like feeding, clothing, and housing those kids. Thanks Sherlock for solving that mystery.

If you are not making it because of 4 days off, I do honestly feel for you, but summer camps are pricey too.

DP. Summer camps allow a consistent schedule. There are also a multitude of options that allow kids to explore all kinds of interests... music, arts, theater, robotics, sports... you name it. Most parents would much prefer to select summer camps based on their childrens' interests than be at the mercy of whatever crappy one day camp is offered by some random martial arts place. No one is putting on a series of high quality camps for one or two days at a time at random times throughout a school year. Who would work at such a camp?

People like you also tend to studiously ignore the parents are saying they prefer a longer summer. Maybe because that goes against your narrative that parents just don't want to deal with their kids.

People like me have zero say in what happens to the calendar, and I am responding to your calendar comment, so I’m not ignoring you.

I just disagree with you about summers.

And, yes if taking 4 days off- or just 2 like I do switching off with my partner as necessary to cover those days rather than paying for camps is too hard for you, I do feel sorry for you.

FCPS didn’t poll parents this time to ask about summer camps vs. the day off camps, so you have zero clue whether the “majority” agrees with you or me. They should absolutely done some surveys (as they ahve done in the past) before making these changes.

But Mateo Dunne and Melanie Meren of the board are ruling by social media and emails rather than better data that could prove your point.

Meren is the worst. She is clearly trying to make a name for herself by promoting whatever cause seems like it will get her the most attention. And her statements at the board meeting? Clueless. Nonsensical. She mugged for the cameras, gave an embarrassingly phony and overly dramatic little speech, and said nothing of substance. She needs to go.

And what did you do to help any of Meren’s constituents who were dissatisfied with the calendar?

You don’t have to like her but she delivered for the people she works for.

Again, you don’t KNOW that. She delivered for the angry parents who complained. Did she send out a survey? Did she poll the rest of the county?

When calendar changes were made last time, there were several surveys for parents to fill out and a focus group who worked on the 3 school year calendar.

This time, there was nothing, but 2 board members listening to social media. This is how bad policy gets made>. When people overreact and act quickly.

The majority shouldn’t be decided only by the angriest few, but the actual majority.

1. No surveys were sent before adding early release. In Loudoun there *was* polling and they decided not to do early release because it was so unpopular.

2. If it’s bad policy to limit early release and have one more instructional day, the rest of the board could have voted it down. They didn’t.

3. The current policy of early release was decided by Reid without the board. Thats an even smaller “angriest few” so I assume we could agree that was also bad policy.

I agree the current early release policy was bad policy- see all the debate it has stirred up?

2 years ago all districts HAD to implement state mandated training and Reid used early releases. That HAD to happen to get state funding. It wasn’t a choice.
This last year was bad policy. The board claimed they just went along to get a calendar and every time something stupid happens, they claim their hands are tied. This board has a planning and foresight issue as we as not understanding the political game at all.

But here is the thing. The board just COMPOUNDED the issue by not issuing a survey and using the same bad tactics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So do the 8 early release days include early release Wednesdays? Or will that be a totally different thing since it only applies to elementary schools? They have been so dumb.

The motion turned into a disaster. Dunne was trying to stop elementary early releases by using language in the calendar planning policy, but then it was pointed out that there are a ton of high school early releases that aren’t on the calendar either, and we can’t just make high schoolers sit around at school after they’ve finished their AP exam or final because the school board said they couldn’t leave early!

Then the new guy threw out 8 days as a compromise and the language specifying elementary schools got added.

Basically, the attempt to kill the Wednesday early releases resulted in the death of end of quarter early releases, which isn’t going to be popular with the long weekend travelers.

Updated calendar from today still has the QE early dismissals. The long weekends are safe.

Could you please link to this?

https://www.fcps.edu/system/files/forms/2025-04/2026-2027-standard-school-year-calendar.pdf

Updated 4/10, QE days unchanged

PP wasn't kidding, they did forget the first week of August, LOL!

That Calendar is awful, but hey the complainers who don’t like being with their elementary kids are happy. We are being ruled by complainers on social media rather than surveys and thinking things through.

Yup. You’ve solved it. Parents go to work because they don’t like being with their young kids. Not because they like feeding, clothing, and housing those kids. Thanks Sherlock for solving that mystery.

If you are not making it because of 4 days off, I do honestly feel for you, but summer camps are pricey too.

DP. Summer camps allow a consistent schedule. There are also a multitude of options that allow kids to explore all kinds of interests... music, arts, theater, robotics, sports... you name it. Most parents would much prefer to select summer camps based on their childrens' interests than be at the mercy of whatever crappy one day camp is offered by some random martial arts place. No one is putting on a series of high quality camps for one or two days at a time at random times throughout a school year. Who would work at such a camp?

People like you also tend to studiously ignore the parents are saying they prefer a longer summer. Maybe because that goes against your narrative that parents just don't want to deal with their kids.

People like me have zero say in what happens to the calendar, and I am responding to your calendar comment, so I’m not ignoring you.

I just disagree with you about summers.

And, yes if taking 4 days off- or just 2 like I do switching off with my partner as necessary to cover those days rather than paying for camps is too hard for you, I do feel sorry for you.

FCPS didn’t poll parents this time to ask about summer camps vs. the day off camps, so you have zero clue whether the “majority” agrees with you or me. They should absolutely done some surveys (as they ahve done in the past) before making these changes.

But Mateo Dunne and Melanie Meren of the board are ruling by social media and emails rather than better data that could prove your point.

Meren is the worst. She is clearly trying to make a name for herself by promoting whatever cause seems like it will get her the most attention. And her statements at the board meeting? Clueless. Nonsensical. She mugged for the cameras, gave an embarrassingly phony and overly dramatic little speech, and said nothing of substance. She needs to go.

And what did you do to help any of Meren’s constituents who were dissatisfied with the calendar?

You don’t have to like her but she delivered for the people she works for.

Again, you don’t KNOW that. She delivered for the angry parents who complained. Did she send out a survey? Did she poll the rest of the county?

When calendar changes were made last time, there were several surveys for parents to fill out and a focus group who worked on the 3 school year calendar.

This time, there was nothing, but 2 board members listening to social media. This is how bad policy gets made>. When people overreact and act quickly.

The majority shouldn’t be decided only by the angriest few, but the actual majority.

This is exactly why I am so angry. Meren did zero research, polled exactly nobody, and then had the audacity to lecture the board about embarrassment - an overly rehearsed performance aimed at the cameras and a handful of helicopter parents who want free babysitting.

That's not leadership and that's not delivering. That's called not doing your homework. The only embarrassment in the room was her.

Were you outraged when Reid added the three hour early releases, having done zero research and polled nobody? Because all this has done (other than Veterans day which by policy was supposed to be in school anyway) was marginally roll back the early releases. This time action taken by the board who was elected versus Reid, who is not.

It should be pointed out that when Dr Anderson requested surveys be used to help shape the 27-28 and 28-29 calendars, Karl Frisch sneered at this because they aren’t getting responses from the voices they care about. Reid agreed with him that the surveys weren’t helpful in accomplishing HER agenda. Basically, nobody cares about what parents think of the calendar.

Consistently, the best board member is Dr. Anderson. Every time she makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you all manage ES & MS during school year when there are many no school days with dual working parents? Are aftercare or nanny the only options?

SACC when it's open. BTW wait-list is years long at our school. We have both taken so much leave this year.