Proposed APS Calendar Policy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A week off in October rather than the scattered days would be AMAZING.

+1. Please end the scattered days. A floating week in fall could be made to accommodate holy days in the Jewish calendar.

Weren't the holy days in September last year? I'm not sure that works. I would be okay with an October break--just extend the days off on the existing short week.

I would prefer that we follow the lead of FCC and just excuse anyone who is out for religious reasons. Right now there are too many breaks in weird places and some religions are being left out.

The Jewish holy days are 10 days apart. And sometimes they’re very early in the fall, like this year Rosy Hashanah is Sept 16th. No floating week is going to work for that.

This is moot anyway bc the whole reason for the calendar change (ostensibly) is bc we have to copy Fairfax in everything now. If you want a fall break, go lobby the Fairfax school board. Then APS will be bound to copy it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A week off in October rather than the scattered days would be AMAZING.

+1. Please end the scattered days. A floating week in fall could be made to accommodate holy days in the Jewish calendar.

How? You think it's equitable for Jews to not celebrate their holidays on the holiday?!

I think they mean the week off would correspond to when the Jewish holidays are that year. Like spring break generally "floats" according to Easter.
That said, I think correlating it to a specific non-majority religion really isn't the intent of the week off.

But the Jewish holidays are not within one week. Not to mention the other religions - what about them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A week off in October rather than the scattered days would be AMAZING.

+1. Please end the scattered days. A floating week in fall could be made to accommodate holy days in the Jewish calendar.

Weren't the holy days in September last year? I'm not sure that works. I would be okay with an October break--just extend the days off on the existing short week.

I would prefer that we follow the lead of FCC and just excuse anyone who is out for religious reasons. Right now there are too many breaks in weird places and some religions are being left out.

We used to do that, didn't work very well for kids or teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS parent who is VERY happy about the religious observance days, although I think there are too many conference / prof development days in the calendar, and would like to see the kids in school on Election Day since most of the rest of the world has to work then as well. About to go comment on Mary's page.

So everyone should get every religious holiday off; but you begrudge teachers their mandatory professional development days and parent-teacher conference days?

Let’s start by trimming the number of days teachers are required to be in school before the year starts.

Let’s have PD offered during the year based on what the teachers agree would be useful.

I'd rather have a week break in October for teachers to do ALL of their PD for the year. Done. Then put those scattered days back as school days throughout the rest of the year. But we've got to stop all these choppy part-time weeks. It's a PIA for everyone (except those who insist their kids need mental health breaks every week. That's what the weekends are for, folks! If your kids can't handle so much, maybe you shouldn't let them do so many extracurriculars)

What you want isn't important. At all. This is about what benefits teachers (and thus kids) the most

Make the same response to everyone else who has cited their preference in this chain, have you?
And who are you to say that clustering days off and minimizing disruptions in the routine throughout the year would not benefit teachers and thus kids the most?

Teachers here have said that they prefer to have PD scheduled to allow them to go into class the next day and start implementing what they learned.

Fine. Assuming they are actually ready to start implementing what they just learned the very next day, make PD days Mondays or Fridays, eliminate ER days entirely, shorten the winter break, stop providing "grade prep days" that extend breaks, and go back to a secular calendar with reasonable accommodations for individual religious needs.

Boy, you just couldn't be more hostile to teachers, could you?

Oh please. It isn't hostility. It's practicality. I'm sure there are some things that can be immediately implemented; but I would hope these trainings are substantive and include things that maybe can't just be inserted last minute into the teacher's curriculum or instruction plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A week off in October rather than the scattered days would be AMAZING.

+1. Please end the scattered days. A floating week in fall could be made to accommodate holy days in the Jewish calendar.

How? You think it's equitable for Jews to not celebrate their holidays on the holiday?!

I think they mean the week off would correspond to when the Jewish holidays are that year. Like spring break generally "floats" according to Easter.
That said, I think correlating it to a specific non-majority religion really isn't the intent of the week off.

But the Jewish holidays are not within one week. Not to mention the other religions - what about them?

Yeah, I get it. That's my point with my last comment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A week off in October rather than the scattered days would be AMAZING.

+1. Please end the scattered days. A floating week in fall could be made to accommodate holy days in the Jewish calendar.

Weren't the holy days in September last year? I'm not sure that works. I would be okay with an October break--just extend the days off on the existing short week.

I would prefer that we follow the lead of FCC and just excuse anyone who is out for religious reasons. Right now there are too many breaks in weird places and some religions are being left out.

We used to do that, didn't work very well for kids or teachers.

I never heard of any significant issues.

The current calendar isn't working well, as evidenced by the APS survey results and this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS parent who is VERY happy about the religious observance days, although I think there are too many conference / prof development days in the calendar, and would like to see the kids in school on Election Day since most of the rest of the world has to work then as well. About to go comment on Mary's page.

So everyone should get every religious holiday off; but you begrudge teachers their mandatory professional development days and parent-teacher conference days?

Let’s start by trimming the number of days teachers are required to be in school before the year starts.

Let’s have PD offered during the year based on what the teachers agree would be useful.

I'd rather have a week break in October for teachers to do ALL of their PD for the year. Done. Then put those scattered days back as school days throughout the rest of the year. But we've got to stop all these choppy part-time weeks. It's a PIA for everyone (except those who insist their kids need mental health breaks every week. That's what the weekends are for, folks! If your kids can't handle so much, maybe you shouldn't let them do so many extracurriculars)

What you want isn't important. At all. This is about what benefits teachers (and thus kids) the most

Make the same response to everyone else who has cited their preference in this chain, have you?
And who are you to say that clustering days off and minimizing disruptions in the routine throughout the year would not benefit teachers and thus kids the most?

Teachers here have said that they prefer to have PD scheduled to allow them to go into class the next day and start implementing what they learned.

Fine. Assuming they are actually ready to start implementing what they just learned the very next day, make PD days Mondays or Fridays, eliminate ER days entirely, shorten the winter break, stop providing "grade prep days" that extend breaks, and go back to a secular calendar with reasonable accommodations for individual religious needs.

Boy, you just couldn't be more hostile to teachers, could you?

Oh please. It isn't hostility. It's practicality. I'm sure there are some things that can be immediately implemented; but I would hope these trainings are substantive and include things that maybe can't just be inserted last minute into the teacher's curriculum or instruction plans.

It is what teachers said would work best for them, so yes, saying you know better than the people in the classroom is hostile. Dismissive. Rude AF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS parent who is VERY happy about the religious observance days, although I think there are too many conference / prof development days in the calendar, and would like to see the kids in school on Election Day since most of the rest of the world has to work then as well. About to go comment on Mary's page.

So everyone should get every religious holiday off; but you begrudge teachers their mandatory professional development days and parent-teacher conference days?

Let’s start by trimming the number of days teachers are required to be in school before the year starts.

Let’s have PD offered during the year based on what the teachers agree would be useful.

I'd rather have a week break in October for teachers to do ALL of their PD for the year. Done. Then put those scattered days back as school days throughout the rest of the year. But we've got to stop all these choppy part-time weeks. It's a PIA for everyone (except those who insist their kids need mental health breaks every week. That's what the weekends are for, folks! If your kids can't handle so much, maybe you shouldn't let them do so many extracurriculars)

What you want isn't important. At all. This is about what benefits teachers (and thus kids) the most

Make the same response to everyone else who has cited their preference in this chain, have you?
And who are you to say that clustering days off and minimizing disruptions in the routine throughout the year would not benefit teachers and thus kids the most?

Teachers here have said that they prefer to have PD scheduled to allow them to go into class the next day and start implementing what they learned.

Fine. Assuming they are actually ready to start implementing what they just learned the very next day, make PD days Mondays or Fridays, eliminate ER days entirely, shorten the winter break, stop providing "grade prep days" that extend breaks, and go back to a secular calendar with reasonable accommodations for individual religious needs.

Boy, you just couldn't be more hostile to teachers, could you?

Oh please. It isn't hostility. It's practicality. I'm sure there are some things that can be immediately implemented; but I would hope these trainings are substantive and include things that maybe can't just be inserted last minute into the teacher's curriculum or instruction plans.

It is what teachers said would work best for them, so yes, saying you know better than the people in the classroom is hostile. Dismissive. Rude AF.

I never said I knew what was better. I merely offered an idea that would be preferable imo and you've done nothing but jump all over me ever since. Whereas, I haven't noticed you jumping on anybody else who offered an opinion or criticized them for knowing better than everyone else. What is your problem? And where do you get your great insight? Have you confirmed that every teacher agrees that whatever it is you're arguing is the "best" for teachers and students? If it is, like I responded to your original accusatory response, fine. Adjust the calendar in other ways. I know for a fact that not every teacher believes the current calendar is "best" for teachers and students or for teaching and learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A week off in October rather than the scattered days would be AMAZING.

+1. Please end the scattered days. A floating week in fall could be made to accommodate holy days in the Jewish calendar.

Weren't the holy days in September last year? I'm not sure that works. I would be okay with an October break--just extend the days off on the existing short week.

I would prefer that we follow the lead of FCC and just excuse anyone who is out for religious reasons. Right now there are too many breaks in weird places and some religions are being left out.

We used to do that, didn't work very well for kids or teachers.

I never heard of any significant issues.

The current calendar isn't working well, as evidenced by the APS survey results and this thread.

Sounds like you are not a religious minority. Teachers never followed the requirements of no tests or new info on these days.

[Anonymous]

Separation id church and all aspects of school once and for all. Please!

[Anonymous]

⬆️ “of”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Separation id church and all aspects of school once and for all. Please!

+1 - while I agree no religious holidays or alignment, do what we should have that is best for education, we need to keep in mind that staffing challenges for when neighboring jurisdictions where teachers live that haven't adopted an education first policy. First item is acknowledging the real challenge in a problem. What should we do when staffing levels are lower due to needs of staff who live elsewhere? Maybe it's some sort of alternative class organization approach that requires less staff - partial consolidate classes of some sort?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A week off in October rather than the scattered days would be AMAZING.

+1. Please end the scattered days. A floating week in fall could be made to accommodate holy days in the Jewish calendar.

Weren't the holy days in September last year? I'm not sure that works. I would be okay with an October break--just extend the days off on the existing short week.

I would prefer that we follow the lead of FCC and just excuse anyone who is out for religious reasons. Right now there are too many breaks in weird places and some religions are being left out.

The Jewish holy days are 10 days apart. And sometimes they’re very early in the fall, like this year Rosy Hashanah is Sept 16th. No floating week is going to work for that.

This is moot anyway bc the whole reason for the calendar change (ostensibly) is bc we have to copy Fairfax in everything now. If you want a fall break, go lobby the Fairfax school board. Then APS will be bound to copy it.

Yes, I think they are more commonly in October, but very early this year... and the 10 days apart prevent that they could ever be accommodated in the same week... however, I would really appreciate it, if instead of the kneejerk (if well intentioned) "we will give all major holidays in all major religions off" etc. APS (and surrounding jurisdictions) would gather and publish actual data on the numbers of students/families observing the respective holidays. It seems like a huge issue that we now have 5+ extra scattered holiday days and have to cut time off elsewhere. We are already one of the latest school districts in the nation to let out as it is, with the 3rd week of June, and now getting the 3rd wk of August start date... Plus we don't need snow days anymore, imo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A week off in October rather than the scattered days would be AMAZING.

+1. Please end the scattered days. A floating week in fall could be made to accommodate holy days in the Jewish calendar.

Weren't the holy days in September last year? I'm not sure that works. I would be okay with an October break--just extend the days off on the existing short week.

I would prefer that we follow the lead of FCC and just excuse anyone who is out for religious reasons. Right now there are too many breaks in weird places and some religions are being left out.

We used to do that, didn't work very well for kids or teachers.

I never heard of any significant issues.

The current calendar isn't working well, as evidenced by the APS survey results and this thread.

Sounds like you are not a religious minority. Teachers never followed the requirements of no tests or new info on these days.

So let's fix that. The new calendar creates a host of other issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A week off in October rather than the scattered days would be AMAZING.

+1. Please end the scattered days. A floating week in fall could be made to accommodate holy days in the Jewish calendar.

Weren't the holy days in September last year? I'm not sure that works. I would be okay with an October break--just extend the days off on the existing short week.

I would prefer that we follow the lead of FCC and just excuse anyone who is out for religious reasons. Right now there are too many breaks in weird places and some religions are being left out.

We used to do that, didn't work very well for kids or teachers.

I never heard of any significant issues.

The current calendar isn't working well, as evidenced by the APS survey results and this thread.

Sounds like you are not a religious minority. Teachers never followed the requirements of no tests or new info on these days.

How many days does that actually impact a given individual vs the current schedule? Presumably the same student isn’t observing ALL the holidays.