Are there scheduled Parent-teacher conferences in MCPS middle school?

[Anonymous]

The elementary school scheduled theirs a few weeks ago, for late October, but I haven't heard anything from the middle school.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

No. Once kids move to middle school that is over. You get back to school night, the open house on Monday and whatever contact you do one on one with teachers over email. Your kid's teachers have way too many students to meet with every parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. Once kids move to middle school that is over. You get back to school night, the open house on Monday and whatever contact you do one on one with teachers over email. Your kid's teachers have way too many students to meet with every parent.

OP here. Thanks. I can ask for a meeting with a particular teacher, though, right?

[Anonymous]

So if there aren't parent conferences in middle and high schools. the teachers get the early release time as planning/grading time? Elementary teachers are typically at school until 8pm on those 2 days. That seems inequitable to me.

[Anonymous]

In previous years, our middle school (North Bethesda) has had teachers available for conferences on one of the early-release days the week of Veterans' Day. I assume it will be the same this year--"Conference Day" is listed on the calendar.

Individual conferences are not scheduled in advance, but all teachers are available and gathered at tables in the gym and lunchroom with their laptops and student info. Parents line up for 5-minute talks with any teachers they want to meet. The lines can build up a bit, depending on the teacher, but in the past we've been able to meet with every teacher we've wanted to talk with.

[Anonymous]

Our school only schedules meetings for kids with difficulties. Last year, I requested meeting with one of the teachers and was denied the meeting on the P-T day, but after a second attempt, allowed a meeting a couple of weeks afterwards.

[Anonymous]

Different schools do it differently but there isn't an expenctation you get to talk to every teacher. Some let you signup for a couple of teachers, some make the teachers available all at once and you can wait to talk to one or more of them, some try to target the conferences to kids they think are in need of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In previous years, our middle school (North Bethesda) has had teachers available for conferences on one of the early-release days the week of Veterans' Day. I assume it will be the same this year--"Conference Day" is listed on the calendar.

Individual conferences are not scheduled in advance, but all teachers are available and gathered at tables in the gym and lunchroom with their laptops and student info. Parents line up for 5-minute talks with any teachers they want to meet. The lines can build up a bit, depending on the teacher, but in the past we've been able to meet with every teacher we've wanted to talk with.

+1. This is how my daughter's magnet middle school did things as well.

[Anonymous]

Our MS has a parent teacher conference day - this year it's November 10. I was told that this is MS conference day throughout MCPS - in the past it has been on 11/11, which many of us have off because it's a federal holiday. Anyway, what happens is that you go in during the two hour window and sign in for a time slot to meet with each teacher. I am surprised to hear people saying that conferences are a thing of the past. Now, HS is a different story - no conferences unless you specially request a meeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if there aren't parent conferences in middle and high schools. the teachers get the early release time as planning/grading time? Elementary teachers are typically at school until 8pm on those 2 days. That seems inequitable to me.

These early release days used to be K-8 only. I don't know when they changed. But I remember being in high school in the early '00s and being annoyed that my younger brother got a half day and I didn't.