Why is MCPS closed on Tuesday, February 17?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand this forum’s opposition to starting a couple weeks earlier in August. I’m a mid-career teacher. I and most of my colleagues at my school would love to start earlier so we could keep all of the holidays and breaks as well as accommodate snow days. Please note this wouldn’t increase our salaries.

I think this would be beneficial for student well-being. Observing a religious holiday shouldn’t cause students stress of worrying how they will catch up on missed instruction.

Sure,Jan. You're the only "teacher" I know who wants to start earlier in August.

No kid is worried about missing instruction. The AP kids are fine despite what one parent wants you to believe.

The MCPS forum is such a mess.

You need to talk to more teachers. There are also some of us who would be fine with year round schooling.

I teach middle school magnet currently and kids are stressed about missing instruction even when sick for day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here- I’d rather the school year start after Labor Day but run later into June.

Also, get rid of transition day and non-grading day PD days. Do we also need a full week before students start? Give 2.5 days to prep classrooms and a 1/2 day for compliance training. During an election year, Election Day can be the grading day. IMO, we shouldn’t be using a snow day for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Save it for an actual inclement weather day. It’s always challenging to squeeze PT conferences into the handful of hours allotted during the existing 2 early release days. Make all three days prior to Thanksgiving early release days.

Wait, you only want PD days for grading, not for actual PD?

DP. The PD days have been useless to me the last two years because I don’t teach the target population. They should be differentiated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand this forum’s opposition to starting a couple weeks earlier in August. I’m a mid-career teacher. I and most of my colleagues at my school would love to start earlier so we could keep all of the holidays and breaks as well as accommodate snow days. Please note this wouldn’t increase our salaries.

I think this would be beneficial for student well-being. Observing a religious holiday shouldn’t cause students stress of worrying how they will catch up on missed instruction.

Sure,Jan. You're the only "teacher" I know who wants to start earlier in August.

No kid is worried about missing instruction. The AP kids are fine despite what one parent wants you to believe.

The MCPS forum is such a mess.

You need to talk to more teachers. There are also some of us who would be fine with year round schooling.

I teach middle school magnet currently and kids are stressed about missing instruction even when sick for day.

lol- so even more unbelievable. Keep trying though, I’m sure you’ll convince one person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here- I’d rather the school year start after Labor Day but run later into June.

Also, get rid of transition day and non-grading day PD days. Do we also need a full week before students start? Give 2.5 days to prep classrooms and a 1/2 day for compliance training. During an election year, Election Day can be the grading day. IMO, we shouldn’t be using a snow day for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Save it for an actual inclement weather day. It’s always challenging to squeeze PT conferences into the handful of hours allotted during the existing 2 early release days. Make all three days prior to Thanksgiving early release days.

Wait, you only want PD days for grading, not for actual PD?

Poster is saying no PD days. With the way MCPS does PD days, I agree. I don't agree with cutting preservice week though. I always feel like I need more time to set up prior and have to use my own time to get it all done as it is. It would be helpful if we had more of our own self managed time during pre service though.

With that being said, there's a way to structure PD days that make them useful. MCPS just doesn't do that. Other counties/ states have PD days that are similar to educator conventions where like subject colleagues all meet together and different topics are presented that are relevant to that subject/ age group. Professionals walk away from that day with ideas and tangible things they can start implementing in their own classroom or incorporating into their own planning. MCPS just gives everyone the same PD no matter if you're in your 1st year teaching or 20th. No matter if you teach 12th grade english or 1st grade. It's the same scripted PD for all.

Gosh, that sounds like such a horrible waste of time. Why on earth does MCPS waste days off school putting teachers through one-size-fits-all professional development rather than focusing on on what would actually be helpful for specific teachers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always wonder why there is not a week off for mid-winter break. Is that just for states near skiing areas?

They would not be able to do that in MCPS without starting a week earlier. There are just too many single days off during the year.

It would be great if McPS started earlier in August…but we have what we have.

We’d still have to take off 17 different days to honor Jewish holidays.

Fairfax county opens a week early but doesn’t take “17 days off” for Jewish holidays. But they’re smarter than MCPS because there are more than 1 snow day built into their calendar.

Smarter because they are located in a state that only requires 990 hours OR 180 days. Maryland requires 1080 (ES/MS)/1170 (HS) hours AND 180 days. I'm not fussing at half an hour or a full hour more per day because education is important, but that AND 180 days is the hard part!

Do MCPS kids end up being better educated than FCPS kids? Somehow, I very much doubt it. Montgomery County just likes to over complicate things

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand this forum’s opposition to starting a couple weeks earlier in August. I’m a mid-career teacher. I and most of my colleagues at my school would love to start earlier so we could keep all of the holidays and breaks as well as accommodate snow days. Please note this wouldn’t increase our salaries.

I think this would be beneficial for student well-being. Observing a religious holiday shouldn’t cause students stress of worrying how they will catch up on missed instruction.

Sure,Jan. You're the only "teacher" I know who wants to start earlier in August.

No kid is worried about missing instruction. The AP kids are fine despite what one parent wants you to believe.

The MCPS forum is such a mess.

I’m a different teacher who teaches AP in HS and I would love to start at least a week earlier. And no, most kids taking AP are definitely not fine. Kids are not being prepared well in ES and MS and most students have terrible study skills and limited attention spans. We could definitely use the extra time. Also, all AP teachers dread being scheduled for period 1 as HS kids are mostly asleep in period 1 or arrive late - thx to MCPS crazy early HS start times

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here- I’d rather the school year start after Labor Day but run later into June.

Also, get rid of transition day and non-grading day PD days. Do we also need a full week before students start? Give 2.5 days to prep classrooms and a 1/2 day for compliance training. During an election year, Election Day can be the grading day. IMO, we shouldn’t be using a snow day for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Save it for an actual inclement weather day. It’s always challenging to squeeze PT conferences into the handful of hours allotted during the existing 2 early release days. Make all three days prior to Thanksgiving early release days.

Wait, you only want PD days for grading, not for actual PD?

Poster is saying no PD days. With the way MCPS does PD days, I agree. I don't agree with cutting preservice week though. I always feel like I need more time to set up prior and have to use my own time to get it all done as it is. It would be helpful if we had more of our own self managed time during pre service though.

With that being said, there's a way to structure PD days that make them useful. MCPS just doesn't do that. Other counties/ states have PD days that are similar to educator conventions where like subject colleagues all meet together and different topics are presented that are relevant to that subject/ age group. Professionals walk away from that day with ideas and tangible things they can start implementing in their own classroom or incorporating into their own planning. MCPS just gives everyone the same PD no matter if you're in your 1st year teaching or 20th. No matter if you teach 12th grade english or 1st grade. It's the same scripted PD for all.

This. PD days are completely useless because MCPS has horrible pds that are a complete waste of time. They design the same generic pd for k-12 teachers. Whoever is in charge of pd in MCPS should be fired. I have never once had a subject centered pd in MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always wonder why there is not a week off for mid-winter break. Is that just for states near skiing areas?

They would not be able to do that in MCPS without starting a week earlier. There are just too many single days off during the year.

It would be great if McPS started earlier in August…but we have what we have.

We’d still have to take off 17 different days to honor Jewish holidays.

Fairfax county opens a week early but doesn’t take “17 days off” for Jewish holidays. But they’re smarter than MCPS because there are more than 1 snow day built into their calendar.

Smarter because they are located in a state that only requires 990 hours OR 180 days. Maryland requires 1080 (ES/MS)/1170 (HS) hours AND 180 days. I'm not fussing at half an hour or a full hour more per day because education is important, but that AND 180 days is the hard part!

Do MCPS kids end up being better educated than FCPS kids? Somehow, I very much doubt it. Montgomery County just likes to over complicate things

Troll, this is not MCPS requirement. It's a state requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand this forum’s opposition to starting a couple weeks earlier in August. I’m a mid-career teacher. I and most of my colleagues at my school would love to start earlier so we could keep all of the holidays and breaks as well as accommodate snow days. Please note this wouldn’t increase our salaries.

I think this would be beneficial for student well-being. Observing a religious holiday shouldn’t cause students stress of worrying how they will catch up on missed instruction.

Sure,Jan. You're the only "teacher" I know who wants to start earlier in August.

No kid is worried about missing instruction. The AP kids are fine despite what one parent wants you to believe.

The MCPS forum is such a mess.

I’m a different teacher who teaches AP in HS and I would love to start at least a week earlier. And no, most kids taking AP are definitely not fine. Kids are not being prepared well in ES and MS and most students have terrible study skills and limited attention spans. We could definitely use the extra time. Also, all AP teachers dread being scheduled for period 1 as HS kids are mostly asleep in period 1 or arrive late - thx to MCPS crazy early HS start times

Teach the content in the time you're given and do your job. I'm sorry your AP students aren't ready- mine are and will be despite the snow days.

[Anonymous]

What, I can’t even. I honestly don’t know how you public school parents do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here- I’d rather the school year start after Labor Day but run later into June.

Also, get rid of transition day and non-grading day PD days. Do we also need a full week before students start? Give 2.5 days to prep classrooms and a 1/2 day for compliance training. During an election year, Election Day can be the grading day. IMO, we shouldn’t be using a snow day for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Save it for an actual inclement weather day. It’s always challenging to squeeze PT conferences into the handful of hours allotted during the existing 2 early release days. Make all three days prior to Thanksgiving early release days.

Wait, you only want PD days for grading, not for actual PD?

Poster is saying no PD days. With the way MCPS does PD days, I agree. I don't agree with cutting preservice week though. I always feel like I need more time to set up prior and have to use my own time to get it all done as it is. It would be helpful if we had more of our own self managed time during pre service though.

With that being said, there's a way to structure PD days that make them useful. MCPS just doesn't do that. Other counties/ states have PD days that are similar to educator conventions where like subject colleagues all meet together and different topics are presented that are relevant to that subject/ age group. Professionals walk away from that day with ideas and tangible things they can start implementing in their own classroom or incorporating into their own planning. MCPS just gives everyone the same PD no matter if you're in your 1st year teaching or 20th. No matter if you teach 12th grade english or 1st grade. It's the same scripted PD for all.

Gosh, that sounds like such a horrible waste of time. Why on earth does MCPS waste days off school putting teachers through one-size-fits-all professional development rather than focusing on on what would actually be helpful for specific teachers?

Planning quality PD cost money.

I was especially frustrated last time because I was willing to pay OOP for an outside opportunity that applied to my curriculum and student population. My principal said I couldn’t be released from
the district pd. I would have to take personal leave and make up the district pd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here- I’d rather the school year start after Labor Day but run later into June.

Also, get rid of transition day and non-grading day PD days. Do we also need a full week before students start? Give 2.5 days to prep classrooms and a 1/2 day for compliance training. During an election year, Election Day can be the grading day. IMO, we shouldn’t be using a snow day for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Save it for an actual inclement weather day. It’s always challenging to squeeze PT conferences into the handful of hours allotted during the existing 2 early release days. Make all three days prior to Thanksgiving early release days.

Wait, you only want PD days for grading, not for actual PD?

Poster is saying no PD days. With the way MCPS does PD days, I agree. I don't agree with cutting preservice week though. I always feel like I need more time to set up prior and have to use my own time to get it all done as it is. It would be helpful if we had more of our own self managed time during pre service though.

With that being said, there's a way to structure PD days that make them useful. MCPS just doesn't do that. Other counties/ states have PD days that are similar to educator conventions where like subject colleagues all meet together and different topics are presented that are relevant to that subject/ age group. Professionals walk away from that day with ideas and tangible things they can start implementing in their own classroom or incorporating into their own planning. MCPS just gives everyone the same PD no matter if you're in your 1st year teaching or 20th. No matter if you teach 12th grade english or 1st grade. It's the same scripted PD for all.

Gosh, that sounds like such a horrible waste of time. Why on earth does MCPS waste days off school putting teachers through one-size-fits-all professional development rather than focusing on on what would actually be helpful for specific teachers?

Teachers were requesting PD in our evaluations/ surveys. This was their answer to it and then they give themselves a pat on the back and gold star for providing PD's. They only have to look at neighboring counties for better models.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here- I’d rather the school year start after Labor Day but run later into June.

Also, get rid of transition day and non-grading day PD days. Do we also need a full week before students start? Give 2.5 days to prep classrooms and a 1/2 day for compliance training. During an election year, Election Day can be the grading day. IMO, we shouldn’t be using a snow day for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Save it for an actual inclement weather day. It’s always challenging to squeeze PT conferences into the handful of hours allotted during the existing 2 early release days. Make all three days prior to Thanksgiving early release days.

As parents, we agree with this. Too many breaks in the school year does not help kids nor parents. It feels like there is no structire, no set routine at school. Many 1/2 days also. Breaks after breaks. ((( Plus its a huge problem for working parents of ES level students.
Does majority of people go to work on 02/17 even if they follow this holiday? Did they work on Christmas? Did they work on some others holidays, when schools are closed? Aren't there enough federal holidays in the year? Add snow days to all these breaks....

[Anonymous]

Honest question: why so many non American holidays? Seems students could use those days to be in class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here- I’d rather the school year start after Labor Day but run later into June.

Also, get rid of transition day and non-grading day PD days. Do we also need a full week before students start? Give 2.5 days to prep classrooms and a 1/2 day for compliance training. During an election year, Election Day can be the grading day. IMO, we shouldn’t be using a snow day for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Save it for an actual inclement weather day. It’s always challenging to squeeze PT conferences into the handful of hours allotted during the existing 2 early release days. Make all three days prior to Thanksgiving early release days.

As parents, we agree with this. Too many breaks in the school year does not help kids nor parents. It feels like there is no structire, no set routine at school. Many 1/2 days also. Breaks after breaks. ((( Plus its a huge problem for working parents of ES level students.
Does majority of people go to work on 02/17 even if they follow this holiday? Did they work on Christmas? Did they work on some others holidays, when schools are closed? Aren't there enough federal holidays in the year? Add snow days to all these breaks....

“As parents, we agree with this.”
If you know anything about MCPS, you would know better than to make statements where you try to speak for all parents as if we have only one opinion.

I for one would be happier if MCPS started earlier like many other schools in the country and built in an appropriate number of snow days into the calendar instead of just one so we wouldn’t have all this uncertainty and drama about the calendar every time it snows