Melanie Meren's FB post about the calendar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking only for ES, not MS/HS

The 2026-2027 calendar is terrible for teachers. I think it needs to be revisited not to increase the number of 5 days weeks, but to reduce them and provide more planning time.

As PPs have said, the ES pacing guides’ content level is such that the actual instruction for each week can be conducted over 1-2 days. There are few exceptions to this, but as a norm, the amount of content covered each week is pretty low. (I would challenge parents who think the instruction is going at a faster
pace to sub for a day.) At least at the ES level, kids simply are not missing out on academic instruction when schools are closed for a religious holiday, teacher workdays or snow.

The issue is obviously that ES is childcare for many families. So closing schools for teacher workdays or early release is a burden on families. I do not know how to solve this issue.

But families should not be fretting that their kids are behind academically due to the calendar.

There is not much *new* material, but a lot of elementary material requires repetition and a lot of practice to make it automatic, like times tables, adding and subtracting within 20, phonics, etc, so the rest 3-4 days still matter. Especially since there is no homework.

For kids who truly need lots of repetition, the morning exercises on their laptop. This practice is now done online, not from teacher instruction. But many students do not require weeks of repetitive exercises to gain mastery.

Honest question - have you ever spent time in a classroom? If not, I would encourage you to sign up to sub. Or at least look at the pacing guides for your child’s grade. It’s very clear that the content does not require five full days of instruction.

Thanks, too busy with my full time job, covering for no school days and early releases, and providing the needed repetition after hours.

So being a working adult and parenting? Wow! Gold star!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking only for ES, not MS/HS

The 2026-2027 calendar is terrible for teachers. I think it needs to be revisited not to increase the number of 5 days weeks, but to reduce them and provide more planning time.

As PPs have said, the ES pacing guides’ content level is such that the actual instruction for each week can be conducted over 1-2 days. There are few exceptions to this, but as a norm, the amount of content covered each week is pretty low. (I would challenge parents who think the instruction is going at a faster
pace to sub for a day.) At least at the ES level, kids simply are not missing out on academic instruction when schools are closed for a religious holiday, teacher workdays or snow.

The issue is obviously that ES is childcare for many families. So closing schools for teacher workdays or early release is a burden on families. I do not know how to solve this issue.

But families should not be fretting that their kids are behind academically due to the calendar.

There is not much *new* material, but a lot of elementary material requires repetition and a lot of practice to make it automatic, like times tables, adding and subtracting within 20, phonics, etc, so the rest 3-4 days still matter. Especially since there is no homework.

For kids who truly need lots of repetition, the morning exercises on their laptop. This practice is now done online, not from teacher instruction. But many students do not require weeks of repetitive exercises to gain mastery.

Honest question - have you ever spent time in a classroom? If not, I would encourage you to sign up to sub. Or at least look at the pacing guides for your child’s grade. It’s very clear that the content does not require five full days of instruction.

Thanks, too busy with my full time job, covering for no school days and early releases, and providing the needed repetition after hours.

So being a working adult and parenting? Wow! Gold star!

Struggling with comprehension?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking only for ES, not MS/HS

The 2026-2027 calendar is terrible for teachers. I think it needs to be revisited not to increase the number of 5 days weeks, but to reduce them and provide more planning time.

As PPs have said, the ES pacing guides’ content level is such that the actual instruction for each week can be conducted over 1-2 days. There are few exceptions to this, but as a norm, the amount of content covered each week is pretty low. (I would challenge parents who think the instruction is going at a faster
pace to sub for a day.) At least at the ES level, kids simply are not missing out on academic instruction when schools are closed for a religious holiday, teacher workdays or snow.

The issue is obviously that ES is childcare for many families. So closing schools for teacher workdays or early release is a burden on families. I do not know how to solve this issue.

But families should not be fretting that their kids are behind academically due to the calendar.

There is not much *new* material, but a lot of elementary material requires repetition and a lot of practice to make it automatic, like times tables, adding and subtracting within 20, phonics, etc, so the rest 3-4 days still matter. Especially since there is no homework.

For kids who truly need lots of repetition, the morning exercises on their laptop. This practice is now done online, not from teacher instruction. But many students do not require weeks of repetitive exercises to gain mastery.

Honest question - have you ever spent time in a classroom? If not, I would encourage you to sign up to sub. Or at least look at the pacing guides for your child’s grade. It’s very clear that the content does not require five full days of instruction.

Thanks, too busy with my full time job, covering for no school days and early releases, and providing the needed repetition after hours.

Were you not aware before you had children that such things are necessary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two things can be true:

1. You enjoy spending time with your children.

2. You want your children to be in school receiving a good education.

Wanting what is best for your children just might involve having them in school consistently.

Smothering just may not be the best mothering.

Can I add number three? I would rather spend an extra day with my child relaxed on a summer beach or even in our neighborhood pool then sitting home on a random Tuesday when we can’t travel because there is school on Wednesday, none of our nearby family has the day off, so we can’t spend time together, and options for enrichment are so intensely limited. Yes I want to spend time with my kid— and I want it to be the right time.

+100

These people saying “oh you just don’t want to be around your kids” are so dumb. I want a longer summer with them! How is that not wanting my kids around? There is a lot more to do in June or August than in February, and yes much easier to coordinate with family who live elsewhere. I don’t understand what has changed since my oldest started K that has caused the need for this ridiculous calendar. It was fine before! How did this area lose all common sense so quickly?

It was fine FOR YOU. Now other people’s holidays are being included and you stomp your foot and say “not fine!” Oh well.

If they wanted to make everyone feel so special and included, aka pander for votes, they should have looked at the cumulative effects of a long winter break, all the teacher workday, an early releases, federal, holidays, and all these new holidays. That is where the lack of common sense comes in.

Do not fool yourself at this school Board cares about your holidays. They want your votes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two things can be true:

1. You enjoy spending time with your children.

2. You want your children to be in school receiving a good education.

Wanting what is best for your children just might involve having them in school consistently.

Smothering just may not be the best mothering.

Can I add number three? I would rather spend an extra day with my child relaxed on a summer beach or even in our neighborhood pool then sitting home on a random Tuesday when we can’t travel because there is school on Wednesday, none of our nearby family has the day off, so we can’t spend time together, and options for enrichment are so intensely limited. Yes I want to spend time with my kid— and I want it to be the right time.

+100

These people saying “oh you just don’t want to be around your kids” are so dumb. I want a longer summer with them! How is that not wanting my kids around? There is a lot more to do in June or August than in February, and yes much easier to coordinate with family who live elsewhere. I don’t understand what has changed since my oldest started K that has caused the need for this ridiculous calendar. It was fine before! How did this area lose all common sense so quickly?

It was fine FOR YOU. Now other people’s holidays are being included and you stomp your foot and say “not fine!” Oh well.

Who exactly were we excluding before we started letting children out on all of these Wednesdays? What cultural holiday requires a five day memorial day weekend

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two things can be true:

1. You enjoy spending time with your children.

2. You want your children to be in school receiving a good education.

Wanting what is best for your children just might involve having them in school consistently.

Smothering just may not be the best mothering.

Can I add number three? I would rather spend an extra day with my child relaxed on a summer beach or even in our neighborhood pool then sitting home on a random Tuesday when we can’t travel because there is school on Wednesday, none of our nearby family has the day off, so we can’t spend time together, and options for enrichment are so intensely limited. Yes I want to spend time with my kid— and I want it to be the right time.

+100

These people saying “oh you just don’t want to be around your kids” are so dumb. I want a longer summer with them! How is that not wanting my kids around? There is a lot more to do in June or August than in February, and yes much easier to coordinate with family who live elsewhere. I don’t understand what has changed since my oldest started K that has caused the need for this ridiculous calendar. It was fine before! How did this area lose all common sense so quickly?

It was fine FOR YOU. Now other people’s holidays are being included and you stomp your foot and say “not fine!” Oh well.

Who exactly were we excluding before we started letting children out on all of these Wednesdays? What cultural holiday requires a five day memorial day weekend

Gee. where I grew up we had a two month plus Memorial Day weekend. Maybe, because we did not have all these extra days off throughout the year.
Two days at Thanksgiving.
Two weeks in December.
Three days in March
And, a planning day at the end of the semester

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two things can be true:

1. You enjoy spending time with your children.

2. You want your children to be in school receiving a good education.

Wanting what is best for your children just might involve having them in school consistently.

Smothering just may not be the best mothering.

Can I add number three? I would rather spend an extra day with my child relaxed on a summer beach or even in our neighborhood pool then sitting home on a random Tuesday when we can’t travel because there is school on Wednesday, none of our nearby family has the day off, so we can’t spend time together, and options for enrichment are so intensely limited. Yes I want to spend time with my kid— and I want it to be the right time.

+100

These people saying “oh you just don’t want to be around your kids” are so dumb. I want a longer summer with them! How is that not wanting my kids around? There is a lot more to do in June or August than in February, and yes much easier to coordinate with family who live elsewhere. I don’t understand what has changed since my oldest started K that has caused the need for this ridiculous calendar. It was fine before! How did this area lose all common sense so quickly?

It was fine FOR YOU. Now other people’s holidays are being included and you stomp your foot and say “not fine!” Oh well.

Who exactly were we excluding before we started letting children out on all of these Wednesdays? What cultural holiday requires a five day memorial day weekend

The 5 day Memorial Day weekend is a rare occurrence due to Eid falling on that Wednesday. They turned Tuesday into a TW because many would have pulled their kids that day anyway to make their own 5 day weekend.

For the next two school years, Memorial Day returns to being a 3 day weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two things can be true:

1. You enjoy spending time with your children.

2. You want your children to be in school receiving a good education.

Wanting what is best for your children just might involve having them in school consistently.

Smothering just may not be the best mothering.

Can I add number three? I would rather spend an extra day with my child relaxed on a summer beach or even in our neighborhood pool then sitting home on a random Tuesday when we can’t travel because there is school on Wednesday, none of our nearby family has the day off, so we can’t spend time together, and options for enrichment are so intensely limited. Yes I want to spend time with my kid— and I want it to be the right time.

+100

These people saying “oh you just don’t want to be around your kids” are so dumb. I want a longer summer with them! How is that not wanting my kids around? There is a lot more to do in June or August than in February, and yes much easier to coordinate with family who live elsewhere. I don’t understand what has changed since my oldest started K that has caused the need for this ridiculous calendar. It was fine before! How did this area lose all common sense so quickly?

It was fine FOR YOU. Now other people’s holidays are being included and you stomp your foot and say “not fine!” Oh well.

Who exactly were we excluding before we started letting children out on all of these Wednesdays? What cultural holiday requires a five day memorial day weekend

Gee. where I grew up we had a two month plus Memorial Day weekend. Maybe, because we did not have all these extra days off throughout the year.
Two days at Thanksgiving.
Two weeks in December.
Three days in March
And, a planning day at the end of the semester

Gee, me too but we started after Labor Day and ended the first week of June. Snow days were tacked on to the end of the year and unused snow days were given back to us.

Thing is that wouldn’t work now. Can you imagine if parents had to have a flex week to start the summer and never knew if they needed a camp for that week or some days of that week until late march? Oh the posts you would make!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking only for ES, not MS/HS

The 2026-2027 calendar is terrible for teachers. I think it needs to be revisited not to increase the number of 5 days weeks, but to reduce them and provide more planning time.

As PPs have said, the ES pacing guides’ content level is such that the actual instruction for each week can be conducted over 1-2 days. There are few exceptions to this, but as a norm, the amount of content covered each week is pretty low. (I would challenge parents who think the instruction is going at a faster
pace to sub for a day.) At least at the ES level, kids simply are not missing out on academic instruction when schools are closed for a religious holiday, teacher workdays or snow.

The issue is obviously that ES is childcare for many families. So closing schools for teacher workdays or early release is a burden on families. I do not know how to solve this issue.

But families should not be fretting that their kids are behind academically due to the calendar.

There is not much *new* material, but a lot of elementary material requires repetition and a lot of practice to make it automatic, like times tables, adding and subtracting within 20, phonics, etc, so the rest 3-4 days still matter. Especially since there is no homework.

For kids who truly need lots of repetition, the morning exercises on their laptop. This practice is now done online, not from teacher instruction. But many students do not require weeks of repetitive exercises to gain mastery.

Honest question - have you ever spent time in a classroom? If not, I would encourage you to sign up to sub. Or at least look at the pacing guides for your child’s grade. It’s very clear that the content does not require five full days of instruction.

Thanks, too busy with my full time job, covering for no school days and early releases, and providing the needed repetition after hours.

Were you not aware before you had children that such things are necessary?

Aware that of subbing at FCPS for a day to make sure that not much is being thought at school? You are getting too lazy, dear troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two things can be true:

1. You enjoy spending time with your children.

2. You want your children to be in school receiving a good education.

Wanting what is best for your children just might involve having them in school consistently.

Smothering just may not be the best mothering.

Can I add number three? I would rather spend an extra day with my child relaxed on a summer beach or even in our neighborhood pool then sitting home on a random Tuesday when we can’t travel because there is school on Wednesday, none of our nearby family has the day off, so we can’t spend time together, and options for enrichment are so intensely limited. Yes I want to spend time with my kid— and I want it to be the right time.

+100

These people saying “oh you just don’t want to be around your kids” are so dumb. I want a longer summer with them! How is that not wanting my kids around? There is a lot more to do in June or August than in February, and yes much easier to coordinate with family who live elsewhere. I don’t understand what has changed since my oldest started K that has caused the need for this ridiculous calendar. It was fine before! How did this area lose all common sense so quickly?

It was fine FOR YOU. Now other people’s holidays are being included and you stomp your foot and say “not fine!” Oh well.

Who exactly were we excluding before we started letting children out on all of these Wednesdays? What cultural holiday requires a five day memorial day weekend

The 5 day Memorial Day weekend is a rare occurrence due to Eid falling on that Wednesday. They turned Tuesday into a TW because many would have pulled their kids that day anyway to make their own 5 day weekend.

For the next two school years, Memorial Day returns to being a 3 day weekend.

Slightly off topic, but does anyone know when this holiday will be set it stone? Is it still TBD 4 weeks prior or 2 weeks prior based on cloud cover?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two things can be true:

1. You enjoy spending time with your children.

2. You want your children to be in school receiving a good education.

Wanting what is best for your children just might involve having them in school consistently.

Smothering just may not be the best mothering.

Can I add number three? I would rather spend an extra day with my child relaxed on a summer beach or even in our neighborhood pool then sitting home on a random Tuesday when we can’t travel because there is school on Wednesday, none of our nearby family has the day off, so we can’t spend time together, and options for enrichment are so intensely limited. Yes I want to spend time with my kid— and I want it to be the right time.

+100

These people saying “oh you just don’t want to be around your kids” are so dumb. I want a longer summer with them! How is that not wanting my kids around? There is a lot more to do in June or August than in February, and yes much easier to coordinate with family who live elsewhere. I don’t understand what has changed since my oldest started K that has caused the need for this ridiculous calendar. It was fine before! How did this area lose all common sense so quickly?

It was fine FOR YOU. Now other people’s holidays are being included and you stomp your foot and say “not fine!” Oh well.

Who exactly were we excluding before we started letting children out on all of these Wednesdays? What cultural holiday requires a five day memorial day weekend

The 5 day Memorial Day weekend is a rare occurrence due to Eid falling on that Wednesday. They turned Tuesday into a TW because many would have pulled their kids that day anyway to make their own 5 day weekend.

For the next two school years, Memorial Day returns to being a 3 day weekend.

So in other words no one. We excluded no one by having a normal three day weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two things can be true:

1. You enjoy spending time with your children.

2. You want your children to be in school receiving a good education.

Wanting what is best for your children just might involve having them in school consistently.

Smothering just may not be the best mothering.

Can I add number three? I would rather spend an extra day with my child relaxed on a summer beach or even in our neighborhood pool then sitting home on a random Tuesday when we can’t travel because there is school on Wednesday, none of our nearby family has the day off, so we can’t spend time together, and options for enrichment are so intensely limited. Yes I want to spend time with my kid— and I want it to be the right time.

+100

These people saying “oh you just don’t want to be around your kids” are so dumb. I want a longer summer with them! How is that not wanting my kids around? There is a lot more to do in June or August than in February, and yes much easier to coordinate with family who live elsewhere. I don’t understand what has changed since my oldest started K that has caused the need for this ridiculous calendar. It was fine before! How did this area lose all common sense so quickly?

It was fine FOR YOU. Now other people’s holidays are being included and you stomp your foot and say “not fine!” Oh well.

Who exactly were we excluding before we started letting children out on all of these Wednesdays? What cultural holiday requires a five day memorial day weekend

The 5 day Memorial Day weekend is a rare occurrence due to Eid falling on that Wednesday. They turned Tuesday into a TW because many would have pulled their kids that day anyway to make their own 5 day weekend.

For the next two school years, Memorial Day returns to being a 3 day weekend.

Slightly off topic, but does anyone know when this holiday will be set it stone? Is it still TBD 4 weeks prior or 2 weeks prior based on cloud cover?

Eid al-Fitr is confirmed the evening before it begins based on the official siting of the crescent moon. Some localities announced two days that it will officially be celebrated on 3/20, but local mosques can differ.

Eid al-Adha (over Memorial Day weekend) will be confirmed 10 days in advance, so we should know by May17-18.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two things can be true:

1. You enjoy spending time with your children.

2. You want your children to be in school receiving a good education.

Wanting what is best for your children just might involve having them in school consistently.

Smothering just may not be the best mothering.

Can I add number three? I would rather spend an extra day with my child relaxed on a summer beach or even in our neighborhood pool then sitting home on a random Tuesday when we can’t travel because there is school on Wednesday, none of our nearby family has the day off, so we can’t spend time together, and options for enrichment are so intensely limited. Yes I want to spend time with my kid— and I want it to be the right time.

+100

These people saying “oh you just don’t want to be around your kids” are so dumb. I want a longer summer with them! How is that not wanting my kids around? There is a lot more to do in June or August than in February, and yes much easier to coordinate with family who live elsewhere. I don’t understand what has changed since my oldest started K that has caused the need for this ridiculous calendar. It was fine before! How did this area lose all common sense so quickly?

It was fine FOR YOU. Now other people’s holidays are being included and you stomp your foot and say “not fine!” Oh well.

Who exactly were we excluding before we started letting children out on all of these Wednesdays? What cultural holiday requires a five day memorial day weekend

The 5 day Memorial Day weekend is a rare occurrence due to Eid falling on that Wednesday. They turned Tuesday into a TW because many would have pulled their kids that day anyway to make their own 5 day weekend.

For the next two school years, Memorial Day returns to being a 3 day weekend.

Slightly off topic, but does anyone know when this holiday will be set it stone? Is it still TBD 4 weeks prior or 2 weeks prior based on cloud cover?

Eid al-Fitr is confirmed the evening before it begins based on the official siting of the crescent moon. Some localities announced two days that it will officially be celebrated on 3/20, but local mosques can differ.

Eid al-Adha (over Memorial Day weekend) will be confirmed 10 days in advance, so we should know by May17-18.

Then, these days should not be on the calendar at all. Give excused absences once the date is set, but school should be in session.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two things can be true:

1. You enjoy spending time with your children.

2. You want your children to be in school receiving a good education.

Wanting what is best for your children just might involve having them in school consistently.

Smothering just may not be the best mothering.

Can I add number three? I would rather spend an extra day with my child relaxed on a summer beach or even in our neighborhood pool then sitting home on a random Tuesday when we can’t travel because there is school on Wednesday, none of our nearby family has the day off, so we can’t spend time together, and options for enrichment are so intensely limited. Yes I want to spend time with my kid— and I want it to be the right time.

+100

These people saying “oh you just don’t want to be around your kids” are so dumb. I want a longer summer with them! How is that not wanting my kids around? There is a lot more to do in June or August than in February, and yes much easier to coordinate with family who live elsewhere. I don’t understand what has changed since my oldest started K that has caused the need for this ridiculous calendar. It was fine before! How did this area lose all common sense so quickly?

It was fine FOR YOU. Now other people’s holidays are being included and you stomp your foot and say “not fine!” Oh well.

Who exactly were we excluding before we started letting children out on all of these Wednesdays? What cultural holiday requires a five day memorial day weekend

The 5 day Memorial Day weekend is a rare occurrence due to Eid falling on that Wednesday. They turned Tuesday into a TW because many would have pulled their kids that day anyway to make their own 5 day weekend.

For the next two school years, Memorial Day returns to being a 3 day weekend.

Slightly off topic, but does anyone know when this holiday will be set it stone? Is it still TBD 4 weeks prior or 2 weeks prior based on cloud cover?

Eid al-Fitr is confirmed the evening before it begins based on the official siting of the crescent moon. Some localities announced two days that it will officially be celebrated on 3/20, but local mosques can differ.

Eid al-Adha (over Memorial Day weekend) will be confirmed 10 days in advance, so we should know by May17-18.

Then, these days should not be on the calendar at all. Give excused absences once the date is set, but school should be in session.

+1
A floating holiday is nuts in our system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Speaking only for ES, not MS/HS

The 2026-2027 calendar is terrible for teachers. I think it needs to be revisited not to increase the number of 5 days weeks, but to reduce them and provide more planning time.

As PPs have said, the ES pacing guides’ content level is such that the actual instruction for each week can be conducted over 1-2 days. There are few exceptions to this, but as a norm, the amount of content covered each week is pretty low. (I would challenge parents who think the instruction is going at a faster
pace to sub for a day.) At least at the ES level, kids simply are not missing out on academic instruction when schools are closed for a religious holiday, teacher workdays or snow.

The issue is obviously that ES is childcare for many families. So closing schools for teacher workdays or early release is a burden on families. I do not know how to solve this issue.

But families should not be fretting that their kids are behind academically due to the calendar.

I can tell you upper ES has a lot of curriculum. So when talking about ES, you need to remember the content level is way different for 4-6 vs primary grades.