FCPS early release Mondays- updates?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Why didn't they just give families full days off?

I was told by my principal that that option was discussed quite a bit, but was eliminated because parents already complain about not having five day weeks on the calendar and there weren’t enough resources to spread out across the pyramids.

An early departure Monday isn’t a five day week.

It's only early departure for elementary. Middle and high school will have full days all of those days.

Which still means most FCPS schools…don’t have five day school weeks this year. I don’t see why the fact that middle and high school students will is relevant since they don’t present the same childcare challenges—still not addresses— as elementary school.

School isn't daycare. You should never view it at such. Be thankful they are telling you the days now.

This is the dumbest thing I've heard. Yes, it's not daycare (if by that you mean for under 5 year olds). But it's where kids go daily and you should be able to count on it. That's like saying you shouldn't trust that the bridges are always there. Stop buying in Arlington because you shouldn't rely on a bridge to get to work. Except your tax payer dollars paid $$$ for that school and the bridge.

Nah...think about snow days. As a responsible parent, you have to plan for things. What if the school has no power one random morning; or it snows so much they close school early.

I'm thankful they are sharing the days and giving responsible parents time to plan.

Do you think we won’t get snow or power outages this year because FFX is much too special to do the training the way neighboring counties do?

Taking two days off from work— especially adjacent to a holiday— is no biggie for most working parents. Now we’re talking about seven. Add to that whatever random snow days and other emergencies crop up and wow, FFX really just has no respect whatsoever for working parents…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the pyramids have a three hour early release on Nov 25. This is the week of Thanksgiving where they have Wednesday through Friday off, too. They are pushing families now to just take the whole week off.
There is only one full day of school that week on Tuesday, Nov 26.

Right. This is not helpful. If anything, give the early release on Tuesday, so families can get a jump start on DMV traffic to drive to family out of town. Who wants to wait around, piddling around with only 3 hours of school on a Monday and then only 1 full day on Tuesday to then jump on 495 to travel. The kids will rightfully be very unfocused on Tuesday, excited for trips, and holidays. The half Monday adds to this lack of ability to focus.

Just take it if you feel like it what’s best for your family.

Oh, thousands will take off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS and Arlington both used to have weekly early release days in ES years ago. Schools typically had enrichment programs that you can sign up for during the early release hours--STEAM, foreign language, sports clinics, various arts etc. -- and SACC adjusted to cover the early release hours. It definitely was something my kid looked forward to and didn't really upset the schedule. I think it worked out well.

So 5 hours of SACC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS and Arlington both used to have weekly early release days in ES years ago. Schools typically had enrichment programs that you can sign up for during the early release hours--STEAM, foreign language, sports clinics, various arts etc. -- and SACC adjusted to cover the early release hours. It definitely was something my kid looked forward to and didn't really upset the schedule. I think it worked out well.

So 5 hours of SACC?

Maybe… it’s only 7 times a year. It’s fine.

[Anonymous]

I thought kids could stay at school until let out (normal time). What am I missing?

[Anonymous]

Is this for sure happening? Trying to plan out Thanksgiving and if we have an early release Monday, we are going to take the whole week off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this for sure happening? Trying to plan out Thanksgiving and if we have an early release Monday, we are going to take the whole week off.

Yes, it’s happening

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS and Arlington both used to have weekly early release days in ES years ago. Schools typically had enrichment programs that you can sign up for during the early release hours--STEAM, foreign language, sports clinics, various arts etc. -- and SACC adjusted to cover the early release hours. It definitely was something my kid looked forward to and didn't really upset the schedule. I think it worked out well.

None of this has taken place.

It may take a little time to ramp up, but I bet it will in a month or two after school starts. It's not like you can magically immediately will teachers for activities into place, but there are a lot of informal education programs in the area that will likely start providing services.

Who is going to provide activities FOR FREE?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS and Arlington both used to have weekly early release days in ES years ago. Schools typically had enrichment programs that you can sign up for during the early release hours--STEAM, foreign language, sports clinics, various arts etc. -- and SACC adjusted to cover the early release hours. It definitely was something my kid looked forward to and didn't really upset the schedule. I think it worked out well.

None of this has taken place.

It may take a little time to ramp up, but I bet it will in a month or two after school starts. It's not like you can magically immediately will teachers for activities into place, but there are a lot of informal education programs in the area that will likely start providing services.

Who is going to provide activities FOR FREE?

Why should it be free?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS and Arlington both used to have weekly early release days in ES years ago. Schools typically had enrichment programs that you can sign up for during the early release hours--STEAM, foreign language, sports clinics, various arts etc. -- and SACC adjusted to cover the early release hours. It definitely was something my kid looked forward to and didn't really upset the schedule. I think it worked out well.

None of this has taken place.

It may take a little time to ramp up, but I bet it will in a month or two after school starts. It's not like you can magically immediately will teachers for activities into place, but there are a lot of informal education programs in the area that will likely start providing services.

Who is going to provide activities FOR FREE?

Why should it be free?

+1, there will likely be two choices. a) SACC or enrichment activities that cost money, b) kids playing in the gym or watching movies in a room supervised by an IA for free.

[Anonymous]

Do all the teachers attend the training? Apologies if that’s a silly question. Just wondering if there were any exempt teachers (e.g., specials teachers) who could help supervise the enrichment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this for sure happening? Trying to plan out Thanksgiving and if we have an early release Monday, we are going to take the whole week off.

Took me 5 seconds:
https://www.fcps.edu/family-resources/safety-and-transportation/limited-early-release-mondays

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do all the teachers attend the training? Apologies if that’s a silly question. Just wondering if there were any exempt teachers (e.g., specials teachers) who could help supervise the enrichment.

Yes, there is a chance that IAs and the specialists will be supervising the afterschool activities. Although I’m not sure I would refer to it as enrichment since we don’t have a ton of details yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do all the teachers attend the training? Apologies if that’s a silly question. Just wondering if there were any exempt teachers (e.g., specials teachers) who could help supervise the enrichment.

Yes, there is a chance that IAs and the specialists will be supervising the afterschool activities. Although I’m not sure I would refer to it as enrichment since we don’t have a ton of details yet.

PP from one of the first pages and I stand by my prediction: “enrichment” = students ushered into the gym or cafeteria (or both) where they’ll be fed Cheetos/graham crackers/juice boxes (or other donated snack items) under the supervision of a substitute teacher. Glorified daycare/babysitting.

First early closing expect some fanfare showing a Gatehouse contingency (maybe Dr. Reid herself!) dispatched to one or two of the closest ES - so Shreveport or Graham Road. You’ll know because this will be pushed out all over SM and it’s a great photo op; look at the engagement! Why, there’s a vice principal leaning over a computer and pointing at something on the student’s screen! Is that a superintendent reading to a group of students? I can see the future stock photos now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do all the teachers attend the training? Apologies if that’s a silly question. Just wondering if there were any exempt teachers (e.g., specials teachers) who could help supervise the enrichment.

Yes, there is a chance that IAs and the specialists will be supervising the afterschool activities. Although I’m not sure I would refer to it as enrichment since we don’t have a ton of details yet.

PP from one of the first pages and I stand by my prediction: “enrichment” = students ushered into the gym or cafeteria (or both) where they’ll be fed Cheetos/graham crackers/juice boxes (or other donated snack items) under the supervision of a substitute teacher. Glorified daycare/babysitting.

First early closing expect some fanfare showing a Gatehouse contingency (maybe Dr. Reid herself!) dispatched to one or two of the closest ES - so Shreveport or Graham Road. You’ll know because this will be pushed out all over SM and it’s a great photo op; look at the engagement! Why, there’s a vice principal leaning over a computer and pointing at something on the student’s screen! Is that a superintendent reading to a group of students? I can see the future stock photos now.

That's what I think it will look like too.
My kid used to get the worst anxiety going to saac and I don't see how this will be any better.
I also don't see how I will find an additional 21 hours to take off from work...but for my kids mental health I hope they are able to share what their plans are before we have to commit to any program.