Why is MCPS closed on Tuesday, February 17?

[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.

And most PD can be abbreviated and a zoom or slideshow. Alleviates the issue of limited parking and how many can attend their PD of choice.

[Anonymous]

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

What do you mean, non-American holidays? MCPS doesn't close for Bastille Day or Canada Day or whatever. Only for holidays that MCPS families and staff actually celebrate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

What do you mean, non-American holidays? MCPS doesn't close for Bastille Day or Canada Day or whatever. Only for holidays that MCPS families and staff actually celebrate.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

What do you mean, non-American holidays? MCPS doesn't close for Bastille Day or Canada Day or whatever. Only for holidays that MCPS families and staff actually celebrate.

Ha. Funny. Don’t be silly. Bastille Day and Canada Day are in July. I’m taking the other non American days off. During the school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

What do you mean, non-American holidays? MCPS doesn't close for Bastille Day or Canada Day or whatever. Only for holidays that MCPS families and staff actually celebrate.

Ha. Funny. Don’t be silly. Bastille Day and Canada Day are in July. I’m taking the other non American days off. During the school year.

What on earth are you talking about? Are you trying to be super racist here and claim that if you're not Christian you're not American and so all non-Christian holidays are non-American holidays? You can't possibly really be that awful and immoral, can you? Are you a troll?

[Anonymous]

Don’t feel like I should have to take off work to watch my child because school is closed to honor the religions and/or special holidays of those who, on a regular basis, discriminate against me and people who look like me. I do not care about Lunar New Year of Rosh Hannukah or whatever it’s called.

[Anonymous]

Is Feb 27 still an early release day despite it not being interim time anymore due to the week of school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t feel like I should have to take off work to watch my child because school is closed to honor the religions and/or special holidays of those who, on a regular basis, discriminate against me and people who look like me. I do not care about Lunar New Year of Rosh Hannukah or whatever it’s called.

Sounds like you're arguing for having school on Christmas and Easter, correct?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is Feb 27 still an early release day despite it not being interim time anymore due to the week of school?

It better stay early release! I have an afternoon of medical appointments for my kid.