APS calendar options are here

[Anonymous]

Currently teachers work 190 days with 5 floating days of professional development. If they move instructional days from 176 to 180, will they increase our contracts to 194 or just cut the floating days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This year, we started one week before Labor Day & have a 2 week winter break. How on earth is the only way we can start & end at the same time next year is by shortening winter break?? Not to mention the extra minutes. They need to have fewer, more efficient days. Ugh. It’s going to awful to start Aug 21 & STILL go to mid-June. And for what?

To be in line with Fairfax. Thanks APE for pushing this.

The push to align with Fairfax also has been around since long before APE. It was primarily driven by teachers, because many of our teachers live in Fairfax (because Arlington is too expensive) and gave childcare issues when the calendars don’t align.

I agree with the value of aligning with Fairfax, it helps teacher retention especially since we are no longer the best paying school district outside DCPS

Maybe Fairfax needs to align with us. There’s no reason to randomly add another week of school. Aligning spring break makes sense. But we don’t need a shorter summer just to match Fairfax.

Um...okay? They're much larger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So a spring break (6 school days) is followed by a choppy three day week? Ugh. Just stupid.

Option 3 is ok in that regard. Having a 4-day week after a long break is easier than a full week and at least it's 2 consecutive days separated by one day off rather than the obnoxious 1 day on/1 day off/2 days on nonsense that we apparently cannot avoid in November (election day/Veterans day week!)

They could avoid it by not having veterans day off and/or talking to the county about moving polling locations so they aren't in schools. Using schools as polling locations made more sense before it meant schools would have to be closed to accommodate it.

Move parent teacher conferences to Election Day, would be great since many people vote at their local elementary school

Ok but I don’t and I am a teacher. My employer should allow me time to vote.

They SHOULD move parent conferences to the day and a half before thanksgiving and not do 2 weeks for Christmas.

To be clear, you’re a teacher who is saying you need Election Day off from school so that you can vote? Come on. You are giving teachers a bad name.

You’re right. They have it too good. I’m sure she’d take it back for the opportunity to use the restroom when needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So a spring break (6 school days) is followed by a choppy three day week? Ugh. Just stupid.

Option 3 is ok in that regard. Having a 4-day week after a long break is easier than a full week and at least it's 2 consecutive days separated by one day off rather than the obnoxious 1 day on/1 day off/2 days on nonsense that we apparently cannot avoid in November (election day/Veterans day week!)

They could avoid it by not having veterans day off and/or talking to the county about moving polling locations so they aren't in schools. Using schools as polling locations made more sense before it meant schools would have to be closed to accommodate it.

Move parent teacher conferences to Election Day, would be great since many people vote at their local elementary school

Ok but I don’t and I am a teacher. My employer should allow me time to vote.

They SHOULD move parent conferences to the day and a half before thanksgiving and not do 2 weeks for Christmas.

To be clear, you’re a teacher who is saying you need Election Day off from school so that you can vote? Come on. You are giving teachers a bad name.

You’re right. They have it too good. I’m sure she’d take it back for the opportunity to use the restroom when needed.

Election day should be on Mondays, and should be a federal holiday. But it’s not, and the reason why schools are closed is not because it’s a holiday, but instead, local voters need to use their gymnasium and cafeteria. Teachers can make a plan to vote early, just like anyone else with a full-time job who cannot get away on Election Day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Currently teachers work 190 days with 5 floating days of professional development. If they move instructional days from 176 to 180, will they increase our contracts to 194 or just cut the floating days?

There was a rumor on the APS educators group that footing days will be eliminated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it true that if you pull your kid out for a religious holiday that APS does not observe, it’s an unexcused absence? Someone over on AEM is trying to say that. Complaining that her kids won’t get off for the holiday so will now take an unexcused absence.

She’s complaining about Diwali. Which is on a Sunday and is excused. But she is also a known loon. So I’m assuming that is the issue

Now someone is also complaining in MONA that there’s no time off for Passover in the calendar. And that because the other Jewish holidays fall on a weekend there should be “extra days off” to allow celebration of them “in the spirit of inclusivity.” And I’ve seen complaints on social media about the Lunar New Year not being included.

I mean where does this end? Instead of creating stability for families in the schedule and making sure children are receiving a consistent education, the goal of APS is now to … accommodate every religious and cultural belief system that has ever existed?

I fear the toothpaste is out of the tube and we’ll never be able to reclaim the calendar for education. As a non-religious person I find this really frustrating. Why can’t people just find private schools to accommodate their belief systems if it’s truly *that* important to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it true that if you pull your kid out for a religious holiday that APS does not observe, it’s an unexcused absence? Someone over on AEM is trying to say that. Complaining that her kids won’t get off for the holiday so will now take an unexcused absence.

She’s complaining about Diwali. Which is on a Sunday and is excused. But she is also a known loon. So I’m assuming that is the issue

Now someone is also complaining in MONA that there’s no time off for Passover in the calendar. And that because the other Jewish holidays fall on a weekend there should be “extra days off” to allow celebration of them “in the spirit of inclusivity.” And I’ve seen complaints on social media about the Lunar New Year not being included.

I mean where does this end? Instead of creating stability for families in the schedule and making sure children are receiving a consistent education, the goal of APS is now to … accommodate every religious and cultural belief system that has ever existed?

I fear the toothpaste is out of the tube and we’ll never be able to reclaim the calendar for education. As a non-religious person I find this really frustrating. Why can’t people just find private schools to accommodate their belief systems if it’s truly *that* important to them.

+1. These are PUBLIC schools. Religious exercise should be accommodated, but never put on a platform above educational or even valid administrative needs. If it is so important for you to observe the holiday and religious schools are not for you, then you take your kids out for an excused absence. There is nothing in the Constitution that says the exercise of your religion must be seamless for you in the public realm. While you’re clearing the house of chametz, write the note to get your kids excused.

[Anonymous]

I am Jewish and very much appreciate having Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur off but giving time off for Passover is crazy. Kids can totally go to school and still celebrate Passover!!


In terms of "where does it end?", The same holidays have been off for several years now, seems like there is no need to add more or take some away, unless demographics change dramatically.

For those who don't celebrate, this seems like a good chance to talk to your kids about being respectful of different religions and making reasonable accommodations (ex not serving pork when a Muslim friend comes over).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This year, we started one week before Labor Day & have a 2 week winter break. How on earth is the only way we can start & end at the same time next year is by shortening winter break?? Not to mention the extra minutes. They need to have fewer, more efficient days. Ugh. It’s going to awful to start Aug 21 & STILL go to mid-June. And for what?

To be in line with Fairfax. Thanks APE for pushing this.

The push to align with Fairfax also has been around since long before APE. It was primarily driven by teachers, because many of our teachers live in Fairfax (because Arlington is too expensive) and gave childcare issues when the calendars don’t align.

I agree with the value of aligning with Fairfax, it helps teacher retention especially since we are no longer the best paying school district outside DCPS

Maybe Fairfax needs to align with us. There’s no reason to randomly add another week of school. Aligning spring break makes sense. But we don’t need a shorter summer just to match Fairfax.

They also put out their calendars later, so maybe they should align with us.
Um...okay? They're much larger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Jewish and very much appreciate having Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur off but giving time off for Passover is crazy. Kids can totally go to school and still celebrate Passover!!


In terms of "where does it end?", The same holidays have been off for several years now, seems like there is no need to add more or take some away, unless demographics change dramatically.

For those who don't celebrate, this seems like a good chance to talk to your kids about being respectful of different religions and making reasonable accommodations (ex not serving pork when a Muslim friend comes over).

I can do that without having to arrange for childcare on a random Wednesday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Jewish and very much appreciate having Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur off but giving time off for Passover is crazy. Kids can totally go to school and still celebrate Passover!!


In terms of "where does it end?", The same holidays have been off for several years now, seems like there is no need to add more or take some away, unless demographics change dramatically.

For those who don't celebrate, this seems like a good chance to talk to your kids about being respectful of different religions and making reasonable accommodations (ex not serving pork when a Muslim friend comes over).

nope- this is the second year where we added 4 holidays- and it is not going well. And there is pressure to add more. Stop the madness, pull them all back. FCCPS did it, APS can do it too- if only it had the courage to prioritize education over proving liberal bonafides.

[Anonymous]

Even if they got rid of the religious holidays, there would still r a lot of random days off, what not start with ending those. No need for veterans day off or Columbus day!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even if they got rid of the religious holidays, there would still r a lot of random days off, what not start with ending those. No need for veterans day off or Columbus day!!

I agree about Veteran's day- its a midweek disruptive holiday. I can go either way on Columbus day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Jewish and very much appreciate having Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur off but giving time off for Passover is crazy. Kids can totally go to school and still celebrate Passover!!


In terms of "where does it end?", The same holidays have been off for several years now, seems like there is no need to add more or take some away, unless demographics change dramatically.

For those who don't celebrate, this seems like a good chance to talk to your kids about being respectful of different religions and making reasonable accommodations (ex not serving pork when a Muslim friend comes over).

You can be respectful of different religions without contorting a school calendar to privilege the exercise of them. Excusing the absences and making them no-test days is a reasonable accommodation. Not letting kids get 5 straight days in school for months on end is not reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Jewish and very much appreciate having Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur off but giving time off for Passover is crazy. Kids can totally go to school and still celebrate Passover!!


In terms of "where does it end?", The same holidays have been off for several years now, seems like there is no need to add more or take some away, unless demographics change dramatically.

For those who don't celebrate, this seems like a good chance to talk to your kids about being respectful of different religions and making reasonable accommodations (ex not serving pork when a Muslim friend comes over).

You can be respectful of different religions without contorting a school calendar to privilege the exercise of them. Excusing the absences and making them no-test days is a reasonable accommodation. Not letting kids get 5 straight days in school for months on end is not reasonable.

Kids love days off. This is about you needing childcare. That's fine, it's a valid need, but let's stop trotting out nobler-sounding needs rather than say "I have ES kids and a full-time job"