FCPS 2018-2019 school calendar?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems a bit late to change the start date for 2018. Some of us have already booked vacation houses for
The week of 8/18

I know - same here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Options A and B-no way. So they shortened summer last year and want to shorten it again this year? Wow. That's harsh. Kids in sports and band would start camps a week earlier-that means near the end of July? Weather can't always been depended on in early June. We like to buy a pool membership but probably would not if options A or B were chosen. We would barely make use of it. It was bad enough they started before Labor Day this year. It was tough for my kids and a lot of other kids I know.

The pools are empty in Augist.

Not that pool use should be the metric -- but they are empty in August because (1) everyone has had enough swim time by then and it's old news, and (2) many people leave town for vacations in Aug b/c Congress shuts down. So, yes, pools are generally not very full in Aug. People are excited about summer in June/right after Memorial Day. By August, they are looking toward the next thing and summer is a has-been.

The pools are packed in June and empty in August.

Pools are not going to lose any business by fcps starting mid August

Somebody upthread said they wouldn’t join if the season was shortened.

That person is just like the actors who said they are moving to Canada when Trump won.

They will still join the pool. Because, well, swim team.

Yeah but you know the schedule change is messing up everyone's vacation plans bc swim team people usually vacation in August and they are trying to chip away at that August summer time.

[Anonymous]

We’re in a bind waiting as well. I only have one week that we could do a family vacation (big work event in mid-July) and I’d like to get it booked. So knowing when marching band will start is critical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Options A and B-no way. So they shortened summer last year and want to shorten it again this year? Wow. That's harsh. Kids in sports and band would start camps a week earlier-that means near the end of July? Weather can't always been depended on in early June. We like to buy a pool membership but probably would not if options A or B were chosen. We would barely make use of it. It was bad enough they started before Labor Day this year. It was tough for my kids and a lot of other kids I know.

The pools are empty in Augist.

Not that pool use should be the metric -- but they are empty in August because (1) everyone has had enough swim time by then and it's old news, and (2) many people leave town for vacations in Aug b/c Congress shuts down. So, yes, pools are generally not very full in Aug. People are excited about summer in June/right after Memorial Day. By August, they are looking toward the next thing and summer is a has-been.

The pools are packed in June and empty in August.

Pools are not going to lose any business by fcps starting mid August

Somebody upthread said they wouldn’t join if the season was shortened.

That person is just like the actors who said they are moving to Canada when Trump won.

They will still join the pool. Because, well, swim team.

Nope, still wouldn't join- never have done swim team and not into the whole swim team culture. We barely made use of it this year. Don't assume.

[Anonymous]

Please keep in mind that this change has NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SOLs. It is SOLELY for the AP/IB students who have to take national exams.

I know some of you know that but I still see people talking about the SOLs in the conversation (both here and a thread I'm following elsewhere on this topic).

When the school year shifts, SO DO THE SOLs. The entire FCPS testing window moved up a week this year due to the one week earlier start date. The county window goes to May 31 this year which is a week earlier than last year. No matter what you do to the schedule the SOLs will move with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please keep in mind that this change has NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SOLs. It is SOLELY for the AP/IB students who have to take national exams.

I know some of you know that but I still see people talking about the SOLs in the conversation (both here and a thread I'm following elsewhere on this topic).

When the school year shifts, SO DO THE SOLs. The entire FCPS testing window moved up a week this year due to the one week earlier start date. The county window goes to May 31 this year which is a week earlier than last year. No matter what you do to the schedule the SOLs will move with it.

It's not worth the change just because of AP/IB testing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Options A and B-no way. So they shortened summer last year and want to shorten it again this year? Wow. That's harsh. Kids in sports and band would start camps a week earlier-that means near the end of July? Weather can't always been depended on in early June. We like to buy a pool membership but probably would not if options A or B were chosen. We would barely make use of it. It was bad enough they started before Labor Day this year. It was tough for my kids and a lot of other kids I know.

The pools are empty in Augist.

Not that pool use should be the metric -- but they are empty in August because (1) everyone has had enough swim time by then and it's old news, and (2) many people leave town for vacations in Aug b/c Congress shuts down. So, yes, pools are generally not very full in Aug. People are excited about summer in June/right after Memorial Day. By August, they are looking toward the next thing and summer is a has-been.

The pools are packed in June and empty in August.

Pools are not going to lose any business by fcps starting mid August

Somebody upthread said they wouldn’t join if the season was shortened.

That person is just like the actors who said they are moving to Canada when Trump won.

They will still join the pool. Because, well, swim team.

It is not the swim team parents who won't join. Its the people not on the swim team but who just use the pool. Less people renting and owning translates into less people paying for the pool which translates into less maintenance and pools closing. It's possible they could move up the entire swim team calendar to allow for a July-August rental after swim team, but then the kids get one less week to practice so that will not be popular either. Plus most kids that staff pools are high schoolers who then won't be able to staff the pool in August. The pools already open up on Memorial Day and the weather isn't warm enough to typically open earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Options A and B-no way. So they shortened summer last year and want to shorten it again this year? Wow. That's harsh. Kids in sports and band would start camps a week earlier-that means near the end of July? Weather can't always been depended on in early June. We like to buy a pool membership but probably would not if options A or B were chosen. We would barely make use of it. It was bad enough they started before Labor Day this year. It was tough for my kids and a lot of other kids I know.

The pools are empty in Augist.

Not that pool use should be the metric -- but they are empty in August because (1) everyone has had enough swim time by then and it's old news, and (2) many people leave town for vacations in Aug b/c Congress shuts down. So, yes, pools are generally not very full in Aug. People are excited about summer in June/right after Memorial Day. By August, they are looking toward the next thing and summer is a has-been.

The pools are packed in June and empty in August.

Pools are not going to lose any business by fcps starting mid August

Somebody upthread said they wouldn’t join if the season was shortened.

That person is just like the actors who said they are moving to Canada when Trump won.

They will still join the pool. Because, well, swim team.

It is not the swim team parents who won't join. Its the people not on the swim team but who just use the pool. Less people renting and owning translates into less people paying for the pool which translates into less maintenance and pools closing. It's possible they could move up the entire swim team calendar to allow for a July-August rental after swim team, but then the kids get one less week to practice so that will not be popular either. Plus most kids that staff pools are high schoolers who then won't be able to staff the pool in August. The pools already open up on Memorial Day and the weather isn't warm enough to typically open earlier.

REALLY??? don't those same High schooler staff the pool in June as we have it now? They just open the pools at 3:00 and close at 8:00. They can do the same thing if school starts Aug. 23rd. Pools are open in the evening for a week (plus all day on the weekend.) Not such a hard problem to solve.

The solvency of your private swim club is not more important than the education of 190,000 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Options A and B-no way. So they shortened summer last year and want to shorten it again this year? Wow. That's harsh. Kids in sports and band would start camps a week earlier-that means near the end of July? Weather can't always been depended on in early June. We like to buy a pool membership but probably would not if options A or B were chosen. We would barely make use of it. It was bad enough they started before Labor Day this year. It was tough for my kids and a lot of other kids I know.

The pools are empty in Augist.

Not that pool use should be the metric -- but they are empty in August because (1) everyone has had enough swim time by then and it's old news, and (2) many people leave town for vacations in Aug b/c Congress shuts down. So, yes, pools are generally not very full in Aug. People are excited about summer in June/right after Memorial Day. By August, they are looking toward the next thing and summer is a has-been.

The pools are packed in June and empty in August.

Pools are not going to lose any business by fcps starting mid August

Somebody upthread said they wouldn’t join if the season was shortened.

That person is just like the actors who said they are moving to Canada when Trump won.

They will still join the pool. Because, well, swim team.

It is not the swim team parents who won't join. Its the people not on the swim team but who just use the pool. Less people renting and owning translates into less people paying for the pool which translates into less maintenance and pools closing. It's possible they could move up the entire swim team calendar to allow for a July-August rental after swim team, but then the kids get one less week to practice so that will not be popular either. Plus most kids that staff pools are high schoolers who then won't be able to staff the pool in August. The pools already open up on Memorial Day and the weather isn't warm enough to typically open earlier.

REALLY??? don't those same High schooler staff the pool in June as we have it now? They just open the pools at 3:00 and close at 8:00. They can do the same thing if school starts Aug. 23rd. Pools are open in the evening for a week (plus all day on the weekend.) Not such a hard problem to solve.

The solvency of your private swim club is not more important than the education of 190,000 kids.

But if you're changing the start dates to better prepare for AP/IB tests, it is not for the betterment of 190,000 kids. It's for the kids in high school taking those tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Options A and B-no way. So they shortened summer last year and want to shorten it again this year? Wow. That's harsh. Kids in sports and band would start camps a week earlier-that means near the end of July? Weather can't always been depended on in early June. We like to buy a pool membership but probably would not if options A or B were chosen. We would barely make use of it. It was bad enough they started before Labor Day this year. It was tough for my kids and a lot of other kids I know.

The pools are empty in Augist.

Not that pool use should be the metric -- but they are empty in August because (1) everyone has had enough swim time by then and it's old news, and (2) many people leave town for vacations in Aug b/c Congress shuts down. So, yes, pools are generally not very full in Aug. People are excited about summer in June/right after Memorial Day. By August, they are looking toward the next thing and summer is a has-been.

The pools are packed in June and empty in August.

Pools are not going to lose any business by fcps starting mid August

Somebody upthread said they wouldn’t join if the season was shortened.

That person is just like the actors who said they are moving to Canada when Trump won.

They will still join the pool. Because, well, swim team.

It is not the swim team parents who won't join. Its the people not on the swim team but who just use the pool. Less people renting and owning translates into less people paying for the pool which translates into less maintenance and pools closing. It's possible they could move up the entire swim team calendar to allow for a July-August rental after swim team, but then the kids get one less week to practice so that will not be popular either. Plus most kids that staff pools are high schoolers who then won't be able to staff the pool in August. The pools already open up on Memorial Day and the weather isn't warm enough to typically open earlier.

REALLY??? don't those same High schooler staff the pool in June as we have it now? They just open the pools at 3:00 and close at 8:00. They can do the same thing if school starts Aug. 23rd. Pools are open in the evening for a week (plus all day on the weekend.) Not such a hard problem to solve.

The solvency of your private swim club is not more important than the education of 190,000 kids.

But if you're changing the start dates to better prepare for AP/IB tests, it is not for the betterment of 190,000 kids. It's for the kids in high school taking those tests.

It's for the betterment of all the kids to front-end load the school year. SOL tests aside, once June 1 arrives, people (teachers AND kids) have checked out mentally. Very little learning occurs. At the beginning of the school year, the whole push of the country is "back to school!!" So there is enthusiasm about learning at the beginning of the year. There is no way a week in late June is anywhere near as productive as a week at the end of Aug. (or mid-Aug for that matter). By that point, people have BTDT with summer activities and they are looking to the next thing... which is "back to school." So, I do think it is for the benefit of all 190,000 kids. But, even if it was just for the kids taking PSATs, SATs, APs and IBs.... they are reasons related to EDUCATION. Pool club solvency will never be related to education.

[Anonymous]

It doesn't work too well when our surrounding districts including Montgomery County are not starting this early. It will be a detraction from people moving here and deciding where to live. There is no reason to start that early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Options A and B-no way. So they shortened summer last year and want to shorten it again this year? Wow. That's harsh. Kids in sports and band would start camps a week earlier-that means near the end of July? Weather can't always been depended on in early June. We like to buy a pool membership but probably would not if options A or B were chosen. We would barely make use of it. It was bad enough they started before Labor Day this year. It was tough for my kids and a lot of other kids I know.

The pools are empty in Augist.

Not that pool use should be the metric -- but they are empty in August because (1) everyone has had enough swim time by then and it's old news, and (2) many people leave town for vacations in Aug b/c Congress shuts down. So, yes, pools are generally not very full in Aug. People are excited about summer in June/right after Memorial Day. By August, they are looking toward the next thing and summer is a has-been.

The pools are packed in June and empty in August.

Pools are not going to lose any business by fcps starting mid August

Somebody upthread said they wouldn’t join if the season was shortened.

That person is just like the actors who said they are moving to Canada when Trump won.

They will still join the pool. Because, well, swim team.

It is not the swim team parents who won't join. Its the people not on the swim team but who just use the pool. Less people renting and owning translates into less people paying for the pool which translates into less maintenance and pools closing. It's possible they could move up the entire swim team calendar to allow for a July-August rental after swim team, but then the kids get one less week to practice so that will not be popular either. Plus most kids that staff pools are high schoolers who then won't be able to staff the pool in August. The pools already open up on Memorial Day and the weather isn't warm enough to typically open earlier.

REALLY??? don't those same High schooler staff the pool in June as we have it now? They just open the pools at 3:00 and close at 8:00. They can do the same thing if school starts Aug. 23rd. Pools are open in the evening for a week (plus all day on the weekend.) Not such a hard problem to solve.

The solvency of your private swim club is not more important than the education of 190,000 kids.

College students get most of the hours in June. The high schoolers traditionally gain more hours in August when college students go back to school and pool hours are 11-8 or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't work too well when our surrounding districts including Montgomery County are not starting this early. It will be a detraction from people moving here and deciding where to live. There is no reason to start that early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Options A and B-no way. So they shortened summer last year and want to shorten it again this year? Wow. That's harsh. Kids in sports and band would start camps a week earlier-that means near the end of July? Weather can't always been depended on in early June. We like to buy a pool membership but probably would not if options A or B were chosen. We would barely make use of it. It was bad enough they started before Labor Day this year. It was tough for my kids and a lot of other kids I know.

The pools are empty in Augist.

Not that pool use should be the metric -- but they are empty in August because (1) everyone has had enough swim time by then and it's old news, and (2) many people leave town for vacations in Aug b/c Congress shuts down. So, yes, pools are generally not very full in Aug. People are excited about summer in June/right after Memorial Day. By August, they are looking toward the next thing and summer is a has-been.

The pools are packed in June and empty in August.

Pools are not going to lose any business by fcps starting mid August

Somebody upthread said they wouldn’t join if the season was shortened.

That person is just like the actors who said they are moving to Canada when Trump won.

They will still join the pool. Because, well, swim team.

It is not the swim team parents who won't join. Its the people not on the swim team but who just use the pool. Less people renting and owning translates into less people paying for the pool which translates into less maintenance and pools closing. It's possible they could move up the entire swim team calendar to allow for a July-August rental after swim team, but then the kids get one less week to practice so that will not be popular either. Plus most kids that staff pools are high schoolers who then won't be able to staff the pool in August. The pools already open up on Memorial Day and the weather isn't warm enough to typically open earlier.

REALLY??? don't those same High schooler staff the pool in June as we have it now? They just open the pools at 3:00 and close at 8:00. They can do the same thing if school starts Aug. 23rd. Pools are open in the evening for a week (plus all day on the weekend.) Not such a hard problem to solve.

The solvency of your private swim club is not more important than the education of 190,000 kids.

But if you're changing the start dates to better prepare for AP/IB tests, it is not for the betterment of 190,000 kids. It's for the kids in high school taking those tests.

It's for the betterment of all the kids to front-end load the school year. SOL tests aside, once June 1 arrives, people (teachers AND kids) have checked out mentally. Very little learning occurs. At the beginning of the school year, the whole push of the country is "back to school!!" So there is enthusiasm about learning at the beginning of the year. There is no way a week in late June is anywhere near as productive as a week at the end of Aug. (or mid-Aug for that matter). By that point, people have BTDT with summer activities and they are looking to the next thing... which is "back to school." So, I do think it is for the benefit of all 190,000 kids. But, even if it was just for the kids taking PSATs, SATs, APs and IBs.... they are reasons related to EDUCATION. Pool club solvency will never be related to education.

Wouldn't this perceived "checking out" just be moved earlier? For example, if they start checking out around day 165 or so, why would that change just because they start earlier?

[Anonymous]

No. People check out b/c the calendar says June = summer. They don't check out in May -- b/c it's May.