Anonymous wrote:I thought it was only due to Benchmark/VA Literacy Act alao, but if you look at the link below it's more vague and there's language than implies this was always in the works:

"At the end of the 2024-25 school year, we will evaluate the plan’s effectiveness. This includes researching whether staff had enough time to understand their training and whether student learning increased.

The Steering Committee will make their recommendation by June 1, 2025, if not earlier, to determine whether limited early release Mondays should continue."

https://www.fcps.edu/family-resources/safety-and-transportation/limited-early-release-mondays#reasons-for-early-release-mondays

It's amazing how this iteration of Gatehouse can't be direct on their plans. If this was always in the works say so and let parents mentally prep.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have lived in a school district with Wednesday half days and we liked it. It was a nice break in the middle of the week, plus we could schedule doctor/dentist/orthodontist appointments at a time when our kids wouldn’t miss class time.

It’s so crowded in this area I can barely get appointments for my kids at all, let alone on the days FCPS is off. Plus I have to WORK. Kids don’t need yet another disruption to routine.

Our orthodontist scheduler kept abreast of FCPS calendars and would often remind ME of 1/2 days, early releases, teacher workdays!

I thought it was only due to Benchmark/VA Literacy Act alao, but if you look at the link below it's more vague and there's language than implies this was always in the works:

"At the end of the 2024-25 school year, we will evaluate the plan’s effectiveness. This includes researching whether staff had enough time to understand their training and whether student learning increased.

The Steering Committee will make their recommendation by June 1, 2025, if not earlier, to determine whether limited early release Mondays should continue."

https://www.fcps.edu/family-resources/safety-and-transportation/limited-early-release-mondays#reasons-for-early-release-mondays

Seriously someone please call this into the media.

Anonymous wrote:We have lived in a school district with Wednesday half days and we liked it. It was a nice break in the middle of the week, plus we could schedule doctor/dentist/orthodontist appointments at a time when our kids wouldn’t miss class time.

It’s so crowded in this area I can barely get appointments for my kids at all, let alone on the days FCPS is off. Plus I have to WORK. Kids don’t need yet another disruption to routine.

We have lived in a school district with Wednesday half days and we liked it. It was a nice break in the middle of the week, plus we could schedule doctor/dentist/orthodontist appointments at a time when our kids wouldn’t miss class time.

WTF. This is absolute insanity. Why isn’t this on the news?? Why can’t one of the supposed best school systems in the country teach elementary schoolers 5 days a week???

This is insane - they haven’t even announced anything and they’re already planning these changes to the calendar for next school year? The half day Mondays this year were supposed to be for teacher training on Benchmark and were only for ES. Are they extending it to all grade levels next year? Im

Anonymous wrote:Saw write up that Reid said at school board (so is it a done deal?) that ES will move the 1/2 day Monday’s to 1/2 days on Wednesday next year? I thought that 7 Mondays this year were exception for the new benchmark training that other Va school districts did over 3 days and didn’t take away from in-class student time? If was for that training, what is justification to continue and let alone, move to middle of week? Or do I have bad information and Reid did not say this?

OP here- found it. Yes, Reid said it and is plan. She said in last 5 minutes of last night’s school board- in below link at 4 hour 21 minutes she says will do early release Wed- doesn’t say how many. If listen minute before (4 hour 20 minutes) she says Mondays was planning time for teachers and that because so many Monday holidays in school year, need to move it to Wednesdays. Says childcare for those they need (but not instruction time). So no longer framed as a one-time need.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8k-HIczG0Ww&pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD

Anonymous wrote:They do 1/2 day Wednesdays because they know many parents will take the whole day off on Fridays, creating instructional time issues.

But it was full days until this year when parents were told the 7 Mondays was a one time, one time only exception to do training. FCPS has sent out survey after survey on MS start times and there will be no changes. There were no surveys for the 7 one time only exception Mondays. So hope not true FCPS not only making permanent but also doing with no parent input???

Reid talks calendar at 2:29 in board meeting- say trying to do 3 year calendar. This change would make point of 3 year calendar to plan for parents not helpful. She says she doesn’t really any feedback on calendar anymore. She is answering question of why no calendar committee anymore.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8k-HIczG0Ww

No longer have kids in school, but was a teacher and am very interested in this.

Fought for years to eliminate half day Monday and was sad to see it return.

Half days bring so much disruption to elementary school scheduling--both in school and at home.

They do 1/2 day Wednesdays because they know many parents will take the whole day off on Fridays, creating instructional time issues.

Seriously? Did anyone know if this is true?

Anonymous wrote:Saw write up that Reid said at school board (so is it a done deal?) that ES will move the 1/2 day Monday’s to 1/2 days on Wednesday next year? I thought that 7 Mondays this year were exception for the new benchmark training that other Va school districts did over 3 days and didn’t take away from in-class student time? If was for that training, what is justification to continue and let alone, move to middle of week? Or do I have bad information and Reid did not say this?

Oh my goodness.

If FCPS is going to insist upon intermittent half days for elementary schools, at least make it convenient for working parents by scheduling them on Fridays.

Saw write up that Reid said at school board (so is it a done deal?) that ES will move the 1/2 day Monday’s to 1/2 days on Wednesday next year? I thought that 7 Mondays this year were exception for the new benchmark training that other Va school districts did over 3 days and didn’t take away from in-class student time? If was for that training, what is justification to continue and let alone, move to middle of week? Or do I have bad information and Reid did not say this?