Anonymous wrote:I don't really care one way or the other if school is extended. What I do care about is that the last few weeks of school are a total joke, from what I understand. I have heard from family members and friends that their kids watched movies, played games, etc for many weeks leading up to the end if school. ??? What in the world?!? How is this acceptable? I understand maybe the last two days or so as fun days, clean-up, etc.....but not WEEKS of it! So the kids are just clocking in "instructional time" for the sake of VA state regulations??

Would love to hear from teachers and other parents about this situation. Has it been your experience? (This is our first year in FCPS.)

+1 We had this experience last year as our first year in FCPS. We transferred in from a private school, but unfortunately they did the same thing at the private school. It's all a total joke and waste of everyone's time.

I don't really care one way or the other if school is extended. What I do care about is that the last few weeks of school are a total joke, from what I understand. I have heard from family members and friends that their kids watched movies, played games, etc for many weeks leading up to the end if school. ??? What in the world?!? How is this acceptable? I understand maybe the last two days or so as fun days, clean-up, etc.....but not WEEKS of it! So the kids are just clocking in "instructional time" for the sake of VA state regulations??

Would love to hear from teachers and other parents about this situation. Has it been your experience? (This is our first year in FCPS.)

Why would I have my kid skip two days of camp (which he is really looking forward to ) so he can go to two non-instructional days at school? I have already paid for it. AND as far as the argument that people should not have booked vacation or camp for that week - some of us don't have that luxury. Some of us have to plan for every week of the summer well in advance. Some of us don't get much choice in the weeks we get to take off for vacation. So, my kid won't be there. Do I care of you think I was short-sighted...no, because actually the opposite is true.

MAYBE FCPS should have the last day of school be on a Tuesday or Wednesday like it has been in year's past so that if the year has to be extended, it won't go into another week...

AND - this winter was weird - this does not usually happen....I am not going to plan my vacations and camps around something that happens 1-2 times every 10 years....

Maybe FCPS starting before Labor Day will be given real consideration now. June days are often not learning days but especially in the high schools they seem wasted. AP exams are given on nation-wide test days (over 2 middle weeks of May). Often times this is the real end of teaching/learning and the AP test counts as the final exam for that course. And senior graduation dates are set. For example, my DS attends an independent school that follows FCPS for weather closings. He's graduating May 27 regardless when the school year actually ends. FCPS grad dates typically start around June 13, regardless of the last official day of school. My point is that the school district would probably be better served if a week of school were more front-loaded (the week or at least 3 days before a Labor Day).

I think the "well my kids won't be there" are just from parents who have already paid LOTS of money for a summer camp that isn't canceling their program AND those that have already booked vacations the last week of June. This week is "usually" a bit cheaper at beaches and resorts/parks etc before the summer season rates sky rocket, thus lots of families book it.

I don't think those days will be very useful or instructional, but really, it is short sighted for parents to plan a vacation the first week school is out. The possibility of snow days is always there, and unless you're booking a year out, by January, it was pretty clear where this winter was heading.

AS far as camps, so they miss a day of camp, big deal? Our camp is not even starting now until the 25th since many of the counselors are high school students.

My kid will be at school because he likes the last day; it's fun and we always have a last day party after the bell rings.

I mean, I don't care what anybody does because I don't think those last days are super important, but I hate the aggressive "Well, MY kids won't be there" attitude. Woo-hoo for you.

Why was it that the news stations on the radio all reported that Mont Co and Fairfax Co were going to apply for waivers for the two days that were state of emergencies after the "severe" weather threats were over? Was there just nothing else going on in the area that they could have reported on? I must have heard it 6 times.

Take me with you!

Hawaii. That's all I'm saying.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teachers and the kids who go to SACC are the only ones showing up on June 23-24. The rest of the students will have moved on with their summer plans.

Don't speak for everyone. My kids will be in school.

And my kids will be at summer camp.

Anonymous wrote:The teachers and the kids who go to SACC are the only ones showing up on June 23-24. The rest of the students will have moved on with their summer plans.

Don't speak for everyone. My kids will be in school.

The teachers and the kids who go to SACC are the only ones showing up on June 23-24. The rest of the students will have moved on with their summer plans.

At the STAC meeting today Dr. Garza said the 23rd is still up for debate, but the 24th will be (in her words) a half day.

--FCPS teacher

Hasn't been announced yet.

--FCPS administrator

Anyone know how long the new last day of FCPS elementary school will be? Usually the last day of elementary school is something like 2 hours. Will the 24th be a full day?