We went to elementary school from 9-3 with an hour long lunch-recess combo. I think that is a normal school day. These days seem sooo long! 9-4 every day is too long.

OP here -- thanks to all who clarified based on direct FCPS knowledge. I think our principal made a mistake in telling all the parents via email that school starts and ends at different times. (the new "start" time isn't a problem so much b/c it'll help reduce the tardies, but the new end time means parents will be late for picking up kids). Oh well... no biggie... just a bit of confusion.

Instructional times have not changed at all. The only difference is that the school's official "start time" will be when the buses arrive, which is when the doors are officially opened for all kids to come in.

At our school, kids could sit in the cafeteria for up to 15 minutes, but no earlier, before school started. Once the doors officially opened, say at 8:50, they could make their way to their classrooms. At 9:00, announcements would start. Last year, 9:00 was our school's official "start time". This year it will be 8:50. But nothing has changed - the time by which a kid has to be in his/her seat is still 9:00.

Anonymous wrote:That doesn't make any sense.

What about walkers?

As the poster above you noted, this is just a way to make it look like there is more "instructional time." It's all about meeting the 990 hours of instruction. You may be confused, but it's a small price to pay for wanting snow days built into the calendar. Just be confused, drop your kid off and pick up at the same exact time AND relax knowing that additional days will not be tacked onto the end of school if there are snow days.

Anonymous wrote:15:00 --- interesting! So, there isn't an extra 20 min., it just looks like it on paper? That's really weird b/c they are telling people that school ends at 3:00... but doesn't that mean parents will show up at 3:00 to pick up their kids who have already been released at 2:50 (the old end time)? Seems like they should still tell parents that kids are dismissed at the old time (2:50) and then they will pick up on time.

You should go back and ask your principal to clarify. Ask him/her what time announcements will begin and what time the school day ends, NOT the "bus departure" time. I'm looking at the bell schedule for all schools right now and that is the language that is used. (It's not on the public web, but on the FCPS intranet). The ONLY ES school that has a different start time from last year is Bailey's. The primary school will have a different start time (meaning the time that tardy bell rings and announcements begin. This is the actual time "instruction" begins).

That doesn't make any sense.

What about walkers?

It's a just game bureaucrats play to make it look like they're doing more.......

15:00 --- interesting! So, there isn't an extra 20 min., it just looks like it on paper? That's really weird b/c they are telling people that school ends at 3:00... but doesn't that mean parents will show up at 3:00 to pick up their kids who have already been released at 2:50 (the old end time)? Seems like they should still tell parents that kids are dismissed at the old time (2:50) and then they will pick up on time.

Quantity doesn't equal quality in regards to more time.

^^^ as last year.

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. My kids don't get out until 4:00 as it is. I hope all the schools aren't doing this. Or if they are, start us earlier.

Again, the end time is NOT changing. The bell to start and to end the day will be at the same time.

Ugh. My kids don't get out until 4:00 as it is. I hope all the schools aren't doing this. Or if they are, start us earlier.

Actually it's not really going to be 20 minutes longer. The starting bell and ending bell will be the same. What's changed is that the "technical" start time will be when buses arrive and when they leave. Those 10 minutes on either end will now "count" towards the minutes that kids are in school. It helps with making the snow day situation work.

So if your official school day last year was 8:45 to 3:25, the bell will still ring at those times. Instruction will start at 8:45 and dismissal will be at 3:25.

This year, the "official" start time on paper will be 8:35 which is when buses arrive. And the "official" end time will be 3:35 which is when buses have left. Again, the actual instruction time will still be exactly the same: 8:45-3:25.

which school is this?

Just received word from the principal that the kids' elem. school day will be 20 min. longer (in addition to the full day Mondays). I'm not complaining at all! I'm excited to see what they are adding to the curriculum with the extra time. But, I was curious if anyone else's school is extending the day in addition to the Monday. It's possible our school is just adding time b/c of bus logistics... the pricipal didn't say why.

But, I'm fine with the change. 8-3 seems like the correct schedule in my mind b/c that's what I always had growing up. Plus, it's much easier to remember 3:00 rather than 2:50 (like it used to be).