My 9th grader reported that the full day was just too long for an orientation type day. Based on his report, it sounded like the activities basically matched what was done before (I have an 11th grader, as well), but that the time for each one was basically doubled. I agree and think that a half day is just fine for an introduction to a new school. I would think this is even more true for kindergarten students, who can better ease into the new environment with a shorter introduction, and 6th graders, most of whom have shorter attention spans than 9th graders. I do hope Dr. Taylor and the BOE consider this going forward. Everyone would have been better off to do orientation last week and to start this week off fresh with the first real day of school.

Transition day was way too long of a day, and it was unclear what exactly was going to happen today. Actual day did not match what was sent out. Or very little detail..

Anonymous wrote:9th grade child texted back "it was ok"

So it must have gone really well--that's high praise.

9th grade child texted back "it was ok"

So it must have gone really well--that's high praise.

It seemed to be pretty successful at the high school I work at. The last hour or so was a bit unstructured but overall it was a good day

Anonymous wrote:Half day during preservice week seemed to work fine. This seems overkill

Agree.
And now we have only 1 snow day built in, so the school year will extended even further this year.

Anonymous wrote:Who else has buses not show up today? Seems like about 50% of the buses at my kid's elementary school just didn't run. Supposedly it wasn't clear enough to the bus drivers that today was a regular day.

Yes, our bus never showed up. None of the immersion buses at our school did due to an apparent miscommuncation... I was told they would pick them up from school though, and nervous as to whether or not this will actually happen as it should!

Anonymous wrote:High school bus was 10 minutes late. Not out of the norm for a first day or orientation run. We're in the DCC though and apparently one of the other high schools is supposed to have a stop at the same time and same intersection? Kids going to Kennedy almost got on the bus to Northwood. Thankfully the bus driver was clear about the destination.

Yes, that can happen in the consortia. Gotta check those bus route numbers carefully!

High school bus was 10 minutes late. Not out of the norm for a first day or orientation run. We're in the DCC though and apparently one of the other high schools is supposed to have a stop at the same time and same intersection? Kids going to Kennedy almost got on the bus to Northwood. Thankfully the bus driver was clear about the destination.

Who else has buses not show up today? Seems like about 50% of the buses at my kid's elementary school just didn't run. Supposedly it wasn't clear enough to the bus drivers that today was a regular day.

Anonymous wrote:They should have made transition day an early release schedule. A full day seems unnecessary.

That was the plan originally, but then they extended it to a full day because of uncertainty about child care.

They should have made transition day an early release schedule. A full day seems unnecessary.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are students who are not going into a new school planning to attend tomorrow transisition day? Is it OK for them to go to school even if they are not entering their first year in elementary, middle or high school or a new student at a school?

No, it is only for new students at a school. There will not be any classes or programming for them if they are not new. If you drop them off they will have to spend the day sitting in the library or something or shadowing a new student.

At the elementary level, parents will be called to pick up their children.

Anonymous wrote:Are students who are not going into a new school planning to attend tomorrow transisition day? Is it OK for them to go to school even if they are not entering their first year in elementary, middle or high school or a new student at a school?

No, returning students may not attend.

If there’s a discrepancy in messaging between a particular school and Central Office, I sure hope the teachers at that school have some idea what they’re going to do with any students who show up.