Anonymous
Post 10/20/2022 22:16     Subject: Re:APS calendar options are here

Anonymous wrote:The APS way is to survey the community without truly considering their input. Their decision is made. It is option 1 regardless of the negative feedback they will receive. Take it to the bank from an APS teacher familiar with some of their decision making processes. I’m sure they had a meeting with all the central office people recently added to go over for the wording for this little press release. Shortening our summer, adding days and minutes to the school day. Thanks APS for showing your appreciation during the teacher shortage.


Yup. The whole “input” thing is for show. I am really tired of that. Don’t ask me for my input if you’re going to do whatever you want, anyway. It is disrespectful of my time.
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2022 21:36     Subject: Re:APS calendar options are here

The APS way is to survey the community without truly considering their input. Their decision is made. It is option 1 regardless of the negative feedback they will receive. Take it to the bank from an APS teacher familiar with some of their decision making processes. I’m sure they had a meeting with all the central office people recently added to go over for the wording for this little press release. Shortening our summer, adding days and minutes to the school day. Thanks APS for showing your appreciation during the teacher shortage.
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2022 21:03     Subject: APS calendar options are here

Anonymous wrote:Is it true that if you pull your kid out for a religious holiday that APS does not observe, it’s an unexcused absence? Someone over on AEM is trying to say that. Complaining that her kids won’t get off for the holiday so will now take an unexcused absence.


She’s complaining about Diwali. Which is on a Sunday and is excused. But she is also a known loon. So I’m assuming that is the issue
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2022 21:01     Subject: APS calendar options are here

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is it true that if you pull your kid out for a religious holiday that APS does not observe, it’s an unexcused absence? Someone over on AEM is trying to say that. Complaining that her kids won’t get off for the holiday so will now take an unexcused absence.


No. That’s excused, obviously. Number 4 on the first page of the attendance policy.

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/files/CEQKRJ52C268/$file/J-5.1.30%20Attendance.pdf

Take anything on AEM with a grain of salt
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2022 20:39     Subject: APS calendar options are here

Anonymous wrote:Is it true that if you pull your kid out for a religious holiday that APS does not observe, it’s an unexcused absence? Someone over on AEM is trying to say that. Complaining that her kids won’t get off for the holiday so will now take an unexcused absence.


No. That’s excused, obviously. Number 4 on the first page of the attendance policy.

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/files/CEQKRJ52C268/$file/J-5.1.30%20Attendance.pdf
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2022 20:24     Subject: APS calendar options are here

Is it true that if you pull your kid out for a religious holiday that APS does not observe, it’s an unexcused absence? Someone over on AEM is trying to say that. Complaining that her kids won’t get off for the holiday so will now take an unexcused absence.
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2022 20:22     Subject: APS calendar options are here

The shortened winter break is long enough. One of those please.
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2022 20:14     Subject: APS calendar options are here

I guess 2 is the least bad option.
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2022 20:09     Subject: APS calendar options are here

Add me to the list opposing the random one off holidays breaking up so much of the school year. Wish there were an option to vote against that.
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2022 20:01     Subject: APS calendar options are here

I encourage every parent who is against all of the days off for the various religious holidays to put comments in this year’s calendar survey, even though it won’t apply to next year. It’s a good anonymous way to speak up if you’re not willing to attach your name to it at a school board meeting.
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2022 19:58     Subject: APS calendar options are here

I understand the intention behind all of the religious holidays, but as PP said, it is very disruptive to everyone involved. It is much less disruptive to have a very small percentage of people miss a day or two of school throughout the year versus having the entire school body have all of these disjointed weeks throughout the year. Where I grew up, we were not allowed to have graded activities on any religious holiday. I wish we could just revert to that.
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2022 19:56     Subject: Re:APS calendar options are here

Anonymous wrote:APS kids have had a total of two full weeks of school this year (with no holidays). They have a total of six this entire half year before winter break.

This new policy of adopting all the religious holidays is so frustrating and makes it really hard to get into a rhythm, for both the kids in school and their families.

Just venting. I assume there's no doing away with the new policy of a day off for every.single.religious.holiday.

(And yes, I would like to get rid of winter holidays around Christmas and spring break around Easter, too!)


Yep. No option to not have all the religious holidays. Fccps jettisoned them for next year but I don’t see aps ever having the courage to do so.
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2022 19:44     Subject: APS calendar options are here

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I really, truly don't understand how we keep starting earlier but ending at the same time. The first year it at least made logical sense, a bunch of new holidays were added in. How does option 1 start an entire week earlier than this year (where we've already added in all the holidays) yet still get out at the same time?

They have added 3-4 school days to the calendar


Are they keeping the extra minutes each day?

I haven't heard any rumblings otherwise. I know APE was advocating for a return to 180 instructional days ( I am a casual APE member)


180 vs 179. Good grief.

It was 175 (MS) and 176 (ES, HS) days this year
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2022 19:40     Subject: APS calendar options are here

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I really, truly don't understand how we keep starting earlier but ending at the same time. The first year it at least made logical sense, a bunch of new holidays were added in. How does option 1 start an entire week earlier than this year (where we've already added in all the holidays) yet still get out at the same time?

They have added 3-4 school days to the calendar


Are they keeping the extra minutes each day?

I haven't heard any rumblings otherwise. I know APE was advocating for a return to 180 instructional days ( I am a casual APE member)


180 vs 179. Good grief.
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2022 19:32     Subject: APS calendar options are here

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I really, truly don't understand how we keep starting earlier but ending at the same time. The first year it at least made logical sense, a bunch of new holidays were added in. How does option 1 start an entire week earlier than this year (where we've already added in all the holidays) yet still get out at the same time?

They have added 3-4 school days to the calendar


Are they keeping the extra minutes each day?

I haven't heard any rumblings otherwise. I know APE was advocating for a return to 180 instructional days ( I am a casual APE member)