Anonymous
11/23/2023 16:43
Subject: APS proposed school year calendar up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In all the fighting over the first day of school, no one paid attention to the last. I emailed and emailed. June 18 is late to be getting out. And, folks, the religious holidays are why. That’s the difference. I’m happy if they keep them. But they need to find other days to cut.
The religious holidays are only four days. They could keep them and get rid of other random days off (like grade prep days) and have kids come to school on veterans day.
Why do you think grade prep days are less important than religious holidays?
I work in APS and I agree. When I taught in NY we never had grade prep days. Especially now with electronic grading. So dumb.
I’m guessing you’re not an elementary classroom teacher. We have to input everything into Synergy then write lengthy comments. (And input those into Synergy too.)
Anonymous
11/23/2023 12:26
Subject: APS proposed school year calendar up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In all the fighting over the first day of school, no one paid attention to the last. I emailed and emailed. June 18 is late to be getting out. And, folks, the religious holidays are why. That’s the difference. I’m happy if they keep them. But they need to find other days to cut.
The religious holidays are only four days. They could keep them and get rid of other random days off (like grade prep days) and have kids come to school on veterans day.
Great! And yes they could. But they won’t. Someone suggested they go to school on Veterans Day and their response was “no” because a lot of veterans live around here. They won’t get rid of any of the holidays. So we are stuck with an absurd ending date. And still going to school before Labor Day!
I think it's sad that everyone is eager to eliminate Veterans' Day as the holiday off. We should be HONORING the sacrifices of those who have protected and served this country. I suppose folks think going on family picnics and long weekends "celebrating" Memorial Day.....those who DIED protecting and serving this country, is enough. But there are a lot of people who have done so and have not yet died. It's nice to honor them while they're still around to feel the honor.
Nobody ever suggests eliminating Columbus Day now Indigenous Peoples' Day; and they surely would never suggest eliminating Juneteenth as a day off if school extended beyond that date. What about Presidents' Day? That seems like one of the silliest holidays, imo.
I don't understand all the people insisting on a full two weeks winter break but then griping about getting out too late in June and/or starting before Labor Day. You can't have it all folks.
Well, you know what? We had pretty close to “it all” last year. We had 2 weeks of winter break, started one week before Labor Day, got our earlier then June 18, AND had the religious holidays. But some people got upset because we had 990 hours but not 180 days. So APS added more days. We have 13 snow days built in.
The main thing is, there needs to be consistency. For example, federal holidays off only. Or, only religious holidays where at least X percentage of staff/students are likely to be absent. Adding religious holidays randomly is a no-win, because you can’t include everyone.
Anonymous
11/23/2023 12:17
Subject: APS proposed school year calendar up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In all the fighting over the first day of school, no one paid attention to the last. I emailed and emailed. June 18 is late to be getting out. And, folks, the religious holidays are why. That’s the difference. I’m happy if they keep them. But they need to find other days to cut.
The religious holidays are only four days. They could keep them and get rid of other random days off (like grade prep days) and have kids come to school on veterans day.
Why do you think grade prep days are less important than religious holidays?
I work in APS and I agree. When I taught in NY we never had grade prep days. Especially now with electronic grading. So dumb.
Anonymous
11/23/2023 12:01
Subject: APS proposed school year calendar up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In all the fighting over the first day of school, no one paid attention to the last. I emailed and emailed. June 18 is late to be getting out. And, folks, the religious holidays are why. That’s the difference. I’m happy if they keep them. But they need to find other days to cut.
The religious holidays are only four days. They could keep them and get rid of other random days off (like grade prep days) and have kids come to school on veterans day.
Great! And yes they could. But they won’t. Someone suggested they go to school on Veterans Day and their response was “no” because a lot of veterans live around here. They won’t get rid of any of the holidays. So we are stuck with an absurd ending date. And still going to school before Labor Day!
I think it's sad that everyone is eager to eliminate Veterans' Day as the holiday off. We should be HONORING the sacrifices of those who have protected and served this country. I suppose folks think going on family picnics and long weekends "celebrating" Memorial Day.....those who DIED protecting and serving this country, is enough. But there are a lot of people who have done so and have not yet died. It's nice to honor them while they're still around to feel the honor.
Nobody ever suggests eliminating Columbus Day now Indigenous Peoples' Day; and they surely would never suggest eliminating Juneteenth as a day off if school extended beyond that date. What about Presidents' Day? That seems like one of the silliest holidays, imo.
I don't understand all the people insisting on a full two weeks winter break but then griping about getting out too late in June and/or starting before Labor Day. You can't have it all folks.
Fairfax was in school on Veterans Day. Plenty of veterans there too. The problem with religious holidays is parents don’t have these off but are more likely to have off the federal holidays. Not everyone but most people do. In any case, pick one or the other. Religious holidays or all the federal holidays.
Anonymous
11/23/2023 10:55
Subject: APS proposed school year calendar up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What’s the March holiday?
presidential primary voting
You think this will just be every 4 years for Super Tuesday?
Anonymous
11/23/2023 10:28
Subject: APS proposed school year calendar up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In all the fighting over the first day of school, no one paid attention to the last. I emailed and emailed. June 18 is late to be getting out. And, folks, the religious holidays are why. That’s the difference. I’m happy if they keep them. But they need to find other days to cut.
The religious holidays are only four days. They could keep them and get rid of other random days off (like grade prep days) and have kids come to school on veterans day.
Great! And yes they could. But they won’t. Someone suggested they go to school on Veterans Day and their response was “no” because a lot of veterans live around here. They won’t get rid of any of the holidays. So we are stuck with an absurd ending date. And still going to school before Labor Day!
I think it's sad that everyone is eager to eliminate Veterans' Day as the holiday off. We should be HONORING the sacrifices of those who have protected and served this country. I suppose folks think going on family picnics and long weekends "celebrating" Memorial Day.....those who DIED protecting and serving this country, is enough. But there are a lot of people who have done so and have not yet died. It's nice to honor them while they're still around to feel the honor.
Nobody ever suggests eliminating Columbus Day now Indigenous Peoples' Day; and they surely would never suggest eliminating Juneteenth as a day off if school extended beyond that date. What about Presidents' Day? That seems like one of the silliest holidays, imo.
I don't understand all the people insisting on a full two weeks winter break but then griping about getting out too late in June and/or starting before Labor Day. You can't have it all folks.
Teachers work on Indigenous People’s/Columbus day. I’d gladly have it be a student contact day, eliminate the religious holidays and we gain a week.
Anonymous
11/23/2023 10:01
Subject: APS proposed school year calendar up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In all the fighting over the first day of school, no one paid attention to the last. I emailed and emailed. June 18 is late to be getting out. And, folks, the religious holidays are why. That’s the difference. I’m happy if they keep them. But they need to find other days to cut.
The religious holidays are only four days. They could keep them and get rid of other random days off (like grade prep days) and have kids come to school on veterans day.
Great! And yes they could. But they won’t. Someone suggested they go to school on Veterans Day and their response was “no” because a lot of veterans live around here. They won’t get rid of any of the holidays. So we are stuck with an absurd ending date. And still going to school before Labor Day!
I think it's sad that everyone is eager to eliminate Veterans' Day as the holiday off. We should be HONORING the sacrifices of those who have protected and served this country. I suppose folks think going on family picnics and long weekends "celebrating" Memorial Day.....those who DIED protecting and serving this country, is enough. But there are a lot of people who have done so and have not yet died. It's nice to honor them while they're still around to feel the honor.
Nobody ever suggests eliminating Columbus Day now Indigenous Peoples' Day; and they surely would never suggest eliminating Juneteenth as a day off if school extended beyond that date. What about Presidents' Day? That seems like one of the silliest holidays, imo.
I don't understand all the people insisting on a full two weeks winter break but then griping about getting out too late in June and/or starting before Labor Day. You can't have it all folks.
Anonymous
11/23/2023 09:52
Subject: APS proposed school year calendar up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Proposing to start last week in August, end the middle of the third week in June which is 3 days later later than we usually end.
https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/files/CXSREA6D9A52/$file/H-4%202024-25%20%26%202025-26%20Proposed%20School%20Year%20Calendars.pdf
Also looks like March 5 of this school year will be a student holiday. Surprise!
https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/files/CXSRFZ6DD911/$file/H-3%202023-24%20Revised%20School%20Year%20Calendar.pdf
So glad next year will be our last in APS. My senior will have my permission to end early and/or skip as much of the last two weeks they can or want to.
Third week of June is just ridiculous.
That’s senior experience time. They aren’t in school anyway.
Not at Wakefield. WHS doesn't have "senior experience." They have a senior project.
Anonymous
11/23/2023 09:34
Subject: APS proposed school year calendar up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In all the fighting over the first day of school, no one paid attention to the last. I emailed and emailed. June 18 is late to be getting out. And, folks, the religious holidays are why. That’s the difference. I’m happy if they keep them. But they need to find other days to cut.
We did pay attention. But APS would not commit to ending any earlier than “by Juneteenth” even if they started 2 weeks before Labor Day. They could have said something like “summer must be 10 weeks long,” but they refused.
+1. Plenty of people commented on the late ending date, me included. I don’t care if we start earlier or not, I care that we don’t start earlier AND end later. We should be ending a week earlier, not days later than usual.
Anonymous
11/23/2023 09:26
Subject: APS proposed school year calendar up
Anonymous wrote:In all the fighting over the first day of school, no one paid attention to the last. I emailed and emailed. June 18 is late to be getting out. And, folks, the religious holidays are why. That’s the difference. I’m happy if they keep them. But they need to find other days to cut.
We did pay attention. But APS would not commit to ending any earlier than “by Juneteenth” even if they started 2 weeks before Labor Day. They could have said something like “summer must be 10 weeks long,” but they refused.
Anonymous
11/23/2023 07:38
Subject: APS proposed school year calendar up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In all the fighting over the first day of school, no one paid attention to the last. I emailed and emailed. June 18 is late to be getting out. And, folks, the religious holidays are why. That’s the difference. I’m happy if they keep them. But they need to find other days to cut.
The religious holidays are only four days. They could keep them and get rid of other random days off (like grade prep days) and have kids come to school on veterans day.
Why do you think grade prep days are less important than religious holidays?
Anonymous
11/23/2023 00:22
Subject: APS proposed school year calendar up
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In all the fighting over the first day of school, no one paid attention to the last. I emailed and emailed. June 18 is late to be getting out. And, folks, the religious holidays are why. That’s the difference. I’m happy if they keep them. But they need to find other days to cut.
The religious holidays are only four days. They could keep them and get rid of other random days off (like grade prep days) and have kids come to school on veterans day.
Great! And yes they could. But they won’t. Someone suggested they go to school on Veterans Day and their response was “no” because a lot of veterans live around here. They won’t get rid of any of the holidays. So we are stuck with an absurd ending date. And still going to school before Labor Day!
Anonymous
11/22/2023 22:11
Subject: APS proposed school year calendar up
Anonymous wrote:In all the fighting over the first day of school, no one paid attention to the last. I emailed and emailed. June 18 is late to be getting out. And, folks, the religious holidays are why. That’s the difference. I’m happy if they keep them. But they need to find other days to cut.
The religious holidays are only four days. They could keep them and get rid of other random days off (like grade prep days) and have kids come to school on veterans day.
Anonymous
11/22/2023 20:56
Subject: APS proposed school year calendar up
In all the fighting over the first day of school, no one paid attention to the last. I emailed and emailed. June 18 is late to be getting out. And, folks, the religious holidays are why. That’s the difference. I’m happy if they keep them. But they need to find other days to cut.
Anonymous
11/22/2023 20:09
Subject: APS proposed school year calendar up
Yo, these aren't "proposed". We already have an approved set of rules for how each years calendar will be determined.