Anonymous
02/10/2026 11:06
Subject: Why is there another early release day?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These threads are so tiring.
The inconsistent, roller‑coaster schedule is more exhausting than anything. Every time the kids finally get some momentum and routine, here comes another day off - or two. Would be nice for kids to actually stay in school for several weeks in a row, right? But somehow we’re still expected to keep perfect attendance.
Good thing college or the military and life all have extremely consistent schedules
There’s a time and place for learning how to manage inconsistency. Elementary school is not it. Have some sense.
Elementary school is glorified babysitting. Let's be honest here. Also, unless your child's elementary school teacher is sticking to a strict classroom routine that never deviates (they don't), your point is mute.
Interesting how you're implying elementary school is apparently the appropriate time for students to learn routine and consistency, but not how to manage inconsistency.
The National Institute of Health would disagree, but what do they know. Make it make sense.
Even if elementary school is “glorified babysitting”, the frustration is in the complete lack of consistency. Next week my kids will be in backup care on Monday, SACC on Tuesday, and early release on Wednesday. It is what it is. We make it work. But we pretty much only know how to manage an inconsistent schedule at this point.
The calendar is posted nearly two years in advance. Besides snow days (that everyone has to deal with and no one has control over) if you're struggling to manage a schedule with two years notice, that's on you.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 11:01
Subject: Why is there another early release day?
Good thing we have some solid full weeks in May and June when everyone is focused
Anonymous
02/10/2026 10:59
Subject: Why is there another early release day?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's going to blow your mind to realize that fcps has off days on Monday and Tuesday, for the oh so important American holiday of lunar new year.
Amother 2.5 day week to recover from this week, one of the very few 5 day weeks on the calendar.
23 of the 41 school weeks are 5 day weeks. Not one of the few, one of the absolute majority. School should've taught you the difference.
Tuesday is a Teacher Workday. It is not an off day for Lunar New Year. Pretty easy to verify that information.
Only 23 weeks of 5 days is an abomination.
The biggest chunk of 5 day weeks occurs late spring, during and after end of year testing.
Tuesday is off because of Lunar New Year. Calling it a "teacher work day" is a farce and you know it. We just had two teacher work days just 2 weeks ago. There is no reason to have another teacher work day 2 weeks into the quarter, on a random Tuesday that oh so coincidentally happens to occur on the calendar recognized Lunar New Year. THIS day off is not needed and was never needed as a teacher work day and everyone knows it.
No month is a full month of 5 day weeks. This is unacceptable. FCPS needs to get rid of at least half of these unnecessary holidays that are not major holidays in the US, starting with Lunar New Year and any holiday that is masked with a fake teacher workday. The kids need to be in school. If individual parents don't want them in school, pull them out and give them an excused absence.
"No month is a full month of 5 day weeks"
First off, no singular month has all 5 day work weeks. The week always starts or ends with another month sometime during the week...
Also, August is the only month without a federal holiday, soooo the whole "getting rid of at least half of these unnecessary holidays that are not major holidays in the US" argument still wouldn't put your child in school every weekday for a month straight.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 09:52
Subject: Why is there another early release day?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These threads are so tiring.
The inconsistent, roller‑coaster schedule is more exhausting than anything. Every time the kids finally get some momentum and routine, here comes another day off - or two. Would be nice for kids to actually stay in school for several weeks in a row, right? But somehow we’re still expected to keep perfect attendance.
Good thing college or the military and life all have extremely consistent schedules
There’s a time and place for learning how to manage inconsistency. Elementary school is not it. Have some sense.
Elementary school is glorified babysitting. Let's be honest here. Also, unless your child's elementary school teacher is sticking to a strict classroom routine that never deviates (they don't), your point is mute.
Interesting how you're implying elementary school is apparently the appropriate time for students to learn routine and consistency, but not how to manage inconsistency.
The National Institute of Health would disagree, but what do they know. Make it make sense.
Even if elementary school is “glorified babysitting”, the frustration is in the complete lack of consistency. Next week my kids will be in backup care on Monday, SACC on Tuesday, and early release on Wednesday. It is what it is. We make it work. But we pretty much only know how to manage an inconsistent schedule at this point.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 09:46
Subject: Why is there another early release day?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's going to blow your mind to realize that fcps has off days on Monday and Tuesday, for the oh so important American holiday of lunar new year.
Amother 2.5 day week to recover from this week, one of the very few 5 day weeks on the calendar.
23 of the 41 school weeks are 5 day weeks. Not one of the few, one of the absolute majority. School should've taught you the difference.
Tuesday is a Teacher Workday. It is not an off day for Lunar New Year. Pretty easy to verify that information.
Only 23 weeks of 5 days is an abomination.
The biggest chunk of 5 day weeks occurs late spring, during and after end of year testing.
Tuesday is off because of Lunar New Year. Calling it a "teacher work day" is a farce and you know it. We just had two teacher work days just 2 weeks ago. There is no reason to have another teacher work day 2 weeks into the quarter, on a random Tuesday that oh so coincidentally happens to occur on the calendar recognized Lunar New Year. THIS day off is not needed and was never needed as a teacher work day and everyone knows it.
No month is a full month of 5 day weeks. This is unacceptable. FCPS needs to get rid of at least half of these unnecessary holidays that are not major holidays in the US, starting with Lunar New Year and any holiday that is masked with a fake teacher workday. The kids need to be in school. If individual parents don't want them in school, pull them out and give them an excused absence.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 09:46
Subject: Why is there another early release day?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These threads are so tiring.
The inconsistent, roller‑coaster schedule is more exhausting than anything. Every time the kids finally get some momentum and routine, here comes another day off - or two. Would be nice for kids to actually stay in school for several weeks in a row, right? But somehow we’re still expected to keep perfect attendance.
Good thing college or the military and life all have extremely consistent schedules
There’s a time and place for learning how to manage inconsistency. Elementary school is not it. Have some sense.
Elementary school is glorified babysitting. Let's be honest here. Also, unless your child's elementary school teacher is sticking to a strict classroom routine that never deviates (they don't), your point is mute.
Interesting how you're implying elementary school is apparently the appropriate time for students to learn routine and consistency, but not how to manage inconsistency.
The National Institute of Health would disagree, but what do they know. Make it make sense.
Oh look! FCPS standards for elementary education is here: “glorified babysitting”
Anonymous
02/10/2026 09:43
Subject: Why is there another early release day?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'll take the bait...
Please explain how student's are losing instructional time with a previously planned early dismissal.
This should be good...
There are 180 days scheduled in the calendar. When unexpected closures occur, they default to meeting 990 instructional hours. This is where all the snow days come from. Dr Reid decided to reallocate some elementary school snow hours to create early release Wednesdays. Now elementary schools have less instructional time scheduled in the calendar than MS and HS by default. So you are correct in that they aren’t losing any time. They will still meet 990 requirements. All these closures were budgeted in the calendar than
What I think is the bigger source of frustration is that all the scheduled days off and early releases coupled with snow closures and delays has led to a chaotic February. Children thrive on routine and the calendar seems to actively work against that.
Well said! On top of a how many days off in November, winter break and snow days plus so many random days off, early release days being increased from last year and a crappy school year calendar to begin with. Not teachers’ fault but the bureaucrats need to do better.
Ahh yes, the federal holiday of veterans day, one day of elections using the school buildings, and Thanksgiving. We might as well not make the student's go to school at all in November.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 09:40
Subject: Why is there another early release day?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These threads are so tiring.
The inconsistent, roller‑coaster schedule is more exhausting than anything. Every time the kids finally get some momentum and routine, here comes another day off - or two. Would be nice for kids to actually stay in school for several weeks in a row, right? But somehow we’re still expected to keep perfect attendance.
Good thing college or the military and life all have extremely consistent schedules
There’s a time and place for learning how to manage inconsistency. Elementary school is not it. Have some sense.
Elementary school is glorified babysitting. Let's be honest here. Also, unless your child's elementary school teacher is sticking to a strict classroom routine that never deviates (they don't), your point is mute.
Interesting how you're implying elementary school is apparently the appropriate time for students to learn routine and consistency, but not how to manage inconsistency.
The National Institute of Health would disagree, but what do they know. Make it make sense.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 09:38
Subject: Why is there another early release day?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'll take the bait...
Please explain how student's are losing instructional time with a previously planned early dismissal.
This should be good...
There are 180 days scheduled in the calendar. When unexpected closures occur, they default to meeting 990 instructional hours. This is where all the snow days come from. Dr Reid decided to reallocate some elementary school snow hours to create early release Wednesdays. Now elementary schools have less instructional time scheduled in the calendar than MS and HS by default. So you are correct in that they aren’t losing any time. They will still meet 990 requirements. All these closures were budgeted in the calendar than
What I think is the bigger source of frustration is that all the scheduled days off and early releases coupled with snow closures and delays has led to a chaotic February. Children thrive on routine and the calendar seems to actively work against that.
Well said! On top of a how many days off in November, winter break and snow days plus so many random days off, early release days being increased from last year and a crappy school year calendar to begin with. Not teachers’ fault but the bureaucrats need to do better.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 09:34
Subject: Why is there another early release day?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think it's a great idea. Every Friday should be an early release.
Better yet, school should start 2 hours later and end when it normally does and only be Mon. - Thurs. and then run all year round.
You should run for school board
No one with sense or reason will win in FCPS.
No republican or independent, no matter how qualified or rational, can win in FCPS.
No competent reasonable moderates can win the democratic nomination, because the only people who vote in the democratic primary are the far left crazy radicals. It just happened again in the Braddock district, which used to be the middle of the road anchor for ffx county.
If you want sane competent people to represent you, you need to start showing up for the real elections, your democrat party primary.
In Fairfax county, the actual election is just a formality. Half the county could skip the general election, and the results would be the same. The real election in Fairfax County is the democratic primary. Moderates need to start showing up for the primary, because as things are now, you have ceded your county and school board to people who don't really like to see the kids attending school.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 09:33
Subject: Why is there another early release day?
Anonymous wrote:I'll take the bait...
Please explain how student's are losing instructional time with a previously planned early dismissal.
This should be good...
There are 180 days scheduled in the calendar. When unexpected closures occur, they default to meeting 990 instructional hours. This is where all the snow days come from. Dr Reid decided to reallocate some elementary school snow hours to create early release Wednesdays. Now elementary schools have less instructional time scheduled in the calendar than MS and HS by default. So you are correct in that they aren’t losing any time. They will still meet 990 requirements. All these closures were budgeted in the calendar than
What I think is the bigger source of frustration is that all the scheduled days off and early releases coupled with snow closures and delays has led to a chaotic February. Children thrive on routine and the calendar seems to actively work against that.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 09:33
Subject: Why is there another early release day?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These threads are so tiring.
The inconsistent, roller‑coaster schedule is more exhausting than anything. Every time the kids finally get some momentum and routine, here comes another day off - or two. Would be nice for kids to actually stay in school for several weeks in a row, right? But somehow we’re still expected to keep perfect attendance.
Good thing college or the military and life all have extremely consistent schedules
There’s a time and place for learning how to manage inconsistency. Elementary school is not it. Have some sense.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 09:33
Subject: Why is there another early release day?
Anonymous wrote:It's going to blow your mind to realize that fcps has off days on Monday and Tuesday, for the oh so important American holiday of lunar new year.
Amother 2.5 day week to recover from this week, one of the very few 5 day weeks on the calendar.
23 of the 41 school weeks are 5 day weeks. Not one of the few, one of the absolute majority. School should've taught you the difference.
Tuesday is a Teacher Workday. It is not an off day for Lunar New Year. Pretty easy to verify that information.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 09:27
Subject: Why is there another early release day?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These threads are so tiring.
The inconsistent, roller‑coaster schedule is more exhausting than anything. Every time the kids finally get some momentum and routine, here comes another day off - or two. Would be nice for kids to actually stay in school for several weeks in a row, right? But somehow we’re still expected to keep perfect attendance.
Good thing college or the military and life all have extremely consistent schedules
Anonymous
02/10/2026 09:27
Subject: Why is there another early release day?
Anonymous wrote:I think it's a great idea. Every Friday should be an early release.
Better yet, school should start 2 hours later and end when it normally does and only be Mon. - Thurs. and then run all year round.
This is the worst idea I've ever heard on here. And that's saying a lot.
Elementary schools already start at 9:30. Do you think they should start at 11:30??