Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think its funny the teacher complaining has admitted to also not being able to get the classroom ready on time when Open House is scheduled at the end of a long summer break. I'm guessing they have it on Thursday so that any changes to the classroom can be made after open house easily before school starts. Hoping this teacher isn't in my child's school too. Sounds like one of those teachers that is unorganized and just does the minimum to get by.

That wasn't a complaint. Many teachers don't have their rooms "ready" for Open House. Much of Monday-Wed. is filled up with meetings. That just doesn't leave much time to prep the room. It's ok that the room isn't perfect for Open House. It doesn't need to be.

I'm very organized and do a lot beyond the "minimum to get by". However, there are administrators who will take a mile if you let them do it.

Anonymous wrote:Our teachers do home visits too, but during the day.

Anonymous wrote:I think its funny the teacher complaining has admitted to also not being able to get the classroom ready on time when Open House is scheduled at the end of a long summer break. I'm guessing they have it on Thursday so that any changes to the classroom can be made after open house easily before school starts. Hoping this teacher isn't in my child's school too. Sounds like one of those teachers that is unorganized and just does the minimum to get by.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours posts on the front doors at 4pm on Wed. Then that evening all of the teachers go out into the neighborhood and make a quick visit to each child's home. It's called "The Welcome Walk." we love it. On Friday there's a short open house in the morning where you can drop off your supplies and see the classroom.

Where I work, Open House is always on Thursday. I'd prefer Friday. I don't always have the room "ready" for Thurs.

That's interesting that they visit each child's home in the evening. I think I would be unavailable that night.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school mails them out. They used to post them on the door, but they stopped doing that about 4 years ago. I believe it's for security reasons.

Our school has never posted them for that reason.

Anonymous wrote:Our school mails them out. They used to post them on the door, but they stopped doing that about 4 years ago. I believe it's for security reasons.

Anonymous wrote:"Responsibilities involving time in excess of 7 1/2 hours per day or 8 hours per day if assigned to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and extended-day schools may be scheduled by the principal or program manager. Such duties shall normally relate to, but are not limited to, pupil transportation, faculty meetings, student-related activities, and parent conferences. A teacher's primary responsibility shall be to teach, and, whenever feasible, the assignment of nonteaching duties to teachers should be limited."

FCPS administrator and parent here. There are no "contract hours." Teachers have a 7.5 hour work day. The above quote is directly from the regs.

I heard about the home visits from a colleague and then talked with the principal there. We're going to try it at our school in a few weeks. Yes, a "Welcome Walk" or other home visit event would be a school-based decision and yes, there may be teachers that wouldn't be able to do the home visits. It probably wouldn't work or might need some adjustments at an AAP center or immersion school where kids come from a wider area. But if it's part of the culture of the school and, teachers see the immense value in it, they're excited to do it. I'm planning to feed them dinner (not pizza) and adjust their start time the next day. In the end, it's a win-win for everyone and starts the year off on the right foot for everyone. A friendly welcome at the start goes a long way in establishing a positive working relationship with students and families.