Anonymous wrote:Seriously if they don't extend the year I think there should be some coordinated parental response - we are all forced to take leave to cope with MCPS' ridiculous closures, and to see them shave a full week off the curriculum without any adjustment is just absurd. Extending the year would save working parents a few days of camp or other childcare costs, money we've all bled dealing with closures that at times have been totally baseless for much of the lower portion of the county. I'm fully expecting they go for the waiver though - that's what happened in 2009-2010. It's totally outrageous.

I live upcounty and my street is currently a sheet of ice. The sidewalks to our local school, which my children walk on to go to and from school, are not clear. But I guess that is less important to you than your precious leave time.

I am glad that MCPS is placing importance on the safety of the children and the staff and not on "saving working parents a few days of camp or other childcare costs". It's all about you, isn't it, PP? You and the almighty dollar.

Seriously if they don't extend the year I think there should be some coordinated parental response - we are all forced to take leave to cope with MCPS' ridiculous closures, and to see them shave a full week off the curriculum without any adjustment is just absurd. Extending the year would save working parents a few days of camp or other childcare costs, money we've all bled dealing with closures that at times have been totally baseless for much of the lower portion of the county. I'm fully expecting they go for the waiver though - that's what happened in 2009-2010. It's totally outrageous.

If it's a local camp they will accommodate. But I agree that there will be a waiver even though there is no real basis for it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They can add on one more week, that way I don't have to pay for expensive camp.

I've already paid for one alas.

Well that was really stupid of you. Who sends their kid off to camp like 4 days after the end of school anyway. Geez

Those of us who have to work.

Plus 1. I can't believe that is so hard to understand.

Most of the teachers I know can work from home those days and get their grades in before hand. I think they are a relec from the days of manual report cards. I think only first year teachers actually report.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not have school on 3/28 (scheduled professional day) at a minimum? That seems like a no-brainer.

Because the teacher's union won't allow. Seriously, that is why. Pathetic

The day before is the end of the end of the marking period. Grades are due. It's a day for teachers to complete grades AND plan. Usually, the guides are set up quarterly. So planning time is essential.

I love the way everyone's an expert on teaching.

Way to go, genius!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not have school on 3/28 (scheduled professional day) at a minimum? That seems like a no-brainer.

Because the teacher's union won't allow. Seriously, that is why. Pathetic

Because important work happens on those days.

I can't understand why people can't seem to understand that the work done on PD days is important. Would you hire a lawyer who spent every day in court and none reviewing evidence or planning their strategy? Or a doctor who operated 40 hours a week, and didn't set time aside to look at x-rays and read the current research? But a teacher, who takes a far smaller percentage of their days to plan their work is viewed as "pathetic"?

There was a piece about MCPS and snow days last night on the Fox 5 news at 10. In it, someone (sorry, don't know who - I think the reporter) said the county would hope for a waiver of snow days since "most had been during a state of emergency". The only state of emergency I am aware of is for the Feb. 13-14 snow. The person then said "so, MCPS might not have to have any extension."

Today is day 9 for MCPS. Four days are built into the calendar. I can go with having 2 days waived due to the state of emergency, but not all of them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not have school on 3/28 (scheduled professional day) at a minimum? That seems like a no-brainer.

Because the previously agreed-to and published plan is to add on days in June. Why would they change that? Fairfax took away Presidents' Day and a teacher workday because that was their published plan. I don't know what it would take to make mcps adopt a similar plan in the future, but it make sense that they are following their official plan now (at least until/unless they get a waiver).

I agree.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They can add on one more week, that way I don't have to pay for expensive camp.

I've already paid for one alas.

Well that was really stupid of you. Who sends their kid off to camp like 4 days after the end of school anyway. Geez

Those of us who have to work.

Anonymous wrote:Why not have school on 3/28 (scheduled professional day) at a minimum? That seems like a no-brainer.

Because the teacher's union won't allow. Seriously, that is why. Pathetic

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They can add on one more week, that way I don't have to pay for expensive camp.

I've already paid for one alas.

Well that was really stupid of you. Who sends their kid off to camp like 4 days after the end of school anyway. Geez

Anonymous wrote:I am hoping that MCPS will do what it did in 1999. They added an hour and ten minutes to the school day so that each period was about 58 minutes.

I'd love to hear the little brats scream about that.

Are you kidding me?

I worked through that. It was absolutely ridiculous. Nothing academic was accomplished. Kids' body clocks were set, and by the end of the day they were antsy. It was miserable. I'd prefer to tack on a full day instead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in high school. I have never seen this followed. An mcps teacher told me they will add on the Friday and ask for wavers for the rest.

OP here. My kid is in high school too. I got this info via an email from the HS PTA listserv just now.

This is on the website.

It doesn't matter for HS b/c we have exams. So kids are in to test and then out. ES and MS have to teach through the end.

Anonymous wrote:They can add on one more week, that way I don't have to pay for expensive camp.

I've already paid for one alas.