Anonymous
Post 10/22/2018 17:08     Subject: Anybody planning to skip school on the half days?
Anonymous wrote:There will be sooo many half days in November...should I feel guilty to drag out kids (lover and higher grade level in elementary school) from school during those kind of school days to plan a vacation?


There are three in Nov. the same as every other year for at least the last five. The third half day is because so many parents pull their kids out the Wed before Thanksgiving.
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2018 15:48     Subject: Anybody planning to skip school on the half days?
Of course I take vacation. We go on plenty of vacations as a family. However, here's the thing: They're required to be in school a certain number of days. They get built-in vacations that we, as adults, don't get (unless you're a teacher). That means that, outside of those vacation times, they're in school. I would understand your argument if school vacations didn't exist and kids just had a certain number of floating vacation days (like adults do), but that's not how it works.


So under that theory, teachers should never take a vacation day during the year because it's built into summer?
Sometimes we want to visit family or do something special on a day that's during the year. I will do it, not a lot, but it's more important than missing a day of school.
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2018 15:39     Subject: Anybody planning to skip school on the half days?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Great way to teach your kids that school doesn't matter.


+1.

My kids complain every time we have these that so many other kids skip and I won't let them. I only wish teachers would expect more of kids on these days-- even if they don't do new material because of all of the absences, they could do substantive review or enrichment.


And that the rules don't apply to them.


Yep. These are the same parents who let their kids not do homework the kids and parents think is dumb.


I hope I can raise children who don't follow dumb rules just for the sake of it. I want them to make an assessment of whether a rule makes sense, possible consequences for breaking it etc.

They are preparing to be humans, not robots.
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2018 15:34     Subject: Anybody planning to skip school on the half days?
Not my HS kid!!

He LOVES school. LOVES his teachers. LOVES his busride. LOVES his friends. LOVES the academics. LOVES the clubs. LOVES the sports.

I think he may make perfect attendance in this school for all 4 years. I won't have to give him "mental health day" breaks anymore and send a note to school claiming he is unwell.


Anonymous
Post 10/22/2018 15:29     Subject: Anybody planning to skip school on the half days?
Anonymous wrote:

Of course I take vacation. We go on plenty of vacations as a family. However, here's the thing: They're required to be in school a certain number of days. They get built-in vacations that we, as adults, don't get (unless you're a teacher). That means that, outside of those vacation times, they're in school. I would understand your argument if school vacations didn't exist and kids just had a certain number of floating vacation days (like adults do), but that's not how it works.


DP. It's how it works in my current family, and in my family of origin. There's even a word in German for days when you're not really sick but you just plain do not want to go to school or work: krank feiern. My sibling and I both have doctoral degrees, so it doesn't seem to have hurt our academic inclinations much.
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2018 15:23     Subject: Anybody planning to skip school on the half days?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Great way to teach your kids that school doesn't matter.


+1.

My kids complain every time we have these that so many other kids skip and I won't let them. I only wish teachers would expect more of kids on these days-- even if they don't do new material because of all of the absences, they could do substantive review or enrichment.


Yep. I tell my kids, "I have a job I go to every day. Your job is to go to school and learn. Just because there's a half-day doesn't mean you get to skip."


You get paid to work. Going to school and learning is not a job.


Wow, you have a pretty limited understanding of what a job is. Yes, I get paid to work, but it's also just what I do as part of my contribution to society. But if you want to talk in terms of payment, they get a pretty massive payment if they try hard -- a good education. But what I really mean by "job," is that school is a major part of what they're supposed to do as kids. Their mandate, at their stage in life, is to learn, both at school and at home, how to be functional, contributing adults.

Do you take vacation days?
We are serious about school, but I’m also OK with a mental health day or taking one to extend a trip as long as grades are good. My kids know when they are OK to miss and when it will stress them out. Now that they are in high school, I mostly let them decide if grades are good. It’s part of them learning to self regulate. They ironically hate missing and getting behind at all. I want them to skip Monday and Tuesday before break, but they won’t. Family time is important too and vacation opportunities sadly are limited (mine are sophomores). I’ve never regretted the days we pulled them out for special things. Work hard, play hard is our motto.


Of course I take vacation. We go on plenty of vacations as a family. However, here's the thing: They're required to be in school a certain number of days. They get built-in vacations that we, as adults, don't get (unless you're a teacher). That means that, outside of those vacation times, they're in school. I would understand your argument if school vacations didn't exist and kids just had a certain number of floating vacation days (like adults do), but that's not how it works.
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2018 15:19     Subject: Anybody planning to skip school on the half days?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Great way to teach your kids that school doesn't matter.


+1.

My kids complain every time we have these that so many other kids skip and I won't let them. I only wish teachers would expect more of kids on these days-- even if they don't do new material because of all of the absences, they could do substantive review or enrichment.


Yep. I tell my kids, "I have a job I go to every day. Your job is to go to school and learn. Just because there's a half-day doesn't mean you get to skip."


You get paid to work. Going to school and learning is not a job.


Wow, you have a pretty limited understanding of what a job is. Yes, I get paid to work, but it's also just what I do as part of my contribution to society. But if you want to talk in terms of payment, they get a pretty massive payment if they try hard -- a good education. But what I really mean by "job," is that school is a major part of what they're supposed to do as kids. Their mandate, at their stage in life, is to learn, both at school and at home, how to be functional, contributing adults.

Do you take vacation days?
We are serious about school, but I’m also OK with a mental health day or taking one to extend a trip as long as grades are good. My kids know when they are OK to miss and when it will stress them out. Now that they are in high school, I mostly let them decide if grades are good. It’s part of them learning to self regulate. They ironically hate missing and getting behind at all. I want them to skip Monday and Tuesday before break, but they won’t. Family time is important too and vacation opportunities sadly are limited (mine are sophomores). I’ve never regretted the days we pulled them out for special things. Work hard, play hard is our motto.
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2018 15:03     Subject: Re:Anybody planning to skip school on the half days?
We are having Dr. appointment too.
The best day to miss school.
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2018 14:55     Subject: Anybody planning to skip school on the half days?
If they taught anything on the half days I would consider it but they are an absolute waste.
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2018 14:51     Subject: Anybody planning to skip school on the half days?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:And why do HS kids suddenly have them off now too even though there are no conferences?


Because the high school teachers can't do planning/in-service when the high school kids are in school, and there can't be separate planning/in-service days (as there used to be) because of the governor's Ocean City School Calendar executive order.


But the elementary teachers do not get a planning day..they are hosting conferences.


Read the superintendent's memo, here: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/calendar/2019-2020%20Sch%20Yr%20Calendar%20Revised%20181009.pdf

and look for the explanation.


I don't really see anything aside from this..does that mean there will be HS conferences?

Both scenarios align the two early release days for parent-teacher conferences with
Veterans Day (November 11 and 12, 2019). This is consistent with past practice and reflects
the interests of some parents/guardians and schools to have an opportunity for conferences
on a day which some parents/guardians may have off from work
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2018 14:26     Subject: Anybody planning to skip school on the half days?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Great way to teach your kids that school doesn't matter.


+1.

My kids complain every time we have these that so many other kids skip and I won't let them. I only wish teachers would expect more of kids on these days-- even if they don't do new material because of all of the absences, they could do substantive review or enrichment.


Yep. I tell my kids, "I have a job I go to every day. Your job is to go to school and learn. Just because there's a half-day doesn't mean you get to skip."


You get paid to work. Going to school and learning is not a job.


Wow, you have a pretty limited understanding of what a job is. Yes, I get paid to work, but it's also just what I do as part of my contribution to society. But if you want to talk in terms of payment, they get a pretty massive payment if they try hard -- a good education. But what I really mean by "job," is that school is a major part of what they're supposed to do as kids. Their mandate, at their stage in life, is to learn, both at school and at home, how to be functional, contributing adults.


Then say that.


Oh for Pete's sake. Nitpicking much?
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2018 14:26     Subject: Anybody planning to skip school on the half days?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Great way to teach your kids that school doesn't matter.


+1.

My kids complain every time we have these that so many other kids skip and I won't let them. I only wish teachers would expect more of kids on these days-- even if they don't do new material because of all of the absences, they could do substantive review or enrichment.


Yep. I tell my kids, "I have a job I go to every day. Your job is to go to school and learn. Just because there's a half-day doesn't mean you get to skip."


You get paid to work. Going to school and learning is not a job.


Wow, you have a pretty limited understanding of what a job is. Yes, I get paid to work, but it's also just what I do as part of my contribution to society. But if you want to talk in terms of payment, they get a pretty massive payment if they try hard -- a good education. But what I really mean by "job," is that school is a major part of what they're supposed to do as kids. Their mandate, at their stage in life, is to learn, both at school and at home, how to be functional, contributing adults.


Then say that.
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2018 14:23     Subject: Anybody planning to skip school on the half days?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Great way to teach your kids that school doesn't matter.


+1.

My kids complain every time we have these that so many other kids skip and I won't let them. I only wish teachers would expect more of kids on these days-- even if they don't do new material because of all of the absences, they could do substantive review or enrichment.


Yep. I tell my kids, "I have a job I go to every day. Your job is to go to school and learn. Just because there's a half-day doesn't mean you get to skip."


I agree with this, to a point. I wouldn't let my kids skip just to stay home. But we are skipping a half day to extend a long weekend trip, and I'm good with that. Not exactly sure how to reconcile it, but that's OK too.
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2018 14:21     Subject: Anybody planning to skip school on the half days?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Great way to teach your kids that school doesn't matter.


+1.

My kids complain every time we have these that so many other kids skip and I won't let them. I only wish teachers would expect more of kids on these days-- even if they don't do new material because of all of the absences, they could do substantive review or enrichment.


And that the rules don't apply to them.


Yep. These are the same parents who let their kids not do homework the kids and parents think is dumb.
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2018 14:21     Subject: Anybody planning to skip school on the half days?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Great way to teach your kids that school doesn't matter.


+1.

My kids complain every time we have these that so many other kids skip and I won't let them. I only wish teachers would expect more of kids on these days-- even if they don't do new material because of all of the absences, they could do substantive review or enrichment.


And that the rules don't apply to them.