Anonymous
02/02/2026 14:04
Subject: Closed Tuesday?
Did they update the alert banner on FCPS.edu? Or did it always read: “We anticipate the coordination with our county and state partners will allow us to reopen Tuesday with a two-hour delay.”
Anonymous
02/02/2026 14:03
Subject: Closed Tuesday?
We received an email from our HS principal on Sunday, saying they're excited to have the kids back in school this week. I expected FCPS to reopen today on the basis of that.
Anonymous
02/02/2026 14:00
Subject: Closed Tuesday?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:All the parents I've spoken too agree, they want the schools closed until it's safe to open. Probably around Thursday. It's a joy to spend time together as a family, enjoy these times. Soon they'll be out of school.
Are you being sarcastic? Evidently you are not a working mother trying to balance meetings, deliverables, proposals, trying to limit screen time, thinking of educational activities to keep kids engaged, remembering to feed your kids meals (let alone feed yourself), slip sliding all over the yard while taking the dogs out, etc., etc.
I understand why the kids are out of school and I'm resigned to that, but I am not going to pretend that I'm happy about it and that I think that it's better for my kids to be home rather than in school.
That's what family is for. You and your husband should enjoy this time together with your children. You'll miss it when it's gone.
I absolutely agree! It's sad that anybody has to tell people to enjoy the time they have with their kids despite whatever work issues they also must endure. Although on the other hand if you refuse to be happy about that part of it you are probably right that your kids would be better off in school or with a sitter. They don't need to get the vibe that you can't appreciate extra time with them.
Anonymous
02/02/2026 13:56
Subject: Closed Tuesday?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Lane Elementary parents received an email saying we will have school tomorrow
Why is everyone hearing this from their individual schools? Why can’t FCPS just put out something system wide.
PS. - not have not heard a peep from our HS since Sunday morning.
Same.
Can't these principals just say wait for Gatehouse email instead of projections?
We are emailing them and telling them to RE OPEN
Anonymous
02/02/2026 13:52
Subject: Closed Tuesday?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Lane Elementary parents received an email saying we will have school tomorrow
Why is everyone hearing this from their individual schools? Why can’t FCPS just put out something system wide.
PS. - not have not heard a peep from our HS since Sunday morning.
Same.
Can't these principals just say wait for Gatehouse email instead of projections?
Anonymous
02/02/2026 13:52
Subject: Closed Tuesday?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Lane Elementary parents received an email saying we will have school tomorrow
Why is everyone hearing this from their individual schools? Why can’t FCPS just put out something system wide.
PS. - not have not heard a peep from our HS since Sunday morning.
Right? My kids' lazy ass principal would never send an email with this info.
Anonymous
02/02/2026 13:51
Subject: Closed Tuesday?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:All the parents I've spoken too agree, they want the schools closed until it's safe to open. Probably around Thursday. It's a joy to spend time together as a family, enjoy these times. Soon they'll be out of school.
Are you being sarcastic? Evidently you are not a working mother trying to balance meetings, deliverables, proposals, trying to limit screen time, thinking of educational activities to keep kids engaged, remembering to feed your kids meals (let alone feed yourself), slip sliding all over the yard while taking the dogs out, etc., etc.
I understand why the kids are out of school and I'm resigned to that, but I am not going to pretend that I'm happy about it and that I think that it's better for my kids to be home rather than in school.
That's what family is for. You and your husband should enjoy this time together with your children. You'll miss it when it's gone.
Oh did your workaholic husband take the day off to spend with the kids, too? Or is it just you, momma?
Anonymous
02/02/2026 13:42
Subject: Closed Tuesday?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Lane Elementary parents received an email saying we will have school tomorrow
Chesterbrook too, although I read it more as "here is the plan IF we have school tomorrow".
I think you are correct, PP.
Anonymous
02/02/2026 13:42
Subject: Closed Tuesday?
Anonymous wrote:Lane Elementary parents received an email saying we will have school tomorrow
Why is everyone hearing this from their individual schools? Why can’t FCPS just put out something system wide.
PS. - not have not heard a peep from our HS since Sunday morning.
Anonymous
02/02/2026 13:40
Subject: Closed Tuesday?
Anonymous wrote:Lane Elementary parents received an email saying we will have school tomorrow
Chesterbrook too, although I read it more as "here is the plan IF we have school tomorrow".
Anonymous
02/02/2026 13:38
Subject: Closed Tuesday?
FCPS has a tough job with entitled parents making the ice storm situation that much harder. But they could be more transparent about why they need to close (and many other things). But safety is the first consideration, which is why they're closing when they need to. Things are just as icy tomorrow as today, and there's more ice on the way.
Anonymous
02/02/2026 13:34
Subject: Closed Tuesday?
Lane Elementary parents received an email saying we will have school tomorrow
Anonymous
02/02/2026 13:31
Subject: Closed Tuesday?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:All the parents I've spoken too agree, they want the schools closed until it's safe to open. Probably around Thursday. It's a joy to spend time together as a family, enjoy these times. Soon they'll be out of school.
Are you being sarcastic? Evidently you are not a working mother trying to balance meetings, deliverables, proposals, trying to limit screen time, thinking of educational activities to keep kids engaged, remembering to feed your kids meals (let alone feed yourself), slip sliding all over the yard while taking the dogs out, etc., etc.
I understand why the kids are out of school and I'm resigned to that, but I am not going to pretend that I'm happy about it and that I think that it's better for my kids to be home rather than in school.
That's what family is for. You and your husband should enjoy this time together with your children. You'll miss it when it's gone.
Anonymous
02/02/2026 12:55
Subject: Re:Closed Tuesday?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This question might be off topic, but if we do open this week, won’t we need to do 2 hour delays everyday - since there’s a danger that Middle Schoolers who walk in the early morning could be hit by cars?
Yes and that’s fine by me. It feels like the right amount of risk tolerance.
Whole problem here is the terrible decision making by folks being paid 300-400k year. You cannot reasonably claim, if conditions were so “unsafe” that entire school system had to close, that conditions tomorrow will be materially any better tomorrow (or Wed/Thurs for that matter). So leadership is either OK with another full week of no school (which is terrible ninny timid leadership) OR will hypocritically move the goal posts later this week.
What upsets me is that the people making these decisions are so far removed from the life blood of the school community, that they are thinking of their own reputations, liability status, and popularity rather than the welfare of children. If they want to open, they should at least make an effort to be proactive — start initiating community carpool drives, recruit volunteers to supervise children at the bus stop, create a list of contact information for folks willing to remove ice for a fee… they don’t have to be 100 percent successful, but they should TRY. I don’t have access to all the information they do, I know, but I am disheartened by their, I don’t know, uselessness. They should be working and thinking and planning like someone lit fires under their butts, but I don’t see that.
Its's been 4 days....
Yeah, I know. I’m okay if we open or close, but so many people posting here seem so anguished. FCPS could at least reassure them with updates and better communication. I think not knowing is making people anxious.
This is so spot on. So much of this is 100 percent a comms problem.
Have a plan for storm follow up (I don't think they have this but they have one!), publicize the plan, communicate your progress on the plan. Tell us where we need to get to in the plan to open.
Which other county is supplying those frequent updates?
Anonymous
02/02/2026 12:49
Subject: Closed Tuesday?
Anonymous wrote:Even my HS who prefer not to be in school have expressed frustration at the calendar this year. "I can't get into a rhythm to lock in" is what they have said.
Enough is enough with the nonsense of 4 day school weeks.
The calendar is a joke. There's not a single person outside of Gatehouse who can defend all the multiple weeks without 5 day school week. Would be embarrassed as an educator to be part of school calendar that insists on students being out of school literally almost every week.