To OP: Unless you are somehow procreating with the SB and it's county-wide calendar surveys, the 22-23 calendar has nothing to do with your parenthood. Honestly. You have kids...you figure it out. We all do, independently of public school calendar decisions. There are more days during the year than not that YOU will have to determine how to keep your kids safe and (maybe?) productively engaged. Your post is ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“ Oh, how convenient. “And don’t talk about my holiday — just take away everyone else’s.” ”

Not PP but the social reality in this country is that most professional offices shut down the last week of the year and many do in practice for at least part of the week before Xmas. I work with embassies, people I know celebrate other religions, etc - no one emails over Xmas and almost no one emails the week before. Same with Xmas Eve.

The cultural reality is there is no other holiday like this in the US where thing basically just all shut down and so yes it is reasonable for school to align with that timing.

Easter is not the case and I think you saw that from most parents saying it did not matter if we aligned with other districts (that have kept the break with Easter). It was school staff that said not aligning with other districts was too hard.

Federal government doesn’t shut down. Do you not get your mail?

Federal governmemt essentially shuts down that week from Christmas Eve through January 2nd

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I, for one, love the new schedule.

It allows us a family to do quick, luxurious vacations when other families have school. Halloween weekend is perfect for a trip to Hilton Head. The two weeks off for winter break is perfect for seeing both families. January- quick pops over for Ski trips. April is perfect for Hawaii.

I understand the backlash. But considering the average household income of the county- I’m not quite sure the complaints here side with the majority. Even when you look at the survey results- 2/3 of the population is generally happy with the calendar.

I prefer long weekends over random half days. I prefer the ability to go away and see family on those long weekends.

I feel bad for those of you who want the kids in school all of the time. But you really should look at the school calendars for other counties. Loudoun is very similar to our. Stafford is a poop show. MCPS- similar.

As for working or single parents not being able to do this- this is why you pay for SACC. This is why SACC exists. It’s super affordable and scaled based on poverty levels.

Finally- for those of you who can’t afford any vacation- which is about 30%- look at other county school calendars. It is the same. Find a county that you like better and post it. We will encourage you to move there!

You are correct, but just because all school calendars contain unnecessary disruptions does not mean that it is not worth considering alternatives.

You can “consider” anything you like. Just don’t expect it to happen.

SACC exists? What a joke? Do you have any idea how long the wait times are to get your kid to SACC?

DP. Yeah I love how PP just assumes SACC is readily available for everyone. We have been on the waiting list since my now second grader was four years old and are still 20-something on the list for afternoon care. We don’t even know if they will get in for third grade. Never mind their younger sibling starting K. They aren’t even letting us put them on the waitlist yet. SACC is a mess thanks to Covid.

I hate this calendar. Winter break should not start until December 22 or 23. Guess which neighboring county does this? Montgomery. Let’s not act like some county further away in VA is more of our neighbor than MCPS. Every public district north of VA that I have ever heard of has a shorter winter break. Two weeks is ridiculous and I say that as a Catholic. Starting two full weeks before Labor Day and not getting out until mid June, with a bunch of short weeks, is awful. I can’t just plan around it as I have to be at work in person on many of those days with no one to take my place if I’m not there. It’s not as simple as just marking the calendar for some of us. Guess I will be spending $$$ on drop in care. Incredibly annoying.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't they just let parents determine the calendar?

How? This forum can’t even find consensus?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I, for one, love the new schedule.

It allows us a family to do quick, luxurious vacations when other families have school. Halloween weekend is perfect for a trip to Hilton Head. The two weeks off for winter break is perfect for seeing both families. January- quick pops over for Ski trips. April is perfect for Hawaii.

I understand the backlash. But considering the average household income of the county- I’m not quite sure the complaints here side with the majority. Even when you look at the survey results- 2/3 of the population is generally happy with the calendar.

I prefer long weekends over random half days. I prefer the ability to go away and see family on those long weekends.

I feel bad for those of you who want the kids in school all of the time. But you really should look at the school calendars for other counties. Loudoun is very similar to our. Stafford is a poop show. MCPS- similar.

As for working or single parents not being able to do this- this is why you pay for SACC. This is why SACC exists. It’s super affordable and scaled based on poverty levels.

Finally- for those of you who can’t afford any vacation- which is about 30%- look at other county school calendars. It is the same. Find a county that you like better and post it. We will encourage you to move there!

You are correct, but just because all school calendars contain unnecessary disruptions does not mean that it is not worth considering alternatives.

You can “consider” anything you like. Just don’t expect it to happen.

SACC exists? What a joke? Do you have any idea how long the wait times are to get your kid to SACC?

Anonymous wrote:Why don't they just let parents determine the calendar?

I think they’re back to doing all they can to shorten the summer vacation. The shorter they can make the time out of school, the less kids will need to relearn in the fall.

Anonymous wrote:“ Oh, how convenient. “And don’t talk about my holiday — just take away everyone else’s.” ”

Not PP but the social reality in this country is that most professional offices shut down the last week of the year and many do in practice for at least part of the week before Xmas. I work with embassies, people I know celebrate other religions, etc - no one emails over Xmas and almost no one emails the week before. Same with Xmas Eve.

The cultural reality is there is no other holiday like this in the US where thing basically just all shut down and so yes it is reasonable for school to align with that timing.

Easter is not the case and I think you saw that from most parents saying it did not matter if we aligned with other districts (that have kept the break with Easter). It was school staff that said not aligning with other districts was too hard.

Federal government doesn’t shut down. Do you not get your mail?

Anonymous wrote:I am a working parent and don’t see it as an f u … it’s not like I have the summer off {{shrug}}.

Exactly

Anonymous wrote:I was a teacher. Routine is important in schools. There is no month with full weeks of school until after New Year's.

SB claims to be liberal and support working families--yet, this schedule makes it very difficult for those who work outside the home--or, for that matter, inside the home.

Do these SB members have any common sense whatsoever? Love that at least one SB member had her kids in a "pod" while other kids were at home.

Who was this?

“ Oh, how convenient. “And don’t talk about my holiday — just take away everyone else’s.” ”

Not PP but the social reality in this country is that most professional offices shut down the last week of the year and many do in practice for at least part of the week before Xmas. I work with embassies, people I know celebrate other religions, etc - no one emails over Xmas and almost no one emails the week before. Same with Xmas Eve.

The cultural reality is there is no other holiday like this in the US where thing basically just all shut down and so yes it is reasonable for school to align with that timing.

Easter is not the case and I think you saw that from most parents saying it did not matter if we aligned with other districts (that have kept the break with Easter). It was school staff that said not aligning with other districts was too hard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I, for one, love the new schedule.

It allows us a family to do quick, luxurious vacations when other families have school. Halloween weekend is perfect for a trip to Hilton Head. The two weeks off for winter break is perfect for seeing both families. January- quick pops over for Ski trips. April is perfect for Hawaii.

I understand the backlash. But considering the average household income of the county- I’m not quite sure the complaints here side with the majority. Even when you look at the survey results- 2/3 of the population is generally happy with the calendar.

I prefer long weekends over random half days. I prefer the ability to go away and see family on those long weekends.

I feel bad for those of you who want the kids in school all of the time. But you really should look at the school calendars for other counties. Loudoun is very similar to our. Stafford is a poop show. MCPS- similar.

As for working or single parents not being able to do this- this is why you pay for SACC. This is why SACC exists. It’s super affordable and scaled based on poverty levels.

Finally- for those of you who can’t afford any vacation- which is about 30%- look at other county school calendars. It is the same. Find a county that you like better and post it. We will encourage you to move there!

You are correct, but just because all school calendars contain unnecessary disruptions does not mean that it is not worth considering alternatives.

You can “consider” anything you like. Just don’t expect it to happen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why isn't Lunar New Year a holiday? I'm pretty certain there are more people who celibrate it than some of the other holidays added.

It is on a Sunday in 2023. That is why.

Yup and the following school year Diwali, Rosh Hashana and Lunar New Year are on a weekend. So the 2023-2024 school year will prob get out earlier.

Lets hope they move to 990 hours instead of 180 days the following year too.

The calendar is 180 days exactly, so after one snow day we automatically move to the 990 hour requirement.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Starting on 8/22 and ending on 6/16? Random days off? How the heck are working parents supposed to earn a living? Is this just a product of woke upper class parents? When did the public comment period on this calendar even happen????

It's horrible. And I expect we'll miss a lot of days the last week. I'm not keeping my kid in school until mid-June.

There should be no religious days at all, none. It's a public school. And don't talk about Christmas. Winter break between Xmas and NY is always going to happen for logistics, practical reasons having nothing to do with the holiday. But, IF they are going to add the days, then they need to shave them off somewhere else.

Oh, how convenient. “And don’t talk about my holiday — just take away everyone else’s.”

Now, since it’s an anonymous message board, predictably lie here and say “whatever, we don’t even celebrate Christmas! Gotcha” so we can all laugh at you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why isn't Lunar New Year a holiday? I'm pretty certain there are more people who celibrate it than some of the other holidays added.

It is on a Sunday in 2023. That is why.

Yup and the following school year Diwali, Rosh Hashana and Lunar New Year are on a weekend. So the 2023-2024 school year will prob get out earlier.

Lets hope they move to 990 hours instead of 180 days the following year too.

Would you keep 180 days and shorten the student day?