Anonymous wrote:At tomorrow's policy committee meeting:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/CK7QGN6875DE/$file/Final%20221020%20PMC%202023-2024%20SY%20calendar.pdf

This document also has the results of the recent calendar survey.

This link is now broken. The agenda no longer has a document attached.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it common anywhere to have the whole week of Thanksgiving off? I’m already surprised that the Wednesday is totally off. Thanksgiving is one day! Thursday! It’s nice to have the Friday to do a long weekend and maybe a half day on the Wednesday. But this is not a “whole week” holiday. Even if you are flying (which many are not), you get plenty of time between Tuesday night/Weds and Sunday. Thanksgiving is an American holiday so it’s not like people are flying out of the country to celebrate it.

I believe Arlington and maybe Fairfax did this last year. We moved from IL, and my public & private school kids were off the whole week.

FCPS - that was a temporary subbing issue if so, NOT because people think it's a good idea to give the full week off. Why in the world would this be needed especailly when fall is riddled with random days off every other week.

Well, they still have next to no subs so I appreciate it does make it difficult around thanksgiving and so forth.

Scenario A is the best. It gives a chance to immigrant families to actually travel out of the country for over winter break! No need for a week off at Thanksgiving

Anonymous wrote:I think it would be great if the entire DMV would operate on a shared calendar. Districts like Montgomery, Frederick, Prince Georges, Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, DC. It doesn't really affect parents/students, but so many staff live in a different district from where they teach so it's a toss up each year if breaks/days off will be the same.

Please don't say that teachers should just move. It's more complicated than that, and I was making a thoughtful suggestion.

You're suggesting that PG now must close for Jewish new year holidays, because Mont County surely isn't going to drop them. Similarly, MCPS won't drop any of the days they've added for Eid or Lunar New Year. I don't see PG or Frederick adding them. (PG has them noted on the calendar as schools cannot schedule meetings/activities these days.)

DCPS closes the week of President's day for "February break."

Frederick begins & ends their school year considerably before Mont County.

These are just a couple of examples.

Your suggestion may have been thoughtful, but these districts have long-standing traditions that they won't be willing to change.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it common anywhere to have the whole week of Thanksgiving off? I’m already surprised that the Wednesday is totally off. Thanksgiving is one day! Thursday! It’s nice to have the Friday to do a long weekend and maybe a half day on the Wednesday. But this is not a “whole week” holiday. Even if you are flying (which many are not), you get plenty of time between Tuesday night/Weds and Sunday. Thanksgiving is an American holiday so it’s not like people are flying out of the country to celebrate it.

I believe Arlington and maybe Fairfax did this last year. We moved from IL, and my public & private school kids were off the whole week.

FCPS - that was a temporary subbing issue if so, NOT because people think it's a good idea to give the full week off. Why in the world would this be needed especailly when fall is riddled with random days off every other week.

I think it would be great if the entire DMV would operate on a shared calendar. Districts like Montgomery, Frederick, Prince Georges, Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, DC. It doesn't really affect parents/students, but so many staff live in a different district from where they teach so it's a toss up each year if breaks/days off will be the same.

Please don't say that teachers should just move. It's more complicated than that, and I was making a thoughtful suggestion.

Anonymous wrote:You guys, on the agenda for the Oct. 25 Board of Ed meeting, there is evidently going to be a discussion/action about an amendment to the 2022-23 (current) school year. Anyone have a guess what this could be?

Last year, they added a bunch more half days. We already have too many. I hope they don’t add more.

Anonymous wrote:Is it common anywhere to have the whole week of Thanksgiving off? I’m already surprised that the Wednesday is totally off. Thanksgiving is one day! Thursday! It’s nice to have the Friday to do a long weekend and maybe a half day on the Wednesday. But this is not a “whole week” holiday. Even if you are flying (which many are not), you get plenty of time between Tuesday night/Weds and Sunday. Thanksgiving is an American holiday so it’s not like people are flying out of the country to celebrate it.

I believe Arlington and maybe Fairfax did this last year. We moved from IL, and my public & private school kids were off the whole week.

Anonymous wrote:You guys, on the agenda for the Oct. 25 Board of Ed meeting, there is evidently going to be a discussion/action about an amendment to the 2022-23 (current) school year. Anyone have a guess what this could be?

BOE did this several years ago (2018? 2014?) and it was about "adding" school back on the April primary date since it has moved to June. There was no need to take a day off. They adjusted the end date, as well.

But who knows. This board is crazy and could do anything imaginable (or unimaginable).

Anonymous wrote:Is it common anywhere to have the whole week of Thanksgiving off? I’m already surprised that the Wednesday is totally off. Thanksgiving is one day! Thursday! It’s nice to have the Friday to do a long weekend and maybe a half day on the Wednesday. But this is not a “whole week” holiday. Even if you are flying (which many are not), you get plenty of time between Tuesday night/Weds and Sunday. Thanksgiving is an American holiday so it’s not like people are flying out of the country to celebrate it.

we’re in private right now but yes we have the whole week off at Thanksgiving

Anonymous wrote:I like starting earlier I think but we’re already trying to book vacation for next summer and I know many families book a year ahead for cheaper options, time shares and national parks. I wish they were just not constantly moving stuff around with less than a hears notice. Would HS sports tryouts move up as well?

Agree. They need to have some consistency from great to year. Incredibly frustrating when it changes yearly.

You guys, on the agenda for the Oct. 25 Board of Ed meeting, there is evidently going to be a discussion/action about an amendment to the 2022-23 (current) school year. Anyone have a guess what this could be?

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure there’s plenty already to disagree about but I’m just curious if anyone knows whether it’s ever come up to do a February vacation week the way they do in DC/ some other parts of the country?

We’re new to the county.

It’s come up on DCUM. But not in MCPS, that I’m aware of.

I’m sure there’s plenty already to disagree about but I’m just curious if anyone knows whether it’s ever come up to do a February vacation week the way they do in DC/ some other parts of the country?

We’re new to the county.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don’t they have a option that’s the same as usual? The closest is D, but for some reason starting two days earlier and adding in the full Thanksgiving week.

A and B starts are actually closest to “same as usual” from before the Hogan mandate to start after Labor Day to appease his Ocean City pals.

Sports won’t shift earlier - that’s set by the state athletic association.

An earlier start is more in line with schools and universities across the country. For HS students an extra week at the start of the year is much better than the dead time in June.

I don’t care what the universities around the country are doing with their calendars. How is that relevant to my 6th grader? Would much rather have that last week of summer than a random long weekend over Mother’s Day (scenario B).