Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the return to work mandates, I wish the No School for Students aligned with federal holidays. Would there be a huge outcry if Indigenous People's Day and Veterans Day were used for Professional Development or Grading/Planning? I'd prefer to have the kids home to take them to the museums.

I agree with this — whatever you want to call the date that is Oct 13 this year, I think it’s obnoxious that MCPS skips it and then has a 4 day weekend the next weekend.

I also find not observing Veterans Day to just be rude.

I agree. But we can’t dare skip a Jewish holiday in MoCo. They need to treat non-state or federal holidays the same for all religions. Notice how they handle Diwali and Eid compared to Jewish holidays.

Anonymous wrote:Another useless survey from MCPS.

The start dates in the calendar are meaningless without the end dates. Last year, for example, people voted for an extended wi yet break and an early end to school — which was never going to be possible.

The problem is how all the other holidays fall this year combined with a new holiday and that transition day. The "early" end to school is later than 23-24 and the original last day of 24-25.

Anonymous wrote:Labor day is late next year. I hope they don’t go with the Monday before Labor Day. It should be 2 weeks before.

School for 25-26 doesn't end until June 17 at best and that is only guaranteed with a maximum 1 snow day. If there are 3 or more it could go to June 22, 23 etc. Coming back August 24 or 25 with teachers coming back August 17 would be a short summer.
School started August 31, 2020 the last time Labor Day was on September 7.
https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BJJU3S772100/$file/08.01%202020-2021%20SY%20Calendars%20191203%20ADOPTED.pdf
Last day was set as June 16, 2021 but it may have been later if 3 or more days got cancelled that year.
The only cons were December 23 being open and Q3 ending after spring break. In 2021 school was closed on Lunar New Year (Friday, February 12) but it is on Saturday, February 6, 2027.

The semester is X weeks long. Just pick the week that is the mid point and be done with it. If Easter Monday and Good Friday have to be holidays off, then let it be a standalone 4 day weekend.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's with that weird split spring break option?

It is to accomodate Passover where families might have to travel to family and also it is very difficult to eat lunch at school on Passover - most school cafeterias do not have great non-bread entree options according to my child who has had to navigate that in the past.

Pack your kids lunches (I'm Jewish and split is terrible).

In 2024 Passover was also late, spring break was super early.
Same with me spring break should be April 5-9, 2027 regardless of Easter and Passover although I picked later since it is a week closer to when it should be instead of super early.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's with that weird split spring break option?

It is to accomodate Passover where families might have to travel to family and also it is very difficult to eat lunch at school on Passover - most school cafeterias do not have great non-bread entree options according to my child who has had to navigate that in the past.

Pack your kids lunches (I'm Jewish and split is terrible).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the return to work mandates, I wish the No School for Students aligned with federal holidays. Would there be a huge outcry if Indigenous People's Day and Veterans Day were used for Professional Development or Grading/Planning? I'd prefer to have the kids home to take them to the museums.

I agree with this — whatever you want to call the date that is Oct 13 this year, I think it’s obnoxious that MCPS skips it and then has a 4 day weekend the next weekend.

I also find not observing Veterans Day to just be rude.

It's not new - I am in year 14 in MCPS and these have never been off days. Up until a few years ago, the October date was used for school open houses.

Anonymous wrote:With all the return to work mandates, I wish the No School for Students aligned with federal holidays. Would there be a huge outcry if Indigenous People's Day and Veterans Day were used for Professional Development or Grading/Planning? I'd prefer to have the kids home to take them to the museums.

I agree with this — whatever you want to call the date that is Oct 13 this year, I think it’s obnoxious that MCPS skips it and then has a 4 day weekend the next weekend.

I also find not observing Veterans Day to just be rude.

With all the return to work mandates, I wish the No School for Students aligned with federal holidays. Would there be a huge outcry if Indigenous People's Day and Veterans Day were used for Professional Development or Grading/Planning? I'd prefer to have the kids home to take them to the museums.

Agree!

Can someone tell them to do this 2 years out. It's unnecessarily late. People will need to lock in summer plans a year out sometimes

Anonymous wrote:They usually do a second survey later in the fall before they make the final decisions in December, right? Or am I misremembering?

Yes, usually there's another survey.

They usually do a second survey later in the fall before they make the final decisions in December, right? Or am I misremembering?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's with that weird split spring break option?

It is to accomodate Passover where families might have to travel to family and also it is very difficult to eat lunch at school on Passover - most school cafeterias do not have great non-bread entree options according to my child who has had to navigate that in the past.

That accommodation isn’t made for any other holidays/religions. Think Ramadan (which I know is much longer) or even Christmas where kids haven’t been getting out of school until Xmas eve.

MCPS is almost always closed on Dec. 23. This year is a rare exception.

I thought most years it was open on the 23rd. The last few years have been an exception based on the day of the week the 23 falls on.

Dec. 23rd:
2025: open
2024: weekend
2023: weekend
2022: closed
2021: closed
2020: open
2019: closed
2018: weekend
2017: weekend
2016: open

Another useless survey from MCPS.

The start dates in the calendar are meaningless without the end dates. Last year, for example, people voted for an extended wi yet break and an early end to school — which was never going to be possible.