Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question… is anyone actually sending their kids to school on Friday, December 19th?
With the holidays basically here, I feel like attendance has to be super light. Curious what other families are doing — going in, taking the day off, or already in holiday mode?

Even in ES I stressed to my kids that unless they are legitimately sick, they go to school. If school is open, they are there. That is the expectation in our family. Because we always expected this it just became part of our family culture. I never had any forward-thinking strategy other than that is just what we do.

Fast forward to my kid's first semester at college and he only missed one early 8 a.m. class (set his alarm clock wrong). He told me just recently that he has friends who skipped classes but said that "wasn't my thing". So far it has worked out well.

All this to say, with parenting you do not need a big proclamation of how things will be with your kids. It is every day, consistent examples that really sink in with them.

There is another approach, especially as the kids get older, which is to let them manage it on their own. They will make the choice in college and the workplace to go or call out. If my HS kids say they don't want to go (just a party day, sub all week, done with the work), I call them in excused. When grades slip, maybe I'll take a different approach but it hasn't happened yet.

It’s better if you set habits now. Do you want them to not go into work just because they don’t feel like it?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question… is anyone actually sending their kids to school on Friday, December 19th?
With the holidays basically here, I feel like attendance has to be super light. Curious what other families are doing — going in, taking the day off, or already in holiday mode?

Even in ES I stressed to my kids that unless they are legitimately sick, they go to school. If school is open, they are there. That is the expectation in our family. Because we always expected this it just became part of our family culture. I never had any forward-thinking strategy other than that is just what we do.

Fast forward to my kid's first semester at college and he only missed one early 8 a.m. class (set his alarm clock wrong). He told me just recently that he has friends who skipped classes but said that "wasn't my thing". So far it has worked out well.

All this to say, with parenting you do not need a big proclamation of how things will be with your kids. It is every day, consistent examples that really sink in with them.

There is another approach, especially as the kids get older, which is to let them manage it on their own. They will make the choice in college and the workplace to go or call out. If my HS kids say they don't want to go (just a party day, sub all week, done with the work), I call them in excused. When grades slip, maybe I'll take a different approach but it hasn't happened yet.

Ditto. I don't believe in showing up for the sake of showing up. Both of my kids are straight A students in honors and AO classes.

Hopefully their first job out of college isn't strict 5 days a week in office.

It might be but then they will figure it out, just like they are now. The lesson we teach is that being able to set your own schedule is a luxury that 1) you usually have to earn and consistently demonstrate produces results and 2) requires trade offs they will be in charge of making.

They have earned that with us over the last 10 years and consistently high performance at school

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, they have two full weeks off after. Friday is a normal school day with normal work.

One kid has a 4 hour party on Friday and then FLE. I know because they asked parents to come help make and serve the food.

But why does it matter what anyone else is doing? Make your decision. If your kid is worried about being the only one or missing out, have them ask their friends what's happening. It's very school dependent.

A 4 hour party? That is kind of ridiculous. I am a teacher home sick and we have a party on Friday but it is one hour. We still have stuff to do!

Wow. I’ve been teaching 33 years and we’ve always been limited to one hour.

We’ve always had the whole afternoon usually for the party. It starts after lunch with activities/stations and usually ends with a food/movie.

I’ve had 4 principals in those 33 years and they’ve all limited us to two parties a year, an hour each. Over the past few years they have discouraged movies.

Anonymous wrote:For years FCPS went to school until December 23 if Christmas was a Thursday or Friday. So yes. send your kid to school.

If school was open December 22 it would be understandable to be out that day but December 19 is plenty early enough before December 23 to NOT need to be absent.
Some places are insane enough to be open December 22 AND 23 so I'd expect many absences those days at such schools but December 19? Absolutely no reason too be out unless your sick or have an unusual situation (ex someone posted in the summer of needing to be out over a week early to fly halfway around the world to visit a grandparent).

It seems like some people just like to extend the vacation period no matter how long it is.

The brutal part of the year is in February halfway between winter and spring breaks. If people are out at some point in late February or early March for mental health reasons that is far more understandable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, they have two full weeks off after. Friday is a normal school day with normal work.

One kid has a 4 hour party on Friday and then FLE. I know because they asked parents to come help make and serve the food.

But why does it matter what anyone else is doing? Make your decision. If your kid is worried about being the only one or missing out, have them ask their friends what's happening. It's very school dependent.

A 4 hour party? That is kind of ridiculous. I am a teacher home sick and we have a party on Friday but it is one hour. We still have stuff to do!

Wow. I’ve been teaching 33 years and we’ve always been limited to one hour.

We’ve always had the whole afternoon usually for the party. It starts after lunch with activities/stations and usually ends with a food/movie.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, they have two full weeks off after. Friday is a normal school day with normal work.

One kid has a 4 hour party on Friday and then FLE. I know because they asked parents to come help make and serve the food.

But why does it matter what anyone else is doing? Make your decision. If your kid is worried about being the only one or missing out, have them ask their friends what's happening. It's very school dependent.

A 4 hour party? That is kind of ridiculous. I am a teacher home sick and we have a party on Friday but it is one hour. We still have stuff to do!

Wow. I’ve been teaching 33 years and we’ve always been limited to one hour.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question… is anyone actually sending their kids to school on Friday, December 19th?
With the holidays basically here, I feel like attendance has to be super light. Curious what other families are doing — going in, taking the day off, or already in holiday mode?

Even in ES I stressed to my kids that unless they are legitimately sick, they go to school. If school is open, they are there. That is the expectation in our family. Because we always expected this it just became part of our family culture. I never had any forward-thinking strategy other than that is just what we do.

Fast forward to my kid's first semester at college and he only missed one early 8 a.m. class (set his alarm clock wrong). He told me just recently that he has friends who skipped classes but said that "wasn't my thing". So far it has worked out well.

All this to say, with parenting you do not need a big proclamation of how things will be with your kids. It is every day, consistent examples that really sink in with them.

There is another approach, especially as the kids get older, which is to let them manage it on their own. They will make the choice in college and the workplace to go or call out. If my HS kids say they don't want to go (just a party day, sub all week, done with the work), I call them in excused. When grades slip, maybe I'll take a different approach but it hasn't happened yet.

Ditto. I don't believe in showing up for the sake of showing up. Both of my kids are straight A students in honors and AO classes.

Hopefully their first job out of college isn't strict 5 days a week in office.

Yes because I HAVE TO WORK! Or did you forget that lots of kids have two working parents?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question… is anyone actually sending their kids to school on Friday, December 19th?
With the holidays basically here, I feel like attendance has to be super light. Curious what other families are doing — going in, taking the day off, or already in holiday mode?

Even in ES I stressed to my kids that unless they are legitimately sick, they go to school. If school is open, they are there. That is the expectation in our family. Because we always expected this it just became part of our family culture. I never had any forward-thinking strategy other than that is just what we do.

Fast forward to my kid's first semester at college and he only missed one early 8 a.m. class (set his alarm clock wrong). He told me just recently that he has friends who skipped classes but said that "wasn't my thing". So far it has worked out well.

All this to say, with parenting you do not need a big proclamation of how things will be with your kids. It is every day, consistent examples that really sink in with them.

There is another approach, especially as the kids get older, which is to let them manage it on their own. They will make the choice in college and the workplace to go or call out. If my HS kids say they don't want to go (just a party day, sub all week, done with the work), I call them in excused. When grades slip, maybe I'll take a different approach but it hasn't happened yet.

Ditto. I don't believe in showing up for the sake of showing up. Both of my kids are straight A students in honors and AO classes.

AP of course

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question… is anyone actually sending their kids to school on Friday, December 19th?
With the holidays basically here, I feel like attendance has to be super light. Curious what other families are doing — going in, taking the day off, or already in holiday mode?

Even in ES I stressed to my kids that unless they are legitimately sick, they go to school. If school is open, they are there. That is the expectation in our family. Because we always expected this it just became part of our family culture. I never had any forward-thinking strategy other than that is just what we do.

Fast forward to my kid's first semester at college and he only missed one early 8 a.m. class (set his alarm clock wrong). He told me just recently that he has friends who skipped classes but said that "wasn't my thing". So far it has worked out well.

All this to say, with parenting you do not need a big proclamation of how things will be with your kids. It is every day, consistent examples that really sink in with them.

There is another approach, especially as the kids get older, which is to let them manage it on their own. They will make the choice in college and the workplace to go or call out. If my HS kids say they don't want to go (just a party day, sub all week, done with the work), I call them in excused. When grades slip, maybe I'll take a different approach but it hasn't happened yet.

Ditto. I don't believe in showing up for the sake of showing up. Both of my kids are straight A students in honors and AO classes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question… is anyone actually sending their kids to school on Friday, December 19th?
With the holidays basically here, I feel like attendance has to be super light. Curious what other families are doing — going in, taking the day off, or already in holiday mode?

Even in ES I stressed to my kids that unless they are legitimately sick, they go to school. If school is open, they are there. That is the expectation in our family. Because we always expected this it just became part of our family culture. I never had any forward-thinking strategy other than that is just what we do.

Fast forward to my kid's first semester at college and he only missed one early 8 a.m. class (set his alarm clock wrong). He told me just recently that he has friends who skipped classes but said that "wasn't my thing". So far it has worked out well.

All this to say, with parenting you do not need a big proclamation of how things will be with your kids. It is every day, consistent examples that really sink in with them.

There is another approach, especially as the kids get older, which is to let them manage it on their own. They will make the choice in college and the workplace to go or call out. If my HS kids say they don't want to go (just a party day, sub all week, done with the work), I call them in excused. When grades slip, maybe I'll take a different approach but it hasn't happened yet.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question… is anyone actually sending their kids to school on Friday, December 19th?
With the holidays basically here, I feel like attendance has to be super light. Curious what other families are doing — going in, taking the day off, or already in holiday mode?

Even in ES I stressed to my kids that unless they are legitimately sick, they go to school. If school is open, they are there. That is the expectation in our family. Because we always expected this it just became part of our family culture. I never had any forward-thinking strategy other than that is just what we do.

Fast forward to my kid's first semester at college and he only missed one early 8 a.m. class (set his alarm clock wrong). He told me just recently that he has friends who skipped classes but said that "wasn't my thing". So far it has worked out well.

All this to say, with parenting you do not need a big proclamation of how things will be with your kids. It is every day, consistent examples that really sink in with them.

Yes. DS only missed a couple of days in high school for my mom's funeral. He did try to pull the sick card once or twice. I said fine, but you are staying in bed. No screens. He went to school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question… is anyone actually sending their kids to school on Friday, December 19th?
With the holidays basically here, I feel like attendance has to be super light. Curious what other families are doing — going in, taking the day off, or already in holiday mode?

Even in ES I stressed to my kids that unless they are legitimately sick, they go to school. If school is open, they are there. That is the expectation in our family. Because we always expected this it just became part of our family culture. I never had any forward-thinking strategy other than that is just what we do.

Fast forward to my kid's first semester at college and he only missed one early 8 a.m. class (set his alarm clock wrong). He told me just recently that he has friends who skipped classes but said that "wasn't my thing". So far it has worked out well.

All this to say, with parenting you do not need a big proclamation of how things will be with your kids. It is every day, consistent examples that really sink in with them.

My parents routinely took me out of school for enrichment and family events. Even just to go skiing so I’d get more one on one time with my dad. I never missed a class in college.

Anonymous wrote:Serious question… is anyone actually sending their kids to school on Friday, December 19th?
With the holidays basically here, I feel like attendance has to be super light. Curious what other families are doing — going in, taking the day off, or already in holiday mode?

Even in ES I stressed to my kids that unless they are legitimately sick, they go to school. If school is open, they are there. That is the expectation in our family. Because we always expected this it just became part of our family culture. I never had any forward-thinking strategy other than that is just what we do.

Fast forward to my kid's first semester at college and he only missed one early 8 a.m. class (set his alarm clock wrong). He told me just recently that he has friends who skipped classes but said that "wasn't my thing". So far it has worked out well.

All this to say, with parenting you do not need a big proclamation of how things will be with your kids. It is every day, consistent examples that really sink in with them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, they have two full weeks off after. Friday is a normal school day with normal work.

One kid has a 4 hour party on Friday and then FLE. I know because they asked parents to come help make and serve the food.

But why does it matter what anyone else is doing? Make your decision. If your kid is worried about being the only one or missing out, have them ask their friends what's happening. It's very school dependent.

A 4 hour party? That is kind of ridiculous. I am a teacher home sick and we have a party on Friday but it is one hour. We still have stuff to do!

I don't disagree. There are time sign up slots so it's for real.

A good reminder that at 179k students, FCPS is too big to make many generalizations. Your class/school might be doing something (or not) but I'm sure there are tens of thousands of parents having the exact opposite experience somewhere else. The system is too big to be managed effectively. Or perhaps just too big to be managed by the current incompetent Board.