High School teacher - in anticipation of high absentee rates next week, my students will work independently on assignments that will also be posted on Canvas and can be completed outside of school for those who are absent. The work is meaningful and related to our study focus, but allows maximum flexibility for everyone involved. I don't think we can fault families who use those couple of days to travel, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG, such slacker snowflakes. If school is open, of course they go!

Just wait until your kids are in high school - especially the upper years. You will quickly see that there is plenty of wasted time where there is no instruction/tests going on. Couple that with AP/IB schedules - sometimes it makes more sense to skip school so the kids can actually get their work done.

My senior and I are playing the game - I tell her she has to go, she protests, I'm sure she'll either do a half day Monday and skip Tuesday.

Absolutely. My oldest only skipped when he could do more work at home than at school. My youngest attends the days before breaks only if there's sure to be instruction or something important. She will attend on Monday because she has a test. They're both straight A students doing advanced courses.

This is a good thing. It teaches kids how to manage their priorities instead of forcing blind compliance.

My kids asked if they could skip. I responded that they could if parentvue revealed all A’s. So they’re going to school next week.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So long as y’all are not the same parents mad every time there isn’t a full week of school.

+1,000,000

Well it isn’t a full week of school. It’s half days. And last year my elementary school kid watched videos in class so this year we’re leaving early to visit out of state family.

The day(s) before winter break 2025-2026 are NOT half days. You could be thinking of the two days before Thanksgiving break which are typically early release days.

Anonymous wrote:
I really suspect my kids will do absolutely nothing on 12/23 but I am sending them anyway and missing out oon a family gathering to do so. But I don’t judge anyone who makes a different call there.

I'd skip and go on the gathering. There are many more school days but not nearly as many gatherings. Don't punish your family based on the school calendar.

Anonymous wrote:Speaking as an ex-teacher, one thing parents don't realize is that days like next Mon and Tues are lower pressure. They give students a chance to walk into the building and still breathe a little - maybe chat more with their teachers and classmates. Friendships and school culture are built on time spent together. Why rob your kid of days like this?

They should be low pressure as in no work including tests, tell that to those teachers giving quizzes or tests!

As for those not going it's hard to wait till 12/24 for those celebrating Christmas that night and the next day and in the secular case they still have Christmas prices to deal with.

Anonymous wrote:BCC parent here - my junior will be there Monday bc he has a test. (The sheer number of tests these kids have is mindblowing btw.) Tuesday he has a doctor's appointment in the afternoon but will probably send him in the AM.

There needs to be a new policy NO schoolwork due and no quizzes or tests after the last full week in December (if Christmas is Thursday or Friday) or the first week back (if Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday). While Maryland law is tough take some pity on those traveling either for holidays or dying for their first week+ break in FOUR months!!!!

Anonymous wrote:Different school. Senior has a test and a quiz on Monday.

GRINCH teachers!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG, such slacker snowflakes. If school is open, of course they go!

Just wait until your kids are in high school - especially the upper years. You will quickly see that there is plenty of wasted time where there is no instruction/tests going on. Couple that with AP/IB schedules - sometimes it makes more sense to skip school so the kids can actually get their work done.

My senior and I are playing the game - I tell her she has to go, she protests, I'm sure she'll either do a half day Monday and skip Tuesday.

My freshman and my senior both have quizzes, meaningful instruction, and test next week. It is incentive for them to go!

Those teachers should be ashamed there should be no instruction or tests after Friday until January. Let people have their break in peace! Even though the school is open those 2 days due to the 180 requirement and high number of holidays this year they should still be on a school work break December 20-January 4.

Speaking as an ex-teacher, one thing parents don't realize is that days like next Mon and Tues are lower pressure. They give students a chance to walk into the building and still breathe a little - maybe chat more with their teachers and classmates. Friendships and school culture are built on time spent together. Why rob your kid of days like this?

Anonymous wrote:OMG, such slacker snowflakes. If school is open, of course they go!

You should look at the Fairfax forum. While they are off two weeks some crazy people thing it's ok to skip Friday. I don't have pity there but for 12/22 and 23 it's perfectly understandable. For those who travel for Christmas 12/24 is Christmas Eve so that is WAY too late for them to travel and even for those who don't but take a secular winter trip in the first week plus break in FOUR months the prices that day is too high and they should be able to start the break after Friday.
It's one thing to open school because of the 180 requirement and the high number of holidays this year but there should be NO school work those days. I am shocked and appalled that some teachers are giving quizzes and tests. They are GRINCHES!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG, such slacker snowflakes. If school is open, of course they go!

Just wait until your kids are in high school - especially the upper years. You will quickly see that there is plenty of wasted time where there is no instruction/tests going on. Couple that with AP/IB schedules - sometimes it makes more sense to skip school so the kids can actually get their work done.

My senior and I are playing the game - I tell her she has to go, she protests, I'm sure she'll either do a half day Monday and skip Tuesday.

My freshman and my senior both have quizzes, meaningful instruction, and test next week. It is incentive for them to go!

This is the WRONG thing for teachers to do. It's unfortunate enough that they weren't officially off the full two weeks given the vote for two weeks last year and the fact that 12/24 is too late for people to wait if they are going somewhere, but for those who are there they should be given a break from real work until January 5.

Of course I am, what else will they do at home? Watch TV? Annoy me for snacks?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So long as y’all are not the same parents mad every time there isn’t a full week of school.

+1,000,000

Well it isn’t a full week of school. It’s half days. And last year my elementary school kid watched videos in class so this year we’re leaving early to visit out of state family.

It’s not half days.

I’m sending my WJ kids but no judgement on those who aren’t. My older one missed a lot of days with a wicked stomach virus and we are already on the McPS Sh&t list. But more importantly, last time they missed for something like this, there was one teacher that assigned something important and then made it really hard to make up. So I feel like most teachers don’t care much or will be understanding but like 1% of teachers are gojng to be a real jerk about it.

Yep the teachers are the problem. Not you who is disregarding the published school calendar.

Well I’m not disregarding the school calendar. In my long experience with literally hundreds of different teachers at McPS schools, I find that most are understanding that kids have different family situations. Sl kids may need to take an extra day or two at a holiday to go visit a dying grandparent that lives across the country, for instance. That was our situation last year. Or maybe their mom is really sick with cancer and they are trying to make the most of final family vacations. That’s my friends situation. In my experience, the better the teacher, the more understanding they are for kids that are genuinely trying. But there are maybe 1 or 2 in a hundred that typically aren’t even very good teachers who are strict about things for no reason and who will do something llle offer a makeup opportunity only available on 12/23 so kids with family obligations don’t get the oppprtunity. I really suspect my kids will do absolutely nothing on 12/23 but I am sending them anyway and missing out oon a family gathering to do so. But I don’t judge anyone who makes a different call there.

My two high schoolers have quizzes and tests Monday. One has a retake opportunity Tuesday that he really needs. It may not be offered to kids who miss. That said, they have other teachers who they already know will be absent, but who left assignments for them to complete. So it varies.