Anonymous
Post 08/17/2023 13:17     Subject: Explain ridiculously early 2023/24 start date?
Anonymous wrote:I don't understand being off for all the religious holidays. I am not familiar with the Muslim holidays or Indian, but don't most holidays start after 4pm? Dinner or night celebrations with family?

Why are October 31 and November 1 holidays? (We are in both FCPS and LCPS). As a kid I loved going to school on Halloween and talking about what we were going to be at night.

My vote would be for year round school with long breaks between quarters. Summer is too hot to do anything anyways, I'd much rather have camps or vacation in spring and fall.



There is school on those days this year.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2023 13:15     Subject: Explain ridiculously early 2023/24 start date?
I don't understand being off for all the religious holidays. I am not familiar with the Muslim holidays or Indian, but don't most holidays start after 4pm? Dinner or night celebrations with family?

Why are October 31 and November 1 holidays? (We are in both FCPS and LCPS). As a kid I loved going to school on Halloween and talking about what we were going to be at night.

My vote would be for year round school with long breaks between quarters. Summer is too hot to do anything anyways, I'd much rather have camps or vacation in spring and fall.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2023 13:06     Subject: Explain ridiculously early 2023/24 start date?
Anonymous wrote:It's to early. This is awful. Signed parent. Who did not vote for this. This is what the votes said though Iguess. If you didn't vote on the calendar and your upset please vote next time.


I voted, and I didn’t vote for this. Oh well.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2023 13:05     Subject: Re:Explain ridiculously early 2023/24 start date?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The early start date is wonderful. There is no reason to wait until September. None.


And which lovely member of the school board are you? And when I say lovely, I mean it in the opposite sense.


Well maybe some of these schools need an extra week because it's a mess today with schedules late or not out


I think the problem is schools are trying to accommodate everyone and everything these days. It’s impossible.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2023 13:03     Subject: Explain ridiculously early 2023/24 start date?
It's to early. This is awful. Signed parent. Who did not vote for this. This is what the votes said though Iguess. If you didn't vote on the calendar and your upset please vote next time.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2023 13:03     Subject: Re:Explain ridiculously early 2023/24 start date?
Anonymous wrote:I no longer teach. But, the lack of five day weeks certainly would break into my plans and routine when teaching.


It’s obnoxious, especially when families turn three-day weekends into four-day vacations, and when my school prevents teachers from doing the same (we have blackout dates). These holidays interrupt the rhythm of good classroom practices and provide little relief to the teacher. Personally, I can’t get my mind off of school unless I have a break that’s longer than a week.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2023 12:32     Subject: Re:Explain ridiculously early 2023/24 start date?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The early start date is wonderful. There is no reason to wait until September. None.


And which lovely member of the school board are you? And when I say lovely, I mean it in the opposite sense.


Well maybe some of these schools need an extra week because it's a mess today with schedules late or not out
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2023 12:26     Subject: Re:Explain ridiculously early 2023/24 start date?
Anonymous wrote:The early start date is wonderful. There is no reason to wait until September. None.


And which lovely member of the school board are you? And when I say lovely, I mean it in the opposite sense.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2023 12:12     Subject: Re:Explain ridiculously early 2023/24 start date?
I no longer teach. But, the lack of five day weeks certainly would break into my plans and routine when teaching.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2023 11:51     Subject: Re:Explain ridiculously early 2023/24 start date?
Since it doesn't snow anymore, kids should get days off over 90 degrees, or else start after Labor Day. Also the carrying of laptops back and forth for small chances of snow is ridiculous. We're going to have at least 3 over 90 days this week.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2023 11:35     Subject: Explain ridiculously early 2023/24 start date?
Anonymous wrote:I have never seen so many people get wound up about so little. Dreading the calendar? Losing a week of summer?

I don't mean to sound too flip or whatever, but it does sound like some of you need to get some real problems, or focus your angst on the problems you DO have, not the school calendar.

The kids do fine with this, they really do. And for those who shout out about the break in routine, there are those like my kid and his friends who thrive on the occasional breaks as a mental reset.

It's a utilitarian calendar, designed for the greatest number of people, not bespoke to each of us.


The teachers care and many don’t “do fine with this.”


Anonymous
Post 08/17/2023 08:32     Subject: Explain ridiculously early 2023/24 start date?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Summer is more like having only 2 months off now.


2 months is a long time though. Long time for working parents to find childcare, long time for teachers to go without paycheck, long time for kids to go without the structure of school and many students fall behind/regress academically and socially over summer break.



Look, I’m a teacher and a parent and this whole “finding childcare for summer is hard” argument is ridiculous. School has ALWAYS been out for summer in the US. It is not a 365 day a year endeavor. You knew having kids, as did I and everyone else, that there are holidays, breaks, weekends, etc. and nobody can provide childcare for you on those days. Ludicrous to suggest this is some sort of new burden on parents.


Did anyone say it was a new burden? And just because something has been happening for a long time doesn't make it not a burden...finding and paying for childcare for the entire 10-12 weeks of summer IS a burden for many people.(and I'm a SAHM so this argument doesn't even apply to me)


Having children requires caring for those children. It is not the job of public schools to do the job.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2023 08:30     Subject: Explain ridiculously early 2023/24 start date?
Here in California, school ended June 1st and they’re not going back until after labour day. I’m a nanny and need these kids to go back to school because I am seriously done. 3+ months of summer break with the parents wfh has been pure hell.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2023 08:26     Subject: Re:Explain ridiculously early 2023/24 start date?
The holidays for religious holidays should be based on absences. If there is a very large number absent, that affects attendance, then make it a holiday. Otherwise, teachers should accommodate those who are absent due to religion.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2023 08:02     Subject: Re:Explain ridiculously early 2023/24 start date?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m loving the simplicity of National Presbyterian’s calendar! Wow!

https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1672929300/nps/p4j14aia0vs3orqcmpu5/2023-2024NPSMajorDatesCalendar.pdf


It’s a lot easier when you are a religious school and don’t have to accommodate more than one religion’s holidays.


The public school shouldn't be accommodating any religious holidays. And before someone drags up Christmas, it's far more than than a religious holiday in the US.