Anonymous
Post 05/16/2025 06:37     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are not so deep into this PIP that they can’t say “in the spirit of being more inclusive we have decided to offer excused absences for students and a personal observance day of leave for staff. This allows more people of faith to practice than the calendar can currently accommodate. “ I worked in a district that did this many years ago before anyone was focusing on this stuff. Many people used it for their birthday because in reality, there’s not that many devout people who take days off for holidays


The people who take off their birthday are the problem. That’s why we can’t have nice things. And I’m agnostic and would get no extra days off, so I’m the type of person who might whine that it’s unfair and I should get a day so I will take my cat’s birthday. But that screws up the whole system and is why we have to have all these holidays instead. Becuase we can’t trust people to be decent and honest about which holidays they celebrate when vacation time is on the line.


I don’t see this as such a problem…. I think it’s a good policy. Much better than the mess we the currently have. People of many faiths have days long celebrations multiple times a month. Does it matter if someone takes a single random day off, instead of being sick that day for example?
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2025 06:33     Subject: Re:APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:Right now Memorial Day off and then they did teacher workday and then Wed off for Eid Al Adha. So next year if moves later instead of earlier and APS adds a day (as superintendent wanted to do this time originally as a no discussion item) will only have school Friday.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2024/01/2025-26-SCHOOL-YEAR-CALENDAR-FINAL.pdf

I think this is a good time to advocate for them to revise the pip. I’d like the religious holidays to go away completely (federal holidays only) because we can’t accommodate everyone and it’s already disruptive to the flow of the calendar and shortens summer vacation. That’s probably an unlikely goal but it’s reasonable to say your holiday doesn’t have a set date two years in advance sorry it doesn’t get included.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2025 06:26     Subject: Re:APS Holiday 6/6
Right now Memorial Day off and then they did teacher workday and then Wed off for Eid Al Adha. So next year if moves later instead of earlier and APS adds a day (as superintendent wanted to do this time originally as a no discussion item) will only have school Friday.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2024/01/2025-26-SCHOOL-YEAR-CALENDAR-FINAL.pdf
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2025 06:12     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are not so deep into this PIP that they can’t say “in the spirit of being more inclusive we have decided to offer excused absences for students and a personal observance day of leave for staff. This allows more people of faith to practice than the calendar can currently accommodate. “ I worked in a district that did this many years ago before anyone was focusing on this stuff. Many people used it for their birthday because in reality, there’s not that many devout people who take days off for holidays


The people who take off their birthday are the problem. That’s why we can’t have nice things. And I’m agnostic and would get no extra days off, so I’m the type of person who might whine that it’s unfair and I should get a day so I will take my cat’s birthday. But that screws up the whole system and is why we have to have all these holidays instead. Becuase we can’t trust people to be decent and honest about which holidays they celebrate when vacation time is on the line.

No, that’s exactly why it works. As I said in my post many people at my school used it for their birthday. Its purpose is to give people off a holiday. It does not need to be specified or religious in nature, but it’s satisfies giving religious people a day off to observe.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2025 06:05     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:We are not so deep into this PIP that they can’t say “in the spirit of being more inclusive we have decided to offer excused absences for students and a personal observance day of leave for staff. This allows more people of faith to practice than the calendar can currently accommodate. “ I worked in a district that did this many years ago before anyone was focusing on this stuff. Many people used it for their birthday because in reality, there’s not that many devout people who take days off for holidays


The people who take off their birthday are the problem. That’s why we can’t have nice things. And I’m agnostic and would get no extra days off, so I’m the type of person who might whine that it’s unfair and I should get a day so I will take my cat’s birthday. But that screws up the whole system and is why we have to have all these holidays instead. Becuase we can’t trust people to be decent and honest about which holidays they celebrate when vacation time is on the line.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2025 05:51     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
We are not so deep into this PIP that they can’t say “in the spirit of being more inclusive we have decided to offer excused absences for students and a personal observance day of leave for staff. This allows more people of faith to practice than the calendar can currently accommodate. “ I worked in a district that did this many years ago before anyone was focusing on this stuff. Many people used it for their birthday because in reality, there’s not that many devout people who take days off for holidays
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2025 05:44     Subject: Re:APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:So last night the one who presented the calendar change that talked history said multiple times that APS was only doing what have done before-making change to calendar just like it did in 2022. Neither 21-22 or 22-23 calendars include Eid-al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice). Both calendar years only show Eid-al-Fir (end of Ramadan). If date was added, in 2022, Eid al-Adha fell on July 9, 2022 and in 2023 it fell on June 29, 2023- so schools for kids ended in both calendar years well BEFORE these dates, which was not a point made when the speaker (and others) said multiple times, this is just what we have done before.

Calendars:
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2022-23-Calendar.pdf

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FINAL-2021-22-SCHOOL-CALENDARS-12-3-20.pdf


July 9, 2022 was a Saturday
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2025 05:38     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is any other district considering this? Why is APS doing this?


*EquItY*

Even Fairfax isn’t doing it. Not sure who decided to die on this hill at APS.


Syphax did. They wanted another paid holiday. But they didn’t get it this time.

No I think this is more about proving how progressive we are, rebuking Trump, getting DEI street cred. Operational efficiency was not mentioned so it wasn’t staff requesting off. They did not expect a fight which is why it wasn’t going to go up for a vote initially


These folks are detached from reality not understanding this would be a big deal. Which is not great.


Agreed. They moved this last minute to a no–consent item? Initially Duran (?) was just going to have this quietly approved?


They really have no idea what happens in school buildings, do they? They really thought they could cancel school 2 weeks before the end of the year without cancelling a ton of events that are important to people.

Reminds me of when we had a snow storm on a Thursday so they went ahead and closed school buildings all weekend. Not a single person at Syphax considered that would mean cancelling sports, a school play, cultural school, etc.

This is exactly why we need someone who has been a school employee on the school board. Anyone from janitor to principal can tell you how packed the last few weeks of school are.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2025 05:26     Subject: Re:APS Holiday 6/6
So last night the one who presented the calendar change that talked history said multiple times that APS was only doing what have done before-making change to calendar just like it did in 2022. Neither 21-22 or 22-23 calendars include Eid-al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice). Both calendar years only show Eid-al-Fir (end of Ramadan). If date was added, in 2022, Eid al-Adha fell on July 9, 2022 and in 2023 it fell on June 29, 2023- so schools for kids ended in both calendar years well BEFORE these dates, which was not a point made when the speaker (and others) said multiple times, this is just what we have done before.

Calendars:
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2022-23-Calendar.pdf

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FINAL-2021-22-SCHOOL-CALENDARS-12-3-20.pdf
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 23:44     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is any other district considering this? Why is APS doing this?


*EquItY*

Even Fairfax isn’t doing it. Not sure who decided to die on this hill at APS.


Syphax did. They wanted another paid holiday. But they didn’t get it this time.

No I think this is more about proving how progressive we are, rebuking Trump, getting DEI street cred. Operational efficiency was not mentioned so it wasn’t staff requesting off. They did not expect a fight which is why it wasn’t going to go up for a vote initially


These folks are detached from reality not understanding this would be a big deal. Which is not great.


Agreed. They moved this last minute to a no–consent item? Initially Duran (?) was just going to have this quietly approved?


They really have no idea what happens in school buildings, do they? They really thought they could cancel school 2 weeks before the end of the year without cancelling a ton of events that are important to people.

Reminds me of when we had a snow storm on a Thursday so they went ahead and closed school buildings all weekend. Not a single person at Syphax considered that would mean cancelling sports, a school play, cultural school, etc.


yeah, even though the vote was the right outcome, the process still leaves me concerned about the judgement capabilities of everyone involved. Even the HR lady answering Turner's questions didn't really have any contingency plans. Just that they'd figure it out later. Basically: ready, fire, aim.
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 23:19     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Thank you Turner and Clark!!! And Bethany too, for at least voting!
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 23:18     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is any other district considering this? Why is APS doing this?


*EquItY*

Even Fairfax isn’t doing it. Not sure who decided to die on this hill at APS.


Syphax did. They wanted another paid holiday. But they didn’t get it this time.

No I think this is more about proving how progressive we are, rebuking Trump, getting DEI street cred. Operational efficiency was not mentioned so it wasn’t staff requesting off. They did not expect a fight which is why it wasn’t going to go up for a vote initially


These folks are detached from reality not understanding this would be a big deal. Which is not great.


Agreed. They moved this last minute to a no–consent item? Initially Duran (?) was just going to have this quietly approved?


They really have no idea what happens in school buildings, do they? They really thought they could cancel school 2 weeks before the end of the year without cancelling a ton of events that are important to people.

Reminds me of when we had a snow storm on a Thursday so they went ahead and closed school buildings all weekend. Not a single person at Syphax considered that would mean cancelling sports, a school play, cultural school, etc.
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 23:15     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:What did we elect these jokers for? We are in an impossible situation and must make a decision . . . So I abstain.


Yeah that is embarrassing and so is the fact that they originally tried to jam it through. Thanks to the OP for flagging it.
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 23:12     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is any other district considering this? Why is APS doing this?


*EquItY*

Even Fairfax isn’t doing it. Not sure who decided to die on this hill at APS.


Syphax did. They wanted another paid holiday. But they didn’t get it this time.

No I think this is more about proving how progressive we are, rebuking Trump, getting DEI street cred. Operational efficiency was not mentioned so it wasn’t staff requesting off. They did not expect a fight which is why it wasn’t going to go up for a vote initially


These folks are detached from reality not understanding this would be a big deal. Which is not great.


Agreed. They moved this last minute to a no–consent item? Initially Duran (?) was just going to have this quietly approved?
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 23:11     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Bethany voted for the day off. Vote her out!


+1.


I don’t agree with her but at least she did her damn job and voted.