Anonymous
08/11/2022 16:42
Subject: Why is fcps starting so early???
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Some neighboring counties went back this week
Which ones?
Stafford, Spotsylvania, Fauquier, Culpeper, Rappahannock, Manassas City, Fredericksburg City.
I suppose PP was not 100% correct, as none of those directly border Fairfax, but they are considered part of Northern Virginia these days.
Anonymous
08/11/2022 15:48
Subject: Why is fcps starting so early???
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:ROVA (the rest of Virginia) is already going back to school this week and next week.
My niece and nephew are in Orange County and started school this week. However, they get out at the end of May I believe.
Last day is May 18th.
Anonymous
08/11/2022 15:44
Subject: Why is fcps starting so early???
Anonymous wrote:ROVA (the rest of Virginia) is already going back to school this week and next week.
My niece and nephew are in Orange County and started school this week. However, they get out at the end of May I believe.
Anonymous
08/11/2022 15:23
Subject: Why is fcps starting so early???
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Way too many days off. But I like starting 2 werks before Labor Day. I just wish they would end during the first week in June. Nothing happens in June. Once people see June 1st on the calendar, they completely check out. So pushing more breaks/vacations into the school year and pushing the end date further into June is equal to taking away learning time.
A day in June is not equal to a day in August, October, January or March (or any other month). June days have very very little educational value in most fcps schools.
When fcps switched to a pre labor day start, ending in early June was the entire justification, along with more time to study for AP exams.
This school board somehow managed to screw up the calendar too.
2023 cannot come soon enough.
+1
But you can also blame all the people who filled out the calendar surveys saying they want Columbus Day, Veterans Day, the Wed. before Tgiving, TWO weeks at Christmas, MLK, a week for spring break, plus a bunch of teacher training days OFF.
It's the old adage about "you can't keep your cake and eat it too!" You can't take off all kinds of days during the school year and STILL end the year early.
I "voted" to end school in the first week of June. I'm happy to have the kids in school for various minor federal holidays and "only" 10 days off at Christmas. I think it would be more educational for kids to be IN school on MLK day, Indigenous Peoples Day (formerly Columbus Day), and Veterans Day. And we certainly don't need to be keeping kids out of school in a PUBLIC (non-sectarian) school for Yom Kippur, Diwali, Good Friday and Eid! If those are important days for you to celebrate among your religious compatriots, then take the day off from PUBLIC school. There is no reason everyone needs to stop learning because some people need to attend to religious events. And if it is really important to you --- consider a religious school where your holidays are everyone's holidays.
But, if a public school is going to stuff the calendar with all of those days off -- then the only way to get the minimum number of days is to start earlier and go later June.
I don’t know. That’s more on the survey itself. Of course if you ask “Would you like A, B and C” people are going to say “Yes to all”.
If you remember the survey, it did ask you to balance extra days off during the year versus a longer calendar. I prefer the extra days off during the year to a long summer break.
Anonymous
08/11/2022 15:12
Subject: Why is fcps starting so early???
It makes more sense for ES and HS age-kids to get out by June first and start school 2 weeks before Labor Day.
Why?
For the HS set, they are preparing for AP exams -- which are over by Mid May. Any class time after that in AP classes is wasted.
For the younger set, they often go to camps -- and who staffs the camps???? College and HS-age kids. College kids are always out by mid-May, so they are ready to work camp or other summer jobs by June 1st. The college students also go back to college by the Aug. 20th -- so they are not able to staff the camps/pools.
FCPS can tinker with the dates here and there, but most colleges around the country/region get out by mid May (some are even earlier) and they go back mid-August. It makes sense to maximize the cross-over both for the younger kids and the older FCPS kids.
I wouldn't want to start FCPS Aug. 8th -- like some of our neighboring districts do. But, they also will be getting out MAY 26th! We should be doing Aug. 22 (as we are) and getting out by June 9th.
STuffing the calendar with days off throughout the year and then not getting out until Jun 16th is a waste of time for everyone.
Why?
For the HS set, they are preparing for AP exams -- which are over by Mid May. Any class time after that in AP classes is wasted.
For the younger set, they often go to camps -- and who staffs the camps???? College and HS-age kids. College kids are always out by mid-May, so they are ready to work camp or other summer jobs by June 1st. The college students also go back to college by the Aug. 20th -- so they are not able to staff the camps/pools.
FCPS can tinker with the dates here and there, but most colleges around the country/region get out by mid May (some are even earlier) and they go back mid-August. It makes sense to maximize the cross-over both for the younger kids and the older FCPS kids.
I wouldn't want to start FCPS Aug. 8th -- like some of our neighboring districts do. But, they also will be getting out MAY 26th! We should be doing Aug. 22 (as we are) and getting out by June 9th.
STuffing the calendar with days off throughout the year and then not getting out until Jun 16th is a waste of time for everyone.
Anonymous
08/11/2022 14:52
Subject: Why is fcps starting so early???
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:ROVA (the rest of Virginia) is already going back to school this week and next week.
And when is their last day of school? People need to stop posting about how schools further south are starting now. They get out early too! And I bet they don’t have off for everyone’s religious holiday.
I have a relative who teaches in another VA district. They started August 9 (too early in August for my taste) and their last day is May 24. They have a full week at Thanksgiving, 2 weeks at the end of December and a week at the end of March. They don’t have the Friday before Labor Day off, which surprises me because I thought state law requires that if the district starts prior to Labor Day.
Anonymous
08/11/2022 14:39
Subject: Why is fcps starting so early???
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Way too many days off. But I like starting 2 werks before Labor Day. I just wish they would end during the first week in June. Nothing happens in June. Once people see June 1st on the calendar, they completely check out. So pushing more breaks/vacations into the school year and pushing the end date further into June is equal to taking away learning time.
A day in June is not equal to a day in August, October, January or March (or any other month). June days have very very little educational value in most fcps schools.
When fcps switched to a pre labor day start, ending in early June was the entire justification, along with more time to study for AP exams.
This school board somehow managed to screw up the calendar too.
2023 cannot come soon enough.
+1
But you can also blame all the people who filled out the calendar surveys saying they want Columbus Day, Veterans Day, the Wed. before Tgiving, TWO weeks at Christmas, MLK, a week for spring break, plus a bunch of teacher training days OFF.
It's the old adage about "you can't keep your cake and eat it too!" You can't take off all kinds of days during the school year and STILL end the year early.
I "voted" to end school in the first week of June. I'm happy to have the kids in school for various minor federal holidays and "only" 10 days off at Christmas. I think it would be more educational for kids to be IN school on MLK day, Indigenous Peoples Day (formerly Columbus Day), and Veterans Day. And we certainly don't need to be keeping kids out of school in a PUBLIC (non-sectarian) school for Yom Kippur, Diwali, Good Friday and Eid! If those are important days for you to celebrate among your religious compatriots, then take the day off from PUBLIC school. There is no reason everyone needs to stop learning because some people need to attend to religious events. And if it is really important to you --- consider a religious school where your holidays are everyone's holidays.
But, if a public school is going to stuff the calendar with all of those days off -- then the only way to get the minimum number of days is to start earlier and go later June.
I don’t know. That’s more on the survey itself. Of course if you ask “Would you like A, B and C” people are going to say “Yes to all”.
Anonymous
08/11/2022 13:57
Subject: Why is fcps starting so early???
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Way too many days off. But I like starting 2 werks before Labor Day. I just wish they would end during the first week in June. Nothing happens in June. Once people see June 1st on the calendar, they completely check out. So pushing more breaks/vacations into the school year and pushing the end date further into June is equal to taking away learning time.
A day in June is not equal to a day in August, October, January or March (or any other month). June days have very very little educational value in most fcps schools.
When fcps switched to a pre labor day start, ending in early June was the entire justification, along with more time to study for AP exams.
This school board somehow managed to screw up the calendar too.
2023 cannot come soon enough.
+1
But you can also blame all the people who filled out the calendar surveys saying they want Columbus Day, Veterans Day, the Wed. before Tgiving, TWO weeks at Christmas, MLK, a week for spring break, plus a bunch of teacher training days OFF.
It's the old adage about "you can't keep your cake and eat it too!" You can't take off all kinds of days during the school year and STILL end the year early.
I "voted" to end school in the first week of June. I'm happy to have the kids in school for various minor federal holidays and "only" 10 days off at Christmas. I think it would be more educational for kids to be IN school on MLK day, Indigenous Peoples Day (formerly Columbus Day), and Veterans Day. And we certainly don't need to be keeping kids out of school in a PUBLIC (non-sectarian) school for Yom Kippur, Diwali, Good Friday and Eid! If those are important days for you to celebrate among your religious compatriots, then take the day off from PUBLIC school. There is no reason everyone needs to stop learning because some people need to attend to religious events. And if it is really important to you --- consider a religious school where your holidays are everyone's holidays.
But, if a public school is going to stuff the calendar with all of those days off -- then the only way to get the minimum number of days is to start earlier and go later June.
I hope people are vocal about how terrible this calendar is. The religious holidays are ridiculous. All so the school board can pay themselves on the back about how equitable they are.
Anonymous
08/11/2022 13:56
Subject: Why is fcps starting so early???
Anonymous wrote:ROVA (the rest of Virginia) is already going back to school this week and next week.
And when is their last day of school? People need to stop posting about how schools further south are starting now. They get out early too! And I bet they don’t have off for everyone’s religious holiday.
Anonymous
08/11/2022 13:51
Subject: Why is fcps starting so early???
ROVA (the rest of Virginia) is already going back to school this week and next week.
Anonymous
08/11/2022 13:50
Subject: Why is fcps starting so early???
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Way too many days off. But I like starting 2 werks before Labor Day. I just wish they would end during the first week in June. Nothing happens in June. Once people see June 1st on the calendar, they completely check out. So pushing more breaks/vacations into the school year and pushing the end date further into June is equal to taking away learning time.
A day in June is not equal to a day in August, October, January or March (or any other month). June days have very very little educational value in most fcps schools.
When fcps switched to a pre labor day start, ending in early June was the entire justification, along with more time to study for AP exams.
This school board somehow managed to screw up the calendar too.
2023 cannot come soon enough.
+1
But you can also blame all the people who filled out the calendar surveys saying they want Columbus Day, Veterans Day, the Wed. before Tgiving, TWO weeks at Christmas, MLK, a week for spring break, plus a bunch of teacher training days OFF.
It's the old adage about "you can't keep your cake and eat it too!" You can't take off all kinds of days during the school year and STILL end the year early.
I "voted" to end school in the first week of June. I'm happy to have the kids in school for various minor federal holidays and "only" 10 days off at Christmas. I think it would be more educational for kids to be IN school on MLK day, Indigenous Peoples Day (formerly Columbus Day), and Veterans Day. And we certainly don't need to be keeping kids out of school in a PUBLIC (non-sectarian) school for Yom Kippur, Diwali, Good Friday and Eid! If those are important days for you to celebrate among your religious compatriots, then take the day off from PUBLIC school. There is no reason everyone needs to stop learning because some people need to attend to religious events. And if it is really important to you --- consider a religious school where your holidays are everyone's holidays.
But, if a public school is going to stuff the calendar with all of those days off -- then the only way to get the minimum number of days is to start earlier and go later June.
Anonymous
08/11/2022 13:34
Subject: Re:Why is fcps starting so early???
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was ok with one week before Labor Fay but two is ridiculous. Schools that start in mid August get out in late May or very early June. I hate this change and am annoyed at everyone who asked for this. Not sure who these people are claiming summer is too long but you sound like total bores.
Or working parents. Sorry.
I work too. School doesn’t exist so you can have year round child care for free. There are a million camps at all different price points and fun for kids. Sorry.
public school isn't free. I pay a tremendous amount in taxes.
So do teachers, and they aren’t working year round just because you hate summer.
Anonymous
08/11/2022 13:31
Subject: Re:Why is fcps starting so early???
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Because by mid-May, no matter if school starts in August or Sep, the kids are DONE. They are burned out. The weather is sunnier and getting warmer and they want to be outside. They want to have some freedom and relax. They have checked out and need to be out by early/mid June.
By mid/late-Aug. they are tired/bored of mostly being at home or the pool. Time to go back.
No, you are sick of your kids being home/paying for someone to watch them. If FCPS keeps shortening summer they will lose even more teachers.
You might be right.
I will absolutely leave if this happens. We lost a week and a day this summer. Having summer off is one of the benefits of teaching and it seems like that is slowly being taken away.
Yep. I’m not a teacher but I was raised by one. These idiot parents pushing for year round school better be careful what they wish for. There would be a mass exodus. The majority of teachers like having summer off. Short breaks aren’t enough to fully recharge and reset. People who don’t teach don’t grasp how draining it is. I don’t care if a few teachers have posted here saying they’d prefer it. I would bet most if not all are not elementary teachers. Those are the teachers who would be most likely to leave the profession and we can’t afford to lose any. Besides that where would the money come from to pay teachers year round? Do people expect them to just work 12 months for the same pay they get now? Good luck with that.
Anonymous
08/11/2022 12:08
Subject: Re:Why is fcps starting so early???
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was ok with one week before Labor Fay but two is ridiculous. Schools that start in mid August get out in late May or very early June. I hate this change and am annoyed at everyone who asked for this. Not sure who these people are claiming summer is too long but you sound like total bores.
Or working parents. Sorry.
I work too. School doesn’t exist so you can have year round child care for free. There are a million camps at all different price points and fun for kids. Sorry.
public school isn't free. I pay a tremendous amount in taxes.
Anonymous
08/11/2022 12:08
Subject: Why is fcps starting so early???
My friends in Georgia and Florida have already started school.