Getting out in early June makes it a lot easier for high school kids to get summer jobs -- which is vital for career practice/maturation.

As for pool memberships -- that's really not high on my list of priorities, nor should it be a consideration for the school board. About 30% of kids in FCPS get free or reduced priced meals.... I'm guessing they don't have pool memberships. And then there are many of us who do not have memberships. Pools are great -- but not a reason to set the school year calendar.

If ELEVEN days is not enough days for you to travel over Xmas break -- well, again, a problem for the very wealthy! I don't think we should be making school policy based on the needs of people who want to travel for 12 or more days as one time.

As a teacher, I just find this sort of bizarre. There were many discussions about moving the calendar back 1 week due to the waiver, and now they’re talking about moving it back two weeks? Why? And changing the teacher workdays during the school year? I just don’t get the rationale behind another change. Teachers need time during the school year to meet, reorganize, and plan. I really don’t get why the county is diverging so much from other areas in the DMV.

Option C looks the best to me.

Anonymous wrote:Options A and B-no way. So they shortened summer last year and want to shorten it again this year? Wow. That's harsh. Kids in sports and band would start camps a week earlier-that means near the end of July? Weather can't always been depended on in early June. We like to buy a pool membership but probably would not if options A or B were chosen. We would barely make use of it. It was bad enough they started before Labor Day this year. It was tough for my kids and a lot of other kids I know.

I would also choose option C for similar reasons. Think about the pools in the area that would lose memberships if school started a week earlier than this. Will we start to see some close for good because of financial reasons? With college kids back in school and now the high schoolers they can't staff the pools. In many neighborhoods there's not only the social aspect but employment opportunities. Our high schoolers lost basically a week of work last summer I would hate to see them lose two. Like it or not those clubs play an important role in NoVA.

OPTION C!
OPTION C!
OPTION C!

Anonymous wrote:Start Aug. 28. 2 day Thanksgiving holiday, 7 day Winter break, end on June 7 or 10.

That not enough time to travel/vacation esp over winter break. Getting out so early in June makes for a super long summer.
I like post labor day start time as beach rentals are always so much more affordable the week of Aug 28.

Options A and B-no way. So they shortened summer last year and want to shorten it again this year? Wow. That's harsh. Kids in sports and band would start camps a week earlier-that means near the end of July? Weather can't always been depended on in early June. We like to buy a pool membership but probably would not if options A or B were chosen. We would barely make use of it. It was bad enough they started before Labor Day this year. It was tough for my kids and a lot of other kids I know.

LOVE options A & B.

Not crazy about option C but I would not complain.

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, I don’t like these. I don’t need 8 days before school starts to get ready. I need the two teacher workdays at the end of the quarter instead to plan, grade, and meet with colleagues. I really wonder who come up with these.

I agree that I don’t need that many days before school starts, IF I am actually given some time to get ready before school starts. It looks like 3 are designated as TWs.

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, I don’t like these. I don’t need 8 days before school starts to get ready. I need the two teacher workdays at the end of the quarter instead to plan, grade, and meet with colleagues. I really wonder who come up with these.

In developing the 2018-2019 Standard School Calendar, a calendar committee was formed to assist in guiding the development of the calendar. The committee was composed of representatives from a variety of internal and external constituent groups. It included representatives of VOICE, FCCPTA, FCPS teacher and staff associations, testing services, curriculum and instruction, professional development and student activities. In addition, the calendar was discussed with various groups including STAC, FCCPTA, and several employee groups.

As a teacher, I don’t like these. I don’t need 8 days before school starts to get ready. I need the two teacher workdays at the end of the quarter instead to plan, grade, and meet with colleagues. I really wonder who come up with these.

Start Aug. 28. 2 day Thanksgiving holiday, 7 day Winter break, end on June 7 or 10.

Anonymous wrote:Is there an opportunity for public comment? Just showing up at the meeting on 12/7?

You can always email your school board person and the at large ones. That's what I'm going to do.

Is there an opportunity for public comment? Just showing up at the meeting on 12/7?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know when school will start in August 2018?

Options are start August 22 with winter break 12/24-1/4 , start August 23 with winter break 12/24-1/1 or start August 28 with winter break 12/24-1/4.

So, no more two week winter breaks.

The third option is two weeks for winter break.

So does the 2nd.