Anonymous wrote:OP here. The only class where more kids than my DD showed up, was the one where teacher said he will give kids who come today extra credit. And 3 kids were there, including DD. I don't think any attendance was taken and other classes had kids come in from other classes who came to school today to chat and have fun.

God bless that teacher!!

In my son's high school, the kids were told that kids who came the last two days would be watching movies in the auditorium. All. Day.

In this case I felt fine about my child taking an unexcused absence both days. Yes, school is important, but if the teachers aren't even going to pretend to be doing anything worthwhile I don't see the point in sending my child.

Our school is using a new online grading program. In the past, we would print out report cards on the last day and hand them out. Now they will be mailed home. There might have been 5-6 kids per grade on the last day of school this year. Nothing has been taught for the last week. We still had to get grades in about 8-9 days prior to the last day so nothing new was taught after then.

Anonymous wrote:I am a teacher in NYC and grew up in NYC public schools. All kids here go on the last day because that's when we give out report cards. Don't come, you don't get it. (Well- I assume they get mauled- but am not sure). Last day is a half day and no learning takes place. Various activities depending on the teacher. Students with yearbooks sign yearbooks.

Get mauled? I knew NYC sucked.

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, the instructional year continues to shrink in MCPS, and the last day is used to do nothing useful. I think we should abandon the whole "Middle School Promotion" madness that takes teachers away from the classrooms. Instead, summer packets should be handed out and for struggling students there should be worksheets that will enable them to catch up during Summer.

This is the only country where people are focussed on making all kids feel special and rewarding them for just existing. Use the last day constructively, so that students have the opportunity to work on their specific gaps of knowledge during summer.

The eighth-grade promotion ceremony at our middle school started at 8:15 am and ended by 9:30 am. Madness. Madness!

Anonymous wrote:I have four through high school and one in high school. We've been in schools in five different states. Mine have never gone on the last couple of days. It's usually exam make-up. Assuming they have taken all of their final exams, why on earth would I make them go?

When there are no exams, there are no e am make up days. One of my. Children had a graded in class assignment on the last day. Those without an excused absence got a 0. Could tip a boarderline? grade.

I am a teacher in NYC and grew up in NYC public schools. All kids here go on the last day because that's when we give out report cards. Don't come, you don't get it. (Well- I assume they get mauled- but am not sure). Last day is a half day and no learning takes place. Various activities depending on the teacher. Students with yearbooks sign yearbooks.

I have four through high school and one in high school. We've been in schools in five different states. Mine have never gone on the last couple of days. It's usually exam make-up. Assuming they have taken all of their final exams, why on earth would I make them go?

Anonymous wrote:In HS no kids go the last day. Unless you have to make-up an exam or something. Nobody lies and calls in sick, they just don't show up and the school isn't going to care.

In MS usually it's the 8th graders that don't go, but grades 6 and 7 still do to see friends, sign yearbooks, etc..

In ES - kids go

Exactly, why have my kid wake up early to go to school to watch movies, eat candy and have a dance contest (the latter happened at my DS high school today).
an unexcused absence isn't going to change my child's life so why stress over it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In MoCo many decades ago I remember being in 7th grade and afraid to skip the last day of school. I was an outliner, as hardly anyone else was there.

The "message" you are worrying about Op I understand the concern. Especially heading into HS and not knowing what awaits. School systems are not perfect and there are often mixed-messages re: expectation. FCPS seems to be very hung-up on signed "oaths" which I find the premise of to be repugnant.

Can your kid help you with grammar, too? Adults on this thread need to go to school. This is barely legible.

And what is an "outliner?"

I'm assuming that he/she meant outlier.

Anonymous wrote:"Nobody is going to be there". I drove by two high schools between 10 and 11 and the student parking lot was nearly full.

Really??
Why wouldn't you name which high schools they were then?

Name them or I call BS.

My DD said that at her HS about half the students were there on the last day. The last few days consisted of Uno tournaments for DD and her friends. During the very last period of the very last day students hung out in the hallway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The only class where more kids than my DD showed up, was the one where teacher said he will give kids who come today extra credit. And 3 kids were there, including DD. I don't think any attendance was taken and other classes had kids come in from other classes who came to school today to chat and have fun.

Interesting, as far as I know MCPS does not allow extra credit. ?

I think that is just how a phrased it, my DD said teacher said they will get some points for showing up? I don't know how that is marked. You are right, my DD was never allowed to do anything for extra credit during the year.

I assume that now that MCPS has seen what a problem the end of school is without any final activities they will do something different next year. My son said no one was in class the last day..just socializing in the halls etc.

Anonymous wrote:Why do you care whether or not it's an absence? You know where your kid is, there's no need to lie, why do you care whether or not the school marks it as sick or just out?

+1. I don't consider a small number of unexcused absences to be a problem, especially not one and on the last day of the year, so unless my child had gotten poor grades or had a record of disciplinary problems I would be fine with skipping the last day. So far, none of my kids have wanted to because nothing difficult is going on in class and it's one last time to see friends before most people scatter for the summer.

Unfortunately, the instructional year continues to shrink in MCPS, and the last day is used to do nothing useful. I think we should abandon the whole "Middle School Promotion" madness that takes teachers away from the classrooms. Instead, summer packets should be handed out and for struggling students there should be worksheets that will enable them to catch up during Summer.

This is the only country where people are focussed on making all kids feel special and rewarding them for just existing. Use the last day constructively, so that students have the opportunity to work on their specific gaps of knowledge during summer.