Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 23:25     Subject: Transition day?
I assume MCPS teachers know about transition day by now, but I was surprised back in March when I talked to two elementary teachers who had no idea it was added for this upcoming school year.

I was really hoping KAH would be open at our school but the calendar on their website says it begins Tuesday with the 1st day of school.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 20:41     Subject: Transition day?
Anonymous wrote:I’m a 5th grade teacher and we currently have 1 new enrolled student. We do not know if he will come or if others will register, but I think it will be awkward for the child. I love the idea of getting to know the school and meeting the teachers early, but 1-2 hours is plenty. There will be some type of rotation that our core team is planning, but 7.5 hours is way too long to fill!


Perhaps you could reach out to the family ahead of time to learn their plans. Then join up with the 4th graders for a good chunk of the day if he's coming. 1:1 with the teacher is def awkward. My kid would skip it if he knew
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 20:11     Subject: Transition day?
Anonymous wrote:Sorry, still not get it. Does my 8th grader kid go to school on August 25th? I do not recall getting any communication from his MS.


Correct. First day of school is August 26th so he comes on August 26th (unless there is something school-specific that your school wants your kid there on Monday for, in which case they'll tell you.)
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 18:40     Subject: Transition day?
I’m a 5th grade teacher and we currently have 1 new enrolled student. We do not know if he will come or if others will register, but I think it will be awkward for the child. I love the idea of getting to know the school and meeting the teachers early, but 1-2 hours is plenty. There will be some type of rotation that our core team is planning, but 7.5 hours is way too long to fill!
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 18:28     Subject: Transition day?
Anonymous wrote:Teacher and parent here and I think it’s dumb. What was wrong with having this day on the Thursday of pre service? And if you don’t work with K, 6, or 9, what do you do on this day?


Agree. I think doing it the week before for those who want it (and add kindergarteners if important) was fine -- and then we could start on Monday and have 2 snow days built in.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 16:57     Subject: Transition day?
Teacher and parent here and I think it’s dumb. What was wrong with having this day on the Thursday of pre service? And if you don’t work with K, 6, or 9, what do you do on this day?
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 15:32     Subject: Transition day?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Sorry, still not get it. Does my 8th grader kid go to school on August 25th? I do not recall getting any communication from his MS.


No, 8th graders do not go, unless they are starting at a new school.


Thanks for letting me know!
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 15:15     Subject: Transition day?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I like the idea, but just wish it was a half day. No need for the kids to be there for the full day. It will be boring for them and an imposition on staff.


I don't see why you think it'll be boring? I'm a K teacher and it's going to be a busy, fun day. Students will go through all the routine stuff, explore the classroom with play centers, eat lunch, go to recess, have PE, art, music, visit the media center, read a story or two, do a craft follow up, play some math games, etc. They will come home tired and happy, from my class at least.


That’s a k class where all students are transitioning in. I’m referring to a 1st-5th grade class where you might have 3-4 across the grade level.


Not to mention MS/HS. It’s seems this is being done just for K students, who quite frankly get the most transition time during the school year so not sure why this matters.


I think it’s moderately helpful for the 6th graders. MS is a huge transition away from the protective cocoon of ES, and there’s some advantage of having a day without the terrifying giant 8th graders around pushing them through the halls. I have a rising 9tj grader and it seems pointless. At this point HS is not that different from MS and I’m sure she’s super irritated about a day that doesn’t “count” as instructional. Shed much rather get off a day earlier in the summer!!
Anyway. I’m vaguely opposed but it’s pretty far down my list.



Loiderman had their 6th grade orientation already last week. Don’t understand what the transition day is for if they’ve already had an orientation. Feel bad for the teachers that had to do more than their counterparts at other schools.

Parkland will use the transition day in place of orientation. I think the transition day is a great idea for those entering MS.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 15:08     Subject: Transition day?
Anonymous wrote:Sorry, still not get it. Does my 8th grader kid go to school on August 25th? I do not recall getting any communication from his MS.


No, 8th graders do not go, unless they are starting at a new school.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 15:00     Subject: Transition day?
Sorry, still not get it. Does my 8th grader kid go to school on August 25th? I do not recall getting any communication from his MS.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 14:55     Subject: Transition day?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I like the idea, but just wish it was a half day. No need for the kids to be there for the full day. It will be boring for them and an imposition on staff.


I don't see why you think it'll be boring? I'm a K teacher and it's going to be a busy, fun day. Students will go through all the routine stuff, explore the classroom with play centers, eat lunch, go to recess, have PE, art, music, visit the media center, read a story or two, do a craft follow up, play some math games, etc. They will come home tired and happy, from my class at least.


That’s a k class where all students are transitioning in. I’m referring to a 1st-5th grade class where you might have 3-4 across the grade level.


Not to mention MS/HS. It’s seems this is being done just for K students, who quite frankly get the most transition time during the school year so not sure why this matters.


I think it’s moderately helpful for the 6th graders. MS is a huge transition away from the protective cocoon of ES, and there’s some advantage of having a day without the terrifying giant 8th graders around pushing them through the halls. I have a rising 9tj grader and it seems pointless. At this point HS is not that different from MS and I’m sure she’s super irritated about a day that doesn’t “count” as instructional. Shed much rather get off a day earlier in the summer!!
Anyway. I’m vaguely opposed but it’s pretty far down my list.



Loiderman had their 6th grade orientation already last week. Don’t understand what the transition day is for if they’ve already had an orientation. Feel bad for the teachers that had to do more than their counterparts at other schools.


The half-day that my 6th grader went to on the Thursday before school last year was very helpful, much more so than the orientation. They went to their actual classes on the half-day. The orientation was more of a tour of the building and answering questions.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 14:48     Subject: Transition day?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I like the idea, but just wish it was a half day. No need for the kids to be there for the full day. It will be boring for them and an imposition on staff.


I don't see why you think it'll be boring? I'm a K teacher and it's going to be a busy, fun day. Students will go through all the routine stuff, explore the classroom with play centers, eat lunch, go to recess, have PE, art, music, visit the media center, read a story or two, do a craft follow up, play some math games, etc. They will come home tired and happy, from my class at least.


That’s a k class where all students are transitioning in. I’m referring to a 1st-5th grade class where you might have 3-4 across the grade level.


Not to mention MS/HS. It’s seems this is being done just for K students, who quite frankly get the most transition time during the school year so not sure why this matters.


I think it’s moderately helpful for the 6th graders. MS is a huge transition away from the protective cocoon of ES, and there’s some advantage of having a day without the terrifying giant 8th graders around pushing them through the halls. I have a rising 9tj grader and it seems pointless. At this point HS is not that different from MS and I’m sure she’s super irritated about a day that doesn’t “count” as instructional. Shed much rather get off a day earlier in the summer!!
Anyway. I’m vaguely opposed but it’s pretty far down my list.



Loiderman had their 6th grade orientation already last week. Don’t understand what the transition day is for if they’ve already had an orientation. Feel bad for the teachers that had to do more than their counterparts at other schools.


Teachers weren’t at orientation and the kids didn’t get a tour of the school.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 14:47     Subject: Transition day?
Our high school counselor had no idea this day was built in and was still planning on the Thursday before the first day of school.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 13:40     Subject: Re:Transition day?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why aren't people protesting transition day? It's a full day of school for a lot of students and all staff and it doesn't count as an instructional day.


It should count as an instructional day. Maryland allows private schools to count any day that any grade is on campus as an instructional day. Orientations, graduations and even “student led conferences” count towards the instructional day requirement.



MSDE continues to have different standards for private schools than public. Private schools have a lower school day requirement to begin with.
They asked MSDE if it could count as an instructional day, and were turned down.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 13:38     Subject: Transition day?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I like the idea, but just wish it was a half day. No need for the kids to be there for the full day. It will be boring for them and an imposition on staff.


I don't see why you think it'll be boring? I'm a K teacher and it's going to be a busy, fun day. Students will go through all the routine stuff, explore the classroom with play centers, eat lunch, go to recess, have PE, art, music, visit the media center, read a story or two, do a craft follow up, play some math games, etc. They will come home tired and happy, from my class at least.


That’s a k class where all students are transitioning in. I’m referring to a 1st-5th grade class where you might have 3-4 across the grade level.


Not to mention MS/HS. It’s seems this is being done just for K students, who quite frankly get the most transition time during the school year so not sure why this matters.


I think it’s moderately helpful for the 6th graders. MS is a huge transition away from the protective cocoon of ES, and there’s some advantage of having a day without the terrifying giant 8th graders around pushing them through the halls. I have a rising 9tj grader and it seems pointless. At this point HS is not that different from MS and I’m sure she’s super irritated about a day that doesn’t “count” as instructional. Shed much rather get off a day earlier in the summer!!
Anyway. I’m vaguely opposed but it’s pretty far down my list.



Loiderman had their 6th grade orientation already last week. Don’t understand what the transition day is for if they’ve already had an orientation. Feel bad for the teachers that had to do more than their counterparts at other schools.