Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We would jump for joy if APS did more of a spring, fall, winter and then summer break with just federal holidays off. The amount of other holidays they are off is so disruptive. And, we are a family that technically celebrates one of the "other" religious holidays. We use to just pull our kiddos out if we wanted to, otherwise, they stayed in school.

I hope you send in a comment. Have heard from other parents that all of these days off are equally disruptive for their children and they really just want to have excused absences and no tests/due date and make sure those expectations are enforced.

\

The amount of days off and holidays outpaces any other working profession. No working parent can reasonably match the days that require care.

Exactly - there are more days off during the school year than I get in holidays and paid time off (where sick leave and vacation time are combined). Even if I used up ALL of my annual leave, I STILL wouldn't have enough to cover all of the days off that students have during the school year, let alone summer break. Also hope that no one gets sick because that means I would have even less leave available for school year childcare during scheduled closings. And I'm lucky -- I actually GET paid leave.

So you pay for alternate child care. There are always camps for all these days off. If you don't make enough money to pay for these things, time to re-evaluate the cost-benefit analysis of both parents working and the rest of your budget.

And what about single-parent households?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We would jump for joy if APS did more of a spring, fall, winter and then summer break with just federal holidays off. The amount of other holidays they are off is so disruptive. And, we are a family that technically celebrates one of the "other" religious holidays. We use to just pull our kiddos out if we wanted to, otherwise, they stayed in school.

I hope you send in a comment. Have heard from other parents that all of these days off are equally disruptive for their children and they really just want to have excused absences and no tests/due date and make sure those expectations are enforced.

\

The amount of days off and holidays outpaces any other working profession. No working parent can reasonably match the days that require care.

Exactly - there are more days off during the school year than I get in holidays and paid time off (where sick leave and vacation time are combined). Even if I used up ALL of my annual leave, I STILL wouldn't have enough to cover all of the days off that students have during the school year, let alone summer break. Also hope that no one gets sick because that means I would have even less leave available for school year childcare during scheduled closings. And I'm lucky -- I actually GET paid leave.

So you pay for alternate child care. There are always camps for all these days off. If you don't make enough money to pay for these things, time to re-evaluate the cost-benefit analysis of both parents working and the rest of your budget.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With a kid taking AP tests next week competing for 5s with kids who had 2-3 more weeks on instruction, I understand the benefit of starting earlier. HOWEVER, we need to get out earlier, too. It’s infuriating that they keep shrinking summer.

AP students represent a fraction of the student population, so I don’t think it makes sense to dictate the schedule according to their needs.

Plus, our start date moves up, but then they throw in an extra week of Christmas break and a bunch of teacher workdays, so by the time May rolls around they haven’t actually gotten any more instruction.

There’s not a fixed number of 5s to be awarded, so your kid isn’t competing.

And there’s nothing stopping your kid from picking up a prep book two (or even three!) weeks before school starts.

Tell me how starting 2 weeks earlier hurts your kid? or any kid?

I am just hearing a lot of whining about I don't waaaaant to start 2 weeks earlier!

But no real reasons not to.

Because kids should have a proper summer break. Going back in mid-August is insane.

Going back mid august is ok if they end earlier in June. If I had to choose, I would rather kids start early than end late. Why? Very little learning happens in June anyways so it makes more sense to end early than to start late. Now if it were up to me, we would start late and end early or have a longer spring break. I prefer breaks that are longer than random days off here and there. Breaks are easier to plan for.

Yes, if we start earlier we should end earlier. They keep shrinking summer break and then are shocked that no one wants to teach summer school.

Also, random days off... like why does grade prep have to happen on a Tuesday? Could you move that to Monday or Friday? It's not like you're turning report cards around THAT fast.

That grade prep day on a Tuesday is election day and schools are polling locations. They don't just have them on random Tuesdays for kicks.

Ok, if that needs to be an off day, lets go to school on Veteran's Day instead of having both off that week. Also, if the religious holidays need to be observed, we can go to school on Presidents Day and MLK day as well.

That would be great! Most non-federal employees do not get Veteran's, President's, or MLK day off from work.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are facts.

APS does not care what any of us think. It's all about what the teachers want and the teachers want to match FCPS. I had a School Board Member tell me this to my face when they moved to pre-Labor Day start.

The added religious holidays will only go away if FCPS gets rid of them.

We are basically an FCPS outpost in many ways. Same reason we have to close or delay when there is not a real weather issue in Arlington. Gotta follow FCPS.

I think this is right and I wish they would just be more transparent about it. It’s obnoxious to ask for feedback when they aren’t going to listen to any of it.

I agree. But what I find interesting is that this issue largely relates to aligning childcare for APS teachers who live in FC. But when parents express concerns about childcare, the answer is "school isn't daycare". Teachers find it difficult to find childcare for a week in August and maybe a few days during the school year. The rest of us do it for 2 weeks of winter, 1 week of spring, 16 holidays, teacher workdays, 10 weeks of summer... Can't we all just agree that school IS childcare and that making schedules work for as many people as possible should be the goal? I don't understand why we insist in this country to continue to act as though people live under agrarian schedules, with Ma and Pa on the farm having kids helping with the harvest.

But all parents are going to have to find childcare no matter what the calendar is, so why not make it easier for teachers at least and align the calendars for them?

Teachers may want to align with FCPS (which I understand). But do they really want to go back at the beginning of August? I doubt it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are facts.

APS does not care what any of us think. It's all about what the teachers want and the teachers want to match FCPS. I had a School Board Member tell me this to my face when they moved to pre-Labor Day start.

The added religious holidays will only go away if FCPS gets rid of them.

We are basically an FCPS outpost in many ways. Same reason we have to close or delay when there is not a real weather issue in Arlington. Gotta follow FCPS.

I think this is right and I wish they would just be more transparent about it. It’s obnoxious to ask for feedback when they aren’t going to listen to any of it.

I agree. But what I find interesting is that this issue largely relates to aligning childcare for APS teachers who live in FC. But when parents express concerns about childcare, the answer is "school isn't daycare". Teachers find it difficult to find childcare for a week in August and maybe a few days during the school year. The rest of us do it for 2 weeks of winter, 1 week of spring, 16 holidays, teacher workdays, 10 weeks of summer... Can't we all just agree that school IS childcare and that making schedules work for as many people as possible should be the goal? I don't understand why we insist in this country to continue to act as though people live under agrarian schedules, with Ma and Pa on the farm having kids helping with the harvest.

But all parents are going to have to find childcare no matter what the calendar is, so why not make it easier for teachers at least and align the calendars for them?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We would jump for joy if APS did more of a spring, fall, winter and then summer break with just federal holidays off. The amount of other holidays they are off is so disruptive. And, we are a family that technically celebrates one of the "other" religious holidays. We use to just pull our kiddos out if we wanted to, otherwise, they stayed in school.

I hope you send in a comment. Have heard from other parents that all of these days off are equally disruptive for their children and they really just want to have excused absences and no tests/due date and make sure those expectations are enforced.

\

The amount of days off and holidays outpaces any other working profession. No working parent can reasonably match the days that require care.

Exactly - there are more days off during the school year than I get in holidays and paid time off (where sick leave and vacation time are combined). Even if I used up ALL of my annual leave, I STILL wouldn't have enough to cover all of the days off that students have during the school year, let alone summer break. Also hope that no one gets sick because that means I would have even less leave available for school year childcare during scheduled closings. And I'm lucky -- I actually GET paid leave.

So you pay for alternate child care. There are always camps for all these days off. If you don't make enough money to pay for these things, time to re-evaluate the cost-benefit analysis of both parents working and the rest of your budget.

Cool story. Why is ok to tell APS parents “figure it out or quit your job”, but APS can’t say the same to its own employees?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We would jump for joy if APS did more of a spring, fall, winter and then summer break with just federal holidays off. The amount of other holidays they are off is so disruptive. And, we are a family that technically celebrates one of the "other" religious holidays. We use to just pull our kiddos out if we wanted to, otherwise, they stayed in school.

I hope you send in a comment. Have heard from other parents that all of these days off are equally disruptive for their children and they really just want to have excused absences and no tests/due date and make sure those expectations are enforced.

\

The amount of days off and holidays outpaces any other working profession. No working parent can reasonably match the days that require care.

Exactly - there are more days off during the school year than I get in holidays and paid time off (where sick leave and vacation time are combined). Even if I used up ALL of my annual leave, I STILL wouldn't have enough to cover all of the days off that students have during the school year, let alone summer break. Also hope that no one gets sick because that means I would have even less leave available for school year childcare during scheduled closings. And I'm lucky -- I actually GET paid leave.

So you pay for alternate child care. There are always camps for all these days off. If you don't make enough money to pay for these things, time to re-evaluate the cost-benefit analysis of both parents working and the rest of your budget.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We would jump for joy if APS did more of a spring, fall, winter and then summer break with just federal holidays off. The amount of other holidays they are off is so disruptive. And, we are a family that technically celebrates one of the "other" religious holidays. We use to just pull our kiddos out if we wanted to, otherwise, they stayed in school.

I hope you send in a comment. Have heard from other parents that all of these days off are equally disruptive for their children and they really just want to have excused absences and no tests/due date and make sure those expectations are enforced.

\

The amount of days off and holidays outpaces any other working profession. No working parent can reasonably match the days that require care.

Exactly - there are more days off during the school year than I get in holidays and paid time off (where sick leave and vacation time are combined). Even if I used up ALL of my annual leave, I STILL wouldn't have enough to cover all of the days off that students have during the school year, let alone summer break. Also hope that no one gets sick because that means I would have even less leave available for school year childcare during scheduled closings. And I'm lucky -- I actually GET paid leave.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With a kid taking AP tests next week competing for 5s with kids who had 2-3 more weeks on instruction, I understand the benefit of starting earlier. HOWEVER, we need to get out earlier, too. It’s infuriating that they keep shrinking summer.

AP students represent a fraction of the student population, so I don’t think it makes sense to dictate the schedule according to their needs.

Plus, our start date moves up, but then they throw in an extra week of Christmas break and a bunch of teacher workdays, so by the time May rolls around they haven’t actually gotten any more instruction.

There’s not a fixed number of 5s to be awarded, so your kid isn’t competing.

And there’s nothing stopping your kid from picking up a prep book two (or even three!) weeks before school starts.

Tell me how starting 2 weeks earlier hurts your kid? or any kid?

Makes sense to me. FCPS never has Veterans' Day off.
I am just hearing a lot of whining about I don't waaaaant to start 2 weeks earlier!

But no real reasons not to.

Because kids should have a proper summer break. Going back in mid-August is insane.

Going back mid august is ok if they end earlier in June. If I had to choose, I would rather kids start early than end late. Why? Very little learning happens in June anyways so it makes more sense to end early than to start late. Now if it were up to me, we would start late and end early or have a longer spring break. I prefer breaks that are longer than random days off here and there. Breaks are easier to plan for.

Yes, if we start earlier we should end earlier. They keep shrinking summer break and then are shocked that no one wants to teach summer school.

Also, random days off... like why does grade prep have to happen on a Tuesday? Could you move that to Monday or Friday? It's not like you're turning report cards around THAT fast.

That grade prep day on a Tuesday is election day and schools are polling locations. They don't just have them on random Tuesdays for kicks.

Ok, if that needs to be an off day, lets go to school on Veteran's Day instead of having both off that week. Also, if the religious holidays need to be observed, we can go to school on Presidents Day and MLK day as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With a kid taking AP tests next week competing for 5s with kids who had 2-3 more weeks on instruction, I understand the benefit of starting earlier. HOWEVER, we need to get out earlier, too. It’s infuriating that they keep shrinking summer.

AP students represent a fraction of the student population, so I don’t think it makes sense to dictate the schedule according to their needs.

Plus, our start date moves up, but then they throw in an extra week of Christmas break and a bunch of teacher workdays, so by the time May rolls around they haven’t actually gotten any more instruction.

There’s not a fixed number of 5s to be awarded, so your kid isn’t competing.

And there’s nothing stopping your kid from picking up a prep book two (or even three!) weeks before school starts.

Tell me how starting 2 weeks earlier hurts your kid? or any kid?

I am just hearing a lot of whining about I don't waaaaant to start 2 weeks earlier!

But no real reasons not to.

Because kids should have a proper summer break. Going back in mid-August is insane.

Going back mid august is ok if they end earlier in June. If I had to choose, I would rather kids start early than end late. Why? Very little learning happens in June anyways so it makes more sense to end early than to start late. Now if it were up to me, we would start late and end early or have a longer spring break. I prefer breaks that are longer than random days off here and there. Breaks are easier to plan for.

Yes, if we start earlier we should end earlier. They keep shrinking summer break and then are shocked that no one wants to teach summer school.

Also, random days off... like why does grade prep have to happen on a Tuesday? Could you move that to Monday or Friday? It's not like you're turning report cards around THAT fast.

That grade prep day on a Tuesday is election day and schools are polling locations. They don't just have them on random Tuesdays for kicks.

Ok, if that needs to be an off day, lets go to school on Veteran's Day instead of having both off that week. Also, if the religious holidays need to be observed, we can go to school on Presidents Day and MLK day as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With a kid taking AP tests next week competing for 5s with kids who had 2-3 more weeks on instruction, I understand the benefit of starting earlier. HOWEVER, we need to get out earlier, too. It’s infuriating that they keep shrinking summer.

AP students represent a fraction of the student population, so I don’t think it makes sense to dictate the schedule according to their needs.

Plus, our start date moves up, but then they throw in an extra week of Christmas break and a bunch of teacher workdays, so by the time May rolls around they haven’t actually gotten any more instruction.

There’s not a fixed number of 5s to be awarded, so your kid isn’t competing.

And there’s nothing stopping your kid from picking up a prep book two (or even three!) weeks before school starts.

Tell me how starting 2 weeks earlier hurts your kid? or any kid?

I am just hearing a lot of whining about I don't waaaaant to start 2 weeks earlier!

But no real reasons not to.

Because kids should have a proper summer break. Going back in mid-August is insane.

Going back mid august is ok if they end earlier in June. If I had to choose, I would rather kids start early than end late. Why? Very little learning happens in June anyways so it makes more sense to end early than to start late. Now if it were up to me, we would start late and end early or have a longer spring break. I prefer breaks that are longer than random days off here and there. Breaks are easier to plan for.

Yes, if we start earlier we should end earlier. They keep shrinking summer break and then are shocked that no one wants to teach summer school.

Also, random days off... like why does grade prep have to happen on a Tuesday? Could you move that to Monday or Friday? It's not like you're turning report cards around THAT fast.

That grade prep day on a Tuesday is election day and schools are polling locations. They don't just have them on random Tuesdays for kicks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We would jump for joy if APS did more of a spring, fall, winter and then summer break with just federal holidays off. The amount of other holidays they are off is so disruptive. And, we are a family that technically celebrates one of the "other" religious holidays. We use to just pull our kiddos out if we wanted to, otherwise, they stayed in school.

I hope you send in a comment. Have heard from other parents that all of these days off are equally disruptive for their children and they really just want to have excused absences and no tests/due date and make sure those expectations are enforced.

\

The amount of days off and holidays outpaces any other working profession. No working parent can reasonably match the days that require care.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't care when we start, but I'm so tired of them starting earlier and ending at the same d@mn time.

I know this will never happen but frankly I'd rather have one week at winter break, one week in Feb, and one week in Apr. The fall is super choppy and the spring is a complete slog, there has to be a better way to balance it.

+1000

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We would jump for joy if APS did more of a spring, fall, winter and then summer break with just federal holidays off. The amount of other holidays they are off is so disruptive. And, we are a family that technically celebrates one of the "other" religious holidays. We use to just pull our kiddos out if we wanted to, otherwise, they stayed in school.

I hope you send in a comment. Have heard from other parents that all of these days off are equally disruptive for their children and they really just want to have excused absences and no tests/due date and make sure those expectations are enforced.