What we have right now is the worst of all options. It's a very short summer, we still do SOLS in early May so there is a lot of wasted time in June, AND we aren't getting the benefit of larger/concentrated breaks during our long school year. Random 3 or 4 day weekends and random Wednesdays off don't help anyone.

I suspect most people who like the idea of year round school have elementary aged kids. I would have been fine with it then. But when kids get older, they use the summer to earn money, do internships, or highly-specialized camps, and this summer schedule really cuts in to that time.

I just cannot stomach starting two weeks before Labor Day and going 3 weeks after Memorial Day. It's absolutely ridiculous and we'll have basically the same calendar the next three years. I wonder if the new school board will change it.

This last week is absolute torture!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This time a year ago school was over both school years started 2 Mondays before Day but this year is a week longer because of a zillion PD days! With a June 16 end date and an August 21 start for next SY summer will be 9 weeks/65 days (10 weekends). Still better then year round schools that only have 6 or 7 weeks off but only room for 1 week of vacation if your child/ren are going to spend 8 weeks at camp (day or sleepaway).

Is it later because of more PD days or holidays? The contract length hasn’t changed much recently (it went from 194 to 195 days) and the number of contract days before and after the students start is basically the same with maybe one more after school ends.

Both added to the length of the calendar.

Anonymous wrote:This time a year ago school was over both school years started 2 Mondays before Day but this year is a week longer because of a zillion PD days! With a June 16 end date and an August 21 start for next SY summer will be 9 weeks/65 days (10 weekends). Still better then year round schools that only have 6 or 7 weeks off but only room for 1 week of vacation if your child/ren are going to spend 8 weeks at camp (day or sleepaway).

Is it later because of more PD days or holidays? The contract length hasn’t changed much recently (it went from 194 to 195 days) and the number of contract days before and after the students start is basically the same with maybe one more after school ends.

This time a year ago school was over both school years started 2 Mondays before Day but this year is a week longer because of a zillion PD days! With a June 16 end date and an August 21 start for next SY summer will be 9 weeks/65 days (10 weekends). Still better then year round schools that only have 6 or 7 weeks off but only room for 1 week of vacation if your child/ren are going to spend 8 weeks at camp (day or sleepaway).

Anonymous wrote:I am fine with keeping religious days and have less PD days. As it is I take a lot of those off since it’s easier with no sub plans.

Especially since there’s no real PD that takes place! The biggest waste of time…

...DONE with the summer heat/camps...

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Anonymous wrote:This is why the calendars don't make sense. These are days that supposedly count towards the legal requirement but yet everyone knows that everyone is checked out. If FCPS cared about education, this wouldn't be happening. We need to have more full weeks during/before SOLs when actual instruction is happening and have the summer start earlier. No one wants to be in school in June. These days shouldn't and don't count.

Actually, what should happen is whole year schooling - there should be no 2+ months off in the summer, have school be year round and have more breaks throughout the year.

No thanks! We love out summers.

You'd still get a month in the summer but longer breaks throughout the year and throw in some more 4 day weeks.

Having the whole summer off it an antiquated vestige of slower times that are now long gone, time to move on and improve the model.

What a horrible idea.

High school kids would not get a summer vacation at all and would miss all the big summer programs as they are scheduled around all the school districts in the country with competent school boards and normal, sensible school year calendars.

Those aren't "sensible" calendars. Those are historically driven calendars from when we more people's lives revolved around agricultural planting and harvesting demands. We are far removed from this and it's time to update the model to benefit future generations.

4 or 5 weeks off out of 12+ hot weeks is awful. That would mean 7+ school weeks of hot classrooms and hot buses!! If you are going to be on hot buses they should be too/from camp!

Let's look at the Wash Post Weather headline for today: June 5th..."An Amazing Week of Weather, But Rain Is Missing."

Looking at the 2 week forecast on weather.com, there are ZERO days in the 90's. All days range from a high in the upper 70's to the upper 80's...which seems pretty nice.

Historically, the hottest day of the year is July 21st. Would be great to start in mid-Aug, and get out by the first of June or end of May. These are the days when teens can be useful in summer jobs and the weather is good. By mid Aug, people are looking toward the next thing, dine with the heat/camps/summer; and the time is more useful/productive than any time in June when tests are long past done.

So if

Anonymous wrote:I am fine with keeping religious days and have less PD days. As it is I take a lot of those off since it’s easier with no sub plans.

Teacher here. We could easily cut PD days and slice a few days off winter break to protect other religious holidays. I like a 2 week winter break as much as the next person but I like getting out earlier in summer more.

I am fine with keeping religious days and have less PD days. As it is I take a lot of those off since it’s easier with no sub plans.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why the calendars don't make sense. These are days that supposedly count towards the legal requirement but yet everyone knows that everyone is checked out. If FCPS cared about education, this wouldn't be happening. We need to have more full weeks during/before SOLs when actual instruction is happening and have the summer start earlier. No one wants to be in school in June. These days shouldn't and don't count.

Actually, what should happen is whole year schooling - there should be no 2+ months off in the summer, have school be year round and have more breaks throughout the year.

No thanks! We love out summers.

You'd still get a month in the summer but longer breaks throughout the year and throw in some more 4 day weeks.

Having the whole summer off it an antiquated vestige of slower times that are now long gone, time to move on and improve the model.

What a horrible idea.

High school kids would not get a summer vacation at all and would miss all the big summer programs as they are scheduled around all the school districts in the country with competent school boards and normal, sensible school year calendars.

Those aren't "sensible" calendars. Those are historically driven calendars from when we more people's lives revolved around agricultural planting and harvesting demands. We are far removed from this and it's time to update the model to benefit future generations.

4 or 5 weeks off out of 12+ hot weeks is awful. That would mean 7+ school weeks of hot classrooms and hot buses!! If you are going to be on hot buses they should be too/from camp!

Two more weeks of Field Day, Brain Show, Band and String Concerts, Choral shows, STEAM Day, end of year picnics, and movies!

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Year around school is going to happen in the future.

Yes, please! FCPS HS teacher here. I would LOVE to have year round school. I like the 9 week on 3 week off schedule with a 5 week summer break. That would be wonderful.

You’re in the minority. A lot of families travel internationally during the summer and a 5 week break wouldn’t cut it.

One word: Pool

I know this won’t be a popular opinion with some, but summer swim clubs will have a tough time with schools closed for such a short stretch in the summer. People don’t want to give up the summer pool season, swim and tennis leagues, and summer jobs for their kids. Those who don’t experience the “summer slide” while away from school prioritize their summer breaks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Year around school is going to happen in the future.

Yes, please! FCPS HS teacher here. I would LOVE to have year round school. I like the 9 week on 3 week off schedule with a 5 week summer break. That would be wonderful.

You’re in the minority. A lot of families travel internationally during the summer and a 5 week break wouldn’t cut it.

I like to travel internationally and it would be much nicer to have more breaks so we’re not stuck with only traveling during the summer months.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Year around school is going to happen in the future.

Yes, please! FCPS HS teacher here. I would LOVE to have year round school. I like the 9 week on 3 week off schedule with a 5 week summer break. That would be wonderful.

You’re in the minority. A lot of families travel internationally during the summer and a 5 week break wouldn’t cut it.