School calendar experiences

[jamal]

Hi all, This is my first post on this board; I hope it's OK

Our school system is considering an adjustment to a balanced calendar and as I have enjoyed reading (for years) the discussions on Disboards about different spring and summer school breaks, I thought I'd take a poll/ask about your schools' schedules. Here in middle TN, we start school mid-August and get out in late May. I think this is fairly common in the south (at least TN, KY, AL, GA).

I am very curious about different experiences and how you think they impact your children's academics and your family life.

Thanks!
Jamal

 

[jamal]

Wow! You people post like crazy!! Anyone see mine?? Should I move it?

 

[rascalmom]

Not sure what you mean by a balance calendar - do you mean that the first semester is completed before the Christmas break? By starting in mid-August, that would seem to make sense.

Our school system recently changed from that type of calendar to a later August start. My dd is a junior in h.s. - she will be facing another week of first semester & then finals week after they return from break. Second semester does not end until very late May, in fact if we end up using any snow days the kids will have to return to school after Memorial Day.

I much prefer the old system. Finals were completed before break, so they didn't have to worry about either forgetting material or studying like crazy over their break. With that calendar, we got out a bit earlier in May. I liked that for family vacations - we could take a trip before the heavy crowds hit WDW or most other destinations.

Hope this is what you meant... if not, perhaps you can explain what you mean by "balanced calendar".

 

[jamal]

Sorry I wasn't clear. Yes, it would mean an earlier start (July 24!!), two week breaks at fall, Christmas, and spring, then out end of May for only eight weeks of summer.

Thanks for the reply! Keep 'em coming!
Jamal

 

[NCRedding]

jamal: In our area, we call that a year-round calendar. DD was on the year round schedule from Kindergarten through 3rd grade, and we loved it. The kids retained so much knowledge from the previous year, that the teachers were able to move onto new material earlier in the year. They used the extra breaks to teach remedial classes as needed. Our school system also offered enrichment classes during the school breaks. We took advantage of the time off in the fall to go to Disney.

The test scores in our school system were noticeable higher than in the traditional school program. Unfortunately, our system was attempting to operate year-round and traditional in the same school which create tension between the traditional parents and staff, and the year-round parents and staff.

 

[MouseDogMom]

DD was on a year-round calendar from K thru 8th grade, and we loved it. One of the reasons we chose that option was so we could go to WDW during non-peak times. We were in class for 9 weeks, then out for 3. Our system doesn't believe they can operate a year-round high school, so we had to go to a traditional calendar for the 1st time this year. Our system has also just switched to a later start, then midterms in Jan.

We're still bummed - have never done WDW during the summer, and that's our only option other than spring break!

 

[MoniqueU]

We go to a modified traditional after being year round for years. I think we get 6 weeks off in the summer then a few 2 or 3 week breaks here and there throughout the year. This is only for my DD's my DS is in JR high and is on a traditional schedule. It is a PIB taking any vacation for my kids, someone has to miss school and it is not good for any of them to miss school as our district turns you in to the DA with 10 or more abcences excuses or unexcueed.

 

[barkley]

mine (california private school) go 8-3 m-th, 8-12 f. start around 3rd week of august and get out first friday in june. get 2 weeks in december, 1 week in spring off. other than 2 teacher training days only get federal holidays off (1 day for prez).