stupid, stupid school year!

[dogluva]

I cannot believe this is even an issue. Seriously, don't sweat the small stuff.

 

[allison443]

No kidding. You realize Christmas isn't until Saturday, right?

I see no reason why the kids couldn't go the entire week, and finish up before the holidays on Thursday.

That's what almost all of the schools around here are doing.

I fail to see the big deal.

I also don't see the big deal.

My kid goes to a Catholic school and they go until Wednesday, December 22.

Seriously, some parents started a letter writing campaign about this? Are all these parents going away and this impacts their travel plans? Other than that who would care?

OP are you planning to go away? It didn't sound like it. Why does it bother you then?

 

[tvguy]

Maybe it has to do with finals. I just looked up my kids high school (they're in college now), and they have finals on the 16th, 17th 20th, and 21st. 22nd's is their first day of Christmas break. They go back on a THURSDAY, January 6th. The public schools take the entire week of the 20th off, and go back Monday January 3.
Maybe having Christmas as the last day of the week, Saturday, forced them to do that?

It is odd, but as a parent, the thing that caught my eye was your school year only has 184 instruction days!!.

 

[scrapquitler]

No kidding. You realize Christmas isn't until Saturday, right?

I see no reason why the kids couldn't go the entire week, and finish up before the holidays on Thursday.

That's what almost all of the schools around here are doing.

I fail to see the big deal.

That's the way it usually works here, too. We have a half day on the 23rd and Christmas Break starts on 24th (Christmas Eve) unless the 23rd falls on Monday, then we have a full day on Friday and get out. And we always start back on the 2nd of January unless that falls on the weekend

 

[HelenePA]

Maybe it has to do with finals. I just looked up my kids high school (they're in college now), and they have finals on the 16th, 17th 20th, and 21st. 22nd's is their first day of Christmas break. They go back on a THURSDAY, January 6th. The public schools take the entire week of the 20th off, and go back Monday January 3.
Maybe having Christmas as the last day of the week, Saturday, forced them to do that?

It is odd, but as a parent, the thing that caught my eye was your school year only has 184 instruction days!!.

only? how many does yours have? average is 180

 

[GJM]

My DS school is off the whole week before Christmas - Why do they need that whole week! Christmas isn't until Sat., why not go to school up until the 23rd. half day and then be off.

 

[dispor]

The last day of school at my kids' school is MONDAY, June 6th. And it's early dismissal day.

Now THAT'S ridiculous.

 

[mhsjax]

only? how many does yours have? average is 180

From what I read 186, wow big difference. There was also an article about them cutting back to 180 days because of budget cuts. I could be wrong but again, this is what I read.

 

[We_Love_Disney]

Our Catholic school has the students in until end of day on the 23rd and then returning on the 3rd. Shortest vacation, you'd think they would get out early.

DD does get out earlier but that is because she is GRADUATING May 23rd!!!

 

[Teacher03]

Eh, so what. The kids go in and have their 'holiday' party, it counts as a school day. Parents get a day to finish the shopping and relax before it all hits the fan, so to speak.

If it is really inconvenient, keep your kid home.

sorry, I don't see it as a big deal.

Not a big deal to me either...I can't believe someone would start a petition over it, but my motto has always been "don't sweat the small stuff."

I'm a teacher, and our last day is Tuesday.

 

[taximomfor4]

I also don't see the big deal.

My kid goes to a Catholic school and they go until Wednesday, December 22.

Seriously, some parents started a letter writing campaign about this? Are all these parents going away and this impacts their travel plans? Other than that who would care?

OP are you planning to go away? It didn't sound like it. Why does it bother you then?

Doesn't particularly bother me, except I would LIKE to go away. Just to get together with my brother who is in the military. It puts a kink in the timing, but doesn't make or break it. Also, DH works in one district,2 kids go to another, another dd is in another, and yet another dd is in college on another schedule. NOT a big deal, I thought I mostly made that clear before. I still think going to school on 1 day the week before Christmas is pretty stupid, though. I will work out my schedule regardless, just don't see the value of that Monday spent in school. Plenty of my friends' families go to see family over the holidays, so I'd imagine it bothers them much more than me. I just see their point.

As for the semesters (90 days and 91 days or whatever) I don't think any of us thought of that detail, lol. I am not attending meetings to change this, I am not writing a letter. But I DO still think school on just that Monday is pretty pointless, and illogical scheduling.

As for finals, they don't start till 3rd week of January. And nooooo...not a big deal to me, since I will schedule my visit to see family when everyone can make it. Just somewhat senseless, as I would hardly count it as an "instructional" day.

 

[mhsjax]

I agree with the OP, I think it is stupid to have the kids go for one day. But then again, no big deal for me, because if I wanted to go somewhere, I wouldn't give a second thought to taking the kids out of school for that day.

 

[LBIJim]

Our schools start this coming Tuesday with a two hour delay - and then off on Thursday and Friday for the Jewish holidays. Wish they would have just started the following Monday.

My kids are grown, but that's just what my school district is doing this year. Not starting until Monday the 13th.

The neighboring district started yesterday, September 2, to make up for the two day Rosh Hashanah holiday next week.

I'm wondering why the OP's school gets out so early before Christmas, It's not until a Saturday this year. Most schools would be in session until Thursday the 23rd, I would think.

Jim

 

[Cinderella94]

The last day of school at my kids' school is MONDAY, June 6th. And it's early dismissal day.

Now THAT'S ridiculous.

Be happy. Our last day is June 15th. It's always been a day in that week.

 

[Cat0727]

Ours come in Wednesday just to be off Thursday & Friday for the Jewish holiday. Makes no sense.

 

[a1tinkfans]

So I just became aware that the distict's school calendar is really stupid. It has the kids going to school for ONE day, the week before Christmas. Just coming to school on Monday.

So I was venting with other parents, and the spouse of a teacher mentioned something interesting : there is accidentally an extra day in the calendar (184 instead of 183 or something like that). Soooo....we are all really, really crossing our fingers that the day that gets removed is that stupid Monday before Christmas.

If it doesn't, I predict that no teacher will bother to have lessons that day (most don't like to test on Mondays in general, and it's dumb to start a new lesson and then take 2 weeks off of school, lol). AND -- most parents won't bother to send their kids to school. If I were going away for the holiday, I'd be leaving the Friday before, right after school. I would NOT stay in town 3 extra days so the kids could attend a monday of school before Christmas, learning nothing.

Everyone, quick, CROSS YOUR FINGERS! I hate stupid, illogical school calendars, lol.

Our kids have school the whole week, with friday the 24th off. They are off the next week and return 1/3.
The students and teachers have a total of 28 Vacation days off this school year. School districts have guidelines to get/keep Federal Funding which impacts school days .....28 days off and then July and August with a sprinkle of June...NOT bad if you ask me...Just saying...

 

[tvguy]

only? how many does yours have? average is 180

Until this year, the MINIMUM was 180 in California. Governor Arnold lowered it to 175 as the minimum this year due to budget concerns....unfortunately that decision came after most districts had already locked in contracts with teachers for 180 days or more.

My kids were in private school K-12. K-8 they had 200 instruction days, 9-12 they has 190.

Obama (and Bush before him) has been pushing for 190 as the minimum under No Child Left Behind. Still less than the 228 day minimum in Switzerland, the 200 minimum in Japan, Germany, Mexico , Great Britain and Australia, and 194 in Canada

 

[kydisneyfans]

What I don't like is last minute changes. We were told the last day would be Friday, Dec. 17 last spring. My wife and I took the week leading into Christmas off based on that date. The school system came along and said, sorry, we are going to go Monday/Tuesday to bank up snow days.

Sorry school system, I hope you don't lose your funding for those 2 days with students missing. Ours will be in Orlando with us, as originally planned.

 

[tvguy]

What I don't like is last minute changes. We were told the last day would be Friday, Dec. 17 last spring. My wife and I took the week leading into Christmas off based on that date. The school system came along and said, sorry, we are going to go Monday/Tuesday to bank up snow days.

Sorry school system, I hope you don't lose your funding for those 2 days with students missing. Ours will be in Orlando with us, as originally planned.

Yeah, our school calenders are set 2 years in advance, so you can do planning.