The public schools around here have half days all week. My son's parochial school, which generally follows the same schedule as the public schools, because they share the bus, had half days Tuesday and Wednesday, and all day Thursday and Friday off. I don't get the half-day bit at all. It really raises havoc with working parents' schedules. Aftercare today was over at 3 pm. That's it. I don't have that much flexibility in my schedule, that I can get off on time to get to the school by 3pm. I'm off Thursday and Friday. It would have been a good time to take a quick trip, except, Parent-Teacher conferences were yesterday evening (really, 11 am to 9 pm). I would have taken him out for the whole week, but the principal would have a problem with making up the conference. I actually did that once, and I didn't get a conference. So, I am taking my son out of school Oct. 31-Nov. 4, instead, which was approved by the school. Go figure.