Fairfax County General :
Fairfax Underground
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
StartbeforeLaborDAY
()
Date: March 30, 2016 05:13PM
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is now eligible, through at least school year 2019-20, to begin classes prior to Labor Day. The Fairfax County School Board is seeking your input about the possibility of starting the 2017-18 school year prior to Labor Day through a short survey (https://www.surveymnokey.com).
The results will be shared with the School Board as they direct the Superintendent to develop the 2017-18 school calendars. If school begins prior to Labor Day, the school year would end earlier in June.
The upcoming 2016-17 school year calendar has already been determined and begins after Labor Day. More information about the potential calendar change, is available at: http://www.fcps.edu/news/prelaborday.shtml
Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is now eligible, through at least school year 2019-20, to begin classes prior to Labor Day. The Fairfax County School Board is seeking your input about the possibility of starting the 2017-18 school year prior to Labor Day through a short survey (https://www.surveymnokey.com).
The results will be shared with the School Board as they direct the Superintendent to develop the 2017-18 school calendars. If school begins prior to Labor Day, the school year would end earlier in June.
The upcoming 2016-17 school year calendar has already been determined and begins after Labor Day. More information about the potential calendar change, is available at: http://www.fcps.edu/news/prelaborday.shtml
Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
Achievement gap
()
Date: March 30, 2016 05:24PM
They wouldn't need to do this if they didn't close half day and the next day after grades come out, Easter Monday, two weeks for Christmas, and at least twice per month for teacher workshops and other bullshit. And let's not forget every time there's even the whisper of the word "snow".
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
School's out
()
Date: March 31, 2016 12:10AM
Students should have no time off after Labor Day until Thanksgiving. Christmas vacation should last from Christmas Eve until New Year's Day. Easter vacation should be Maundy Thursday through Easter Monday. The only teacher workday during the school year should be one day between semesters to mark exam papers. After Memorial Day, the kids take their exams and go home until school starts again in late August. They might learn more by being in school without so many breaks and do better on the state tests. It would also help cut down the schools' air conditioning costs by closing down two or three weeks earlier.
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
Idiots
()
Date: March 31, 2016 08:47AM
You guys continue to be fooled. FCPS never had any intention of opening before Labor Day. The Democrats on the school board just wanted to piss on the Republcans in the General Assembly for not allowing it. Now that it can happen, watch for the Dems to come up with reasons why it can't.
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
causeican
()
Date: March 31, 2016 09:54PM
Proposal to Start School Before Labor Day in School Year 2017-18
The Fairfax County School Board is seeking input on starting school in 2017-18 prior to Labor Day. A survey will be sent to parents and staff to determine support.
The calendar change is under consideration as Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is now eligible to waive the state’s post-Labor Day requirement for starting school. FCPS qualifies for the waiver because, during five of the past 10 years, the district has averaged 8.4 days missed due to weather conditions and other events. If school begins in August, the school year would end earlier in June, and after the first year of implementation, summer break will be equally as long as summer break in the current calendar.
FCPS qualifies for the waiver through school year 2019-20. In future years, dependent upon missed days, the waiver may be extended.
There is some community concern regarding the temporary nature of the waiver and the fact that, during its first year of implementation, the summer break will have fewer days. Also, some individuals have raised concerns about disrupting traditional summer vacation plans.
Starting the school year before Labor Day has some benefits that include: additional instructional time before winter break, and more school days to prepare for end-of-year exams including Standards of Learning (SOL) and Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests. Many national tests, such as AP exams, are given on the same date around the country and currently other school systems in Virginia and around the nation have more time to prepare for exams because they start earlier than FCPS. Additionally, an earlier start to the school year provides more flexibility for schools to report seventh semester grades to colleges and universities.
Each year, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) develops a school year calendar that aims to maximize instruction for students while at the same time schedules planning time and professional development days for teachers. The Fairfax County School Board is responsible for approving the school year calendar.
The Fairfax County School Board is seeking input on starting school in 2017-18 prior to Labor Day. A survey will be sent to parents and staff to determine support.
The calendar change is under consideration as Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is now eligible to waive the state’s post-Labor Day requirement for starting school. FCPS qualifies for the waiver because, during five of the past 10 years, the district has averaged 8.4 days missed due to weather conditions and other events. If school begins in August, the school year would end earlier in June, and after the first year of implementation, summer break will be equally as long as summer break in the current calendar.
FCPS qualifies for the waiver through school year 2019-20. In future years, dependent upon missed days, the waiver may be extended.
There is some community concern regarding the temporary nature of the waiver and the fact that, during its first year of implementation, the summer break will have fewer days. Also, some individuals have raised concerns about disrupting traditional summer vacation plans.
Starting the school year before Labor Day has some benefits that include: additional instructional time before winter break, and more school days to prepare for end-of-year exams including Standards of Learning (SOL) and Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests. Many national tests, such as AP exams, are given on the same date around the country and currently other school systems in Virginia and around the nation have more time to prepare for exams because they start earlier than FCPS. Additionally, an earlier start to the school year provides more flexibility for schools to report seventh semester grades to colleges and universities.
Each year, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) develops a school year calendar that aims to maximize instruction for students while at the same time schedules planning time and professional development days for teachers. The Fairfax County School Board is responsible for approving the school year calendar.
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
causeican
()
Date: March 31, 2016 09:57PM
Achievement gap Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They wouldn't need to do this if they didn't close
> half day and the next day after grades come out,
> Easter Monday, two weeks for Christmas, and at
> least twice per month for teacher workshops and
> other bullshit. And let's not forget every time
> there's even the whisper of the word "snow".
They still don’t NEED to do it. It’s an option. See in the second paragraph of fcps notice posted above, it states: "If school begins in August, the school year would end earlier in June, and after the first year of implementation, summer break will be equally as long as summer break in the current calendar."
-------------------------------------------------------
> They wouldn't need to do this if they didn't close
> half day and the next day after grades come out,
> Easter Monday, two weeks for Christmas, and at
> least twice per month for teacher workshops and
> other bullshit. And let's not forget every time
> there's even the whisper of the word "snow".
They still don’t NEED to do it. It’s an option. See in the second paragraph of fcps notice posted above, it states: "If school begins in August, the school year would end earlier in June, and after the first year of implementation, summer break will be equally as long as summer break in the current calendar."
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
can't do it
()
Date: April 01, 2016 12:36AM
We can't start before Labor Day as that would take away all those valuable instructional days after SOLs, AP exams, etc. We would lose the field days, locker cleanups, and all the other important June activities.
Besides, it would be unfair to other school districts that don't score as high as Fairfax if received as many pre-test instructional days as they do.
Besides, it would be unfair to other school districts that don't score as high as Fairfax if received as many pre-test instructional days as they do.
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
Another reason
()
Date: April 01, 2016 12:38AM
If we end a week earlier then the annual June trip to Disney for administrators would not be possible.
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
Football
()
Date: April 01, 2016 12:39AM
It's too hot to play on the Astroturf in August.
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
Farmer Brown
()
Date: April 01, 2016 04:37AM
But who would harvest the crops?
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
KQM
()
Date: April 01, 2016 01:33PM
So true. Eliminate some of the days off and we wouldn't have to start a week early...ridiculous
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
neUcV
()
Date: April 02, 2016 07:57AM
neUcV
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
Survey what?
()
Date: April 02, 2016 01:23PM
StartbeforeLaborDAY Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dear Parents/Guardians:
>
> Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is now
> eligible, through at least school year 2019-20, to
> begin classes prior to Labor Day. The Fairfax
> County School Board is seeking your input about
> the possibility of starting the 2017-18 school
> year prior to Labor Day through a short survey
> (https://www.surveymnokey.com).
>
> The results will be shared with the School Board
> as they direct the Superintendent to develop the
> 2017-18 school calendars. If school begins prior
> to Labor Day, the school year would end earlier in
> June.
>
> The upcoming 2016-17 school year calendar has
> already been determined and begins after Labor
> Day. More information about the potential calendar
> change, is available at:
> http://www.fcps.edu/news/prelaborday.shtml
>
> Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
>
> Thank you.
"surveymnokey"? I hope you made this mistake and it wasn't a simple cut/paste.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dear Parents/Guardians:
>
> Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is now
> eligible, through at least school year 2019-20, to
> begin classes prior to Labor Day. The Fairfax
> County School Board is seeking your input about
> the possibility of starting the 2017-18 school
> year prior to Labor Day through a short survey
> (https://www.surveymnokey.com).
>
> The results will be shared with the School Board
> as they direct the Superintendent to develop the
> 2017-18 school calendars. If school begins prior
> to Labor Day, the school year would end earlier in
> June.
>
> The upcoming 2016-17 school year calendar has
> already been determined and begins after Labor
> Day. More information about the potential calendar
> change, is available at:
> http://www.fcps.edu/news/prelaborday.shtml
>
> Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
>
> Thank you.
"surveymnokey"? I hope you made this mistake and it wasn't a simple cut/paste.
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
Full Year
()
Date: April 02, 2016 01:26PM
I'd say with the number of vacation and missed days in the FCPS schedule they should really go year round.
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
t9kE9
()
Date: April 12, 2016 11:56AM
t9kE9
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
Fcps watcher
()
Date: April 28, 2016 10:48PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 28, 2016
Fairfax County School Board Directs Superintendent to Draft Pre-Labor Day Start Calendar for 2017-18 Year
The Fairfax County School Board has directed Superintendent Karen K. Garza to draft a calendar for the 2017-18 school year that begins the school year one week earlier prior to Labor Day. Due to this action, the 2017-18 school year will begin on Monday, August 28, 2017.
This change is being made to provide more instructional time before winter break, enhanced flexibility to help students and school staff members meet college application deadlines, and to end the school year earlier in June.
In order to help families and employees adjust, the board is providing direction 15 months prior to the change going into effect.
Input from employee, parent, and community stakeholders will be considered when developing the final 2017-18 calendar for School Board consideration in late fall.
The 2016-17 school year calendar was approved by the School Board on December 3, 2015; the first day of the 2016-17 school year will be September 6.
Fairfax County School Board Directs Superintendent to Draft Pre-Labor Day Start Calendar for 2017-18 Year
The Fairfax County School Board has directed Superintendent Karen K. Garza to draft a calendar for the 2017-18 school year that begins the school year one week earlier prior to Labor Day. Due to this action, the 2017-18 school year will begin on Monday, August 28, 2017.
This change is being made to provide more instructional time before winter break, enhanced flexibility to help students and school staff members meet college application deadlines, and to end the school year earlier in June.
In order to help families and employees adjust, the board is providing direction 15 months prior to the change going into effect.
Input from employee, parent, and community stakeholders will be considered when developing the final 2017-18 calendar for School Board consideration in late fall.
The 2016-17 school year calendar was approved by the School Board on December 3, 2015; the first day of the 2016-17 school year will be September 6.
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
GUL9y
()
Date: April 28, 2016 11:04PM
It's about time.
VA High School kids get the short end once in High School. With the AP tests scheduled by the College Board, FCPS kids always get screwed out of almost a month of instruction time in AP classes between the late start in Sept and up to 2 weeks typically of late start, early release and weather related closures.
Then the kids that take AP classes are for the most part "Finished" with their AP classes in early May and just watch movies and burn time for close to 6 weeks.
Too little to late, my last one is out of FCPS in June of 2017.
VA High School kids get the short end once in High School. With the AP tests scheduled by the College Board, FCPS kids always get screwed out of almost a month of instruction time in AP classes between the late start in Sept and up to 2 weeks typically of late start, early release and weather related closures.
Then the kids that take AP classes are for the most part "Finished" with their AP classes in early May and just watch movies and burn time for close to 6 weeks.
Too little to late, my last one is out of FCPS in June of 2017.
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
causeican
()
Date: April 29, 2016 02:02AM
Fuck that! I hate our School Board. They do not represent my interest at all; on anything! They just do whatever the fuck they want. Why do they even waste more money pretending like they want to know what we think with surveys and listening tours? They lack the proper training and/or ability to make the best decisions for this community. Why the hell did you all vote for them AGAIN?!! Are you all stupid! Nothing personal, but.... really?! WTF!
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
duh!
()
Date: April 29, 2016 08:52AM
causeican Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Fuck that! I hate our School Board. They do not
> represent my interest at all; on anything! They
> just do whatever the fuck they want. Why do they
> even waste more money pretending like they want to
> know what we think with surveys and listening
> tours? They lack the proper training and/or
> ability to make the best decisions for this
> community. Why the hell did you all vote for them
> AGAIN?!! Are you all stupid! Nothing personal,
> but.... really?! WTF!
because apparently they represent the views of the majority of FCPS residents with kids in the system, you don't mean much when it comes to the bigger picture.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Fuck that! I hate our School Board. They do not
> represent my interest at all; on anything! They
> just do whatever the fuck they want. Why do they
> even waste more money pretending like they want to
> know what we think with surveys and listening
> tours? They lack the proper training and/or
> ability to make the best decisions for this
> community. Why the hell did you all vote for them
> AGAIN?!! Are you all stupid! Nothing personal,
> but.... really?! WTF!
because apparently they represent the views of the majority of FCPS residents with kids in the system, you don't mean much when it comes to the bigger picture.
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
RSVP dinner meeting
()
Date: April 29, 2016 03:00PM
There will be a dinner meeting about this for all admins at Ted's Bulletin in Merrifield Monday night May 2nd at 6:30 pm. Use of the county charge cards is authorized. RSVP 571-423-1010 by noon on May 2nd.
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
name
()
Date: April 29, 2016 08:28PM
No its fucking dumb.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm a sassy, sarcastic teenager. I post my real views on things and I don't care what you might think. :) Have a nice day!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm a sassy, sarcastic teenager. I post my real views on things and I don't care what you might think. :) Have a nice day!
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
Alyssa Ciccone
()
Date: August 09, 2017 03:40PM
How can we reverse this Pre-Labor Day start for Fairfax County Schools? NO ONE WANTS it - its bad for our county's economy, morale of our students and peace of mind of our families. PLEASE ADVISE for the next school year!!!
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
6gwpc
()
Date: August 09, 2017 03:44PM
Alyssa Ciccone Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How can we reverse this Pre-Labor Day start for
> Fairfax County Schools? NO ONE WANTS it - its bad
> for our county's economy, morale of our students
> and peace of mind of our families. PLEASE ADVISE
> for the next school year!!!
I advise you to vote with your feet, and a moving truck. Don't let the door hit you in the ass.
-------------------------------------------------------
> How can we reverse this Pre-Labor Day start for
> Fairfax County Schools? NO ONE WANTS it - its bad
> for our county's economy, morale of our students
> and peace of mind of our families. PLEASE ADVISE
> for the next school year!!!
I advise you to vote with your feet, and a moving truck. Don't let the door hit you in the ass.
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
Start Now?
()
Date: August 09, 2017 05:54PM
Some schools are already in session. Start school mid August, and end the school year in mid May.
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
question of the day
()
Date: August 09, 2017 06:11PM
Start Now? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Some schools are already in session. Start school
> mid August, and end the school year in mid May.
IM SO HAPPY THEY ARE GOING BACK SOON
-------------------------------------------------------
> Some schools are already in session. Start school
> mid August, and end the school year in mid May.
IM SO HAPPY THEY ARE GOING BACK SOON
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
Me as well
()
Date: August 09, 2017 06:17PM
I am happy, too! Nobody wants it? Hah!
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
Edward Teach
()
Date: August 09, 2017 07:41PM
Sure, dump your kids off on us early.
Meanwhile, who will bring in the crops.
Meanwhile, who will bring in the crops.
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
Summer.Is.Useless
()
Date: August 09, 2017 08:16PM
Yawn...I live in Cameron Station. My kids go to Tucker Elementary. They've already had a week of school. After attending there K-5 they will receive 6 months of additional education than those in other ACPS schools...
There's a reason the intellectual epicenter of the world is China. They go to school year round.
Ask yourself...do we want to educate our kids or give them too much summer to dick around, get in trouble and not make good use of their time?
There's a reason the intellectual epicenter of the world is China. They go to school year round.
Ask yourself...do we want to educate our kids or give them too much summer to dick around, get in trouble and not make good use of their time?
Re: FCPS 2017-18 School Start Before Labor Day?
Posted by:
Divorced Dad
()
Date: August 09, 2017 10:13PM
For some divorced dads, summer is when we get most of our parenting time with our kids. FCPS has taken away from me one week of summer parenting time with their schedule change this year.