Monday Randoms

[penguingrrl]

We only get 2 days off for thanksgiving with a half day Wednesday. And winter break typically starts with a half day the 23rd and we go back the 2nd. This year we get a few extra days because there is no school Monday the 23rd.

Honestly, I wish winter break were a day longer. Going back to school the 2nd casts a pall over New Years and as a result I fucking hate that holiday. Even one more day after it to reset would be great.

[expectantsteelerfan]

I love any breaks we get. This year my kids were supposed to go back Thurs. Jan. 2, but the district recently (like a week or so ago) decided to give them that Thurs. and Fri. off, so now they go back Jan 6, and I'm all for it. Dh is actually off the week after Christmas this year (he either gets the week before or the week after), and I'm trying to figure out if we can plan a last minute getaway.

I would also appreciate a more balanced calendar with more breaks other than holidays and summer because we would definitely travel.

[beerlover]

For Thanksgiving, our district gets a half day on Wednesday and then we're off through Tuesday. Mon/Tues are mainly for the beginning of hunting season.

Christmas break starts after school Friday the 20th, and like penguingrrl we go back January 2nd which basically ruin's New Year's Day for me. I guess they don't want to make the break extra long by not going back until the 6th, though.

[abs]

See we get a long summer AND a 2.5 week Christmas break AND a week at Thanksgiving AND spring break AND fall break AND February break. I love the extra weeks but have always wished that summer was shorter. They don’t need 11 weeks off.

This year it all changes though. Once DD starts marching band then summer is over in mid July for her and both October break and Thanksgiving are eaten up by Band.

[Jalapeñomel]

Nov 19, 2024 8:33:09 GMT -5 abs said:

See we get a long summer AND a 2.5 week Christmas break AND a week at Thanksgiving AND spring break AND fall break AND February break. I love the extra weeks but have always wished that summer was shorter. They don’t need 11 weeks off.

This year it all changes though. Once DD starts marching band then summer is over in mid July for her and both October break and Thanksgiving are eaten up by Band.

How many school days per year? This seems like a lot! 

[noodleoo]

Nov 19, 2024 0:06:26 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

Here the kids get off the entire week of Thanksgiving and 2 full weeks for winter holidays.

My county only has 8 weeks off for summer. They are on a "balanced calendar" with a full week for fall break, winter break (different from winter holiday break-this is in Feb.), and spring break.

Plus the usual holidays and teacher development days.

Interesting, this sounds pretty similar to the standard calendar in MA and I wouldn't call it a balanced calendar.  We only get 2.5 days for Thanksgiving, which always seems dumb because they do nothing that week.  Usually 1.5 weeks for the holidays, 1 week in Feb and 1 week in April, which leaves us 8-9 weeks for summer break.  

[abs]

Nov 19, 2024 9:18:54 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Nov 19, 2024 8:33:09 GMT -5 abs said:

See we get a long summer AND a 2.5 week Christmas break AND a week at Thanksgiving AND spring break AND fall break AND February break. I love the extra weeks but have always wished that summer was shorter. They don’t need 11 weeks off.

This year it all changes though. Once DD starts marching band then summer is over in mid July for her and both October break and Thanksgiving are eaten up by Band.

How many school days per year? This seems like a lot! 

They go by required minutes of instruction time instead of days. So instead of 180 instruction days or whatever it’s 75,600 minutes. It makes for a long school day. 7 hours and 20 minutes. Then if you are in an activity like band or sports it’s even longer.

[bex1973]

Nov 19, 2024 7:16:57 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Nov 19, 2024 0:06:26 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

Here the kids get off the entire week of Thanksgiving and 2 full weeks for winter holidays.

My county only has 8 weeks off for summer. They are on a "balanced calendar" with a full week for fall break, winter break (different from winter holiday break-this is in Feb.), and spring break.

Plus the usual holidays and teacher development days.

As a working parent, I find myself longing for a balanced calendar more and more, especially now that she's older.

I would love to have some weeks outside of the traditional school calendar for travel.

We love the balanced calendar! We love being able to travel on Intersession because it's not as busy but also my kid benefits so much from having those weeks off. Sometimes we just hang at home but no alarms are amazing!

[Jalapeñomel]

Nov 19, 2024 9:27:04 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Nov 19, 2024 0:06:26 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

Here the kids get off the entire week of Thanksgiving and 2 full weeks for winter holidays.

My county only has 8 weeks off for summer. They are on a "balanced calendar" with a full week for fall break, winter break (different from winter holiday break-this is in Feb.), and spring break.

Plus the usual holidays and teacher development days.

Interesting, this sounds pretty similar to the standard calendar in MA and I wouldn't call it a balanced calendar.  We only get 2.5 days for Thanksgiving, which always seems dumb because they do nothing that week.  Usually 1.5 weeks for the holidays, 1 week in Feb and 1 week in April, which leaves us 8-9 weeks for summer break.  

I have also never heard this called a balanced calendar, and this schedule is common here. But it's because we get all the Jewish high holidays off, Chinese New Year, Eid, Easter, Passover, Christmas, and the smattering of non-religious holidays (Juneteenth, Labor Day, etc).