LTKTBKEYS
Posts:4
 | | 12/03/2007 8:35 PM |
 Alert | | Has anyone had any insight as to when the 2008/2009 School year will begin? If so--what are the proposed dates. Thank you. | | | |
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Devil Dog
Posts:411
| | 12/04/2007 1:43 AM |
Alert | | More of the same 2007/2008 - Gets worse before it gets better. | |
"Always Moving Forward" | |
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lazydoubleA
Posts:102
| | 12/04/2007 4:03 PM |
Alert | | What does that mean? | | | |
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Java Lover
Posts:0
| | 12/04/2007 4:17 PM |
Alert | <div class='NTForums_Quote'>Posted By LTKTBKEYS on 12/03/2007 8:35 PM
Has anyone had any insight as to when the 2008/2009 School year will begin? If so--what are the proposed dates. Thank you.</div>
Most schools do not have a calendar approved until spring. Last year MUSD waited until the last minute because they were not sure on the new school's open date. With all the new schools, expect not know the calendar until the last minute.
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barrelracerblonde
Posts:58
| | 12/04/2007 5:46 PM |
Alert | | I gotta tell you- I HATE the half-day every Wednesday. I do not understand why we can't have every other Friday off- it is the same amount of time, plus it is not such a hassle for both teachers and parents. The teachers have voiced concern about the kids not staying on task on Wednesday's, and then having to re-teach information on Thursday. Who did the board go to for input on that decision? I really hope they will reconsider that for next year...... | |
Inducted into membership 1/10/2008 | |
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cactus flower
Posts:210
| | 12/04/2007 7:13 PM |
Alert | | A calendar committee will be organized and start meeting in January. | | | |
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Devil Dog
Posts:411
| | 12/05/2007 1:12 AM |
Alert | | One day they will get there ducks in a row! I give it 5 years. | |
"Always Moving Forward" | |
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lazydoubleA
Posts:102
| | 12/05/2007 5:18 AM |
Alert | | If they did every other Friday off, where would the parents send their kids on those days? At least Wednesdays have the after school program. I am sure that the teachers would like the Fridays off. (Staff devopment, not actually off) but parents would just scream, unless there is a parent home who doesn't go into work on those Fridays. I believe they will listen to parent input, just not sure who you should talk to. | | | |
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Azgram01
Posts:284
| | 12/05/2007 7:37 AM |
Alert | | Some of the schools do not have after school programs.......a lot the children are staying home by themselves until their parents get home......after school and for the Early release days. | | | |
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Bionicbunny
Posts:594
| | 12/05/2007 7:52 AM |
Alert | <div class='NTForums_Quote'>Posted By barrelracerblonde on 12/04/2007 5:46 PM
The teachers have voiced concern about the kids not staying on task on Wednesday's, and then having to re-teach information on Thursday. </div>
I saw this coming; it's common sense. As a kid, did any of you get much done when you knew it was a 1/2 day at school? I know someone will say "yes, of course I worked hard even on 1/2 days" but I won't believe it. Even in high school, 1/2 days were goof off days for everyone. Ugh! | | | |
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janedo
Posts:75
| | 12/05/2007 8:22 AM |
Alert | I think attendance would be affected way too much by having every other Friday off.
If you don't like it, join the group that goes to Kyrene schools... oh wait, Kyrene has done 1/2 day Wednesdays for as long as I can remember, so that wouldn't be a good alternative. | | | |
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justcurious
Posts:75
| | 12/05/2007 9:24 AM |
Alert | Hey janedo,
Kyrene is a great alternative....by the time a kid takes the long bus ride home on the half day they get to Maricopa probably about normal release time. Oh and if they ride the bus on the other days no need to worry about before or after school care as the bus ride covers that too....leave early get home late. What a wonderful childhood! | | | |
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itsjustmandy
Posts:66
| | 12/05/2007 9:57 AM |
Alert | I HATE the half-day every Wednesday.
this is our first year in the copa. why do we release early on wednesday? i'd never heard of this practice til moving here.
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barrelracerblonde
Posts:58
| | 12/05/2007 12:32 PM |
Alert | | I was told that it was so the teachers can have time for their continuing education. I agree that the teachers need time to do what is required- goodness knows they don't get paid well enough! I think a two full days off would be easier than four half days each month. The aftercare programs are good here, and daycare would be an issue for me, too, but it is anyway as it is now. I do have the flexibility to work differing days and hours, just a pain in the rear to request and get every single Wednesday off. | |
Inducted into membership 1/10/2008 | |
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maricopaswimcoach
Posts:23
| | 12/05/2007 1:36 PM |
Alert | | I work for Tempe Elementary school district and every Friday is a half day. It is used for one of four things. It is either used for indiviual planning, grade level collaboration, school staff development ot district staff development. I rarely hear about our students goofing off every Friday. I know mine don't and I'd be happy to invite bionicbunny to my class any Friday to observe the learning. It's unfortunate that some people don't see the value of this time for the teachers. Maybe moving it to another day would be better, and I also think the district needs to be sensitive to the needs of the parents and have after school child care available. | | | |
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lazydoubleA
Posts:102
| | 12/06/2007 4:58 AM |
Alert | | Another thing you need to think about. Kids are required to attend school 180 days per year. 1/2 days count as days (should be 3/4 days as they go for 5 hours, not 7) they are also required to go so many hours. If they had every other Friday off, they would have to add another 20 days to the school calendar! | | | |
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barrelracerblonde
Posts:58
| | 12/06/2007 7:48 AM |
Alert | | I did not realize that lazydoubleA... I would not like another 20 days tacked on either! Summertime is fun time and to go an additional month would really bite! Thanks for the info! Maybe we can rally to have it switched to another day- I wouldn't mind Friday 1/2 days...we could start the weekend early then! The staff does need additional planning and development hours. Who do we contact to ask to have it changed? I would be happy to write a letter to the board if I can back it up with some hard statistics on why we should change the half day to Friday. | |
Inducted into membership 1/10/2008 | |
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lazydoubleA
Posts:102
| | 12/06/2007 4:02 PM |
Alert | | I think that the only reason that the district would not allow Fridays as an early release day is that maybe parents (or teachers) would use that time for a 3 day weekend. Attendance would drop on those days. I really wish I knew of a workable solution. | | | |
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Russian Mama
Posts:29
| | 12/07/2007 4:48 PM |
Alert | <div class='NTForums_Quote'>Posted By barrelracerblonde on 12/04/2007 5:46 PM
I gotta tell you- I HATE the half-day every Wednesday. I do not understand why we can't have every other Friday off- it is the same amount of time, plus it is not such a hassle for both teachers and parents. The teachers have voiced concern about the kids not staying on task on Wednesday's, and then having to re-teach information on Thursday. Who did the board go to for input on that decision? I really hope they will reconsider that for next year......</div>
A survey went home at the end of the school year to all parents giving them two options, one was the current 1/2 day Wednesday with an end date in late May. The other was 1 Friday a month with no school and an end date of mid-June. The decision was based on which option got the most votes so we all as a community decided.
I work in the schools and have to disagree about them not being on task on Wednesdays, I see work getting done in the classes that are doing well and struggles to complete work in classes that struggle anyway. I think less work gets done on a full day Friday than a 1/2 day Wednesday. There are lots of things that teachers can get done on Wednesday afternoons.
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lazydoubleA
Posts:102
| | 12/08/2007 7:06 AM |
Alert | | Russian Mama, let me ask you this. You said that you work in the schools, having 1 Friday a month off, (not staff), would you like to work until the middle of June? With 2 Fridays off, you would work until the end of June, thus having only 1 month off. What would you do with your kids (if you have any in the district). The kids would hate that. The teachers and parents would hate that as it would be harder to plan vacations, and daycare would be an issue on those Fridays. I believe that the district is looking for school employees to be on the calendar committee, maybe you could join and provide input. I must say, I do not know what would be best and really have no opinion, only reasons why some suggestions may not work. | | | |
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