At the meeting on Monday night the School Board also tentatively approved the 2012-2013 school calendar. The approved calendar has the students starting on Thursday, August 23rd and getting out on Friday, May 24th. This is a slight change from what is traditionally approved for the school calendar. If the district were to adopt a more traditional calendar the students would start on Monday, August 27th and get out on Wednesday, May 29th. You can find a copy of the tentative calendar here. Another change in the calendar that I believe will help our school district is that there are more professional development days for the teachers. These days are vital for the students as the school district moves toward customizing educational experiences for our students.
I can not understand the reasoning behind this start date for school for 2012/13! 8/23! Then, the last day is before Labor Day?. Why would you start a school year on a a Thurs? All the years we have been here it has been a Mon. It is usually the last Mon. of August.
ReplyDeleteThis week in the summer is a prime vacation week for alot of people. Our elementary schools have no air conditioning!
I really hope since this says tentative that it is reviewed and changed.
Yes, the elementary schools are ridiculously hot. My child comes home with red cheeks each day during the first week of school.
ReplyDeleteAlso, why are waiting for an entire week for Kennywood? Many people go on vacation the day after Kennywood. My kids go to their grandparents the day after Kennywood.
If you want this new calendar to work, why not move Kennywood earlier in May like Jeannette and Hempfield does? Why have us wait around a week to start our summer schedules? Kennywood is our last school obligation---yes, it is mandatory for the little ones! LOL.
Thanks for "listening."
I love the idea of starting school with a short week. It is such a long week for my little ones and they are exhausted by the end of the first 5 day week. What a great way to ease into the school year.
ReplyDeleteI am fine with change, but I wish this would have been brought up to the parents at the Parent Advisory Council Meeting and had an opportunity for discussion. I think that if this was going to be a change it should have been before February as families already have their vacations planned for this summer. I would also like to hear why it was changed. Maybe there is some educational reason.
ReplyDeleteI am fine with a shortened first week of school but why earlier in August when it is hot and some of our schools do not have air conditioning? Why not start the inservice days on August 27th giving the students 2 days of instruction then the following week of Labor Day - 4 days of instruction and extend the school year into June when it is not as hot? But I guess this will benefit families who want to make their vacation over the Memorial Day weekend and then through that week.
Looking at the calendar, I see we added a day off in October and another day in February making the 15th-18th a 4 day weekend. And I do see that we no longer have a 6 day Spring Recess, as we go back on Tuesday. No problem. We will be out of school on the 24th if there are no snow makeup days. The kids will have a whole week out of school before the Kennywood Picnic.
I am not opposed to change, as I do believe that change can be great. But in this circumstance, it would have been nice if the calendar had been brought up for discussion earlier instead of approval in February with this type of change.
Thanks for listening.
Lisa Popovich
Parent of two in PT
I agree with Mrs. Popovich... this should have been brought to the attention of the PT parents sooner!It is a very big change! I know of several families that have a vacation already booked for this week in August. It is a popular week to go away, the rates are down at the beach and yes... you have to book in Jan. or Feb. for that time of year.
ReplyDeleteI just feel that it is too early in August for the kids to go back. Our schools are so hot as it is for these kids... especially the ones with asthma.
I do not like the Thurs. start. I hope all comments are reviewed and this is revisited and changed.
The tentative calendar should have been brought to the attention of the parents earlier. I always look for the calendar on the website in January so we can make our vacation plans - the week before school starts and like alot of parents, we "assumed" the 27th and booked our vacations. Alot of kids might be missing the first two days due to vacations, my son included. What about the early May end date. Summer camps usually don't start until the second week in June.
ReplyDeleteI am confused on the end of the tentative school calendar for the 2012-2013 school year.....If the last day of instruction will be on May 24th, why would you have May 28th as a 5th day make up snow day? You are tentatively having a make up day after the last day of instruction. A week later for Kennywood. Why not start on the 27th of August and get out the end of May?
ReplyDeleteI agree with the others... the calendar change should have been made known to the parents at the beginning of this school year. Our family, like many others, has already made vacation plans for the week before school starts (or supposed to start). What are we supposed to do when deposits are already paid? My kids are very upset about missing the first two days of school, and quite frankly, my husband and I are upset about it as well. We don't know what to do now. When work schedules are not flexible, and you can only go on vacation at a certain time of the year, this makes it really rough on everyone!!! Besides, it is
ReplyDeleteWAY TOO HOT for the kids to be going back so early and sit in hot classrooms. They can't concentrate on their work while they are sweating! My son comes home with heat rash all over every time it's hot in school. It's bad enough that they go back at the end of August instead of after Labor Day like most districts. PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS CHANGE. The school board may not think two days is a big deal, but to most of us parents, it is quite a big deal. You'll have a lot of kids missing the first two days!
I think this calendar is awesome, perfectly manageable, and fair to the students (and teachers), who will get at least one day off each month if the weather cooperates. It's refreshing to see the school district try new things, and I, for one, welcome the changes.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea as well.
ReplyDeleteChange is is not the problem. Great for all that they will have at least one day a month but why start earlier and finish earlier??? Why more days in hot August and less days in rainy May? Kids are not focused in August when they are doing nothing but sweating. And this effects everyone in our community, not just teachers, students and parents but business because of kids who work for them and also Daycare and Preschools. When you have people planning things around the school district you have to be more transparent about this type of change. Change is good when it's productive change that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteI like the change to the school calendar. I like that there are more professional days for teachers and the students will have a break once a month. I like that we will start on a Thursday and ease into the school year. I like that we will end on a Friday eliminating the day and a half that never made sense to me!
ReplyDeleteChange needs to come with an acceptable warning that it's coming. I don't see the purpose of them starting earlier so they can get out earlier. Kids are not ready to go back in August. Their minds are still at the pool when it's hot. The class rooms are boiling in August. We have vacation scheduled for that week. Deposit has been made and my husband can't change his schedule, so now what??? Also, I am not happy about them taking away a day for spring break. Spring break is already not long enough in my opinion. Some schools get a whole week off. The School Board absolutely needs to reconsider this change, if not permanently, at least until 2013-2014 to give parents and students time to adjust. The schedule has been this way since my husband was in school(at least 24 years ago). I see absolutely no reason to change now! I hope the school board realizes that it's not just the teachers and students involved, it affects the whole community as well. Reconsider this Change!
ReplyDeleteWay is this change happening? You have extra off days which means parents who have to work, needs to adjust their schedules more. Change is not a bad thing, but on this, it effects everyone, not just the students. May 24th is the last day of school for the 2012- 2013, does that mean the kids will go back to school earlier again in August for the following year or will they go back later?
ReplyDeleteTwo days earlier is not a week earlier. The kids have gone back to school in August every year that my child has attended PTSD. I don't understand what the big deal is. Norwin started an entire full week earlier than PTSD this year, and the inexplicable one half-day at the end of May (after Memorial Day holiday and teacher in-service day) this year is a total waste of a week, imho. This calendar eliminates that waste while providing exactly what the school district needs. The fact that things "have been done that way" for 24 years is precisely the heart of the issue here in this school district. It's time to enter the 21st century.
ReplyDeleteWhy is doing it differently considered the "21st century"? It's all in what plans people are making for summer and work schedules with having childcare available. Also it has to do with teenagers who have work scheduled to consider. It affects all different aspects. Two days may not seem to make a big difference, but when it comes to scheduling vacation in advance, it make all the difference in the world. If the school district is concerned about wasting time, they should reorganize the kids school day and spend more time on subjects "teaching" and do less "busy" work during the school days. I agree that the last week seems like a waste. But, there should be another way than to start the kids earlier when it affects so many different things that are involved. Also, the notice should be given earlier.
ReplyDeleteSorry to butt in on your "discussion" with other posters, but I now feel it's necessary to comment. First, is your complaint about vacation schedules or about work schedules?--because it seems illogical to think that a teenager's summer work schedule would be finalized 6 months in advance, and if the teenagers in question have already scheduled vacation during this August week, what work schedules would they have to rearrange? Second, along the same lines, if parents are working full-time, it stands to reason that these families already have full-time childcare arranged to meet their needs. Third, what is your suggestion(s) for starting the school year later, eliminating the last attendance date after Memorial Day, and still getting the kids to school for the required 180 days? Fourth, how is six months' notice not enough notice? Sorry, but your posts sound personally inspired rather than interested in the greater good.
DeletePlease forgive me for it sounding that it was for personal reasons. I AM concerned for the greater good. That is why I am expressing concerns for all aspects of this change and who it affects. All of these blogs weren't from me so I'm confused as to some of the things you were asking about. I didn't make any "suggestions" about anything, so I can't answer to that. But I have talked to many people from the school district that are upset with this change for many different reasons. And as you can see from the different blogs, there is a wide range of concern. Everything from, how hot it is in the classrooms, for kids with health concerns, to people who have already planned vacation that week and they can't change it with their employers, to summer work programs/community service teens are involved with, and so on. I'm not saying that all changes are bad, but it should have been handled differently. Most people probably don't even know about it yet because it hasn't be formally announced. I'm sure there will be more blogs to come when they do find out about the change to come.
DeleteMy point was that no one (so far) had made any suggestions about how to address the calendar issues, except by saying, "leave it the way it's always been done." Vocalizing opposition is one thing, but without concrete, viable alternatives, opposition just sounds like whining.
DeleteI also disagree with the changes to the calendar. It is simply too early to start back to school. Our schools are boiling hot in August!I feel like alot of summer programs and sporting tournaments will still be going on until the end of this week in August.
ReplyDeleteThe end date is also too early. The pools and park programs and most summer activities aren't even open until Memorial Day.!
This is a prime vacation week for alot of people!We also have booked our vacation that week. Rates are lower. Bookings have to be done at this time of year.
We were really surprised to see this tentative calendar in the paper. I feel like alot of students will be absent these 2 days.
I know change is good... but this just dosen't make sense! I do hope it is reviewed and changed!
I also disagree with the changes to the calendar. It is simply too early to start back to school. Our schools are boiling hot in August!I feel like alot of summer programs and sporting tournaments will still be going on until the end of this week in August.
ReplyDeleteThe end date is also too early. The pools and park programs and most summer activities aren't even open until Memorial Day.!
This is a prime vacation week for alot of people!We also have booked our vacation that week. Rates are lower. Bookings have to be done at this time of year.
We were really surprised to see this tentative calendar in the paper. I feel like alot of students will be absent these 2 days.
I know change is good... but this just dosen't make sense! I do hope it is reviewed and changed!
I appreciate all of the comments and opinions expressed concerning the school calendar. Tomorrow I am going to print all of the comments and send them to the School Board so they can be made aware of the discussion. I will update The Board with any new comments once a week until the March meeting so they are aware of what is being said. Again, thank you for participating. This is how I envisioned the blog working.
ReplyDeleteI believe some years it has been warmer in early September than it has been in August. I don't think that you can predict what the temperature will be now, but I don't believe that it will be that much if a difference between Monday and the Thursday before. For those concerned about vacation, isn't educational travel an option?
ReplyDelete"Educational travel", the summer vacation is starting before school even starts, it would only be the last two days - so are the parents to get the last two days approved? When are they to do it,the last day of school for this year? The calendar used to be posted in January which made planning alot easier and if the calendar will be approved in March now and in the future, alot of people already have their plans/deposits made at the end of January. I don't think that the issue is just only summer trips. The heat is one and the change in schedule. We are used to always being the last Monday in August. Starting two days early, no big deal....why not make them maybe half days? So if alot of kids will be out those last two days in August, mine included, they will only miss one day instead of two and the ease into the new year will be short days and the kids will still have the afternoon to do what they want to do. Getting out May 24th, is too early....when are the kids to start school the following new term, middle of August? Just my two cents: Keep the calendar with the school year being the last Monday in August and out the end of May.
ReplyDeleteYes and yes.
ReplyDeleteWhy are some of you assuming that a May 24 last day of school year means the kids start earlier in August the following school year? That doesn't even make sense.
ReplyDeleteIt is not an assumption. It was only asking a question/statement. It is all part of the comments that are being written.
ReplyDeleteGoing to go out on a limb here and say that I actually prefer taking our family vacation during Memorial Day week because then we use less vacation days from work and get even better rates than you can get in August because it's before summer season really starts. So I like this calendar and it will help out my family economics. May not help others this year but can greatly in the future years.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you! Already looking at prices in Orlando for next year!
ReplyDeleteJust like if you go on vacation at the end of August, costs are alot less too since it is at the end of summer, that is whey we go at that time, to save money. So no matter how you look at this, this new "tentative" calendar, it effects everyone. If you keep the calendar the other way or you change it the new way, there are going to be complaints. I bet if there is a poll for the old way vs. the new "tentative" calendar, the old calendar will outweigh though. In my opinion, I just don't know why the new start date and the end date so early. I can see if there is some kind of revamping, rebuilding,etc. You have one day off every month, does that really benefit the kids? Is the calendar being changed to follow other school districts? What actually is the reasoning for this change? That should be the main question.
ReplyDelete@10:19 am poster: Telephoning the people elected to the school board would lead to the answers to your questions. As Dr. Butler's blog entry states, "there are more professional development days for the teachers. These days are vital for the students as the school district moves toward customizing educational experiences for our students." I read that as a factor in the change. And yes, studies have shown that breaks are beneficial to student learning, which is why this year's calendar has been horrendous; I'll look up the specific studies and post links so that you can read them for yourself. (Or you can google them.) In fact, year-round schooling calendars--in which students go to school all year but have 3 to 4 weeks off between academic sessions--have had resounding successes across the country. Shall we offer up that possibility to the school board?
ReplyDeleteI have read what Dr. Butler stated. But starting school two days earlier than usual and getting out earlier? Maybe we should offer up having the winter months off so when it snows and is freezing outside the kids are already home.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good plan; do you want to write the proposal, or should I?
DeletePeople!!!! To the three, four, or five of you who are dominating these posts: You all realize that this ridiculous online argument is over exactly 2 days of your childrens' lives, right??? And that, in the grander scheme of things, 2 days is hopefully less than a drop in the bucket??? And that your concerns or support would be better spent speaking to "real" human people with names, such as School Board members??? And that the rest of us don't care about your vacation schedules??? Change or status quo, I'm embarrassed to be part of a school district whose members bicker back and forth like this over the petty, insignificant details. I certainly hope that none of you are teachers in this school district because these aren't the role models I'm wishing for for my kids.
ReplyDeleteApplaud!
ReplyDeleteLet's give change chance! I am excited to see and welcome this and
ReplyDeleteany change with the intention of improving education for our children. I also love to see all the posts - thank you all for being involved! I am most thankful to Dr. Butler for allowing our input. It means the world to me to have a voice in what is happening with my child's education. I also have faith in our educational leaders to make decisions for the greater good. Whatever the outcome, our children have great educational opportunities at PT. We should count ourselves VERY lucky if this is our biggest concern right now.
Change is great. Notice is essential. Vacations are planned. Please, give us a year to prepare. This will be my daughters first year riding the bus in the morning and attending ALL day. If this goes through she will miss her entire first 2 days. Please give us until 2013 for the change.
ReplyDeleteChange IS great! Lets get on with it and get this show on the road. I want to graduate before Memorial Day next year so that I can enjoy my entire summer. Please approve the tentative schedule AS IS for the 2012 school year.
ReplyDeleteIn today's Trib (2-25-12) Norwin approved their calendar, school starts August 21st ends May 24th.
ReplyDeleteDo we have to be like Norwin?
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't want to be like Norwin?
DeleteNorwin does seem to provide its students with more resources, particularly technological resources, than PT (I do think that PT is good as a whole). The extras may be the result of a larger or more affluent tax base, I don't know. But as far as resources and opportunities go, yeah, I would like to be more like Norwin.
DeleteWhat technological resources? Norwin doesn't have any Smartboards. Their high school has two promethean boards and a few Elmo's, no iPads (except for elem life-support classes), no e-readers in library.
DeletePT has much more technology than Norwin.
Nice buildings, but less technology.
Funny, the Norwin parents I know rave about how their district gave every student an iPad this year (no mention of "life support"), rather than the 30 or so the entire PT schools have to share. And you may want to read about their Center for 21st Century Learning (http://www.norwinsd.org/domain/1135). Most importantly, kindergarten is a full-time reality and the middle school kids get the option of learning Spanish--two things I don't see as possibilities here in PT.
DeleteThey have a classroom set of ipads in their computer lab at elementary level. So when the class goes to the computer lab, each child can use one. iPads aren't given to the kids, no one takes them home, there isn't one for every student, just a classroom set. Each child in autistic support has their own. I got this information from a Norwin elem teacher.
DeleteThe 21st century learning is their cyberschool. Students can attend cyberschool using that website or they can create a hybrid and spend half the day in school and half at home at the cyberschool.
Yes, middle school students take a year-long intro to languages in which they spend time on all of the languages.
There really is very little technology at the high school.
Just saying that other districts are going the same route. It appears to me that most of the resistance to this change is self serving by parents that may be inconvienced by this change. Agreed that the schools are hot this time of year and that should be the only concern, ie: the children. That being said starting with a 2 day week will give them a break instead of starting off with 5 straight days. I know personally that going back to work after vacation is tough, being able to ease into it would be a nice option.
ReplyDeleteI COMPLETELY agree with the above post. The issue here should be ALL of the district's schoolchildren and what is in their best interest. OK, we get that a family or two have already scheduled their vacation since we have read it (too often) on these blogs--center of the universe much?
ReplyDeleteI think that most of the changes to the new school calendar are a good idea and beneficial to the students. I don't like the idea of starting back earlier in August for the simple fact that many years it is still VERY hot at the end of August, and the elementary and Middle schools are extremely hot. I would rather see the days added onto the end of the calendar in June. For many High School students involved in activities, August is already a wash as sport practices and band camp begin in Early August, and I believe the football teams first game is the 25th as well. The extra days off during the year are a welcome relief. We have gone too many weeks, particulary in the the winter and spring with little or no breaks, many districts, not just Norwin, have 3 or 4 day weekends almost every month. This gives kids a break and a chance to recharge. I also like the fact that possible snow make up days are added to the end of the year, eliminating the practice of taking away days off in the middle of the year for make up days. Change is good, the two days off at Memorial Day always seemed like a waste anyway and coming back for Wednesday and a half a day Thursday was silly as well, there have been many years children were missing because families started vacations early.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I am going out on a limb here after reading all of these blogs.....two days starting earlier is not a big deal....why not make them half days instead. I know of some schools that do that. I have read alot of people on these posts saying a short week is a good idea to ease the kids into a new year, why not half days those two days? Vacations, yes vacations again the topic, are already planned based on previous years as the school start date, the last Monday in August, which we were so used too. So with the new tentative school calendar, it does effect alot of the kids. Probably the classes will have only half attending. I already know of kids being out those two days, basing the calendar on previous years. What about the parents who work and has a set scheduled vacation week to take their kids away before the start of school (the last Monday in August)? Summer is a very busy time for vacations! Some like early trips and some like late trips. I am not saying that change is bad and the calendar could work, but with a change like this, this type of change should have been posted sooner (like January). People like to plan vacations early in the year. If you post a calendar like this, posting it in March or April, it is hard to make any plans. I am not saying this calendar is not a good one, it is just a switch from what we are used too, more off days, earlier start date and earlier end date, etc. Make this kind of a calendar for the following school year so that we will already be prepared that the school year of 2013-2014 won't have the usual last Monday in August start date and if the parents decide to still take their kids away on vacation that week school starts, then that is their choice and then use "educational" for their summer vacation. Right now, we don't have a choice, I know "educational" right? Getting out before Memorial Day, that is kindda early in my opinion. The new calendar has its advantages and disadvantages and guess what, everyone is not going to be happy. We can voice our opinion all we want but we don't make the decision. There is alot of valid input in some of these blogs and hopefully the board will take into account these inputs. Just MY opinion and only my opinion, everyone has their own, keep the school calendar with the start date of August 27th and the end date of May 29th and then change it the following year....but when the calendar comes out, post it in January 2013!!!!
ReplyDeleteActually the calendar was posted the second week of February at the board meeting, not March or April. How much earlier does it need to be announced?
DeleteA more appropriate question is who takes their kids on vacation the week before school starts anyway? That's the week you're supposed to spend reintegrating structure and schedules to their daily routines so that they ARE prepared to start school instead of wishing they were still at the pool. I question the overall sensibility of such a practice.
DeleteParents choice!!! Why would someone want to take a vacation week of memorial day or better yet take their kids out a full week being used as an 'educational' trip. If a patent wants to take a summer trip the week before school, that's their choice and besides they dont have to take their kids out of class...you take your vacation when we want and everyone else takes their vacation when they want and nothing should be questioned.
DeleteEntitled to whatever opinion I choose. Never said you had to share that opinion. And you might want to check what you post before you post it--"you take your vacation when we want" says it all!
DeleteCorrection, parents take vacation when they want....everyone has an opinion and is able to voice it....so it looks like everyone voiced their own opinion. You take your vacation when you want and I will take mine when I want....enough said.
DeleteEnough said--IF it's the last time we have to hear about vacations...
DeleteWe need to FOCUS on our children's future and education!!! If starting earlier is already approved, then we need to accomodate the schools with the proper ventilation that fits with the seasons!!
ReplyDelete@ 1:14 poster, it was not on the actual PT website front page where it states school calendar...it still states 2011-2012. The only way to find this out was to go to Dr. Butler's link. Some people that I talked to didn't even know the calendar was "tentative" and not knowing there is a change in start date. In the past it has been posted the second week in January! Some parents don't even go on the website for take home Tuesday.....
ReplyDelete@ 1:29 poster--The proposed calendar was printed in the Penn-Trafford Star at least two weeks ago, which would make it publicly reported information mid-Feb. Isn't that publication delivered free-of-charge to every househould in the district's townships and boroughs via the USPS? That's the only way I receive my copy. In other words, the calendar has been in everyone's home. If people are uninformed, it's nobody's fault but their own.
ReplyDeleteAs for holding up the proposed changes to appease whoever is unhappy about it--do your boroughs and townships delay raising taxes, just because some people don't like it? NO. The claims that half the student body will be absent the first two days are ludicrously overexaggerated because certain people think such a claim boosts their credibility and the credence of their argument--which, by the way, it does not. Even if half the student body were actually absent the first two days (highly IMPROBABLE), then that just means my children will get extra individualized attention for a few days, which is more than fine by me.
Absolutely cannot wait for the March school board meeting to put an end to all this ridiculousness.
I have always thought that it would be easier on the kids to go back mid-week instead of with a full week. I also think they need more breaks during the year, a day here and there is very beneficial.
ReplyDeleteI agree it can be very hot in our schools but it is often hot right thru Sept so the extra couple of days in August is not going to have a significant impact.
I can't see what won't work about the new calendar other than it is just not meeting the expectations of everyone which stands to reason since it is a change. We will get used to it and move on.
Now, can we do something about not posting classroom assignments on the doors of the elementary schools, forcing us to drive up to the school the week before it starts??
My only questions....Do we think it is not going to snow again next winter? Is this why our fifth snow makeup day is AFTER the last day of school?? I do not think we will get this lucky again in the winter.
ReplyDeleteI understand change is hard to accept, but two days really does not make much of a difference. It would have been nice to give the parents the courtesy of a little notice due to work schedules and family vacations. As long as the teachers do not send out work to do in the mail before the first day (shoe boxes, etc) there shouldn't be an issue. As far as doing something about room assignments being posted on the door of the school - it is not only an inconvenience for some, it is a security issue for all.
While I do love the idea of starting the year off with a short week, I don't understand the rush to start so early and be done so early. The elementary schools are ridiculously hot in August.
ReplyDeleteI'd much rather we start later, have a couple of extra days off during the year and get out later. We could do all of those things and still be out in early June with plenty of time to not interfere with the older kid's summer jobs and early college starts.
Since the school board meeting is scheduled for tonight, I wanted to take the opportunity to express support for the proposed 2012-2013 calendar. Hopefully the school board members will realize this is their opportunity to show their commitment and dedication to the children in this school district and what is in their best interests.
ReplyDeleteI hope it is not too late to post a comment. I just wanted to bring it to the administrations attention that the calendar posted has January 21, 2013 designated as "Act 80 and 1st make-up day". I'm assuming this is an error, since Act 80 days count as student days.
ReplyDeleteI do NOT like the idea of starting earlier! Schools are way to hot in August. We have no air in most of our schools unlike some other districts that have started earlier. Obviously this is not my only problem with it. That would be a bit shallow but as a whole I do not like the idea. Too me it is still summer where some people go on vacations, etc. However the changes in between are not bad I would just extend the year rather then start earlier and I really hate the idea of waiting a week for Kennywood. I love the fact that it is the day after school ends. Too me it offically ends the yr on a fun note.
ReplyDeleteI just don't understand why you have two makeup days after May 24th. The grades will be in and attendance. If you can't put the snow days during the school calendar before the last day of instruction, then the year should be starting a little later and the kids getting out a few days later and the make up days will be before the last day of instruction.
ReplyDeleteLike starting on a Thursday but not earlier in August - schools too hot. Always thought the last week of school - day and a half was a waste. Just because the kids are in school 180 days doesnt' mean they get 180 days of instruction. Don't think having a day off a month does anything for the kids, don't see them re-charging just getting off of routine. And just because I work full time doesn't mean I have child care, they are in school so I don't need child care, if you give them a day off during the week then I need child care. Why can't the teachers have professional development days in the summer? They work 9 months and get paid like they work 12. and I also agree a week between end of school and Kennywood is ridiculus. I did not go to school in this area growing up, so I never understood the whole go to an amusement park as a school thing (guess it's good business for Kenneywood). But it is a tradition here in PT to go the day after school ends - kids count on this - last hurrah of school year. And yes Norwin and Hempfield go earlier in May and if you look back over the years have more bad weather than good.
ReplyDelete