drafts of the CCS calendar

[munn5]

CCS has applied to the state for a waiver for the 185 school day rule (back to the past 180 days). They had to submit draft calendars with the waiver application.

Here are the drafts - note that both have snow make-up days on Saturdays.

185-day http://www.chatham.k12.nc.us/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/2394738/File/Draft%202012-2013%20Calendars/Calendar%20Committee%20185-option%202012-2013.pdf?sessionid=d0f4367e6d6cd2fff52d41643f2b3995

180-day http://www.chatham.k12.nc.us/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/2394738/File/Draft%202012-2013%20Calendars/Calendar%20Committee%20Draft%20180-option%202012-2013.pdf?sessionid=d0f4367e6d6cd2fff52d41643f2b3995

Typically, there will be a hearing on the calendar before it is adopted, so look for that at one of the February school board meetings (Feb 13 and 20).

If you want to have input now might not be too late.

[hulahoop]

Wow.  Happy holidays.  Looks like a long haul for students and teachers next year, especially with the 185 day calendar.  No wonder they have Saturday snow make up days, there's not much other choice!

[Everett McGill]

Wow.  Happy holidays.  Looks like a long haul for students and teachers next year, especially with the 185 day calendar.  No wonder they have Saturday snow make up days, there's not much other choice!

Frustrating to have  HS student sit home for a week and half right after the Christmas (oops Winter) break. or exams.....none needing to be taken so, no school....then immediately followed by two teacher work days.........also, forgot, MLK holiday right in the midst of that.   Sure seems like a long hard look at how to better use some of these would be helpful.  IMHO

[hulahoop]

The problem is the calendar law that mandates school can't start until aug 25. If school could start a week earlier we would be having exams BEFORE Christmas break.  The workdays are necessary to get ready to start the new semester.

Your kid might have gotten lots of "time off" but school staff still only gets the holidays on the calendar, so the change still stinks for them and their families.

I'm not saying you're one of them, but I have little patience for the set that seems to hate teacher work days and even holidays.  Preparing for high quality instruction takes time and work days provide that time.  Teaching is a tough job that causes a lot of burn out and holidays give teachers a break.  I find it hard to feel bad for people who are whining about the inconvenience of having to care for their own children.

[Snowball]

The problem is the calendar law that mandates school can't start until aug 25. If school could start a week earlier we would be having exams BEFORE Christmas break.  The workdays are necessary to get ready to start the new semester.

Your kid might have gotten lots of "time off" but school staff still only gets the holidays on the calendar, so the change still stinks for them and their families.

I'm not saying you're one of them, but I have little patience for the set that seems to hate teacher work days and even holidays.  Preparing for high quality instruction takes time and work days provide that time.  Teaching is a tough job that causes a lot of burn out and holidays give teachers a break.  I find it hard to feel bad for people who are whining about the inconvenience of having to care for their own children.

Well said, hula.

[Everett McGill]

The problem is the calendar law that mandates school can't start until aug 25. If school could start a week earlier we would be having exams BEFORE Christmas break.  The workdays are necessary to get ready to start the new semester.

Your kid might have gotten lots of "time off" but school staff still only gets the holidays on the calendar, so the change still stinks for them and their families.

I'm not saying you're one of them, but I have little patience for the set that seems to hate teacher work days and even holidays.  Preparing for high quality instruction takes time and work days provide that time.  Teaching is a tough job that causes a lot of burn out and holidays give teachers a break.  I find it hard to feel bad for people who are whining about the inconvenience of having to care for their own children.

Agree teaching is a hard job.  I certainly hope we can agree others have challenging and hard jobs too.

What I said was what I meant....."Sure seems like a long hard look at how to better use some of these would be helpful."   The "some of these"  here is referring to down time for students.  Good Point about teachers having to be there.  If they do, then why not have the students come and do something useful to further their education? (not just watch movies or socialize)   Is there a downside to that?  Just because we have always done it one way and it might involve some change in behavior and thinking to do something different, it would seem like a good idea to at least "Give it a think" ..... as Gomer Pyle would say.  Just my opinion. 

BTW, to clarify, I am not "one of them" and am not whining about having to care for my own child or children.  Goodness.   

However, it seems to be a real problem for some to arrange for safe and responsible arrangements to be made to meet extended time off and juggle the demands of a job that may not be flexible. (heck for some Summer is an even bigger challenge)   I am not in their shoes and won't pretend to know what it feels like to walk in those shoes or to tell those parents what they should do.

[hulahoop]

I believe I said I wasn't implying that YOU were whining.

During exams most teachers are involved in giving exams, so I'm not sure what they should do with all the children youd like to send to school that day that aren't taking exams.  I guess I just don't see what that conversation has to do with the problems with the calendar.

[Snowball]

I doubt anyone outside the school system could begin to imagine how difficult it is to create a calendar.  There are hundreds of items, needs and events that need to be taken into consideration. I'm happy not to be on the committee!

[Everett McGill]

During exams most teachers are involved in giving exams, so I'm not sure what they should do with all the children youd like to send to school that day that aren't taking exams.  I guess I just don't see what that conversation has to do with the problems with the calendar.

The Calendar has days scheduled for exams.  In High School many many students qualify to not take exams. It would be good (IMHO) to have those students doing something other not coming to school.  That is what it has to do with the calendar......but maybe I am the only single person that thinks that.   BTW, my preference would be for everyone to take the exams and none of ; " if your average is this and you have this many absences, then you are excused."   But, again, I am probably the only one that thinks that.

[Snowball]

I believe what hula is addressing is the lack of available school supervision for students who are not taking an exam.  Pretty hard to administer an exam to some students and simultaneously supervise students who aren't.

[Everett McGill]

I believe what hula is addressing is the lack of available school supervision for students who are not taking an exam.  Pretty hard to administer an exam to some students and simultaneously supervise students who aren't.

Can't speak for Hula.  What I am addressing is; Let's begin to think about doing something different....even if it is pretty hard.....and again, my first choice is everyone take the exam(s). Hula did express what this conversation had to do with the calendar, and I attempted to answer that.

[hulahoop]

I guess I was confused because you quoted me, but now I see you were making an unrelated comment about the calendar and exams.

I believe you're always welcome to have your child take any exams they are exempt from.  I think the way the exams currently work, though, that would only get them back at school two of the six (seven?) days an the other four are used for eoc testing, remediation, and retakes.

I agree that it would be nice if students could be doing something worthwhile at school those days.  I don't see how that's possible in the current testing environment.  Seems like its a problem that's getting worse, not better, to me.  But you're right, it's worth thinking about.

I still have a lot of concerns about the calendar, though.  All the same ones I stated earlier.

I don't think the calendar actually does have days scheduled for exams, I think the schools decide that separately.

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