Fairfax Students Count Your Blessings

[Henry]

Was down at Andy's in St. Albans yesterday getting my haircut and two of his grandchildren came down to say goodbye to him as they were headed off to school.  They had two hours yesterday and think they were starting today.  According to the BFA Calendar I saw, school starts here next Wednesday.

Not sure what the reasoning was for not having a standard calendar for school across the State, but seems like it would be a lot less confusing, especially for grandparents who have kids in other parts of the State.

[mirjo]

The fact that there is not a state-wide standard for  school starting/vacations/inservice etc. is as baffling as the change from after Labor Day to mid-week start before the holiday??

I'm beginning to think a standardized school calendar that ran on a 12 month schedule might be better. I don't recall it happening to me (being a time before uber electronics and malls everywhere), but I see the kids getting bored by early August if they're not kept constantly stimulated in some manner  or travelling all summer (mine anyway).

The older kids who can drive or those who live in a neighborhood are able to travel with their respective posse's, but those who aren't old enough to drive yet or are more isolated just want to get back to the social life that school offers (friends, sports, other activities) after a few weeks  "off."

[NorthFairfaxBoy]

Here in middle Tennessee school started from some last week.  Some districts are considering a later start...after Labor Day. 

[edakrupp]

Schools are divided up into districts and each district negotiates the teacher contracts with their employees. Teacher contracts deligate a certain amount of in-service, holidays and parent teacher conference days. When negotiations begin, the calendar is set according to the number of student days and teacher days. ( I believe they try to cluster days off so the holiday vacations can be longer, and at intervals so the school year gets broken into chunks) Each district has a different negotiated contract and that is where the problems begin.

[MikeF9]

Because we have a lot students going to the Essex Tech Center, our schedule usually mirrors theirs.

[vtoutdoorguymb]

...also, each district may have a different amount of snow days to make up from the previous year...i.e. MVU in swanton started Monday because they have 3 or 4 days that they have to make up from last winter...