Share these dates earlier!!

[Liziz]

Come on new school, couldn't you have shared this date BEFORE everyone started to make summer plans??

DD1 is starting middle school this August. In making all our summer plans, I carefully checked all the school calendars, etc. to make sure she wouldn't miss open house or any planned middle school activities. Now, just today, the middle school shares a "6th grade orientation" they've planned for students....several weeks before school starts, right in the middle of prime vacation time (i.e. - it's in the middle of July, we start early here). Of course we're not only out of town, but fully across the entire country!

I realize that there's no perfect date that would work for everyone, but this middle school had parent orientation and a 5th grade "sneak peek" for middle school several months ago.....why could they not have shared the date then?? We know *many* people who will be out of town during this newly scheduled orientation, so I know DD won't be the only one missing and will be fine....but I'm frustrated by the fact most people (ok, ME!) could have planned around it if they'd only let us know a couple months ago.

(and from all I've heard it's a great school with amazing people and I do know how incredibly busy and overworked every teacher/staff at schools are, everywhere, and that the fact they're doing this at all is wonderful and I shouldn't complain.....but for my high-anxiety, does-so-much-better-when-she-knows-what-to-expect DD, I am bummed! But that's why I'm complaining here and won't complain in real life or anything)

[georgiegirl]

How frustrating!!!!! Generally those things should be a week before school starts, not in the middle of the summer

[gymnbomb]

Ugh, I am annoyed for you!

On a similar note, I still have no idea when my kids first day of school is for next school year. I am assuming it is sometime during the last few days of August like usual. But at least 2 neighboring districts aren’t starting until after Labor Day this year.


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[NCGrandma]

Ugh, I am annoyed for you!

On a similar note, I still have no idea when my kids first day of school is for next school year. I am assuming it is sometime during the last few days of August like usual. But at least 2 neighboring districts aren’t starting until after Labor Day this year.

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Thanks for the reminder to check next year's calendar at DGD2's school. That’s one of the districts that won’t start until the day after Labor Day, definitely a change from previous years.

At least with DGD1 in college, my family won’t be juggling DGD2's 2 one-week vacations (in Feb and April) with her older sibling's two-week private school vacation in March!



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[echoesofspring]

I feel your frustration, something similar happened to us last year with 6th grade, orientation was a few weeks before school instead of the week before (or even week of, they don't start until Wed), no heads up til right before and we were out of town.

[trales]

I planned a vacation based on the last day of school for the last 8 years and graduation date. It has always been the Friday of the 2nd full week of June no matter how many snow days. . . Fast forward this year, they announced 2 weeks ago (the snow has been gone a long time). that school will end June 21 this year. Well, we are now missing the last week of school. First time in 8 years . . . You tell us after the start of May when school will end. June 21 - who even goes that long. And frankly, we did not have that many snow days! Only like 6 or 7.

[ett]

I planned a vacation based on the last day of school for the last 8 years and graduation date. It has always been the Friday of the 2nd full week of June no matter how many snow days. . . Fast forward this year, they announced 2 weeks ago (the snow has been gone a long time). that school will end June 21 this year. Well, we are now missing the last week of school. First time in 8 years . . . You tell us after the start of May when school will end. June 21 - who even goes that long. And frankly, we did not have that many snow days! Only like 6 or 7.

We have definitely gone that late in June especially with snow days. But our school calendar always indicates the last day off school if there were no snow days and if there were 5 snow days, so you can still make plans a year in advance. Then they announce the last day of school sometime in April. It does seem very weird to not announce when the last day is until May.

OP - That stinks that they would put the orientation in the middle of summer.

[Snow mom]

Well, if it’s any consolation to you OP the orientation is probably going to be a big nothing. There are basically zero staff members that show up to ours because it’s held during a contracted break and the teachers etc. aren’t going to spend their vacation prepping and being there. Instead it’s 100% the admin and support staff who have 12 month positions. At the middle school a lot of the classrooms are BARE for summer too. We had an open house where you could go find each classroom and it was so devoid of life beyond the middle schoolers. I think they like to see where their classes are and their friends, but honestly the event is a bit more anxiety producing than helpful.


I planned a vacation based on the last day of school for the last 8 years and graduation date. It has always been the Friday of the 2nd full week of June no matter how many snow days. . . Fast forward this year, they announced 2 weeks ago (the snow has been gone a long time). that school will end June 21 this year. Well, we are now missing the last week of school. First time in 8 years . . . You tell us after the start of May when school will end. June 21 - who even goes that long. And frankly, we did not have that many snow days! Only like 6 or 7.

Ha, we always get out that late! When Juneteenth became a day off we generally get that and then have 1-2 school days after, and that’s without snow days. Our snow days always push against the last day they can even hold classes since contracts are up June 30. I was shocked to see we will get out before Juneteenth next school year if there aren’t snow days to make up.

[belovedgandp]

The planner in me is always amazed at how little notice people give. I have plans for my plans.

[lizzywednesday]

... June 21 - who even goes that long. ...

*waves in New Jersey*

DD's last day of school is 6/21, regardless of snow days.
If we use more than 3, they start taking days from Spring Break.
If we don't use the days, we get them back at Memorial Day. We didn't use any, so have a 5-day weekend coming up.

[lizzywednesday]

The planner in me is always amazed at how little notice people give. I have plans for my plans.

I'm not a planner, but I get frustrated when only a handful of dates are available or a program I might want to participate in/register for isn't communicated early & often.

[Kestrel]

--- waves back; from the other side of US, Washington State - - -

Our last day of school was scheduled 6/21 also, but with snow days our last day is now 6/26. I don't know who they expect to show up on 6/26, as a Monday with a three hour early release... but it won't be us. ;)

But yes the not sharing info is a pain in the rear. DS is an 8th grader, and we're still waiting to register for high school classes and for open house info. Our date (auto generated) to register for classes is 1pm 6/13, which is right in the middle of his ELA final at his current school 90 minutes away. Still waiting for the high school to get back to me about an alternate time. Is this normal? We just got assigned a day/time (recieved yesterday 5/22) and are expected to rearrange our life to make it happen. Which is still better than conferences, which were one day only anounced less than a week in advance.

I don't think the schools realize that we can't all just drop everything and make thier choices work. Maybe they think we're all June Cleaver, in our heels and pearls making cookies? With no other children or work or other responsibilities?

[DualvansMommy]

It is frustrating. Imo, sometimes the preview or open house is worthwhile or not depending on localities of kids school districts. It was useful for me, and my then 6th grader, I think the school knew to have another date available as first choice was like first week of August which is prime vacation time for many families too!

It is so hard to settle on a date that works for majority of families. Especially knowing teachers are only contracted for 10 months, so the open house like my 4th grader is happening week before they’re done for the summer. I liked that!


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[petesgirl]

It is frustrating. Imo, sometimes the preview or open house is worthwhile or not depending on localities of kids school districts. It was useful for me, and my then 6th grader, I think the school knew to have another date available as first choice was like first week of August which is prime vacation time for many families too!

It is so hard to settle on a date that works for majority of families. Especially knowing teachers are only contracted for 10 months, so the open house like my 4th grader is happening week before they’re done for the summer. I liked that!


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Yes, my almost-7th grader had his Jr High Orientation and school tour on an evening in February. But they also had to have their schedules chosen by the end of March. Then last week, they took a field trip to the Jr High for another tour during the school day and when school starts in August the 7th graders start a fay earlier than 8th/9th so they can find their lockers and classes without so much traffic and chaos.

[bisous]

OP, I'm so sorry! That happened to DS2 upon entry into high school. I'm a huge planner AND I like these types of events. In typical BBB fashion I like entering new things armed with knowledge and practice. I will say that the more of these events that I attend, the less I've been impressed with them? I'm not saying they're of no worth. For me it is worth it alone to help me FEEL like I'm prepared. But also I have become more relaxed about it if one of my kids (or me!) has to miss some kind of orientation or open house, as they haven't always been these power houses of information that I was hoping. It still stinks though and I still think the dates on these things should be prepared like at least as soon as they set the starting day for the school year!

[anonomom]

That would bug me, too, especially for a 6th grader. Someone upthread mentioned that these orientations are useless, and that's been our experience, too, but it's still the first event for your kid's time in middle school. I'd be upset for my kid to have to miss it when all it would take was some more advance notice.

[Peaches Keane]

Chiming in, feel your pain. Yesterday afternoon DS’s teacher posted that today was “family day” and we could bring and eat lunch with our kids outside and play with them at recess. This was the first mention of it! Since I am a SAHM, there’s no reason for me not to go, but since this is the last week of school for the kids, I had things I wanted to accomplish before school lets out.

Additionally, the Y only puts out short schedules and the current schedule ends May 31, but they NEVER put new schedules up until the old one is over. I would like to PLAN and I can’t because I have no information other that the knowledge that their schedule is VERY different in the summer due to their day camp.

[Dayzy]

*waves in New Jersey*

DD's last day of school is 6/21, regardless of snow days.
If we use more than 3, they start taking days from Spring Break.
If we don't use the days, we get them back at Memorial Day. We didn't use any, so have a 5-day weekend coming up.

NY here... DD was supposed to go until 6/23 but we didn't use any snow days and she now ends the 16th. DS has finals and state regents exams so he's until the 20th.