Henry County Schools ....... (Atlanta: spring break, 2009, credit)

[cmtiger]

Any parents in Henry County Schools our there? How do you like your school calendar? Do you feel that the breaks are helpful, or does your child lose momentum? Do you dislike a shorter summer or are you happy to go back at the beginning of August? Are you happy with the child care that is offered during the breaks?

Thanks for your responses. I'm conducting an informal survey.

[Sweet Atlanta Peach]

This is so amazing because when I taught in Henry, the parents HATED the schedule but the teachers LOVED it. If you're an educator, it is nice to get frequent breaks to get your juices flowing again so you can be prepared to teach without fatigue.

But as a parent, I can see why it may be an inconvience. This is one system that does decision making based on educators and not necessarily the parents, where as you have some systems where the parents run it. Hmmmm...I wonder if I had the responsibility and accountability of a child's future in my hands, where would I want to be?

[cmtiger]

Thanks Sweet... anyone else out there?

[MisterNY]

Im curious, how is the scheduling run? Do they take a two week break every 9 weeks? There's a district in South Florida that runs it that way, without fuss from some teachers that I know. I'd like to know more about Henry County's system.
I am curious about other school boards that run it that way or in a similar fashion in the Atlanta area.

Sweet Atlanta Peach, what county are you teaching in now?

[IMISSNY]

I for one do not like it at all, my child is all out of wack behind this, the only thing saving her is that I am home to get her back on track. I thought Henry county was suppose to be a good district not with this rule. I plan on taking her out asap with the first job I get. Like you have stated I believe this is a rule for the teachers and not for the students, and then they tell you your child can't miss no more than 15 days out of the school year without a doctors note. My child school even wanted me to ask the school can I keep her home and to send her to school sick, she will get better. I told them I did ask there permission before I lived here and I will not be asking anytime soon. I told them I will move clean out of GA first

[gatormomtotots]

As someone said earlier, as a teacher it rocked! It allowed me to re-energized and stay focused the entire year instead of burning out those few weeks before winter break and spring break.

As a parent I think its difficult for those who need child care.

As far as the kids, I think a lot has to do with the teacher's attitude. A teacher who doesn't look at it as the last week before break but just another week of instruction is going to benefit her students much more than that teacher who slacks off that week before break (and I hate to say it but there are teachers that do!)

I'm in another county now and it is very hard to stay on your A game the entire time with a "normal" calendar.

[Sweet Atlanta Peach]

Originally Posted by MisterNY

Im curious, how is the scheduling run? Do they take a two week break every 9 weeks? There's a district in South Florida that runs it that way, without fuss from some teachers that I know. I'd like to know more about Henry County's system.
I am curious about other school boards that run it that way or in a similar fashion in the Atlanta area.

Sweet Atlanta Peach, what county are you teaching in now?

I teach in Fulton County now. The way Henry County's schedule is is that they are in school for 6 weeks, and then off for a week, plus, 2 weeks in December. From what I understand, they took two weeks from the summer and built them in the school year.

[MisterNY]

Originally Posted by Sweet Atlanta Peach

I teach in Fulton County now. The way Henry County's schedule is is that they are in school for 6 weeks, and then off for a week, plus, 2 weeks in December. From what I understand, they took two weeks from the summer and built them in the school year.

That's not too bad. They have it done in a similar fashion in a district down here. How do you like teaching in Fulton County? Have you taught in other counties, and which do you prefer? And is there a difference between Atlanta Public Schools and Fulton County schools? I hear about the two, not sure if they are the same. Thanks.

[cbreeze22]

Like others have said, as a parent it's absolutely awful - and I actually like spending the time with my kid. Of course my friends and teachers from other districts have always said they'd love to work in Henry because of the schedule breaks. It's awful because the kids really are pretty much dropped into the breaks each time - no continuity of assignments or projects, lots of review the week after each break. When I try to explain "mid-Winter break" coming a month after a more than 2 week "Winter break", my friends in states and districts where the schools are performing much better just laugh in amazement.

As for returning to school the first week of August, it also sucks. Planning anything with anyone else in any other district or state is complicated and expensive, because you're left to wait through June for everyone else to get out of school, then only have July to vacation. My daughter loses an entire month every summer with her dad and his family in CA because of this, and the camps and events she'd normally do with her cousins in other counties here she can't do because they're still in school.

I understand where the teachers are coming from as far as a chance to energize, I really do. Still, I have to be a little cold here (and this is coming from a former teacher and the daughter of a lifelong inner-city teacher). If you can't find a way to keep your fire lit with a week off in November, two weeks and two days off in December, another week off in the Spring, plus months off every year, and a daily schedule that gets you home before 5 every day, then you need a part-time job.

Well, that's my vent. Oh, one more issue - what's with the no graduation ceremonies except in high school? If I felt that all of my hard work went so unappreciated for my entire school year, it'd be hard to convince me to graduate from high school too - especially in a state where it doesn't take much money to live fairly decently.

Dang, almost forgot, one more thing. NO charter schools? NO magnet programs? Charter school applications denied at every turn, even nationally accredited programs? C'mon Henry, I know you want everyone to believe your few public schools are meeting every need of every student, but that's just not the case. Denying choice for parents who don't want traditional teach-to-the-test public, and don't want mega-church private, isn't the way to sell that story.

OK, I'm done. Really this time.

[mortus12]

I agree that the summer break is way too long. I am a certified teacher who was teaching in Henry County. We spend quite a bit of time reviewing after a long break, and that takes away instruction time of new material that needs to be taught. I am not very thrilled about the quality of instruction that some students receive. I know that there are some excellent teachers in the public schools but the gap needs to be filled up where poor instruction is concerned. One hundred percent (100%) of my students passed ALL subjects in the CRCT 2008-2009 school year (this is my second year teaching) and many teachers told me that they had never seen that happen before. I thought to myself that this should be an expectation of every teacher. I know some mentally challenged students may not be able to achieve the success of a regular education child, but I know ALL regular education students are capable of meeting and exceeding the standards.

I have been happy so far with my child's teachers, but I am extremely unhappy this year and I am trying to figure out what to do. There are no charter schools in Henry County and that is a shame. The parents should have a choice between the public school or public charter school system.

Henry County Schools have a lot to do in order to catch up to some of the other counties with regard to academic success in the schools. I am not at all impressed with Henry County.

Concerned parent