Another Major Storm on Way -- Why Not Just Cancel School Every Jan Thru Feb? (Reston: get credit, home)

[Gottasay]

Ok, so I LOVE snow, and I don't mind the kids missing a couple of days of school. But now forecasters are saying a snow and/or ice storm is once again heading our way and it could be a major one. So, once again, the kids are going to undoubtedly miss more school. What with the holidays, teacher workdays and snow days, I feel like we really haven't had school since before Thanksgiving! This has got to stop!!!

So, I have a solution: Every January through February: just don't have school...call it their annual break. Instead, school will continue on through July and August. For those whose kids love to swim, don't worry, they can still swim after school in the summer b/c the sun doesn't set till real late and its too hot to go mid-day anyway! People can take their summer vacations during the winter months in warm places like Florida and Texas (and thus kids who want to go to Disney won't have to take an unexcused absence)! Kids who need to be on the farm in July and August -- my running total of kids I know in this situation is ummm, zero, btw -- can miss school to tend to the farm and get school credit and call it Science/PE class. Kids who like to go to camp in the summer, well, they can take that week off and get credit for Science (botanical studies), PE (archery and canoeing), art (crafts), writing (letters to home) and music (songs around camp fire).

I think this idea makes great sense b/c here's my observation: last week we got, what, 4 to 12 inches of snow? As a result, school was cancelled for three days. The kids weren't sent home with any busy work to keep their minds engaged (don't worry, this parent made sure mine were still learning, but not every parent has the time or inclination). This wasn't even a blizzard! In Minnesota, school would have continued on as planned.

The first day was due to a miscalculation on the part of forecasters: the storm didn't really get started till after kids were home safe. The second day was valid given that we had to clean up after the tropical snowpour. The third day -- nope, I think they should've gone back to school, but noooooo.....we had to cancel b/c of a threat of one inch more of snow, which turned out to be nothing. So, what do you think of my idea?

[normie]

FWIW, I thought the prediction for next week was a light storm, and most likely a rain event.

However, I like your idea. Switching summer and winter vacations seems like it could work to me. It could make a lot of things easier.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by normie

FWIW, I thought the prediction for next week was a light storm, and most likely a rain event.

However, I like your idea. Switching summer and winter vacations seems like it could work to me. It could make a lot of things easier.

Ice. Like the one in Feb. 1994. Power out for a week to ten days. This winter has set up just like that winter.

[LynchburgLover]

Interesting idea that I might like . . . . now that my kids are grown.

[Gottasay]

Originally Posted by normie

FWIW, I thought the prediction for next week was a light storm, and most likely a rain event.

However, I like your idea. Switching summer and winter vacations seems like it could work to me. It could make a lot of things easier.

Ha! Depends on the forecaster. Minutes before writing my rant, I checked accuweather.com and Doug Hill/Bob Ryan and they were in consensus about something big happening mid week. Some think snow, others think freezing rain. Both could equal school cancellations.

Let's hope for the best, but what's getting to me is the uncertainty of it all. I'd rather just plan on having Jan and Feb off for the kids rather than not knowing from week to week whether or not they'll have school.

[North Beach Person]

Having school in July and August might work over there in wealthy NoVA but many MD schools aren't air conditioned.



(I teasing you with the above)

[Gottasay]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Having school in July and August might work over there in wealthy NoVA but many MD schools aren't air conditioned.



(I teasing you with the above)

But they are heated?

[Gottasay]

I checked NOAA's website and here's their forecast:


Reston VA NWS Baltimore, MD/Washington, D.C.
Point Forecast: Reston VA
38.97°N 77.36°WMobile Weather Information | En Español
Last Update: 9:02 pm EST Jan 29, 2011
Forecast Valid: 10pm EST Jan 29, 2011-6pm EST Feb 5, 2011



Tonight


Mostly
Cloudy
Lo 26 °F

Sunday


Mostly
Cloudy
Hi 39 °F

Sunday
Night

Mostly
Cloudy
Lo 23 °F

Monday


Slight Chc
Snow
Hi 31 °F

Monday
Night

Snow/Sleet

Lo 24 °F

Tuesday


Wintry
Mix
Hi 33 °F

Tuesday
Night

FzgRn
Likely
Lo 28 °F

Wednesday


FzgRn
Likely
Hi 39 °F

Wednesday
Night

Mostly
Cloudy
Lo 22 °F

[robbobobbo]

(from Wikipedia)

In South Korea, the school year is divided into two terms. The first term runs from early March to late August with the summer vacation from mid-July to mid-August (elementary and secondary schools) and from mid-June to late August (higher education institutions). The second term usually resumes in late August and runs until early February. The winter break is from early February to early March.

[Gottasay]

Originally Posted by robbobobbo

(from Wikipedia)

In South Korea, the school year is divided into two terms. The first term runs from early March to late August with the summer vacation from mid-July to mid-August (elementary and secondary schools) and from mid-June to late August (higher education institutions). The second term usually resumes in late August and runs until early February. The winter break is from early February to early March.

Sounds very common sensical to me!