Time off school- time to vent....

[edugator]

This year, our districts Winter break was 13.5 days off, not counting the weekends. James was a MESS by Christmas day, having already been off his routine for over a week. We returned on Thursday, January 3rd. He was SO excited when we woke him at the crack of dawn that morning- even though sunny old Ocala, FL was only 20 degrees that day. The following week, he had school all 5 days. All the behaviors, tantrums and overall unhappiness was gone. Then this week, for some STUPID reason, the district scheduled 2 teacher workshop days- in addition to next Monday's MLK holiday, so we have a 5 day weekend. James was fine until about lunch time today, and then the grumpies set in. Of course it doesn't help that it has been raining off and on. Just to add a cherry on top of this fabulous school schedule the last week of January, he has an early release day (2 hours early).

So, in summary the 'weeks' of January school days are as follows
Week 1- 2 days
Week 2- 5 days
Week 3- 3 days
Week 4- 4 days
Week 5- 4.5 days

This is AFTER a 13.5 day winter break.

Obviously the powers that be do not have kids who NEED routine to remain sane. There is absolutely nothing I can do to keep him happy once his schedule is disrupted so much.

And, just because the moon and Satan are aligned, hubby is out of town until Sunday for business, so I am on my own. Yahoo.

OK- I feel better. If only I could remember my old sign in name and password.... I better not tax my brain any further, I may need to get creative in my dealings with the boy!!

[Connie]

Tracy....

Vent away girl!!!

Connie

PS....check your email and IM (here)

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

Oh my!! That's crazy to me. Them darn ol' school calendar makers anyway Take care

[damarasmom]

I hear you on this one! It seems that Damara spends more time lately getting re-adjusted from all her time off, then when she is back in the swing, we get another long weekend! GRRRR....

[lespring]

We have a VERY similar schedule this year. It's driving me crazy. Now, being a special educator for many years, I understand all that goes into determining the calendar (it's a huge process!) but man...being on THIS end it drives me crazy!

Christmas break for Angela started Friday before, and they didn't go back until Monday after the new year. OMG...why in the heck did they need all that time off? Angela certainly didn't!

Then they're off on Monday, and then the following Monday as well. UGH

[Chris]

As long as I can remember we have always had two full weeks off at Christmas. We also got out the Friday before Christmas and went back the Monday after New Years. I guess when all of your family lives 1200+ miles away (like mine), it doesn't seem like a ton of time.

I know that have Martin Luther King Day off seems too close the the Christmas break. At my school, the kids are off but the teachers are working for records day since it is the end of the semester. The kids are also off a half day every month so the teachers can attend professional development. In other words, the kids may be off all those days but the teachers are usually working.

Believe me, I hate half days for Sarah. She goes to school in a different district than where we live. She has to attend latchkey in our home district but their school schedules are different. ARG! Yesterday my husband went to drop Sarah off at school and the school was closed due to a water main break. He ended up watching her for the morning and I had to scramble and get a substitute for my classes in the afternoon. Life would be so much easier if I didn't have to work!

Chris

[Jessie]

This cracks me up: And, just because the moon and Satan are aligned, hubby is out of town until Sunday for business, so I am on my own. Yahoo.

I feel your pain. On top of it completely messing up the kids' schedules, it's really, really hard to cover daycare or a babysitter too when both parents work. Jason had today off too - for whatever reason!


Jessie