The Reading School Committee finally backed down and voted to shift our start date to after Labor Day. They spent months ignoring us but the pressure from these signatures forced them to act. We won this fight for our families and we will be watching to ensure they do not …
September 24, 2014
Final supporters
We, the undersigned, respectfully ask that you change the Reading Schools start date to the Wednesday after Labor Day.
Growing numbers of families in Reading agree that our summers are too short. Summer is a time to re-charge, try something new, play, work to make money for college or the school year and, most important, to enjoy family time. Now that school is ending at the end of June and starting before Labor Day all of this is at risk. When you finalize the school calendar for the 2015/16 year we hope you will find a way to start school after Labor Day so our summers will be a little longer than they are now.
We recognize that we might need to lose some holiday time but we also urge the school committee and administration to look more closely at the numbers of days the district calls off school for teacher "in service" days. We feel confident that time could be managed better to reduce those days off.
We also recognize that efforts to make transitions smooth for students might be partly why our schools start so early: we appreciate that effort but feel certain that the traditional Wednesday after Labor Day start can still supply our children with a smooth transition back to school.
Thank you very much. We look forward to a vigorous discussion on this matter.
Updates
August 23, 2014
One hundred people have signed on because they are fed up with the School Committee stealing our summer break. This is just the beginning of holding them accountable for their lazy calendar planning.
Reached 250 supporters
August 23, 2014
Reached 100 supporters
August 21, 2014
9 Comments
I would prefer to have the start date be the first Tues or Weds in Sept, for the times that Labor Day is super late. I would also love to see a survey go out to teachers and families re: religious holidays and maybe consolidating the 2 weeks off in the Spring to one week. We need as broad a consensus as possible, in my opinion.
I totally agree. I also feel that there shouldn't be a February vacation! What is the purpose of it? We have a long enough Christmas break, a longer April vacation, not to mention the random days off during the school year!!! I hope that our school committee gives this some serious thought!!
I totally agree. I also feel that there shouldn't be a February vacation! What is the purpose of it? We have a long enough Christmas break, a longer April vacation, not to mention the random days off during the school year!!! I hope that our school committee gives this some serious thought!!
I grew up in Reading and Always went back after labor day. We need to make that happen again!!!! Really rediculous that we go back before.. Summer is short enough!!
Starting school before Labor Day is just crazy. Its still basically summer out there! Why rush the kids back in when we have so many random days off all year that don't make any sense anyway.
Does anyone know the status of this? I would be happy to continue to spread the word via Reading patch or local newspapers. We need to get more signatures and get in front of the school committee. If you are the starter of the petition and would like help promoting this, please email me. [email protected].
I agree 100% with the comments above. I think the bottom line is that the calendar should make sense for the community (teachers, admin and families), not politics. As someone who grew up Jewish, I think it's rather strange that in a town where there isn't even a synagogue we get the Jewish holidays off. Of course, any family (or teacher, or admin) who chooses to observe the holiday(s) should not be penalized. Now, if there are enough Jewish teachers to warrant the day off because finding subs would be problematic, I get it. But I have a hunch that is not the case. I also wholeheartedly agree with the idea of no Feb vacation. The kids get the holiday break, many of whom have a hard time readjusting after that (smaller children especially). Once they get back into their routine, they get another break. In addition to all of this, there are a good deal of families who have two working parents. Finding childcare every day, including the early release Weds and all the breaks is not only costly, but just difficult (I imagine). And, as the petition states, starting school before Labor Day just seems like a waste of resources - time, energy and money.
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The Reading School Committee finally backed down and voted to shift our start date to after Labor Day. They spent months ignoring us but the pressure from these signatures forced them to act. We won this fight for our families and we will be watching to ensure they do not …
September 24, 2014
Final supporters
We, the undersigned, respectfully ask that you change the Reading Schools start date to the Wednesday after Labor Day.
Growing numbers of families in Reading agree that our summers are too short. Summer is a time to re-charge, try something new, play, work to make money for college or the school year and, most important, to enjoy family time. Now that school is ending at the end of June and starting before Labor Day all of this is at risk. When you finalize the school calendar for the 2015/16 year we hope you will find a way to start school after Labor Day so our summers will be a little longer than they are now.
We recognize that we might need to lose some holiday time but we also urge the school committee and administration to look more closely at the numbers of days the district calls off school for teacher "in service" days. We feel confident that time could be managed better to reduce those days off.
We also recognize that efforts to make transitions smooth for students might be partly why our schools start so early: we appreciate that effort but feel certain that the traditional Wednesday after Labor Day start can still supply our children with a smooth transition back to school.
Thank you very much. We look forward to a vigorous discussion on this matter.
Updates
August 23, 2014
One hundred people have signed on because they are fed up with the School Committee stealing our summer break. This is just the beginning of holding them accountable for their lazy calendar planning.
Reached 250 supporters
August 23, 2014
Reached 100 supporters
August 21, 2014
9 Comments
I feel that going to school for1 1/2 days ,only to have the labor day weekend off is a waste of quality school hours. The students and parents are not in learning mode as yet. I do not, however for those who own vacation homes 2 to 3 or more hours away, this is a huge unfair inconvenience to come home only to travel the distance back.
I would prefer to have the start date be the first Tues or Weds in Sept, for the times that Labor Day is super late. I would also love to see a survey go out to teachers and families re: religious holidays and maybe consolidating the 2 weeks off in the Spring to one week. We need as broad a consensus as possible, in my opinion.
I totally agree. I also feel that there shouldn't be a February vacation! What is the purpose of it? We have a long enough Christmas break, a longer April vacation, not to mention the random days off during the school year!!! I hope that our school committee gives this some serious thought!!
I totally agree. I also feel that there shouldn't be a February vacation! What is the purpose of it? We have a long enough Christmas break, a longer April vacation, not to mention the random days off during the school year!!! I hope that our school committee gives this some serious thought!!
I grew up in Reading and Always went back after labor day. We need to make that happen again!!!! Really rediculous that we go back before.. Summer is short enough!!
Starting school before Labor Day is just crazy. Its still basically summer out there! Why rush the kids back in when we have so many random days off all year that don't make any sense anyway.
Does anyone know the status of this? I would be happy to continue to spread the word via Reading patch or local newspapers. We need to get more signatures and get in front of the school committee. If you are the starter of the petition and would like help promoting this, please email me. [email protected].
I agree 100% with the comments above. I think the bottom line is that the calendar should make sense for the community (teachers, admin and families), not politics. As someone who grew up Jewish, I think it's rather strange that in a town where there isn't even a synagogue we get the Jewish holidays off. Of course, any family (or teacher, or admin) who chooses to observe the holiday(s) should not be penalized. Now, if there are enough Jewish teachers to warrant the day off because finding subs would be problematic, I get it. But I have a hunch that is not the case. I also wholeheartedly agree with the idea of no Feb vacation. The kids get the holiday break, many of whom have a hard time readjusting after that (smaller children especially). Once they get back into their routine, they get another break. In addition to all of this, there are a good deal of families who have two working parents. Finding childcare every day, including the early release Weds and all the breaks is not only costly, but just difficult (I imagine). And, as the petition states, starting school before Labor Day just seems like a waste of resources - time, energy and money.
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I feel that going to school for1 1/2 days ,only to have the labor day weekend off is a waste of quality school hours. The students and parents are not in learning mode as yet. I do not, however for those who own vacation homes 2 to 3 or more hours away, this is a huge unfair inconvenience to come home only to travel the distance back.