Year Around School

[DonnieS]

I don't know how prevalent year around school is but if you are planning to relocate, make sure that the school district is not on year around schedule. For our school district, we start school around the middle of July, really causes problems for national tournaments. When the kids were younger, it wasnt that big a deal, except for being limited as to what national tournaments could be considered. Now that the kids are in high school, the national tournaments that we would like to try for are 3 weeks into the school year. When we went to the NSA, USFA, etc. national tournaments, these were usually the 1st week of school, middle of July, usually not a lot happening in the middle schools - and you can avoid being considered 'absent' by not registering until you return from that week of nationals. To do this with the 3rd week of school, is a giant mess. You miss the class work, you can not get excused absences, so the work during that period is considered zeroes, and anything over 3 absences and you can not be exempted from finals.

The advantage to year around school that I hear is that week off the kids get every 6-7 weeks, unless a) you are employed and now have to find someone to take care of the kids or b) you are self-employed and used to being productive during the week - and now the house is full of kids. Theoretically a year around school attracts better teachers because teachers like this schedule, I dont quite believe that because for the teachers who are working on advanced degrees, they need the summers to take classes.

The real downside is - to me - is to listen to everyone talk about it - and only get to read about it, and I dont want to be so presumptious to assume that my team could qualify at whatever age or level we would try for, but damn. I tried to sweet talk the school folks - but the powers that be at our school's athletic department consider travel/select teams to be the scourge of the pure softball world that exists in the local leagues and the worst of the sinners - are us, the coaches. Again, damn. So we continue to play softball for fun.

[3Bsnag]

Your kids must be going to private school or your school petitioned TEA for an earlier date?

For the first time ever, my kid gets to start school in late August and not have every other week off for teacher improvement or mental holidays. I feel your pain. Our parents got together to talk with the district. They give us (the parents, teachers, and up to 5 students in each secondary class) 3 schedules to vote on. The old schedules were very tough on working, elementary parents who had to coordinate child care or take off from work at least 4 days per month, 3 weeks at Christmas, 1 week long "winter break", and another week for spring break.

I see your going to have a lot of "sick" relatives and doctor appointments during late summer?

[DonnieS]

Not a private school, its a public independent school district. We start in mid july, have a week off every 6-7 weeks, 2-3 weeks off at christmas, and then finish around may 31st. For the families that hunt a lot, its great. Athletes still have practice during the intercessions, so you really cant go anywhere during those intercessions. Some families take their trips to disney or whatever during the fall during off peak times and thats great for them.

My youngest will start high school and is determined to place high academically and was invited to pitch at nationals by a couple of prestigious teams. This would be the third week of school - I was talking to school people about her missing school and she and I got into an argument - 'Dad, I can not miss that much school' ' Kid, its ok, think how much fun it would be ....' , then I realise - the kid is that focused on her academics, wth am I doing. Its just too bad that its an issue.

[Tucson]

Donnie, I couldn't have talked #2 son into missing school for anything. I know what you mean. But, it is their choice, isn't it? Just think, it could be the other way around and they would refuse to go to school. Count your blessings.

I am glad that my kids are out of school. Too much nutty stuff goes on in the school (but most of it is good.)

School here in Tucson starts August 7th. I thought that that was early, enough.