Parents Cope With Half-Days at Plymouth-Canton Schools
The 2012-13 school year kicked off this week with three consecutive half-days. How are you coping with this week's schedule?
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Plymouth-Canton Community Schools kicked off the 2012-13 school year this week with three half-days, the third of which is today.
Some parents have expressed displeasure with the new format this week, which allows teachers time for professional development and eases students back into the school year. Others, meanwhile, are fond of the format.
Plymouth-Canton Patch polled readers on Facebook about how they're coping with the schedule and we received a variety of responses, both opposed to and in favor of the schedule this week.
"I think this schedule is ridiculous," Pam Doute said on Facebook.
Pamela Heestand had a different opinion on the schedule.
"It's helping my kids ease into their freshman year at the Park, but I'd still rather arrange things so we'd get out of school earlier in June," Heestand wrote on Facebook. "Double-edged sword for us."
Laurel Hess agreed that the move helped ease her kids back into school.
"I love it! Totally eases us into the transition," she wrote.
Half-days can present child care issues for working parents when students don't have a place to go when class lets out early.
Jessica Dorado, however, said she takes advantage of the Kids Time program at Plymouth-Canton schools, which offers child care services for a nominal daily fee.
"Thank goodness for Kids Time!" she wrote.
Classes resume their usual schedule Friday with the first full day of the year.
How have you coped with the half-days this week? Have you had to seek out child care services, or are you utilizing the school district's child care services?
Whether you love or hate the schedule this week, let us know in the comments.
Heidi Nicholas
7:38 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
It's too drawn out. We would rather combine two of these half days and have either Tuesday off or get out a day earlier at the end of the year.
Kristen Truong
10:42 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
I thought the schedule was ill-conceived, and did not take into account working parents *at all.* Most schools do planning days BEFORE school starts, not after. I had to pay an addtional $120+ to get my kids aftercare (to PCCS no less). Half days are always a pain for working parents, but 3 in a row is just plain ridiculous.
Darken
1:22 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Not just that it was ill conceived, whoever came up with the idea to let out all three levels only 1/2 hour apart must not be aware of the confusion at the park with all the busses there, leaving the loop almost 1/2 hour AFTER the high schools were dismissed, throwing off the pick-ups by another 1/2 hour for the middle schools and then the elementaries. No wonder the kids got home so late!
Kristen Truong
1:58 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Agreed. My neighbor said her 3rd grader was over 50 minutes late getting home for a bus ride that should take 10 minutes!
Sue
1:29 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
On the flip side of this, I work with students with Autism and this has been a really good way to ease into the school year for them. I also think this was a good move for kindergarten students as well (who will be going to school all day.)
concerned parent
1:39 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
I think that the teachers should do their professional development the week before school starts.
K. Sose
10:21 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Three days of the week before school starts were professional development. One day was for teacher setup and the schools were closed on the friday before labor day.
Laura
3:47 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
I suppose if these three 1/2 days eliminate any random days off or other 1/2 days that seem to be scattered throughout the year, that is a good thing. On another topic -- eliminate the week off during mid-winter break and get us out a week earlier in June ... Please!!
Wendy Arendts Schultz
10:04 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
The three days did not impact me negatively b/c I am a stay at home mom and easing back into school was nice. However, for working parents I imagine the three 1/2 days were difficult.
V. Scheurich
12:21 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Cities across Michigan are finally taking the right steps to educate our children. We have to give Roscommon a hat tip for taking the right steps to get our children educated properly
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