I am learning that LA schools are in session on Memorial Day, a federal holiday. Further, that this important holiday isn't even observed.

Does your school honor our fallen who gave all?

Does your school do nothing?

dl

I find it beyond odd that a school district (parish or whatever it's called there) would actually hold school on a federal holiday. It's almost like the locality does not respect the sanctity of this American (not a religion, but just good old America!) holiday that pays respect to our war heroes - deceased or not, past and present. All I can think of is the saying "If you don't stand behind our troops, you are welcome to stand in front of them".

My kids' schools always do something around this time with RWB, flags, memorial, etc. My sons' high school has war dead amongst its alumni and they honor them. As for Memorial Day itself, our schools are not open. All the local towns celebrate with parades, fairs, etc. Probably about 25-30% of homes hang a flag of some sort on the outside of their home. (mine is a mailbox flag ) That's just the way of New England values, I guess.

cj/

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Schools here are closed.

I had read in the paper that somewhere in Ohio is also having school tomorrow, to make up for a snow day. If the schools here were not closed, I would keep my children home, on principal.

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Schools here are not closed. It is a half-day for students, however, but only because it's the last day of school. We are never off for Memorial Day. Please don't think that because we have to go school on Memorial Day that we don't care about fallen heroes; we didn't make the rules. My husband and father are both veterans...my dad is deceased. Louisiana has always been alittle screwy when it comes to things like this. I attend school on Memorial Day because I am a teacher and it is required of me. It does not mean that I don't observe the day, fly my flag, talk to my students about it, have a moment of silence, and that I (or we as a state) have any lesser values than anyone else. I will never understand why we go to school on Memorial Day.

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We have a full day(elementary). My daughter has half day because of finals. I know my friend that teaches K in St Tammany parish has a half day also.

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Marilou - That sure is screwy - I've never heard of public schools not observing federal holidays. Good to know that it doesn't indicate a regional lack of respect for our men and women in uniform.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Has anyone provided a rationale? Has anyone ever questioned why?

I think I'd have to say something to someone!(I'm not exactly known for a shrinking-violet personality!! LOL) Surely, the school calendar could be re-worked....

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

To those so opposed to Memorial Day school sessions - do your schools give Veteran's Day off? That is a Federal Holiday as well. And, that is the day to honor those living, and who would actually benefit from some national acknowledgement. Did you make noise or keep your kids home on November 11?

Thursday, January 1 New Year's Day
Monday, January 19 Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, February 16* Washington's Birthday
Monday, May 25 Memorial Day
Friday, July 3** Independence Day
Monday, September 7 Labor Day
Monday, October 12 Columbus Day
Wednesday, November 11 Veterans Day
Thursday, November 26 Thanksgiving Day
Friday, December 25 Christmas Day

Few public school systems take Veteran's Day, Columbus Day, and Washington's Birthday off now. Those are all Federal Holidays.

I doubt having school on Memorial Day is related to a lack of New England values, but rather the practical considerations of the timing of summer vacation. Why have a 3 day weekend a day or two before school is out? A community can have their observations and parades on Saturday or Sunday if their school system chooses to be open on Monday.

Yes, our public schools have all those days off.

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

We have the all of the above referenced days off from school as well as Lincoln's birthday.

Always have.

Where did you get the info that "few" public schools do? Is that common knowledge?

We're in New England, also, but I don't believe our values are exclusive to New Englanders....

Mdrpooh - I'm glad that you acknowledge the day with your students, since you are there. I was surprised to learn that you have to be there - news to me!

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Yes, d, I suggested this was characteristic of New England values, but certainly not unique or exclusive from all other regions.

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Actually, didn't the Feds combine Washington and Lincoln's Birthdays into "President's Day"? And yes, we had that day off.
Typically we have Veteran's Day off. Our state government office shut down on election day so all their employees can "vote".

I work w/ a girl from New Orleans--she has said that LSU and some other colleges are closed for Mardi Gras (If forget if it was a week or just Fat Tuesday into Ash Wednesday--it's been a while since we had the discussion)

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This is what we have for next year...













REGULAR SCHOOL CALENDAR
July 29 Wednesday School Site Registration Begins

August 17 Monday 1st Day for Students (Grades 1 - 12)
August 25 Tuesday 1st Day for PreKindergarten & Kindergarten Students

September 7 Monday Holiday: Labor Day (no school - students)
September 14 – 18 Monday - Friday Interim Reports Issued

October 16 Friday End of First Marking Period (43/44 days elementary/secondary)
October 16 Friday Elementary Records Day (no school—elementary students)
Oct. 19 – 23 Monday – Friday Graduation Exit Exam (GEE) Retest
October 23 Friday Report Cards Issued
October 26 Monday Staff Development/Parent Conferences (PM)

November 16 – 20 Monday - Friday Interim Reports Issued
November 23 – 27 Monday – Friday Holiday:Thanksgiving (no school—students)

December 7 – 18 Monday - Friday End of Course testing – Algebra I, English II & Geometry
December 18 – 22 Friday - Tuesday Second Marking Period Exams - Middle Schools (traditional)
December 21 – 22 Monday – Tuesday Second Marking Period Exams - Middle/High Schools (block)
December 22 Tuesday End of Second Marking Period
December 23 – January 6 Wednesday - Wednesday Winter Holidays (no school—students)

January 11 Monday Second Semester Begins
January 13 Wednesday Report Cards Issued
January 18 Monday Holiday: Martin Luther King (no school—students)

February 8 – 12 Monday - Friday GEE Seniors only re-test
February 8 – 12 Monday – Friday Interim Reports Issued
February 15 – 17 Monday - Wednesday Holidays: Mardi Gras (no school—students)

March 12 Friday End of Third Marking Period
March 12 Friday Elementary Records Day (no school—elementary students)
March 19 Friday Report Cards Issued
March 22 Monday Staff Development/Parent Conferences (PM)

April 2 Friday Holiday (no school – students)
April 12 - 16 Monday - Friday System-wide Testing (iLEAP, LEAP, GEE)
April 19 - 21 Monday - Wednesday Make-up testing (iLEAP, LEAP, GEE)
April 19 – 23 Monday – Friday Interim Reports Issued
April 26 – 30 Monday – Friday Spring Holidays (no school—students)

May 3 – 21 Monday – Friday End of Course Testing - Algebra I, English II & Geometry
May 7 Friday Last Day for Seniors Exempted from all Exams
May 10 – 12 Monday - Wednesday Exams for Graduating Seniors
May 25 – 27 Tuesday- Thursday Fourth Marking Period Exams - Middle Schools (traditional)
May 26 – 27 Wednesday –Thursday Fourth Marking Period Exams - Middle/High (block)
May 27 Thursday End of Fourth Marking Period (47 days elementary/secondary)
May 28 Friday Records Day (no school—students)

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

Our schools have Memorial Day and Labor Day off. We do not have any of the other federal holidays off although we have a Veteran's Day assembly. We also have 2 hunting days off in November.

I'm going to hazard a guess that maybe schools in LA don't observe as many holidays so they can get of school sooner before it gets so blessed hot.


IMHO, I don't really see many people actually celebrating Memorial Day. I fail to see how it honors anybody to have hordes of people out shopping at Memorial day sales, going to Memorial Day picnics or spending Memorial Day at the ballpark.

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We have it off and if we didn't, I wouldn't send the kids to school because DH has it off of work. We get "presidents day" off of school which is a combined holiday. When DH gets a federal holiday off that the kids don't get, we keep them home.

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Veteran's Day is a State mandated holiday in MA. Schools must be closed. It is the law.

MarilynK's kids apparently went to school on Veteran's Day last Fall ...

Hartford Connecticut had school on Veteran's Day last year. Last time I checked, Connecticut was a New England state. http://www.hartfordschools.org/docum...sed3-13-09.pdf ETA - I have no idea if anyone here lives in Hartford, CT ...

I guess, what I don't understand, is why it wouldn't be appropriate to hold classes on a day that honors those in Military service. What better place to have programs and lessons to expose all the kids to the sacrifices made. My guess is most kids sleep in and don't even consider the significance of the day off.

actually, I said typically. So, some times we do, some times we don't. Regardless, I find it a little bizarre that you'd take the time to research my children's school.
And I'd appreciate it if you'd edit the location. While some probably do know where I live, you just confirmed it.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Actually, I had no idea ......... that is the only MT town I know. I wonder if someone from Hartford CT is going to go getting all paranoid now ....

1) I find it hard to believe that someone as educated as you, only knows ONE Montana town
2) regardless, it's a very small town. Please edit it. I see that you did---thank you.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I have had to teach and sing a certain song with that town's name three times, as each of my kid's fifth grade social studies lessons. It is the one that obviously comes to mind in a state with few large towns. Sorry my knowledge of Montana disappoints you.

We are off on all of the above. Also, we are off Monday, and our last day of school is 2 days later, Wednesday, a 1/2 day. If our schools were not closed on other Federal Holidays, yes, I would make a stink about it. Memorial Day is much more than just a parade to my family, and I like to hope the rest of the country.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Here in Mass we get all of those holidays plus we have Patriot's Day in April. The State of Rhode Island celebrates victory over Japan Day too.

We are off on all the above dates as well. We also get off 3/30 for Cesar Chavez Day.

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Haven't posted in a long time but I thought I would come out and respond.

Thursday, January 1 New Year's Day
Monday, January 19 Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, February 16* Washington's Birthday
Monday, May 25 Memorial Day
Friday, July 3** Independence Day
Monday, September 7 Labor Day
Monday, October 12 Columbus Day
Wednesday, November 11 Veterans Day
Thursday, November 26 Thanksgiving Day
Friday, December 25 Christmas Day

I'm about an hour outside of LA and my kids get these same days off. Their last day of school is Thursday. Also they will not be sleeping in tomorrow, they will be at the cemetary putting out flags at 7am.

Well, we are already out of school, but if we weren't out of school I doubt we would have it off. We do not have Veterans Day off and we do not have Presidents Day off, but we do get Labor Day off. This year was the first time ever we had Martin Luther King Day off. DH is a state employee and he gets all the holidays off, so if DD's in school, I arrange my schedule to be off and we take it as a day for ourselves to go out to lunch, shop, run errands and just spend some extra time together.

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Does your school accept these as "excused absences"? Do you plan something educational to honor the holiday? What do you write on the note you send into school? "I kept my kids home because it's a federal holiday?" Just curious.

I think it depends in what part of the country you live in. I live within a few miles of DC so the parents who work for the Federal Govt. have off. All the school systems work it into their schedules along with Christian and Jewish Holydays.

Our schools have all the days off as mentioned, new and old. I could not imagine sending my kids to school on these days. For us, they are a time of rememberance and celebration. We reflect on family, and friends that have made ultimate sacrifices, so we can still be free today . We remember all those that will remain changed forever for the time that they have served, and for some of us we mourn those who are no longer with us, and mourn for those who are still here, but are still "gone"

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Nicole

We have those days off as well, and always have too.

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We get all of those except Washington's Birthday. We get President's Day and Lincoln's Bday. Also we get off for Casimir Pulaski Day.
My kids were off for Memorial Day and my husband didn't have to work, he works at a community college.

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kids been out of school since last week for summer here

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