Prince William County started school on the same day as LCPS, but they end a week before LCPS does. The lengthened school year with the shortened summer has caused many students to feel frustrated, but some teachers find it beneficial.
“I don’t mind the mini breaks because I think students and staff members need the little breaks every once in a while,” Assistant Principal Solomon Wright said. “Just like everybody gets so excited about snow days, because sometimes you just need to wake up and realize ‘I don’t have to go to school today.”
Prince William County does virtual snow days when school closes. Due to this, their school year is shortened by a week. LCPS currently takes snow days off, and also have recently started being more culturally aware of how diverse the county is. Due to this, we now have holidays off such as Diwali, Lunar New Year, Eid, and many other holidays.
“I think it’s a beautiful thing because we are a very diverse school district,” Wright said. “If we want to represent one, we have to represent all so I agree with having those holidays off.”
Although there are many positive aspects such as celebrating cultural diversity and becoming more inclusive as a county, some students continue to wallow over their summer.
“I celebrate Lunar New Year every year with my family and I think it’s nice we have the day off,” freshmen Bernice Gao said. “ Although I appreciate LCPS taking other international holidays, I miss the long summer. Having school until mid June is way too long.”
During the 2020 school year, LCPS made Monday’s asynchronous. This meant that teachers had office hours where students could join a Google Meet and receive help, but there were no classes. Many students and staff enjoyed this schedule as everyone got work done.
“I think it’s great because students can work at their own pace and research,” Wright said. “I think it’s more beneficial because it’s less time of teachers lecturing and more hands on work and collaboration.”
Some students and staff would prefer to have five days of school as they feel they’re more productive if they are in the building. Being at home encourages students to not do their work and get off task. Being in the building prevents that.
“When we were in online school, I almost never got my work done” Gao said. “The only reason I’m slightly productive is because I’m learning hands on in the building.”
Being in school for more days and having a long break is mostly preferred by students, while staff prefers short breaks throughout the year. LCPS is trying to make the most out of the days they have, but it continues to cause controversy throughout the county.
“The county does what it wants to do and the opinion of students can’t change that” Gao said. “I am so grateful for them acknowledging my culture and others, but along with the random days we have off, including snow days, it’s costing us our well deserved summer.”
