shinyhappypeople Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 I see lots of posts from people who have already started, or will soon start, a new school year. Does anyone still do a full summer vacation and wait until after Labor Day to start? If you start in August, are you lining your dates up (more or less) with the PS schedule? In the past, we've hs'd through a charter, so we had to start mid-August. This is our first Freedom Year, and we're waiting until after Labor Day. I guess I just never noticed how unusual a September start date has become. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We usually do, but then again, we usually school through July 14th. This year we stopped schooling in May, so we are starting again on August 19th--our longest summer break EVER! I am so not looking forward to the challenge of starting up again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We start in late September. But we do year round and I like having a Sept. break because it lets us ease into activities, enjoy the weather, and take more advantage of all the various things going on. So I know we're being weird. We're only finishing last year within the next couple of weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 My scheduled start date is September 15 (a Sunday) this year. Our PS kids go back on the 9th, and we do some Not Back to School activities that will happen that week. I was going to start on the 8th, but there's no point in NBTS activities when you actually ARE BTS :lol: It's actually a little earlier than we usually start, even. Our PS schedules run into late June, and I have no problem schooling in the dog days of July if necessary, so we just start when we need to and go as long as we need to. I'm glad we decided to take the summer off this year--we are having some absolutely gorgeous, unseasonably cool weather, and we're enjoying it as much as possible. I'd feel so stressed and guilty if I had school scheduled right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We have always started after Labor Day. August is the durned middle of summer! What is everyone doing starting school already?! We finish up in mid-June or so (schools here sometimes don't finish up till the last week in June if there are a lot of snow days). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We have always started after Labor Day. August is the durned middle of summer! What is everyone doing starting school already?! We finish up in mid-June or so (schools here sometimes don't finish up till the last week in June if there are a lot of snow days). I think it might be a regional thing, in part. A lot of states have schools that start back in mid-August and end in May. Our local schools let out on June 28 this year because of days lost to Hurricane Sandy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2OandE Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We started last Monday, August 5th. It's actually two weeks prior to public starting. We did it because hubby has a week off in Sept, we have a family wedding/week long event in October and I want to take all of December off. We will likely take a week off in March as well. Honestly, my kids seem to fall apart in the summer. Our house has been more peaceful since we started again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2scouts Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We start in late August close to the time the public schools go back. This year I'm starting 1.5 weeks before PS, but I realized that I really want to be done in May. The PS go through the first week or two of June. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We used to school year round (lots of time off through out the year). With the new year starting after labor day. Now that DD is going to P.S. it just makes sense for us to start this week with DS. I don't like having to stick to a schedule but it will work best for us if I do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Lulu* Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We start in late September. But we do year round and I like having a Sept. break because it lets us ease into activities, enjoy the weather, and take more advantage of all the various things going on. So I know we're being weird. We're only finishing last year within the next couple of weeks. This used to be our plan. We would go year round taking off most of April and September plus a few scattered holiday weeks. Now that SN have changed what works for us we go 50 weeks/year, but I do miss the late September start of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Our public schools started August 1st. My kids are already being asked why they aren't in school if we go out. We started early, it just makes sense for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoxcell Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We generally do because that's when PS starts around here. This year I'm going to start the last week of August because we are taking a week off in September and going camping. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g1234 Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Our public schools start Sept. 4. That's when we'll start! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 I think it might be a regional thing, in part. A lot of states have schools that start back in mid-August and end in May. Our local schools let out on June 28 this year because of days lost to Hurricane Sandy. :iagree: Different regions of the USA have very different PS schedules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaners Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Local schools start this week. School didn't start until after Labor Day where I grew up though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 This is our first year starting in August. Our year used to turn over following the PS after Labor Day. Now some of our public schools are going year round and started July 31st. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyWImom Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We generally start after Labor Day, but this year we are going to Oregon on Amtrak & will be gone until Sep. 17th! I know I should start before we go, but I feel like we haven't had much down time this summer. My plan (as of now) is to start math, english, and do a Native American Unit study August 17th. My ideal was to try the 6weeks on, 1 week off hsing method. With December off, and 6 weeks off in the summer. But, the trip goofed it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NatashainDFW Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We are starting on the 27th (the day after the ps) so we can get our first six weeks in then take our scheduled week off and have it line up with cub scout fall campout lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratford Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Normally we wait, but this year we're taking half of October off for a family wedding (long distance travel.) We pushed our started date up to mid August to accommodate the change. (I hate starting before Labor Day.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa in SC Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 This will be the first year I have ever waited until September. Not only am I waiting, but we're not starting until the middle of September. My mom is coming this week for a visit, we have to move dd17 into her dorm, and our first grandchild will make her appearance sometime this week. Dd20 will be 41 weeks on Friday, and they won't let her go any longer than that. The two of them will be living here for several months, and I haven't even received all of my homeschool materials, so I will definitely have a late start this year. Nevertheless, we will persevere and press on. I'm not even very excited this year. Hopefully, that will change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 I schooled dd up until about a week ago though only about 3 days a week beginning the end of June. We are now off until Sept. I usually do not wait but last year and again this year, we have needed a break due to a lot of travel then getting organized when finished traveling. My boys are in school so going a bit more with their schedule works a little better. It hasn't been hard to do a bit of sumer schooling though because the boys also have summer reading and oldest has AP Bio work over the summer, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffeefreak Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We always started the first week of August until a couple of years ago. Through no fault of our own, it seems like there has been a major life event that prohibits us from starting in August, forcing us to wait until after Labor Day. I've grown to like it though. It feels less rushed, more relaxed. As the girls have gotten older, it feels like our summers are rush, rush, rush. August ends up being our time to kick back and relax. I finish lesson plans at a leisurely pace and the girls get to lay around and do nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erin Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Does anyone still do a full summer vacation and wait until after Labor Day to start? "Full summer vacation?" Thirty-five years ago, when I was starting school, we started around the third week of August... For me, starting in August is nothing new. Then again, we also finished in May. The idea of still having to sit in school after Memorial Day is appalling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova mama Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We start the day after Labor Day. The local PS usually does and will this year, though last year they started in August for some reason. We take time off around Christmas and Easter as well. We also take all birthdays off. :) We usually finish late June, a week or two after PS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holly Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Our PS's start after Labor Day. I'm hoping to start before then, maybe this week. It's difficult because my DD's gymnastics doesn't move to afternoons until the kids go back to school. However, we'll have a baby in February and I'll need to take some time off around then. I think we'll have to work around the gymnastics schedule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
go_go_gadget Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 According to our charter, we finished in mid-May and start again next week or the week after. I'm not sure exactly what their dates are because we actually school year-round, taking breaks when we need them. When I'm planning, I consider the year to turn over on September 1, because it's easier for me to think in terms of whole months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PachiSusan Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Normally we wait, but we are trying to switch to a different schedule where we take two month long breaks in the school year instead of 2 months of summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piper Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Having figured out that finishing in May is essential to my sanity, and having had a really, really bad year last year due to starting very late (mid-October), we began on August 5th this year. I want breathing room!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entropymama Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We used to wait until after Labor Day, but I found that if I started the last week or so of August, I could finish a 16 week semester at the same time we go on Christmas break. Then we take Dec. 15(ish) to the end of January off and do another 16 weeks ending in the first week of June. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entropymama Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We used to wait until after Labor Day, but I found that if I started the last week or so of August, I could finish a 16 week semester at the same time we go on Christmas break. Then we take Dec. 15(ish) to the end of January off and do another 16 weeks ending in the first week of June. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MicheleinMN Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 I would prefer to start mid to late August, like I did when my older children were little, but since my now senior son plays football for the ps, it's just too difficult to start and work around ever changing football practice, so now we start after Labor Day like the local school does. He's played all through high school, and I'm looking forward to his graduation and less involvement with the ps again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 I can't remember the last time I heard of a public or private school starting in September. Not since I was in middle school I think. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 School here starts next week, we started at the beginning of July. I wanted to have off during the spring/early summer while the weather is nice. The weather is too hot right now anyway to really enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 They do here. Niiice! :) This is the first time in a long time I took a "summer break". Usually we go year round and I enjoy taking breaks when all the schools are still going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We start back September 3rd....we school 6 weeks on and one week off. We finish up around the end of June and then have 2 months off for other projects. We love our schedule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Normally, we would wait until after Labor Day, but since my 16 yr old attends a part-time school, we are aligning our school days to match hers. So, we start Aug 26th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My3girls Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 PS starts August 1 here and ends the Friday before Memorial Day. I registered our school year as 8/1-7/31. The plan is 6 weeks on, 1 week off, 2 weeks at Christmas, and that would give us 9 weeks off for summer. I plan to do a reduced 6 week schedule in the summer, though, to take care of any catch up or remedial we might need and to take care of nature study that is more appropriate in summer months. I'll probably have them keep up reading logs, but for books of their own choosing, and keep a journal. That should all be only 1-1.5 hrs per day at most so hopefully, I won't win the meanest mom ever award. This is our first year so this is all subject to change, of course. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My3Munchkins Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We always start at the beginning of August. That gives us a few weeks to settle into our school routine before other activities begin. Plus it's so hot in the summer, I would rather take time off when it's cooler and we can enjoy being outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 The climate here is a factor for some people. For people who want to do outdoorsy things, they tend to want to school as much of the summer as they can while it's between 100-120 degrees from May through September. I did when my older kids (now 17 and 15) weren't involved in activities (church and sports) with kids in institutional schools. As soon as shorter summers were proposed in the public schools in the last decade or two, people jumped at the opportunity. We're aligning closer to the school year because my 8 year old has a best friend across the street is in ps. We have 2 weeks off in Oct., Dec., and Mar. and finish at the end of May just like they will. They have 8 weeks for summer in Jun. and Jul. but we took 10 because we don't take off miscellaneous in-service days and other odd days off. They started the last week of July but we started last Monday. I think if the neighbor comes over to play on MLK Day or Columbus Day or the like, we can take it off and make the rest of the school days a bit longer that week. If not, we're schooling those days. My 17 and 15 year olds start the 3rd week of Aug. at community college. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelaNYC Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 We are waiting until September 9th, which coincides with youngest dd starting her senior year of public high school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfunnybunch Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 We start mid-September, along with the public schools. Public school here runs mid-Sept. through mid-June. Actually, we begin the week after ps starts. We don't take off all of the furlough days and minor holidays, so we still put in more school days than the ps, and we finish a week earlier. ETA: Part of the reason for this has nothing to do with the school schedule and everything to do with weather. Oregon has gorgeous weather June-September. I can't imagine beginning school in August. It's too beautiful outside! We want to be hiking and swimming and gardening and playing outside. Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfunnybunch Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 I can't remember the last time I heard of a public or private school starting in September. Not since I was in middle school I think. :( Oregon begins in September. (Most schools.) :) But the schools don't usually get out until mid- to late June. Furlough days and budget have shortened the year a bit. This year our school districts are going mid-Sept. through mid-June instead of early Sept.-late June. Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 They do here. Here too, since I can remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loowit Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 We usually start in September the day after Labor Day, but this year we are starting the week before. We stopped earlier this year because DS needed surgery so we have not done any schoolwork since the end of May. Schools here all start the day after Labor Day. I do tend to follow the school calendar to an extent. With my children involved in so many activities that follow that calendar we can't just take off during the school year a lot of the time. We do take a few different breaks, and skip the inservice days. We also usually finish a couple weeks before the public schools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m0mmaBuck Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 PS here gets out in late June and starts back after Labor Day. We make a point of finishing at least a week before PS and starting a week later. This year, our start may be even later because we have a mid-Sept vacation on the books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Yup. Our only vacation every year is camping the last two weeks of August and the first week of September so we don't start til the 9th of September. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chava_Raizel Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 We start in September! I plan to start math and lang. arts on Sept. 3 and then on the 9th we'll add in everything else. This lets us ease into the new year. We take a traditional mid-June - Aug. summer vacation. I tried, in the beginning, to school year round, or start our new school year halfway through August, but it just never felt right. This is what works best for us. Especially considering that we live in New England, and the summers are gorgeous. We don't want to miss a minute because the winters here can seem so long! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissKNG Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 We used to because we follow the ps schedule. But last year and now this year, we will begin the final week in August so we can end early in the spring! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 We've been doing school lite through the summer (with lots of breaks for camps and vacations), but we will start ramping things up next Monday. I plan to have the kids work from 7:30 - 1:00 (lunch and SL reading included during that time and see what we can get done. After that, I will continue to add in a subject each week until we are in full swing. I like doing it this way because while we do take breaks when the schools do (my kids are in activities that break when the schools do, so those are the only times we can be totally free), I also like to have the flexibility of being able to take additional breaks during the school year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 I line up my schedule to the public school's because dh is a public school teacher. Ironically, he is more of the unschooly type, and we can do nothing formal (like practicing handwriting) with him around, though there is much learning happening with him. So we also take breaks throughout the year on his schedule, too. It is amazing how few 5-day weeks the public school schedule has. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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