I've been told Longton schools are closed this Friday (and that this is a regular practice in the county schools). Can anyone tell me if all county schools do this on the same days or do they alternate? I guess what I'm wanting to know is how the "Fridays off" thing works. I'm hoping Moline will be open, but would sure like to know before I drive over there. Also, will schools be in session this coming Monday? Someone mentioned they may not be but wasn't sure. I guess this would be one of those advantageous times to have school-aged kids, eh? On second thought.....empty-nesting is quite all right, too.
No replies? Surely someone can explain to me how the "no school on Friday" thing works. It would help me to know, since I had planned to go to Longton and Moline this Friday to pick up some items the students made for a contest -- if Longton school is closed, will Moline be closed, too? What about Severy?
Well, to answer your question about Severy and Moline being closed this Friday that is a negative. They are in session. But there is not going to be preschool. As for the no Fridays things, Susan Galvan could really explain that one when it comes to the West Elk School district. But the past year and last they were trying to have at least one day a month off, or more at least that is what is seems like. But here it is not usuallly been Fridays, it has been Mondays. But again with all the snow days that we have had off, those days are being made up on the schueduled days off. It is really confussing, if Susan Galvan reads this maybe she could explain this better. But school is in session for Moline, West Elk, and Severy, just no preschool. Does that help??? ??? ??? ???
Just a note to explain that this is the week of parent teacher conferences and that is why
the school in Longton is closed.
We are not scheduled for any but normal days off. I think that spring break is still on.
Once the powers that be were concerned about making up snow days, but I think they got that
done and everything is a go.
There is ONLY 9 more weeks of school...............where did this year go?
I know.. where DID this year go.. but more...Where has Susan Galvin gone? We haven't heard from her for quite some time.
I see her come home in the evenings some times, so I know she is still there. She is a little later than she used to be, so I would say that she is very busy with school, etc. I miss her, too, and wish she would at least check in so we know that she isn't just tired of us.
USD 282 has been implementing a schedule this year, as they have the past two years, in which they are attempting to take one day off the calendar each month. Angie is correct, in that it is usually a Monday. But these days are to help decrease the expense of heating/cooling of buildings, buses, etc. Our district has not gone to a 4 day week as has many surrounding communities, but is attempting to cut some expenses by decreasing days. Our school day is longer now, with the school day beginning at 7:50 a.m. and ending at 3:25 p.m. to makeup for these days off. As for this Friday, the 7th, there will be school in session. Next Friday, the 14th, there is no school as it will be conferences. Spring break is the 17th through the 21st. Then Monday the 24th is one of the designated Mondays off for the month.
I hope this info helps answer some questions.
I saw Susan when we were in Howard a couple weeks ago. She told me she was extremely busy, teaching school, preaching, and taking a class or two herself. She said by the time she grades papers, studies, and does what has to be done at the house, she is worn out. Said she gets on the forum some, but it would probably be summer before she has time to participate.
Myrna
When I was in school ( I graduated in '05)...We went no matter what. There could be a tornado warning, and we were still lining up for the bus.
;D ;D ;D but you got to ride the bus. Most of us walked at least two miles, in the snow, up to our waists, wind blowing 75 miles a hour, and up hill both directions. :-\ :'( I was in the fifth grade before Severy got school buses; however, I lived in town so didn't get to ride the bus and we lived at the other end of town.
We walked to school ALWAYS but I didn't even know what a bus was when I was in school.
ooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh sob sob sob AM I OLD OR WHAT??? You Betcha !!!
I did walk to school as well. It was a mile to school when I was in the first grade. I had 2 other girls to walk with for the first half mile and then walked on alone the second half. When it got really bad, Dad would go to feed with a team and wagon and drive to the far end of the pasture, I would get off, crawl through the fence, take the edge of the field and crawl through the hedge row, cross the road and I was at school! When it rained, of course, they drove me to school. Then.....the school consolidated and it was 2 miles to school. Usually we walked to school pretty much alone, unless you caught up to some of the others along the way, sometimes the folks would drive me, and on occassion, the drifts really were deep and Dad would take me horseback. Going home after school, there was often quite a group for the first half mile, then some others usually along others would be dropping off to go to their homes and I would walk the last half mile alone. After my freshman year in high school, I couldn't get a transfer so had to meet the bus half mile from home. So, I often walked to the bus, and if I didn't go to work or stay in town for an activity, I had to walk home the half mile. Didn't really mind except when I had a load of books, a band instrument, and sometimes a band uniform. We got our exercise anyway!!!! Guess I had it better than Mother, she either rode a horse or walked 5 miles each way! When I was in school, some rode horses or bicycles to school.
The rural schools were really fun, though, and we learned a lot, as most years we had great teachers! I am very grateful for some that I went to school to.
Myrna
So did we, Myrna, and my memories of school really are happy ones. Jack and I walked 2 1/2 miles when he was in the second grade and I was in the first. And we also rode horseback -- I am still amazed that as little as we were, he seven and me 5 that we were put on Dolly - and she was a blind mare and was almost human I think, she got us there safely and brought us home safely too. We only had to say "Up, Dolly" when she had to pick her feet up higher to either get over the humps in the road or over the gravel that the road graders had left along the sides of the road. Life was made up of necessary things in those days. We were poor, but I didn't know it --- we had lots of love and laughter in our home.
Those stories are awesome to hear. I am not to sure if I would have liked to walk miles to school, but you know what I am sure that if I would have had to I would have. I did live in Severy and walked alot to school, but there was a bus stop right across from my house, if I needed to ride it. What do you think parents would say if you had to take your child to school and pick them up everyday? At lease take them to the high school to go to which ever school that they went to. I tried to see about that to cut money on transportation, but that was a slap in the face, because I forgot one important thing. Most people don't work around here. They have to get up early and drive to work. But you know what I compliment you that did have to do all that walking!! It only made you stronger people. Because I am not sure that I wouldn't have skipped a few days when I was in high school, especially if I walked 2 miles to school. :-[ :-[
We often had cyphering matches or spelling bees on Friday afternoons with another rural school. In warmer weather, we had softball games against one another. Our noon hour and recesses were spent playing Anti Over (the schoolhouse), or redman, blackman, beckon, hide and seek, and other games. We always had opening exercise in the morning when school took up. We said the flag salute and then the teacher would read to us or sometimes, she would go get film strips (educational) and we would see them. We had a 15 minute opening exercise each day, and again after noon break when school took up. One of our teachers had worked in Washington D.C. during WWII and also had several brothers who served their country. On bad wintery noon hours, she often told us things that happened in real life. She was a great teacher, and when I see her to this day, I try to always tell her how much I appreciate her.
mlw
I also went to school to one of her sisters and she was a great teacher as well.
I didn't get to walk two miles to school, as we lived maybe a quarter of a mile from our school house. I "had" to walk home for lunch, so I didn't even get to take a lunch to school! We did exactly the same things as you did, Myrna, as far as activites are concerned. We had a one room school house and one teacher, of course, who taught all eight grades. (With no "aides!") I especially enjoyed the box suppers, Christmas programs, "last day of school programs," literary meetings, and all of those great things that were taking place in our rural communities. I think the cyphering matches were what made me so competitive! Also, the softball games. I loved them.
I feel so pampered. The furthest I ever walked to school was 2 miles and usually had my older sister and brother and younger brother with me. And this was only for the remainder of one school year. The next year we were living in town and only had 4 blocks to go by the shortcut or 5 blocks if we took the dry route. When we moved back to the country my younger brother was old enough to drive and so we drove to school every day.
My kids had it even easier. The oldest rode a bus 1/2 mile the first year, then walked across the street the second to fifth years. By this time second daughter was going with her and third daughter started to kindergarten from there. Then we moved and the girls had to walk half a block to school. Some people just have it so easy.
Every generation has/had their own set of problems!
The last day of school was really fun! Aunts, uncles, parents all the neighbors and others who enjoyed the fun! What a feast. We always knew one lady would bring a black bottom pie and another would bring an angel food cake with lovely white frost and chocolate mint around the edges dripping down. After lunch, we had a program, and the AWARDS! Silver dollars for perfect attendance, spelling awards, etc. Then----the kids played the dads in a game of softball. We all went home tired but having had a great day. And, by the way, we got out in April!
Myrna
Myrna, I keep thinking, "did we go to the same school?" Everything seems to have been so much the same, where I was (Hale School, Chautauqua County) and where you went to school! Of course, I'm older than you are, etc., etc. But, it's really nice to share such enjoyable experiences, that were so much alike!
My Mother was the "Angel Food Cake" lady in our area! She beat the egg whites with a wire whip on a big white platter, then folded everything in, just so, and, boy, those cakes were so good! She made seven minute icing, beating probably seven minutes, it was always "perfect!"
She did have a competitor, though, so it was always a "contest" to see whose cakes raised the highest, etc., etc. Ada Mills always got a blue ribbon at the Sedan Fair on her Angel Food cakes. But, I liked my Mother's the best!
QuoteI am not to sure if I would have liked to walk miles to school, but you know what I am sure that if I would have had to I would have.
Angie -
I walked a mile to school in my freshman and sophomore years - carrying my trombone most days.
It sure got heavy!
I was so glad when we moved again, because school was only 5 blocks away.
And . . . some days I got to drive the spare family car.
But . . .
I didn't mind walking to school - and I think most of the people that have posted it about didn't mind either.
That's because it was part of our lives. Everyone (or nearly everyone) walked, especially if we lived in town.
OMG I had completely forgotten about the last day of school covered dish dinner. What an exciting day. When I was in upper grades and early high school after the dinner it was off to the "ford" or "raidroad bridge" for the first swim of the season by usually a very large group of kids. (by the way, we usually walked and it was considerably more than 2 mi.) ;D ;D ;D Lynne, has these ramblings answered your question about whether there would be school tomorrow?
Just popping in to say thanks for (sort of) clearing that up for me! LOL Seriously, you've been a great help!
Quote from: flo on March 06, 2008, 01:33:23 PM
;D ;D ;D but you got to ride the bus. Most of us walked at least two miles, in the snow, up to our waists, wind blowing 75 miles a hour, and up hill both directions. :-\ :'( I was in the fifth grade before Severy got school buses; however, I lived in town so didn't get to ride the bus and we lived at the other end of town.
you forgot the hundred degree heat from the sun as you were walking up hill both ways in the snow :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
forgot about climbing in the snowdrifts and/or climbing on the piles of snow that the motor grader had made clearing the roads and falling in and worrying about getting out!
mlw
No, Bonnie, I went to school in northern Elk County! The first grade was at Independence and the rest was at Upper Paw Paw.
Bonnie, your're probably not too much older than I am----anyway, Frank said I'm older than dirt!
Myrna
Remember, Myrna, God isn't making any more dirt -- so you tell Frank that you are a treasured commodity. :laugh:
Jodi, you need to get after her to then, she says I am older than rock and twice as hard headed.
Oops !!! I should never had logged on here
Love ya' both and I don't think either of you are old ---Not yet anyway (speaking from experience ) :'( :'(
We lived 15 miles from town, so we had to ride the bus. We were the 2nd riders to get on the bus, and we rode it for 1 hour 15-30 minutes before getting to school. The buses had extended routes to decrease the number of buses needed, but it increased our riding time. I think there's rules now that they have to let kids off to stretch if they ride longer than an hour.
When I was 14 and got my restricted license, it was a punishment to have to ride the bus. It was also a punishment to have to take my younger siblings with me in the car.
Thanks, we love you to. We are looking forward to seeing you this spring/summer.
Frank