Today is the First Day of School!

It's hard to believe but my "babies" started 7th and 5th grades today! Yes, it is only July 7, but in our area of North Carolina we are blessed to be on a Year-Round school calendar.

Not familiar with this concept? To ease overcrowding in our schools due to rapid growth in our area, 52 elementary and middle schools were switched to year-round calendars as it permits the school to serve 20-33% more students without increasing class sizes...or building new schools. This also means that schools do not sit empty for 2-3 months over "summer break" and operating costs are decreased since furniture, textbooks, etc. are "shared" between students.

Here's how it works: Students are assigned to one of four tracks. Each of the tracks is on a staggered 45/15 schedule (i.e., 45 days "in school" and 15 days break or trackout). Three of the four tracks are in school at any one time and the fourth track is "tracked out". All students share a 1-week "summer break" the first week of July before the new school years begins.

Here's how it looks for my kids who are on Track 3:
School year starts
3 weeks in school
3 weeks break
9 weeks in school
3 weeks break
9 weeks in school
3 weeks break
9 weeks in school
3 weeks break
6 weeks in school
School year ends
1 week school is closed
School year starts

We also get the traditional holidays off (e.g., Thanksgiving, Christmas, MLK Day, etc.) and are in class 180 days just like the schools on the traditional calendar.

We LOVE the Year-Round schedule! Essentially, my kids get a 3-week break every quarter, which makes for great family vacation time because most everyone else is in school! These frequest breaks are great for rejuvenating body, mind and spirit!

About the time the teachers and kids have had enough of school, and each other, it's time for break. About the time the kids are getting bored and missing their friends, it's time to go back to school. And with only one week between grade levels, no academic progress is lost! It also means that the first few weeks of school aren't spent reviewing and getting the kids up-to-speed. They literally continue where they left off.

As you can imagine, the frequent breaks and nearly immediate transition to the next grade level result in improved behavior and increased grades and test scores. Kids, and teachers, who aren't burned out and exhausted perform much better and tend to be happier and healthier!

I can't wait to hear how their first day went!