How Was Your Commute Today?

[azfiddle]

So I rode halfway home..... and he picked me up, in spite of having been to the dentist and making the choice to just have a tooth pulled instead of trying to save it.... I would have been home with my head under a pillow feeling sorry for myself on several accounts. It was about 104 but I did have a nice tailwind.

[Crankin]

I cannot believe you are starting school in mid July. What is the reason? Did you get out in April last year?
The school schedule in other parts of the country is almost nothing like the schedule in the Northeast. My town did not get out of school until June 27th! They finally are going to start before Labor Day this year, because of all the snow days and late ending this year. The district I go to once a week (the I used to teach in, actually) to provide counseling at the HS got out on June 18th.
I guess kids in AZ don't have the option of going to camp or other summer programs in other parts of the country.
I would have taken the ride home!

[azfiddle]

Crankin, we start in mid-July but have a 3 week break in Sept/October and a 2 week break in March. We get out at Memorial Day. This allows families to vacation during off-peak seasons and gives us time for remediation classes between 1st and 2nd quarter and 3rd and 4th quarter.

[Crankin]

I am taking my first October vacation this year, so that does make sense, but I would still hate starting in July if I was teaching. And do kids really take those remediation courses? Can you "make" them.
I worked in a district in south Phx that was phasing out all year round schools when I started. I would have definitely liked that, as you had a choice of when you want to take your breaks. My school was already back on the regular schedule, though. Always said summer vacation should be in Dec., Jan., Feb., in AZ!

[azfiddle]

Crankin, if the student fails a core class (Language Arts, Math, Science or Social Studies, or fails a math or reading benchmark test, they "owe" 12 hours for each one. They can attend intersession, go after school or 12 hours or in some cases be enrolled in a "re-teach" class during the regular school year instead of an "enrichment" class (kind of like an elective). Parents are informed, and it is a district wide policy. Students who owe hours can be retained. So yeah, they definitely have to go.

Once you get in the classroom, you stop thinking about the fact that it is mid-July. I hate the short summer but love the fall and spring breaks. They are just a little long. I'd like to have a 2 week break in the fall instead of 3 weeks.

[Crankin]

I commuted in my cycling dress today! I only had one client and I did not feel like riding even 5 miles with a loaded pannier. Wore my Terry liner shorts under the dress and while the see through mesh was visible as I rode, I am sure it just looked like cycling shorts to motorists. It's viciously hot out and it was cool to wear this riding home at noon. All I had to bring were my sandals and underwear, with my flat iron in my backpack.

[craftykhandy]

I made my third ever commute today. I am loving the bike and didn't think I would use it in this way. oddly proud of the dead bug I picked out of my helmet today