For the majority of students, August is the month for returning to class. I happen to live in a town that utilizes the balanced calendar. School starts the end of July. Yes, your heard it right. End. Of. July. That’s too early, you say. Here’s the basic schedule: School stars in late July. After nine weeks, they get a two week fall break in October. They return until Thanksgiving, when they get a two day break. They go back unitl mid-December when they get another two week break. The January holidays are New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King Day. If snow days missed are at a minimum, February hails the President’s Day holiday. Around the second or third week of March they get another two weeks off. Then return until the end of school, usually the last week of May. If Good Friday happens to fall during April, they get that day and sometimes and additional off as well. Summer break is usually eight weeks long. My children where still in school when they began this calendar and I absolutely loved it. Especially the two week fall break. Many folks thought it was a bad idea. Kids would just get into a routine, then they would get a holiday. I can see both sides but really enjoyed the breaks with my kiddos. Well, August is about gone. DHs surgery went well in July. His recovery skills are amazing. He is back at work and seems to be doing ok. I thought things were settling down a bit at work, but I just found out today one of our NSF proposals was funded. With the four that were funded in mid-August, that is the most we have had funded in any given year. Job security. Still getting some produce from the garden. Everything has slowed down due to the lack of rain. But, we had a good run this year. Our loaded freezer is proof. Well, I hope all who have returned, are returning now, and will be returning to school have a wonderful year.
