Latest news with #summerbreak
Forbes
6 days ago
- General
- Forbes
5 Survival Tips For Working Moms With Kids Home This Summer
You're on a critical Zoom call when your eight-year-old bursts through the door asking for the third snack in an hour, while your toddler decides this is the perfect moment to have a meltdown. Meanwhile, your inbox is overflowing, deadlines are looming and you're mentally calculating how much food is left in the fridge. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. This is the reality for working moms everywhere during summer break. Parental obligations become even more intense when school's out, with research showing that working moms spend nearly nine additional hours per week on childcare during summer. In addition, 76% of working parents report that their children's summer schedules directly impact their ability to focus at work, according to new research from the Modern Family Index (MFI), commissioned by Bright Horizons. That's why a strategic approach is necessary to help working moms maintain their sanity and sense of humor during the chaos of summer. By implementing these approaches, you'll transform from a frazzled working mother into a highly productive individual. Release yourself from the perfectionist trap and set realistic expectations: Creating some semblance of routine can be a lifesaver for working moms, but build in flexibility from the start: The holy grail of summer survival for working moms is finding activities that keep children happily occupied without constant parental involvement. These "time givers" should be deployed strategically during your most important work periods: One of the biggest mistakes working moms make is trying to handle summer by themselves. Attempting to do everything alone kills productivity, while accepting help actually makes you more effective: Working moms running on empty can't maintain productivity or effectively support their families: Remember that working moms everywhere face these same challenges. According to the Bright Horizons research, 87% of working parents experience disruptions while their children are home during summer. Your struggles are understandable, your feelings are valid and your efforts are more than enough. Most importantly, the memories you're creating will matter more than the work emails that went unanswered or the meetings that were interrupted. You've got this.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tutor Wonders If It's Okay to Ask a Family to Pay Her Throughout the Summer Despite Not Providing Lessons
A tutor turned to Mumsnet for advice on how to handle her challenging financial situation over the summer break She is contemplating asking one of the families to pay her over the summer, despite them not requiring any lessons 'In future, price accordingly, assuming that you won't be needed for the holidays. Incorporate your holiday 'pay' into the usual fee and set some money aside,' one reader suggestedA tutor is worrying about staying afloat financially over the summer break — and wondering whether it would be presumptuous to ask one of the families she works for to help. She detailed her dilemma on the community forum Mumsnet, explaining that she works for three families, all of whom have different schedules and payment approaches. One continues to employ her over the summer, and the second does not require her services during the break but still pays her year-round. The third family had the OP (original poster) working year-round the first year, but then the second year she was informed at the last minute that they would be away all summer, throwing her for a loop. "I didn't realize this was the plan and I wasn't paid all summer. I get the majority of my income from them and found it a real struggle for a couple of months," she said. Now that the current school year — her third with this particular family — is drawing to a close, the OP is anxious about her financial situation. The family has already informed her that her last lesson will be in a couple of weeks — "much earlier than I expected," the OP said. "This will leave me without pay for 3 months, which will set me back a lot," she continued, before explaining why adding new clients to her roster to cover the gap isn't feasible. "I'm unable to commit to other families who have asked for tutoring as they would want all the time, not just in the holidays." Her solution? To ask the third family to help her out — but she's not sure it's the right move. "Would it be cheeky to put this to the father and ask if there's any way they can pay me over the holidays and explain the situation?" she wrote. "I enjoy working with this family and would rather stay with them if possible, I know that I'm valued there, as the mom has told me in the past that they're keen to keep me/continue with me," she added. In the comments section, a lot readers shared the opinion that it would be wrong of the OP to make such a request of her employer, pointing out that her situation is the reality of being "self-employed." They argued that she should be budgeting her money better throughout the year to cover this window of time when she has less money coming in. "YABU [you are being unreasonable]. That is the nature of self-employed work. You need to plan for the times when you won't be working, not just ask your customers to pay you for nothing," one person wrote. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "I think this is probably something you should have discussed with them prior to starting," another reader pointed out. "If they haven't previously paid over the holidays or paid a retainer, I would imagine they will not be happy to start now." Many people advised the OP that, going forward, she should negotiate full-year contracts with her tutoring clients or raise her rate to compensate for the summer downtime. "In future, price accordingly, assuming that you won't be needed for the holidays. Incorporate your holiday 'pay' into the usual fee and set some money aside," one suggested, while another threw out the idea of asking for "a retainer" from the family to keep their slot for the upcoming school year. Others wondered why someone working as a tutor would even expect that her services would be needed during a time when kids are on an extended break from school. "If the child is finishing exams in a couple of weeks, I'm not sure why you'd think you'd be needed throughout summer. They won't have anything to study for and will be taking a well-earned break," one person pointed out. Several people also suggested some ways the OP could supplement her income over the summer, such as waitressing jobs, proctoring exams or offering "summer catch-up sessions" for clients. Read the original article on People
The Guardian
25-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Readers reply: Should schools take a long summer break – or does it harm children's learning?
Should schools still be taking a long summer break – is it detrimental to children's learning? Or should they go year-round with shorter breaks? Julia Phillipson, Corby Send new questions to nq@ 1. Schools aren't babysitting services. 2. There's something else available to teach kids during the holidays – their parents. See also: weekends and evenings. Goldgreen Sweltering in a classroom in July and August, surrounded by sweatily-smelling kids and oozing unattractively oneself is not conducive to education. It's been a very long time since I had to consider this (I may take a very different view if I'd had to find something for children to do in the long holiday), but the prospect of being in a populated environment through the heat of summer (which does assume we'll get any) is not one that appeals. School is bad enough already – much of it a thoroughgoing waste of time. But at least in winter you're out of the cold and rain, until some hearty fool makes you go outside for a nice healthy run through wet mud, so don't make it worse than it is already. wightpaint The long break is good for children to learn to use their imaginations, especially if they are not booked up with constant daily programmes or looking at their phones. Rivermama Three-term school year with the months of December, April and August off seems just the ticket. Teemytooks Most developed countries give their children longer summer holidays and have better educational outcomes. The longer breaks also give children a valuable bookend to the academic year and a chance to reset, re-energise and sometimes even reinvent themselves for the following one. The idea of further shortening their summer is only being floated to appease parents and businesses. Perhaps we should make decisions about children with their wellbeing in mind and not our own? stavrolebeau In Northern Ireland schools close July and August. In my experience both pupils and teachers are exhausted by the end of June and the longer break is welcome. Play is an important part of the school experience and out-of-school learning helps children develop, too. SJM1960 School terms are already devolved along with all other education matters. They've always been different in Scotland and Ireland from those in England. Climate is one of the factors as harvest times varied when schools were first established. MikePickenHolidays can be educational too. GorseBush England is tied with the Netherlands for six weeks' summer break – the shortest in Europe. Summer break ranges anywhere from six to 14 weeks (Italy). France is eight, Sweden is eight to 10. I was a teacher for 33 years. The UK has some of the shortest summer holidays in Europe. Many other countries that seem to have much better educational outcomes than the UK have longer holidays. If the worry is that the kids forget what they have learned over the six weeks then we can't be teaching them properly. HiDeHi A little detrimental. But at least with computers you don't have to learn how to hold a pen all over again. I used to like it in uni and during A levels where we would finish early to mid June. Cheaper to travel than July and August, and August is a more mixed bag of weather. Plus if football season has started you need to be back at school to recreate the goals from MotD at break time. So I would go five weeks June into July and then put one week late September for that Indian summer vibe that tends to happen. And again, cheaper travel. catchytitled The evidence around changing the school calendar, such as changing the summer holiday break, does indicate that this could have an average overall positive impact on pupils educational progress. It may, however, not be cost-effective for schools to implement compared to other approaches. Schools would also need to consider the workload and wellbeing of their staff. Grace Stokes, Education Endowment Foundation Thirty years of secondary school teaching have taught me that the long summer holidays make no sense in terms of education and progress. Nor do three terms fit with the tiredness and fatigue children are clearly exhibiting along with teachers at the end of each term. Far better to have five fixed terms with shorter breaks in between to limit the loss of learning but also provide meaningful downtime. Easter should be the bank holidays only rather than two weeks so that the foreshortening of terms artificially to make the moveable feast fit is removed. More extended holidays across the year also allow for holidays to be taken outside peak periods. Sara Wells, by email The traditional six-week summer holiday is too long – by a week. While it remains part of our national rhythm, growing evidence suggests that such long breaks negatively impact learning, especially for pupils already at a disadvantage. For children from resource-scarce backgrounds, the summer can widen existing gaps. Without the structure, support, and learning environment school provides, too many pupils return in September having lost ground, not just academically, but socially and emotionally. Summer-born pupils too already contend with issues of maturity and school readiness; the long summer only compounds these challenges. For many pupils, particularly those with Send or historical attendance issues, being out of school for too long can create real anxiety about returning, which then feeds a cycle of absence and disengagement. We should also acknowledge the strain the long summer places on both families and staff. From a teacher's perspective, most colleagues are already working during the final week of the holiday to prepare for the term ahead. And after five weeks, many children are ready to come back, so are the staff. Shortening the summer to five weeks and introducing a two-week break in October would create a more balanced, manageable calendar. Some authorities are doing this alreadys. An extended October half term could also ease the pressure many families feel to take holidays in June or early July. By offering more flexibility within the school year, we may be able to reduce unauthorised absence. Our education system must be designed to support those with fewest resources. More evenly spread term times would help create continuity, reduce the anxiety caused by long gaps, and allow schools to maintain more regular contact with those pupils who benefit from it Barker, Sheffield, by email Long school summer breaks are essential to growing, coming of age and forgetting that school ever existed. It's a time for playing, kids losing themselves in building dens, exploring, cycling and letting time stand still. Mental health improves when there are no stresses. The long school break is one of the few times in a person's existence when everyone can just be. Daniel Maclaren, by email I grew up in 90s Poland where we would break for summer by the end of June. We had two full months free from school and it didn't stop some of us from finishing top of the class. Rest and play enhances learning. Stop forcing kids to roast in classrooms in July, let them enjoy the elusive good weather and create provision for universal summer childcare. Agnes Panasiuk, by email Look at the places that have longer holidays. Ireland has nearly double the summer holidays than the UK while also sitting just above the UK in most of the global ranking charts. It is clear the longer holidays in Ireland are not hindering Irish students – and they may be helping them. Let quality take the lead over quantity. Paul Hunt, by email I find this question quite amusing as I find the UK system great. I'm an ex-pat in Italy with a daughter in school and find the school year here crazy. They get three months (yes three!) off in the summer, but then nothing during the year apart from two weeks at Christmas. No half terms, four days at Easter, and three days in February plus the odd bank holiday (which are often mid week so no long weekend, or fall at the weekend and they lose them altogether). They arrive to the summer completely dead after six months without a full week break. Their school days here are also crazy: 8am to 2pm, six hours straight with two 10-minute breaks, no play time, no lunch breaks, no outdoor space, just enough time to queue to use the toilet. It's insane. So don't complain about the UK system, if you ask me, it's just perfect. ClimateUnboxed British summer seems to be frequently over by the end of July, so six weeks of grey and wet. A two-week autumn break so kids can properly decompress before the Christmas busy term would be ideal. Some UK counties do that now. Grundle As a former working single parent, planning my kids' summers began in January of each year. As a nurse, it was nearly impossible to get the common holidays off as hospitals run 24/7. I would generally engage with my children about what activities they would like to pursue during their breaks. Art? Music? A sport? A second language? Growing up with summers off, I look back at that time as mostly wasted. When I was older, and could have a summer job, that had value, but prior to that, I wish I'd had more opportunities to learn. Sadly, we could rarely afford fancy summer camps nor could we afford vacations to the country. For myself, for my children, I think the option to pursue new subjects (physical, academic, artistic) has more value than 'free time'. RitaDL My school had a lot of children with overseas family (mostly in India, some in the Caribbean). The long summer holidays allowed these kids to spend extended time with grandparents and cousins that just wouldn't be possible if the weeks were broken up across the year. natfantastic My partner was a teacher for many years. Back in the 70s, the local authority decided to try saving money by moving a week from the summer holiday to the Christmas break so that they didn't have to heat the schools. It was horrible as the weather was too bad to go anywhere. sgiwen The break is far too long. If you work it is a nightmare. There should be structured available quality clubs if it's not possible to distribute the holiday across the year. sophieecp I've been a teacher for 15 years and by the end of the summer term, the children are absolutely knackered. Christmas isn't really a break, it's full on emotional stimulation. Easter is their first proper break and even that is now becoming a Christmas 2.0. Summer is their reset and it's also the time they can just be themselves. They are pushed so hard in school now in a never ending pursuit of better. Doesn't it need to quite as long? No. But move a week and bolt it on to a half term, don't take away their summer by making a two week holiday. Give them a break, they need it. Andy Sutton, by email My daughter, who is at secondary school, heartily agrees that the summer holidays are too long and that you don't get enough during the rest of the year. Summer holidays can be really boring when both parents are out at work, you live a bus journey from all your friends and your parents can't even afford a week away: the appeal of lying in bed all morning reading a book palls after a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, so much of the Easter and Christmas holidays is taken up with being dragged round to relatives. Two weeks off the summer holidays and redistributed among the others would suit my daughter down to the ground. SpoilheapSurfer When I was young we had long summer breaks. Best times. And then a longish break before Christmas. One would wait for it and cherish it more because it was awaited. I live in Germany where children have seven weeks' long summer holidays. In Finland, which is very progressive re schools, the break is 10 weeks. Lakehaus
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
When is the last day of school for students in Palm Beach County public schools?
That was fast, wasn't it? One minute Palm Beach County School Superintendent Mike Burke is opening the school year, and the next minute ... it's today. The 2024-25 school year is quickly drawing to a close. High school seniors are graduating and turning their thoughts to what's next in their lives. Juniors are embracing the reality that, sooner than they might have imagined, they'll be the next group ordering caps and gowns. And some pre-school parents are excited about the fall, knowing their child's K-12 journey is about to begin with the new school year. First, though, it's the Memorial Day weekend then the end of this school year and then summer. Let's look at some key dates on the school calendar for the rest of this year and on through the 2025-26 school year. Congrats Class of 2025! See photos from high school graduations across Palm Beach County Memorial Day is May 26. It's the last day off from school this academic year before it ends with the last bell on May 30. Let the family vacations and summer jobs begin. The nearly 2½-month summer break ends on Aug. 11, with the start of the 2025-26 school year. Talk of backpacks, bus stops and early get-ups fill households as some families fall back into the school routine and others embrace it for the first time. The Thanksgiving break begins on Nov. 24 and runs through the week, with students returning to school on Dec. 1. It's a three-week push until the next big break for the winter holiday, which begins on Dec. 22 and runs through Jan. 5, 2026, with school beginning the next day on Jan. 6. Spring break begins on March 16. School resumes on March 24. From there, it's on to the Memorial Day holiday, which is on May 25. The 2025-26 school year ends on May 29. There are random days off throughout the school year beyond the big breaks for Thanksgiving, the winter holidays and spring break. It's all on the Palm Beach County School District calendar. Wayne Washington is a journalist covering education for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at wwashington@ Help support our work; subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: When is the last day of school for Palm Beach County students?
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Polish City dubbed 'Venice of Eastern Europe' is one of the cheapest holiday spots for Brits with £30 return flights
A Polish city known as the 'Venice of Eastern Europe' is one of the cheapest holiday destinations for a break this summer. Wroclaw, a city in southwestern Poland, earned the Venetian title as its built across 12 islands which are separated by canals. But while the city has some similar characteristics to Venice, it's a much cheaper choice for a summer break. Brits can fly to the Polish gem for under £30 with the journey taking just two hours in total. And it's not just canals that tourists will find there. Wroclaw, pronounced vrot-swaaf, has a pretty Old Town that's centered around its lively central square. While it hosts a Christmas market in winter, the square is used for markets and social events during summer. And children will love Wroclaw's dwarfs. Statues of dwarves have been popping up all over the city since 2005. The small figurines, some just 20cm high, are located all over the city and tourists can keep their eyes peeled to spot them or use a map to find the tiny figures. Ostrow Tumski is the city's Cathedral Island and one of the prettiest areas of Wroclaw to get lost in. Lonely Planet reveals: 'The beautifully preserved Cathedral Island is a treat for lovers of Gothic architecture.' The Gothic cathedral is the fourth church to have been built upon its site and one of the city's major landmarks. Each evening a lamplighter wearing a cape and hat, lights the island's gas lamps in a tradition that can't be missed. And Wroclaw is a bargain choice for holidaymakers looking for value this summer. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs just 40 zloty (£7.96) according to Numbeo while a cappucino comes to 14 zloty (£2.79). Domestic beer is also fantastic value at just 14 zloty (£2.79) for a pint. At the other end of the scale, a new study by Post Office Travel Money recently revealed that Oslo is the most expensive destination for a city break in 2025. Tourists will need to fork out a whopping £636.29 to afford a two-night break in the Scandinavian city. The research has found that two nights of three star accommodation in Oslo adds up to £304 on average. And costs quickly add up in Oslo even after you've paid for accommodation. Tourists will need to pay £173.08 for a three-course evening meal for two on average while a glass of wine comes to an eyewatering £9.86. A beer comes to over £8 while a Coca-Cola costs as much as £4.17.
