The end of 2017 is almost in sight and as the first semester concludes, we have the answers to the most asked questions about the third “six weeks.”

First, why the quotes? Because it’s the third grading period in the 2017-18 school year isn’t exactly six weeks long. Join us on a calendar journey:

Yep, that’s it — the end of the 2017 portion of the school year. If we count the actual weeks from the start to end, then, technically, it’s six weeks. But in reality, it’s about a week and a half shorter.

Let’s start with pre-Thanksgiving “Fall Break:” As of the publishing of this article (Nov. 6) there are only nine full school days before the turkey festivities start. The calendar states the break is Nov. 20-24, but if you add weekends, the break is nine days long itself. Pretty cool.

Or, we hope it gets cold in time for Nov. 27, when TCFM switches to an all-Holiday format. But that’s a note for another time.

To round out the post-turkey break time, students have two full, regularly scheduled weeks of school before the week of Dec. 11. On that week, Monday, Dec. 11 and Tuesday, Dec. 12 are regular school days before final exams begin Dec. 13-15.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017
(Exam 1st and 5th) — Standard school day

1st 8:30 -9:46 (76) Exam
2B 9:52 – 11:02 (70) Normal Class
3B 11:08- 1:13 Class
4B 1:19 – 2:23 (64) Class
5th 2:29 – 3:45 (76) Exam

Thursday, December 14, 2017
(Exam 2A, 3A, 4A) — Early release day

2A 8:30 – 9:46 (76) Exam
3A 9:52 – 11:08 (76) Exam
4A 11:14 – 12:30 (76) Exam

Friday, December 15, 2017
(Exam 2B, 3B, 4B) — Early release day

2B 8:30 – 9:46 (76) Exam
3B 9:52 – 11:08 (76) Exam
4B 11:14 – 12:30 (76) Exam

**Sack lunches will be available in cafeteria after school on early release days**

So, doing the “full regular day” math again, AFTER Thanksgiving, there’s only 12 standard days left before finals.

And don’t forget, this year finals are before the holiday break, so you can forget all about that semester-long Journalism course. (Editor’s Note: You shouldn’t forget Mr. Janda’s course, though. It’s amazing.)

Plus, students don’t return until Jan. 4, 2018 to a fresh, new second semester.