What are the next 3-4 weeks of school going to be like? (APS)

[Anonymous]

I am trying to wrap my head around what the next month is going to be like in APS...

Will Omicron just blow through each grade and we will get it over with?

Will teachers and subs be out sick and schools will have to close for a few days?

How will the schools handle positive test results? Will siblings now have to quarantine too? Will teachers have to stay out for 10 days?

It seems like all of the previous protocols are going to go out the window now that we know how contagious this is. And cloth masks are deemed barely effective.

I personally am not very worried about getting the virus. I think my family will likely be just fine but I more want to brace myself for the logistics of what is to come.

I do not evny Dr Duran- that is for sure!

[Anonymous]

It would be nice to have an idea of how it will be handled. I’m not sure there is a plan at this point.

[Anonymous]

I think we will all need to be flexible. I am not sure if that is possible. We have some pretty rigid parents with low levels of tolerance for things that don't go their way.

[Anonymous]

No one knows. This wave is moving so fast it could actually peak in Arlington before school starts up again. Presumably if enough staff are quarantined they will close schools on a building by building basis.

[Anonymous]

Who knows? So many threads on these boards with people just making guesses. We’ll just have to see.

I would put money on quarantines being shortened for asymptomatic positives, particularly for staff, in light of today’s CDC recommendation.

[Anonymous]

CDC has updated guidelines to reduce reduced quarantine days. Probably means that there was never a need to quarantine for as many days as was being done 😐

[Anonymous]

No one knows. We all have to accept the uncertainty because there is no crystal ball here.

[Anonymous]

Rolling closures if schools insist on staying open, which means parents needing to justify days off to their bosses, and high schoolers missing out on content they need to get good grades and ace college applications.

Pivot to virtual if schools close, which would also be bad for childcare needs of young children, but at least it's easier to point to when the boss isn't happy. And teens will have academic continuity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Rolling closures if schools insist on staying open, which means parents needing to justify days off to their bosses, and high schoolers missing out on content they need to get good grades and ace college applications.

Pivot to virtual if schools close, which would also be bad for childcare needs of young children, but at least it's easier to point to when the boss isn't happy. And teens will have academic continuity.

Another closed schooler. The virtual program at APS has open enrollment if you want virtual.

[Anonymous]

It would be helpful if Syphax hadn’t given themself a winter break vacation (on top of their regular leave). There’s a lot they need to figure out.

[Anonymous]

As a single parent working in person I’m gritting teeth. Really hoping for minimal closures.

[Anonymous]

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+ful+CHAP0456

1. APS needs to provide in person education for the required number of educational hours. If there are built in snow days, presumably they could use those after break for a closure without having to extend the school year
2. If they decide to have school it needs to be in person unless there is a high level of spread within each individual building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one knows. This wave is moving so fast it could actually peak in Arlington before school starts up again. Presumably if enough staff are quarantined they will close schools on a building by building basis.

I have had the same thought. I think APS will follow CDC guidelines and shorten quarantine to 5 days. Vaccinated people without symptoms will be able to attend/work, same as now. I think we will be back as normal Monday and there will be targeted closures, probably class based as it has been as needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CDC has updated guidelines to reduce reduced quarantine days. Probably means that there was never a need to quarantine for as many days as was being done 😐

Isn't it longer now for students who haven't received the booster?

Now the agency is saying only people who got booster shots can skip quarantine if they wear masks in all settings for at least 10 days.

That’s a change. Previously, people who were fully vaccinated — which the CDC has defined as having two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine — could be exempt from quarantine.

https://wtop.com/coronavirus/2021/12/cdc-recommends-shorter-covid-isolation-quarantine-for-all/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CDC has updated guidelines to reduce reduced quarantine days. Probably means that there was never a need to quarantine for as many days as was being done 😐

Isn't it longer now for students who haven't received the booster?

Now the agency is saying only people who got booster shots can skip quarantine if they wear masks in all settings for at least 10 days.

That’s a change. Previously, people who were fully vaccinated — which the CDC has defined as having two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine — could be exempt from quarantine.

https://wtop.com/coronavirus/2021/12/cdc-recommends-shorter-covid-isolation-quarantine-for-all/

Exactly. While the quarantine period itself might be shorter, this updated guidance expands the universe of people who need to quarantine, especially the middle school set who are not yet eligible for a booster.