If DMV schools don't open in the fall, are you moving?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not moving. DCPS DL is going fine for our 3rd grader and 1st grader. 3rd grader is self sufficient. 1st grader just needs some prompts with technology. Both do a couple of hours of virtual tutoring per week with 3 of their friends. The kids love sleeping-in.

We do some targeted outdoor/masked/distanced meet-ups so they get socialization. When I say "targeted" only families that are taking Covid precautions very seriously. Several families we have avoided since early in the pandemic have already gotten Covid, but they pushed the boundaries, seemingly just because they really, really don't like this.

But don't get me wrong -- I can't wait for in-person, so long as it is safe. It just seems like school opening is being forced at the worst time of the pandemic -- highest numbers and vaccine right around the corner. And I hate to say it, but the loudest proponents of "open now" seem to be really, really struggling with their kids being home.

Do you consider the 'targeted' family to be taking COVID precautions very seriously if they are meeting with people (your family)? Not meant as a snarky question, but I woudltn'.

Not a snarky question at all! Thanks for being socially responsible and taking Covid-19 seriously.

Targeted =

1) No outside child care -- nannies, daycare, babysitters.
2) Both parents work from home.
3) Parents don't go to grocery store -- curbside pickup and delivery.
4) Only meet outside for the kids. No indoor stuff. Always masked. No dinners/drinks, just park playdates for the kids.


It's not risk free, but careful, I think.

It’s fine to go grocery shopping. It’s not fine to have play dates.

Different poster. I don't do either, but I must say, grocery deliveries are great, and I see grocery shopping as a really really bad idea, where the upside of getting a pack of butter on sale for $1.99 instead of $2.60 online is dwarfed by the very real risk of getting covid while shopping indoors with a bunch of strangers.
Meanwhile, I have empathy for those families who decide their kids really need an outdoor well-distanced and well-masked playdate with another family whose covid hygiene is as described by PP. The issue becomes that too few families' covid hygiene is actually as described by PP, hence why we don't do playdates.

You do realize that when you order your groceries, somebody else, someone probably more at risk for Covid and its potential consequences than you, still has to go to the store. So while you are protecting yourself, you are putting someone else at risk.

No.
I realize that the big picture consequence is that I am helping keep someone employed and I am letting the store be more of a space for staff to prepare orders thereby minimizing spread.

Instacart and Amazon Fresh staff shop more quickly and more efficiently than I would.

As someone who does all my shopping myself, I can assure you, those shoppers are not efficient at all. They barrell through the aisles, paying no attention to people's personal space, and they don't know what anything on people's lists are, nor where they can be found in the store. They make shopping for everybody else very very stressful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not moving. DCPS DL is going fine for our 3rd grader and 1st grader. 3rd grader is self sufficient. 1st grader just needs some prompts with technology. Both do a couple of hours of virtual tutoring per week with 3 of their friends. The kids love sleeping-in.

We do some targeted outdoor/masked/distanced meet-ups so they get socialization. When I say "targeted" only families that are taking Covid precautions very seriously. Several families we have avoided since early in the pandemic have already gotten Covid, but they pushed the boundaries, seemingly just because they really, really don't like this.

But don't get me wrong -- I can't wait for in-person, so long as it is safe. It just seems like school opening is being forced at the worst time of the pandemic -- highest numbers and vaccine right around the corner. And I hate to say it, but the loudest proponents of "open now" seem to be really, really struggling with their kids being home.

Do you consider the 'targeted' family to be taking COVID precautions very seriously if they are meeting with people (your family)? Not meant as a snarky question, but I woudltn'.

Not a snarky question at all! Thanks for being socially responsible and taking Covid-19 seriously.

Targeted =

1) No outside child care -- nannies, daycare, babysitters.
2) Both parents work from home.
3) Parents don't go to grocery store -- curbside pickup and delivery.
4) Only meet outside for the kids. No indoor stuff. Always masked. No dinners/drinks, just park playdates for the kids.


It's not risk free, but careful, I think.

It’s fine to go grocery shopping. It’s not fine to have play dates.

Different poster. I don't do either, but I must say, grocery deliveries are great, and I see grocery shopping as a really really bad idea, where the upside of getting a pack of butter on sale for $1.99 instead of $2.60 online is dwarfed by the very real risk of getting covid while shopping indoors with a bunch of strangers.
Meanwhile, I have empathy for those families who decide their kids really need an outdoor well-distanced and well-masked playdate with another family whose covid hygiene is as described by PP. The issue becomes that too few families' covid hygiene is actually as described by PP, hence why we don't do playdates.

You do realize that when you order your groceries, somebody else, someone probably more at risk for Covid and its potential consequences than you, still has to go to the store. So while you are protecting yourself, you are putting someone else at risk.

No.
I realize that the big picture consequence is that I am helping keep someone employed and I am letting the store be more of a space for staff to prepare orders thereby minimizing spread.

Instacart and Amazon Fresh staff shop more quickly and more efficiently than I would.

As someone who does all my shopping myself, I can assure you, those shoppers are not efficient at all. They barrell through the aisles, paying no attention to people's personal space, and they don't know what anything on people's lists are, nor where they can be found in the store. They make shopping for everybody else very very stressful.

+1. I have observed the same. The people who think ordering groceries through low-paid workers are helping anyone but themselves are fooling themselves. If anything, they are making grocery stores a riskier place for their neighbors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not moving. DCPS DL is going fine for our 3rd grader and 1st grader. 3rd grader is self sufficient. 1st grader just needs some prompts with technology. Both do a couple of hours of virtual tutoring per week with 3 of their friends. The kids love sleeping-in.

We do some targeted outdoor/masked/distanced meet-ups so they get socialization. When I say "targeted" only families that are taking Covid precautions very seriously. Several families we have avoided since early in the pandemic have already gotten Covid, but they pushed the boundaries, seemingly just because they really, really don't like this.

But don't get me wrong -- I can't wait for in-person, so long as it is safe. It just seems like school opening is being forced at the worst time of the pandemic -- highest numbers and vaccine right around the corner. And I hate to say it, but the loudest proponents of "open now" seem to be really, really struggling with their kids being home.

Do you consider the 'targeted' family to be taking COVID precautions very seriously if they are meeting with people (your family)? Not meant as a snarky question, but I woudltn'.

Not a snarky question at all! Thanks for being socially responsible and taking Covid-19 seriously.

Targeted =

1) No outside child care -- nannies, daycare, babysitters.
2) Both parents work from home.
3) Parents don't go to grocery store -- curbside pickup and delivery.
4) Only meet outside for the kids. No indoor stuff. Always masked. No dinners/drinks, just park playdates for the kids.


It's not risk free, but careful, I think.

It’s fine to go grocery shopping. It’s not fine to have play dates.

Different poster. I don't do either, but I must say, grocery deliveries are great, and I see grocery shopping as a really really bad idea, where the upside of getting a pack of butter on sale for $1.99 instead of $2.60 online is dwarfed by the very real risk of getting covid while shopping indoors with a bunch of strangers.
Meanwhile, I have empathy for those families who decide their kids really need an outdoor well-distanced and well-masked playdate with another family whose covid hygiene is as described by PP. The issue becomes that too few families' covid hygiene is actually as described by PP, hence why we don't do playdates.

You do realize that when you order your groceries, somebody else, someone probably more at risk for Covid and its potential consequences than you, still has to go to the store. So while you are protecting yourself, you are putting someone else at risk.

No.
I realize that the big picture consequence is that I am helping keep someone employed and I am letting the store be more of a space for staff to prepare orders thereby minimizing spread.

Instacart and Amazon Fresh staff shop more quickly and more efficiently than I would.

Keep telling yourself that. Whatever makes you feel better.

Oh come on. Everything is already chosen and paid for, so no comparison shopping; a list with aisles and # numbers is printed out, no waiting in line at check out. There is no way that delivery and curbside aren't vastly better at not contributing to the pandemic than having each family show up to the stores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not moving. DCPS DL is going fine for our 3rd grader and 1st grader. 3rd grader is self sufficient. 1st grader just needs some prompts with technology. Both do a couple of hours of virtual tutoring per week with 3 of their friends. The kids love sleeping-in.

We do some targeted outdoor/masked/distanced meet-ups so they get socialization. When I say "targeted" only families that are taking Covid precautions very seriously. Several families we have avoided since early in the pandemic have already gotten Covid, but they pushed the boundaries, seemingly just because they really, really don't like this.

But don't get me wrong -- I can't wait for in-person, so long as it is safe. It just seems like school opening is being forced at the worst time of the pandemic -- highest numbers and vaccine right around the corner. And I hate to say it, but the loudest proponents of "open now" seem to be really, really struggling with their kids being home.

Do you consider the 'targeted' family to be taking COVID precautions very seriously if they are meeting with people (your family)? Not meant as a snarky question, but I woudltn'.

Not a snarky question at all! Thanks for being socially responsible and taking Covid-19 seriously.

Targeted =

1) No outside child care -- nannies, daycare, babysitters.
2) Both parents work from home.
3) Parents don't go to grocery store -- curbside pickup and delivery.
4) Only meet outside for the kids. No indoor stuff. Always masked. No dinners/drinks, just park playdates for the kids.


It's not risk free, but careful, I think.

It’s fine to go grocery shopping. It’s not fine to have play dates.

Different poster. I don't do either, but I must say, grocery deliveries are great, and I see grocery shopping as a really really bad idea, where the upside of getting a pack of butter on sale for $1.99 instead of $2.60 online is dwarfed by the very real risk of getting covid while shopping indoors with a bunch of strangers.
Meanwhile, I have empathy for those families who decide their kids really need an outdoor well-distanced and well-masked playdate with another family whose covid hygiene is as described by PP. The issue becomes that too few families' covid hygiene is actually as described by PP, hence why we don't do playdates.

You do realize that when you order your groceries, somebody else, someone probably more at risk for Covid and its potential consequences than you, still has to go to the store. So while you are protecting yourself, you are putting someone else at risk.

No.
I realize that the big picture consequence is that I am helping keep someone employed and I am letting the store be more of a space for staff to prepare orders thereby minimizing spread.

Instacart and Amazon Fresh staff shop more quickly and more efficiently than I would.

As someone who does all my shopping myself, I can assure you, those shoppers are not efficient at all. They barrell through the aisles, paying no attention to people's personal space, and they don't know what anything on people's lists are, nor where they can be found in the store. They make shopping for everybody else very very stressful.

+1. I have observed the same. The people who think ordering groceries through low-paid workers are helping anyone but themselves are fooling themselves. If anything, they are making grocery stores a riskier place for their neighbors.

Thank you both for that perspective. Amazon Fresh it is, then. I was just hoping to stop further enriching Jeff Bezos in 2021.

[Anonymous]

I'm the original "Targeted" poster.

Everyone has a covid risk budget. I'd rather spend mine on outdoor time for kids with other families that are being really careful. Going indoors with hundreds or random people for an hour+ just seems more risky.

And I feel the poster who doesn't do playdates b/c they don't know what everyone else is doing. I get it! It's awful trying to figure out who is doing what. And we've definitely strained some relationships b/c the other family is doing more risky stuff and we decline invitations. But a lot of people love to put that they are doing large indoor gatherings unmasked and flights for vacation on social media, so that makes it easier too.

We do Harris Teeter curbside. They already had employees staffed for this pre-pandemic, though I assume they have added more staff. I've found it incredibly efficient. I order online the night before. If it's online, it's almost always in-stock. If not, they are good about substitutions. They call to confirm the substitutions. The order is always done early and I can pick it up whenever. And not always, but I usually try to tip the employee who brings it to the car $10 or $20 in cash. And it saves me a lot of time, so I can help out with the kids schooling and get more work done.

I can't speak to insta-cart or other shopping alternatives, but they have as much right to be in the grocery store as the "neighbors". They don't bother me because I'm not there.

Getting food to people is essential and I just try to reduce the total number of people gathered indoors as much as possible.

[Anonymous]

Fresh direct is a good option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Thank you both for that perspective. Amazon Fresh it is, then. I was just hoping to stop further enriching Jeff Bezos in 2021.

Amazon is a publicly-traded company. Buy stock in them, and you can enrich yourself as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I would never move. I prioritize the health of my family over having someone else teach my child.

Besides, the places where schools are open are not places I’d ever want to live. No thank you.

you are so out of date. Most of American is either back to school or heading back within the next month. This includes most of New England, most large cities, most college towns, etc. Unless the DMV "is the only place you'd ever want to live." Which is fine.

[Anonymous]

Who takes an hour to grocery shop? I can walk from my house to the store, shop, checkout, and walk back home in under 20 minutes (and do it weekly). There’s no reason you can’t get in and out quickly if you’re prepared with a list and go when it’s not busy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who takes an hour to grocery shop? I can walk from my house to the store, shop, checkout, and walk back home in under 20 minutes (and do it weekly). There’s no reason you can’t get in and out quickly if you’re prepared with a list and go when it’s not busy.

Yep. I miss wandering the aisles. But I go in and out for about 3 days of food. And I buy maybe one pantry item like oil, milk, etc.

If it isn't crowded I will spend a little more time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the original "Targeted" poster.

Everyone has a covid risk budget. I'd rather spend mine on outdoor time for kids with other families that are being really careful. Going indoors with hundreds or random people for an hour+ just seems more risky.

And I feel the poster who doesn't do playdates b/c they don't know what everyone else is doing. I get it! It's awful trying to figure out who is doing what. And we've definitely strained some relationships b/c the other family is doing more risky stuff and we decline invitations. But a lot of people love to put that they are doing large indoor gatherings unmasked and flights for vacation on social media, so that makes it easier too.

We do Harris Teeter curbside. They already had employees staffed for this pre-pandemic, though I assume they have added more staff. I've found it incredibly efficient. I order online the night before. If it's online, it's almost always in-stock. If not, they are good about substitutions. They call to confirm the substitutions. The order is always done early and I can pick it up whenever. And not always, but I usually try to tip the employee who brings it to the car $10 or $20 in cash. And it saves me a lot of time, so I can help out with the kids schooling and get more work done.

I can't speak to insta-cart or other shopping alternatives, but they have as much right to be in the grocery store as the "neighbors". They don't bother me because I'm not there.

Getting food to people is essential and I just try to reduce the total number of people gathered indoors as much as possible.

Thanks for this post.
1. Risk Budget - I like that term. I have a low risk budget.
2. Harris Teeter doing curb side - going to start doing that. Even in non pandemic times it will save me time AND stop impulse purchases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love this thread, honestly if you all leave that’d be great. Hopefully we could have smaller class sizes and children would get more help once they are back in person.
And you’d get in person eqrly in another state or private, win win.

Neat. You have no idea how funding works.

This. But truthfully, many DCPS teachers would love it if the families with higher expectations who advocate for their children would just leave. Then they could go back to teaching a community who doesn't ask for standards these teachers can't meet before UMC families flocked to DCPS. These teachers don't care if the majority of their students can't even pass basic proficiency tests. They're pushing to eliminate testing so there's no proof of their poor performance.

I think you have no idea how funding works. You think all wealthy people have children? DCPS will get money regardless and if it's really lacking the mayor will finally have to tax her precious donors more.

And no sweetie, those families don't have higher expectations, I used to be a highly effective teacher in W3 but I couldn't deal with the covert racism from some families. Those kids are MUCH easier to teach then children going through real trauma. When you are facing abuse, poverty, seeing abuse, etc. it's harder to focus on school. I have a lot more work cut out for me here because I have to really built rapport with families to convince them to get the help they need.

It's hard to build rapport with families who are blatantly racist. I'll never forget the parent who's daughter was mixed like me but was white passing. She asked the principal if her daughter could leave my class and when the principal enquired why she said, 'She's a great teacher but I'd rather my daughter have a teacher who looks more like her.'

You guys aren't as important as you think you are, the reason why some children fail is because many teachers don't know how to deal with this level of trauma, they don't know how to build that home to school connection, etc. The funding isn't the only factor, DCPS actually has a high funding rate per pupil but doesn't invest in developing teachers.

Try again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who takes an hour to grocery shop? I can walk from my house to the store, shop, checkout, and walk back home in under 20 minutes (and do it weekly). There’s no reason you can’t get in and out quickly if you’re prepared with a list and go when it’s not busy.

If you can buy $300+ of groceries and go to and from the store in 20 minutes, you need to be on Guy's grocery games! But all kidding aside, if going to the store is how you want to spend your COVID risk budget, you do you. It's fine.

With the new strains being ultra contagious, going inside places with other people becomes more risky. And I wouldn't focus on the other shoppers in the store (not crowded), but the store employees -- they are around everyone! There's a reason grocery store employees are near the top of the list for vaccination.

If you don't go in the store at all you are reducing risk for the employees and everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4 more adults in DCPS are positive.

Are you referring to the 4 notifications of new cases early this week or something else? Those notifications don't state whether they're student or teacher or staff. They don't even quantify/clarify if there is more than 1 positive in the same notification.

Double-post to add the link I wanted to include with my question to PP. https://dcpsreopenstrong.com/category/articles/

Triple-post to answer myself https://coronavirus.dc.gov/page/dc-public-schools-dcps-data
I hadn't looked at this category before. Wow! From January 8 to January 14, staff positives went from 59 to 70.

January 15, they're up to 73 positive. Lovely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2021/01/523-students-407-staffers-positive-for-covid-in-massachusetts-schools-in-last-week.html

It's a pandemic, some students and staff are going to test positive here and there. But what's the alternative? A generation of poor kids are high risk of depression and other health issues, of failing to gain basic literacy and numeracy skills because they missed a critical window for acquiring them at age 6, 7 or 8? If most private schools can stay open, and most public school students attend at least two days a week all around the country, let's not abandon or responsibility to public elementary school students. Let's innovate and spend to teach the kids in person, however that works.