What’s your elementary school plan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school’s presentation was tonight and I have a lot of concerns. Kids will keep their teachers but all instruction is virtual, even if the kids are in person with their teacher in front of them. Ok, not ideal, but ok. But when asked what will happen to students who repeatedly refuse to wear masks or wear them improperly, the AP said it will be a “teachable moment” as we encourage the child to wear their mask. Then, several parents asked via chat how we can prevent parents from sending sick students to school. We were all ignored. I am concerned that parents will send asymptomatic students or students with mild covid symptoms to school, and there will be no repercussions.

Multiple people also asked about the plan for contact tracing, quarantine, and testing. We were told MCPS hasn’t decided yet. Seriously?! You've had 6-8 months to think through this exact scenario and you don’t know? I suspect they won’t or can’t do anything about tracing and quarantining, so they’re dodging until we go back, hoping we’ll all forget about it and worry about other details.

These are exactly the concerns teachers have been raising for months. “Teachable moment” is code for the teacher will encourage them to wear it but there are no repercussions.

Exactly.

Wearing masks should be a non issue for 1st/2nd grade and up in the ES. I have seen that kids that age are generally pretty good about wearing masks. They have gotten used to the fact that they have to wear them, the kids in my neighborhood, which is right next to an ES, are always wearing masks when they are on the playgrounds, etc. Most of this needs to be on the parents. If you haven’t taken your kid anywhere that they would need to wear a mask you need to start getting them used to wearing one if you plan on sending them back to school. But honestly if you are sending your kid to school, you have probably already had your kid in situations where mask wearing is non-negotiable. Will there need to be reminders to make sure they are over the nose, particularly at recess, sure. But that is different than kids coming to school and refusing to wear it, I really don’t think that is something you are going to see in ES.

Unfortunately, it is an issue. I have seen this year my son's friends refusing to wear a mask and these are second graders. They usually pull the mask off their nose or completely to the chin. Parents do nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school’s presentation was tonight and I have a lot of concerns. Kids will keep their teachers but all instruction is virtual, even if the kids are in person with their teacher in front of them. Ok, not ideal, but ok. But when asked what will happen to students who repeatedly refuse to wear masks or wear them improperly, the AP said it will be a “teachable moment” as we encourage the child to wear their mask. Then, several parents asked via chat how we can prevent parents from sending sick students to school. We were all ignored. I am concerned that parents will send asymptomatic students or students with mild covid symptoms to school, and there will be no repercussions.

Multiple people also asked about the plan for contact tracing, quarantine, and testing. We were told MCPS hasn’t decided yet. Seriously?! You've had 6-8 months to think through this exact scenario and you don’t know? I suspect they won’t or can’t do anything about tracing and quarantining, so they’re dodging until we go back, hoping we’ll all forget about it and worry about other details.

What punishment would you suggest for parents who send asymptotic kids? Are you going to hold them strictly liable even if they had no idea or reason to believe the kid had Covid?

Ignoring that wrinkle, there isn't really anything that the school itself can do. They can't ban children after they have recovered. They probably can't ban parents from taking part in school activities once school is more normal.

If the county wanted to try to bring reckless endangerment or similar charges that at least would be plausible. Similarly, a parent whose kid got infected could try to bring civil claims. But I am at a loss as to what you think the school could, never mind should, do.

I don’t know what you expect a school to do if a parent sent an asymptomatic kid to school, because the very definition of that is that the kid is exhibiting no symptoms, giving a parent no reason to keep them home. If you are this concerned about something people have no control over, DL is probably best for you.

In my niece’s school, a kid came to school and told everyone their parents were at home sick with covid. I don’t know what happened in that situation, but I think that kid should have been sent home to quarantine and DL for a week. But unfortunately, there are selfish and irresponsible parents who will ignore the recommendations to stay home and quarantine. Assuming MCPS gives us recommendations.

Well that is completely ridiculous, if a kid comes to school and tells everyone his parents are at home with Covid, and that ends up being true, that kid should be sent back to DL for the remainder of the year and the parents fined. That is a legal fight MCPS should be willing to take on. I would gladly defend them pro bono on that one. But if no one in the family has Covid, or a known exposure, and they send their kid to school and it turns out the kid is an asymptomatic Covid carrier, there isn’t anything the school can do about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school’s presentation was tonight and I have a lot of concerns. Kids will keep their teachers but all instruction is virtual, even if the kids are in person with their teacher in front of them. Ok, not ideal, but ok. But when asked what will happen to students who repeatedly refuse to wear masks or wear them improperly, the AP said it will be a “teachable moment” as we encourage the child to wear their mask. Then, several parents asked via chat how we can prevent parents from sending sick students to school. We were all ignored. I am concerned that parents will send asymptomatic students or students with mild covid symptoms to school, and there will be no repercussions.

Multiple people also asked about the plan for contact tracing, quarantine, and testing. We were told MCPS hasn’t decided yet. Seriously?! You've had 6-8 months to think through this exact scenario and you don’t know? I suspect they won’t or can’t do anything about tracing and quarantining, so they’re dodging until we go back, hoping we’ll all forget about it and worry about other details.

What punishment would you suggest for parents who send asymptotic kids? Are you going to hold them strictly liable even if they had no idea or reason to believe the kid had Covid?

Ignoring that wrinkle, there isn't really anything that the school itself can do. They can't ban children after they have recovered. They probably can't ban parents from taking part in school activities once school is more normal.

If the county wanted to try to bring reckless endangerment or similar charges that at least would be plausible. Similarly, a parent whose kid got infected could try to bring civil claims. But I am at a loss as to what you think the school could, never mind should, do.

I don’t know what you expect a school to do if a parent sent an asymptomatic kid to school, because the very definition of that is that the kid is exhibiting no symptoms, giving a parent no reason to keep them home. If you are this concerned about something people have no control over, DL is probably best for you.

In my niece’s school, a kid came to school and told everyone their parents were at home sick with covid. I don’t know what happened in that situation, but I think that kid should have been sent home to quarantine and DL for a week. But unfortunately, there are selfish and irresponsible parents who will ignore the recommendations to stay home and quarantine. Assuming MCPS gives us recommendations.

Well, if the parents are home sick, I would think being able to have a day with the kids out of the house would be hugely helpful to them.

[Anonymous]

Glenallan ES for K is doing 4 in-person classes with direct instruction, 11 kids per teacher, and zoom/chromebook only for specials. The virtual kids are moving into groups of 22 per teacher (3 groups). They did not want to have K in-person kids to have a teacher doing zoom and in-person at the same time. I think this is a good approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school’s presentation was tonight and I have a lot of concerns. Kids will keep their teachers but all instruction is virtual, even if the kids are in person with their teacher in front of them. Ok, not ideal, but ok. But when asked what will happen to students who repeatedly refuse to wear masks or wear them improperly, the AP said it will be a “teachable moment” as we encourage the child to wear their mask. Then, several parents asked via chat how we can prevent parents from sending sick students to school. We were all ignored. I am concerned that parents will send asymptomatic students or students with mild covid symptoms to school, and there will be no repercussions.

Multiple people also asked about the plan for contact tracing, quarantine, and testing. We were told MCPS hasn’t decided yet. Seriously?! You've had 6-8 months to think through this exact scenario and you don’t know? I suspect they won’t or can’t do anything about tracing and quarantining, so they’re dodging until we go back, hoping we’ll all forget about it and worry about other details.

These are exactly the concerns teachers have been raising for months. “Teachable moment” is code for the teacher will encourage them to wear it but there are no repercussions.

Exactly.

Wearing masks should be a non issue for 1st/2nd grade and up in the ES. I have seen that kids that age are generally pretty good about wearing masks. They have gotten used to the fact that they have to wear them, the kids in my neighborhood, which is right next to an ES, are always wearing masks when they are on the playgrounds, etc. Most of this needs to be on the parents. If you haven’t taken your kid anywhere that they would need to wear a mask you need to start getting them used to wearing one if you plan on sending them back to school. But honestly if you are sending your kid to school, you have probably already had your kid in situations where mask wearing is non-negotiable. Will there need to be reminders to make sure they are over the nose, particularly at recess, sure. But that is different than kids coming to school and refusing to wear it, I really don’t think that is something you are going to see in ES.

Where are they when this is happening? Outside? If so who cares!!!!! Indoors is of course an issue but the outside masking is over the top for kids

Unfortunately, it is an issue. I have seen this year my son's friends refusing to wear a mask and these are second graders. They usually pull the mask off their nose or completely to the chin. Parents do nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school’s presentation was tonight and I have a lot of concerns. Kids will keep their teachers but all instruction is virtual, even if the kids are in person with their teacher in front of them. Ok, not ideal, but ok. But when asked what will happen to students who repeatedly refuse to wear masks or wear them improperly, the AP said it will be a “teachable moment” as we encourage the child to wear their mask. Then, several parents asked via chat how we can prevent parents from sending sick students to school. We were all ignored. I am concerned that parents will send asymptomatic students or students with mild covid symptoms to school, and there will be no repercussions.

Multiple people also asked about the plan for contact tracing, quarantine, and testing. We were told MCPS hasn’t decided yet. Seriously?! You've had 6-8 months to think through this exact scenario and you don’t know? I suspect they won’t or can’t do anything about tracing and quarantining, so they’re dodging until we go back, hoping we’ll all forget about it and worry about other details.

These are exactly the concerns teachers have been raising for months. “Teachable moment” is code for the teacher will encourage them to wear it but there are no repercussions.

Exactly.

Wearing masks should be a non issue for 1st/2nd grade and up in the ES. I have seen that kids that age are generally pretty good about wearing masks. They have gotten used to the fact that they have to wear them, the kids in my neighborhood, which is right next to an ES, are always wearing masks when they are on the playgrounds, etc. Most of this needs to be on the parents. If you haven’t taken your kid anywhere that they would need to wear a mask you need to start getting them used to wearing one if you plan on sending them back to school. But honestly if you are sending your kid to school, you have probably already had your kid in situations where mask wearing is non-negotiable. Will there need to be reminders to make sure they are over the nose, particularly at recess, sure. But that is different than kids coming to school and refusing to wear it, I really don’t think that is something you are going to see in ES.

Unfortunately, it is an issue. I have seen this year my son's friends refusing to wear a mask and these are second graders. They usually pull the mask off their nose or completely to the chin. Parents do nothing.

Where are they when this is happening? Outside? If so who cares!!!!! Indoors is of course an issue but the outside masking is over the top for kids

[Anonymous]

The very first parent question asked in the chat at our ES return to school Zoom was: Can my kid go directly to school after a spring break vacation out of state.

And then you wonder why people choose DL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The very first parent question asked in the chat at our ES return to school Zoom was: Can my kid go directly to school after a spring break vacation out of state.

And then you wonder why people choose DL.

Lol, those questions were a lot. Although to that person’s credit I took it as maybe it was a parent worried that there would be a bunch of kids traveling for spring break that would be allowed to just come right back to school. And they never answered it outright either, the principal just said if you have travel plans for spring break to contact her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school’s presentation was tonight and I have a lot of concerns. Kids will keep their teachers but all instruction is virtual, even if the kids are in person with their teacher in front of them. Ok, not ideal, but ok. But when asked what will happen to students who repeatedly refuse to wear masks or wear them improperly, the AP said it will be a “teachable moment” as we encourage the child to wear their mask. Then, several parents asked via chat how we can prevent parents from sending sick students to school. We were all ignored. I am concerned that parents will send asymptomatic students or students with mild covid symptoms to school, and there will be no repercussions.

Multiple people also asked about the plan for contact tracing, quarantine, and testing. We were told MCPS hasn’t decided yet. Seriously?! You've had 6-8 months to think through this exact scenario and you don’t know? I suspect they won’t or can’t do anything about tracing and quarantining, so they’re dodging until we go back, hoping we’ll all forget about it and worry about other details.

These are exactly the concerns teachers have been raising for months. “Teachable moment” is code for the teacher will encourage them to wear it but there are no repercussions.

Exactly.

Wearing masks should be a non issue for 1st/2nd grade and up in the ES. I have seen that kids that age are generally pretty good about wearing masks. They have gotten used to the fact that they have to wear them, the kids in my neighborhood, which is right next to an ES, are always wearing masks when they are on the playgrounds, etc. Most of this needs to be on the parents. If you haven’t taken your kid anywhere that they would need to wear a mask you need to start getting them used to wearing one if you plan on sending them back to school. But honestly if you are sending your kid to school, you have probably already had your kid in situations where mask wearing is non-negotiable. Will there need to be reminders to make sure they are over the nose, particularly at recess, sure. But that is different than kids coming to school and refusing to wear it, I really don’t think that is something you are going to see in ES.

Unfortunately, it is an issue. I have seen this year my son's friends refusing to wear a mask and these are second graders. They usually pull the mask off their nose or completely to the chin. Parents do nothing.

My kids (1st and 4th grade) have been wearing masks at camp, learning pod, sports etc for nearly a year without issue, as have every other kid I've seen them with. They don't even blink about it anymore. What you're saying is really not a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The very first parent question asked in the chat at our ES return to school Zoom was: Can my kid go directly to school after a spring break vacation out of state.

And then you wonder why people choose DL.

Lol, those questions were a lot. Although to that person’s credit I took it as maybe it was a parent worried that there would be a bunch of kids traveling for spring break that would be allowed to just come right back to school. And they never answered it outright either, the principal just said if you have travel plans for spring break to contact her.

Ha! I am pretty sure the parent in our case was asking for themselves. It was very specific. The principal just said, that’s fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school’s presentation was tonight and I have a lot of concerns. Kids will keep their teachers but all instruction is virtual, even if the kids are in person with their teacher in front of them. Ok, not ideal, but ok. But when asked what will happen to students who repeatedly refuse to wear masks or wear them improperly, the AP said it will be a “teachable moment” as we encourage the child to wear their mask. Then, several parents asked via chat how we can prevent parents from sending sick students to school. We were all ignored. I am concerned that parents will send asymptomatic students or students with mild covid symptoms to school, and there will be no repercussions.

Multiple people also asked about the plan for contact tracing, quarantine, and testing. We were told MCPS hasn’t decided yet. Seriously?! You've had 6-8 months to think through this exact scenario and you don’t know? I suspect they won’t or can’t do anything about tracing and quarantining, so they’re dodging until we go back, hoping we’ll all forget about it and worry about other details.

These are exactly the concerns teachers have been raising for months. “Teachable moment” is code for the teacher will encourage them to wear it but there are no repercussions.

Exactly.

Wearing masks should be a non issue for 1st/2nd grade and up in the ES. I have seen that kids that age are generally pretty good about wearing masks. They have gotten used to the fact that they have to wear them, the kids in my neighborhood, which is right next to an ES, are always wearing masks when they are on the playgrounds, etc. Most of this needs to be on the parents. If you haven’t taken your kid anywhere that they would need to wear a mask you need to start getting them used to wearing one if you plan on sending them back to school. But honestly if you are sending your kid to school, you have probably already had your kid in situations where mask wearing is non-negotiable. Will there need to be reminders to make sure they are over the nose, particularly at recess, sure. But that is different than kids coming to school and refusing to wear it, I really don’t think that is something you are going to see in ES.

Unfortunately, it is an issue. I have seen this year my son's friends refusing to wear a mask and these are second graders. They usually pull the mask off their nose or completely to the chin. Parents do nothing.

My kids (1st and 4th grade) have been wearing masks at camp, learning pod, sports etc for nearly a year without issue, as have every other kid I've seen them with. They don't even blink about it anymore. What you're saying is really not a thing.

NP. It may be a thing for kids that had not been in camps, pods, etc., live in single family housing, and are only now venturing out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The very first parent question asked in the chat at our ES return to school Zoom was: Can my kid go directly to school after a spring break vacation out of state.

And then you wonder why people choose DL.

You can safely travel out of state. You can wear masks and social distance in any location. Crossing state lines doesn’t immediately give you Covid. I hope people are as worried about large groups of people as much as they are about driving across state lines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of you who say teachers on zoom - does that mean no teacher will be in the classroom? Just a random monitor? And schools think parents will be ok with that?

Everyone I know who selected to return in person did it with the assumption that the teacher would be there. If schools are planning monitors around the numbers from the survey they're going to have a big issue...

What exactly are parents going to do about? About the only thing they can do is switch to DL and, frankly, I bet the schools would be thrilled if more people switched to DL.

More conspiratorial people out there might think that they are making in-person as unappealing as possible to reduce the number of people actually doing it.

Well at least then the county won’t need to rush to get all the teachers vaccinated. They could just let them go with their age groups like everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The very first parent question asked in the chat at our ES return to school Zoom was: Can my kid go directly to school after a spring break vacation out of state.

And then you wonder why people choose DL.

You can safely travel out of state. You can wear masks and social distance in any location. Crossing state lines doesn’t immediately give you Covid. I hope people are as worried about large groups of people as much as they are about driving across state lines.

Yes, you can, but will this parent do that? If you are so self-centered to ask a very specific question that pertains to your family as everybody else is trying to figure out what school will look like (this was in the first 5 minutes of the session), I don’t have much confidence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school’s presentation was tonight and I have a lot of concerns. Kids will keep their teachers but all instruction is virtual, even if the kids are in person with their teacher in front of them. Ok, not ideal, but ok. But when asked what will happen to students who repeatedly refuse to wear masks or wear them improperly, the AP said it will be a “teachable moment” as we encourage the child to wear their mask. Then, several parents asked via chat how we can prevent parents from sending sick students to school. We were all ignored. I am concerned that parents will send asymptomatic students or students with mild covid symptoms to school, and there will be no repercussions.

Multiple people also asked about the plan for contact tracing, quarantine, and testing. We were told MCPS hasn’t decided yet. Seriously?! You've had 6-8 months to think through this exact scenario and you don’t know? I suspect they won’t or can’t do anything about tracing and quarantining, so they’re dodging until we go back, hoping we’ll all forget about it and worry about other details.

These are exactly the concerns teachers have been raising for months. “Teachable moment” is code for the teacher will encourage them to wear it but there are no repercussions.

Exactly.

Wearing masks should be a non issue for 1st/2nd grade and up in the ES. I have seen that kids that age are generally pretty good about wearing masks. They have gotten used to the fact that they have to wear them, the kids in my neighborhood, which is right next to an ES, are always wearing masks when they are on the playgrounds, etc. Most of this needs to be on the parents. If you haven’t taken your kid anywhere that they would need to wear a mask you need to start getting them used to wearing one if you plan on sending them back to school. But honestly if you are sending your kid to school, you have probably already had your kid in situations where mask wearing is non-negotiable. Will there need to be reminders to make sure they are over the nose, particularly at recess, sure. But that is different than kids coming to school and refusing to wear it, I really don’t think that is something you are going to see in ES.

Unfortunately, it is an issue. I have seen this year my son's friends refusing to wear a mask and these are second graders. They usually pull the mask off their nose or completely to the chin. Parents do nothing.

My kids (1st and 4th grade) have been wearing masks at camp, learning pod, sports etc for nearly a year without issue, as have every other kid I've seen them with. They don't even blink about it anymore. What you're saying is really not a thing.

NP. It may be a thing for kids that had not been in camps, pods, etc., live in single family housing, and are only now venturing out.

Well my 4yo got used to it within a few days at daycare, so why can’t your kids?