How is your elementary school engaging with kids in quarantine?

[Anonymous]

My kid just watches tv all day. These quarantines are far too long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schools need to do rapid testing. That would cut back on long term quarantining.

Can you clarify how rapid testing would cut down on long-term quarantining? Assuming an unvaccinated person is in close contact they have to quarantine for at least 7 days.

I agree that schools need to do rapid testing but that's to identify infection. it doesn't seem like it would help reduce quarantining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools need to do rapid testing. That would cut back on long term quarantining.

Can you clarify how rapid testing would cut down on long-term quarantining? Assuming an unvaccinated person is in close contact they have to quarantine for at least 7 days.

I agree that schools need to do rapid testing but that's to identify infection. it doesn't seem like it would help reduce quarantining.

The rapid testing is part of a "test and stay" program; kids that are close contacts stay in school and do a rapid test daily. If they are negative they stay at school (thus reducing the quarantine).

Here's Massachusetts' description of their school test-and-stay program:

https://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/testing/

[Anonymous]

Or, here's more detail from one individual district in MA:

https://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/on-desktop/protocols/protocols.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: The MOU adds: “DCPS shall not require teachers to provide simultaneous instruction for student or family convenience.” And any teachers who are forced to provide simultaneous instruction and meet the limited criteria to do so must get paid additional stipends.


What the actual____???? Could you post a link to this?

Here you go: https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/wtulocal6action/pages/32/attachments/original/1629843389/Fall_2021_MOA_-_Signed.pdf?1629843389

It’s the first section beginning on the first page and into the second.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: The MOU adds: “DCPS shall not require teachers to provide simultaneous instruction for student or family convenience.” And any teachers who are forced to provide simultaneous instruction and meet the limited criteria to do so must get paid additional stipends.


What the actual____???? Could you post a link to this?

Here you go: https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/wtulocal6action/pages/32/attachments/original/1629843389/Fall_2021_MOA_-_Signed.pdf?1629843389

It’s the first section beginning on the first page and into the second.

wow. reprehensible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: The MOU adds: “DCPS shall not require teachers to provide simultaneous instruction for student or family convenience.” And any teachers who are forced to provide simultaneous instruction and meet the limited criteria to do so must get paid additional stipends.


What the actual____???? Could you post a link to this?

Here you go: https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/wtulocal6action/pages/32/attachments/original/1629843389/Fall_2021_MOA_-_Signed.pdf?1629843389

It’s the first section beginning on the first page and into the second.

wow. reprehensible.

This is what the UK does as well. With NO masks. Any their spread in schools is low. They actually catch more asymptomatic cases this way, but don't quarantine based on made up rubrics of close contact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: The MOU adds: “DCPS shall not require teachers to provide simultaneous instruction for student or family convenience.” And any teachers who are forced to provide simultaneous instruction and meet the limited criteria to do so must get paid additional stipends.


What the actual____???? Could you post a link to this?

Here you go: https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/wtulocal6action/pages/32/attachments/original/1629843389/Fall_2021_MOA_-_Signed.pdf?1629843389

It’s the first section beginning on the first page and into the second.

wow. reprehensible.

This is what the UK does as well. With NO masks. Any their spread in schools is low. They actually catch more asymptomatic cases this way, but don't quarantine based on made up rubrics of close contact.

I am appalled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: The MOU adds: “DCPS shall not require teachers to provide simultaneous instruction for student or family convenience.” And any teachers who are forced to provide simultaneous instruction and meet the limited criteria to do so must get paid additional stipends.


What the actual____???? Could you post a link to this?

Here you go: https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/wtulocal6action/pages/32/attachments/original/1629843389/Fall_2021_MOA_-_Signed.pdf?1629843389

It’s the first section beginning on the first page and into the second.

wow. reprehensible.

Why is this reprehensible? Teachers have a job. Teaching simulcast is a second job, that teachers are untrained for. I simulcasted last year when kids were out and it was a mess for kids both in the room and at home (and I consider myself a pretty steady teacher). This isn’t a problem that can be solved at individual school levels and I’m glad the WTU didn’t just let it go.
As for the OP, remember that even a short small group is coming out of the teachers lunch or planning time, which they have a legal right too. I’m sorry and as someone who is currently in a school with multiple kids across different grades out I agree that the lack of a plan is a real problem.
However, this is not a time to be mad at teachers. We are trying our best and a little grace would be nice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the thoughtful responses. Yes, exposure was outside of school. The class has another similarly situated kid, so its two kids. And I am keeping my kid home to protect others, just in case. (Its terrible.)

If they tried simulcasting and it was a hot mess, I'd understand. But they don't seem to have any plan at all (how 'bout a lunch bunch math lesson?) and they both KNOW kids are going to be out and WANT kids to stay home of there is any risk at all. Morning meeting seemed to go okay today - the visual wasn't great but we could hear the teacher and my kid was called on to share - unmute-share-re-mute.

I wish they were trying harder or had a plan - what great PR it would be if I was telling everyone that I was glad I kept Kid home, just in case, and the school did a good job keeping us on track.

Thank you for this, I am a teacher and I had a student who had outside exposure did not quarantine and now the whole class in in quarantine and I teach self contained. So now all my poor kids have to suffer because of this one family’s very selfish decision. Yes, it’s a little different but I guarantee the exposure will obviously have some other students impacted.

Please talk to your child’s teacher, even if they can just morning meeting and can send some work home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: The MOU adds: “DCPS shall not require teachers to provide simultaneous instruction for student or family convenience.” And any teachers who are forced to provide simultaneous instruction and meet the limited criteria to do so must get paid additional stipends.


What the actual____???? Could you post a link to this?

Here you go: https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/wtulocal6action/pages/32/attachments/original/1629843389/Fall_2021_MOA_-_Signed.pdf?1629843389

It’s the first section beginning on the first page and into the second.

wow. reprehensible.

Why is this reprehensible? Teachers have a job. Teaching simulcast is a second job, that teachers are untrained for. I simulcasted last year when kids were out and it was a mess for kids both in the room and at home (and I consider myself a pretty steady teacher). This isn’t a problem that can be solved at individual school levels and I’m glad the WTU didn’t just let it go.
As for the OP, remember that even a short small group is coming out of the teachers lunch or planning time, which they have a legal right too. I’m sorry and as someone who is currently in a school with multiple kids across different grades out I agree that the lack of a plan is a real problem.
However, this is not a time to be mad at teachers. We are trying our best and a little grace would be nice

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the thoughtful responses. Yes, exposure was outside of school. The class has another similarly situated kid, so its two kids. And I am keeping my kid home to protect others, just in case. (Its terrible.)

If they tried simulcasting and it was a hot mess, I'd understand. But they don't seem to have any plan at all (how 'bout a lunch bunch math lesson?) and they both KNOW kids are going to be out and WANT kids to stay home of there is any risk at all. Morning meeting seemed to go okay today - the visual wasn't great but we could hear the teacher and my kid was called on to share - unmute-share-re-mute.

I wish they were trying harder or had a plan - what great PR it would be if I was telling everyone that I was glad I kept Kid home, just in case, and the school did a good job keeping us on track.

Thank you for this, I am a teacher and I had a student who had outside exposure did not quarantine and now the whole class in in quarantine and I teach self contained. So now all my poor kids have to suffer because of this one family’s very selfish decision. Yes, it’s a little different but I guarantee the exposure will obviously have some other students impacted.

Please talk to your child’s teacher, even if they can just morning meeting and can send some work home.

Was this student actually positive? Or did the whole class have to quarantine just because the student was a close contact? That doesn't seem right.

[Anonymous]

I think you just suck it up, OP. A week out is MUCH less disruptive than what we had last year. Simulcast is too much to expect - I'm with WTU on this one. At the most, the schools should have a plan to send written workbooks home. Yeah it's a disruption but what other options do we have? The answer is to minimize disruptions by implementing a "test to stay" policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you just suck it up, OP. A week out is MUCH less disruptive than what we had last year. Simulcast is too much to expect - I'm with WTU on this one. At the most, the schools should have a plan to send written workbooks home. Yeah it's a disruption but what other options do we have? The answer is to minimize disruptions by implementing a "test to stay" policy.

Yep agree with all of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the thoughtful responses. Yes, exposure was outside of school. The class has another similarly situated kid, so its two kids. And I am keeping my kid home to protect others, just in case. (Its terrible.)

If they tried simulcasting and it was a hot mess, I'd understand. But they don't seem to have any plan at all (how 'bout a lunch bunch math lesson?) and they both KNOW kids are going to be out and WANT kids to stay home of there is any risk at all. Morning meeting seemed to go okay today - the visual wasn't great but we could hear the teacher and my kid was called on to share - unmute-share-re-mute.

I wish they were trying harder or had a plan - what great PR it would be if I was telling everyone that I was glad I kept Kid home, just in case, and the school did a good job keeping us on track.

Thank you for this, I am a teacher and I had a student who had outside exposure did not quarantine and now the whole class in in quarantine and I teach self contained. So now all my poor kids have to suffer because of this one family’s very selfish decision. Yes, it’s a little different but I guarantee the exposure will obviously have some other students impacted.

Please talk to your child’s teacher, even if they can just morning meeting and can send some work home.

Was this student actually positive? Or did the whole class have to quarantine just because the student was a close contact? That doesn't seem right.

Yes this student was positive. And my classroom is 1/3 the size of gen ed rooms, no social distancing. Some don’t wear masks. It’s sucks, they don’t deserve virtual even if it’s ‘just’ 2 weeks. This is still new so I’m not sure if any other students are positive.