APS taking the fingers crossed approach to reopening

[Anonymous]

I am really confused about the new quarantine rules. If there is no test-to-stay, will they still be quarantining entire classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am really confused about the new quarantine rules. If there is no test-to-stay, will they still be quarantining entire classes?

What’s confusing? We don’t have test to stay, so nothing is changing about the guidance for full-class quarantine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am really confused about the new quarantine rules. If there is no test-to-stay, will they still be quarantining entire classes?

What’s confusing? We don’t have test to stay, so nothing is changing about the guidance for full-class quarantine.

Its not confusing if your kid isn't in middle school. Middle School kids who are 6+ months out from vax (remember it started to be available in May) are 95% of the school population. These kids are going to be missing a ton of school even though vaccinated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alternative is to require appropriate masks, not useless cloth masks.

And to have tables and heaters for those that want to eat outside. Kids all prefer outside, there should have been open air structures at the schools months ago. Even when Covid is less threatening, kids should be eating outside.

If short staffed at lunch, ask parents to cycle through to help.

What kind of appropriate masks do you expect APS to provide? I assume APS would be providing those masks since anything other than the cloth masks is intended to be single-use.

Also, not all kids prefer outside. At my kid’s middle school, there is an option to eat outside but the majority choose to eat inside anyone because that’s what they prefer. That doesn’t mean APS couldn’t mandate outdoor lunch when conditions are appropriate, but it’s silly to claim that all kids prefer eating outside, especially in cold weather.

No, the KF94 and N95 masks are multiple uses!

The KF94 boat masks are more comfortable that cloth and don’t get wet and goes against the mouth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am really confused about the new quarantine rules. If there is no test-to-stay, will they still be quarantining entire classes?

What’s confusing? We don’t have test to stay, so nothing is changing about the guidance for full-class quarantine.

Its not confusing if your kid isn't in middle school. Middle School kids who are 6+ months out from vax (remember it started to be available in May) are 95% of the school population. These kids are going to be missing a ton of school even though vaccinated.

I am aware of that. It sucks (one of my kids is in the group), but it’s not confusing.

[Anonymous]

I'm furious about the rules for 12-15 year olds. They can't be boosted and most are at 6+ months now. Their immune response was so much higher than adults, they may not even need a booster. They are going to miss so much school b/c the juniors and seniors in HS are the only ones booster eligible. On top of that, they are canceling sports (the one place that requires daily testing). My 14 yo could be quarantined for a week with no covid, go back to school and get exposed again and miss another week. This is ridiculous. We need test to stay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alternative is to require appropriate masks, not useless cloth masks.

And to have tables and heaters for those that want to eat outside. Kids all prefer outside, there should have been open air structures at the schools months ago. Even when Covid is less threatening, kids should be eating outside.

If short staffed at lunch, ask parents to cycle through to help.

What kind of appropriate masks do you expect APS to provide? I assume APS would be providing those masks since anything other than the cloth masks is intended to be single-use.

Also, not all kids prefer outside. At my kid’s middle school, there is an option to eat outside but the majority choose to eat inside anyone because that’s what they prefer. That doesn’t mean APS couldn’t mandate outdoor lunch when conditions are appropriate, but it’s silly to claim that all kids prefer eating outside, especially in cold weather.

No, the KF94 and N95 masks are multiple uses!

The KF94 boat masks are more comfortable that cloth and don’t get wet and goes against the mouth.

KF94 and N95 are both intended to be single use. They can be re-used if necessary due to supply shortage, but it’s generally recommended that they not be used more than three times. So even if APS were to make a safety compromise and allow multiple uses, it would still need to provide every student and employee at least two masks a week.

[Anonymous]

Also, just kick out the kids who won't wear their masks properly. It's not that hard.

[Anonymous]

Ok so the graphic shows that the MS kids who are 6+ months out from vax have to stay home for 5 days and then can return with no testing. Correct?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok so the graphic shows that the MS kids who are 6+ months out from vax have to stay home for 5 days and then can return with no testing. Correct?

As long as they are asymptomatic. The problem is what happened in the next five days when the graphic says they have to mask in all situations for another five days after that. Are those kids not allowed to eat lunch at school for five days?

The new graphic is very poorly designed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok so the graphic shows that the MS kids who are 6+ months out from vax have to stay home for 5 days and then can return with no testing. Correct?

As long as they are asymptomatic. The problem is what happened in the next five days when the graphic says they have to mask in all situations for another five days after that. Are those kids not allowed to eat lunch at school for five days?

The new graphic is very poorly designed.

Agreed!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok so the graphic shows that the MS kids who are 6+ months out from vax have to stay home for 5 days and then can return with no testing. Correct?

Half of high school, too. It's ridiculous since close contacts have been able to test back in all fall if vaxed. This is going to be a nightmare in HS classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm furious about the rules for 12-15 year olds. They can't be boosted and most are at 6+ months now. Their immune response was so much higher than adults, they may not even need a booster. They are going to miss so much school b/c the juniors and seniors in HS are the only ones booster eligible. On top of that, they are canceling sports (the one place that requires daily testing). My 14 yo could be quarantined for a week with no covid, go back to school and get exposed again and miss another week. This is ridiculous. We need test to stay.

Yes, I’m expecting they’ll reverse the decision to pause sports, honestly. They did last year after a parent outcry and no kids were even vaccinated. VHSL mandates vaccination to participate in winter sports this year, and the MS testing requirements seemed robust. APS was the only local school district that I remember canceling winter sports last year before they reversed the decision, and it looks like they are standing alone again this year.

And band, orchestra, and theater are cancelled through 1/14? So, I guess the classes continue but the after school activities don’t?

Has any other DMV school district cancelled sports? I am dreading explaining to my kids why their friends in FCPS are still playing school sports while they take two weeks off.

[Anonymous]

January WILL be a shit show. All you APS parents are delusional if you think otherwise. Kind of crazy how many parents on this stupid site are so against getting their kids tested, protecting teachers, etc. This is one reason why so many teachers are leaving the profession

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:January WILL be a shit show. All you APS parents are delusional if you think otherwise. Kind of crazy how many parents on this stupid site are so against getting their kids tested, protecting teachers, etc. This is one reason why so many teachers are leaving the profession

You realize you’re not contributing anything constructive to the discussion right? Maybe go spew your bile elsewhere for a bit.