Keep kids home this week to avoid Covid, RSV, etc before holiday?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will the schools allow you just to decide they don't need to attend for a week? Serious question, this would have been reported to authorities when my DCs were young in public school.

You can just say you’re keeping them home sick. There’s nothing illegal about that and it’s an excused absence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many kids and parents in our school community have Covid and/or the flu and/or RSV (yes, some have two of these at once). We are supposed to leave Friday to visit my mom who is frail and 83 - we are her only family in the US right now and will be her only company during the holidays.

I’m thinking of keeping my kids home this week - on 3rd grader and one 7th grader - to try and protect us from getting anything before Christmas that would keep us from visiting my mom.

I hesitate because I don’t want my kids, particularly the older one, with multiple days absences. Would she be missing that much real content or is this week light in instruction?

WWYD?

Smart move. MCPS isn't keeping children safe at lunch. Masks aren't worn while eating and there is nothing magical about that interaction. COVID is spreading in schools and the MCPS data, county data and wastewater data show transmission is increasing.

If MCPS had instituted CO2 monitoring (they contracted - spent the money- but didn't do it_ and improved indoor ventilation you would have ways to determine if your children's schools were at least doing their part to mitigate risk. But they aren't and so you can only do partial mitigation with masks during classes. That's a great effort, but not enough this week to keep the kids safe. By the way, it's not just your family members, it's your kids too. COVID is damaging vital organs and the long term implications for children are not yet known. What if keeping your child safe this week benefits them too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will the schools allow you just to decide they don't need to attend for a week? Serious question, this would have been reported to authorities when my DCs were young in public school.

The school doesn't care and not much will happen next week.

[Anonymous]

Keep them home

Say they are sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many kids and parents in our school community have Covid and/or the flu and/or RSV (yes, some have two of these at once). We are supposed to leave Friday to visit my mom who is frail and 83 - we are her only family in the US right now and will be her only company during the holidays.

I’m thinking of keeping my kids home this week - on 3rd grader and one 7th grader - to try and protect us from getting anything before Christmas that would keep us from visiting my mom.

I hesitate because I don’t want my kids, particularly the older one, with multiple days absences. Would she be missing that much real content or is this week light in instruction?

WWYD?

Smart move. MCPS isn't keeping children safe at lunch. Masks aren't worn while eating and there is nothing magical about that interaction. COVID is spreading in schools and the MCPS data, county data and wastewater data show transmission is increasing.

If MCPS had instituted CO2 monitoring (they contracted - spent the money- but didn't do it_ and improved indoor ventilation you would have ways to determine if your children's schools were at least doing their part to mitigate risk. But they aren't and so you can only do partial mitigation with masks during classes. That's a great effort, but not enough this week to keep the kids safe. By the way, it's not just your family members, it's your kids too. COVID is damaging vital organs and the long term implications for children are not yet known. What if keeping your child safe this week benefits them too?

CO2 testing makes zero sense. We KNOW that things like masking, upgraded HVAC's, air filters in every room and hallway help but those things aren't happening. If you care abotu long term, your kids would not be in an MCPS school this year. So, why comment comment about just this week?

[Anonymous]

I would send them as scheduled.

[Anonymous]

Would they be missing fun holiday parties in class? My kids would be really sad to miss those (they are younger though).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d be more concerned after break.

OP here. I’m less concerned about post break bc we essentially quarantine at my mom’s. It would break her heart if we don’t make it to Christmas but his year - it’s been a hard year for her and candidly, I’m not sure how many more Christmases we have left together.

I don’t like the idea of missing school. My kids are doing well but I don’t want them to miss out on content and it’s also the signal it sends - school’s important and not something we typically miss unless sick ourselves or at the doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d be more concerned after break.

OP here. I’m less concerned about post break bc we essentially quarantine at my mom’s. It would break her heart if we don’t make it to Christmas but his year - it’s been a hard year for her and candidly, I’m not sure how many more Christmases we have left together.

I don’t like the idea of missing school. My kids are doing well but I don’t want them to miss out on content and it’s also the signal it sends - school’s important and not something we typically miss unless sick ourselves or at the doctor.

OP it’s fine. Have them stay home and enjoy the time with your mom over the holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many kids and parents in our school community have Covid and/or the flu and/or RSV (yes, some have two of these at once). We are supposed to leave Friday to visit my mom who is frail and 83 - we are her only family in the US right now and will be her only company during the holidays.

I’m thinking of keeping my kids home this week - on 3rd grader and one 7th grader - to try and protect us from getting anything before Christmas that would keep us from visiting my mom.

I hesitate because I don’t want my kids, particularly the older one, with multiple days absences. Would she be missing that much real content or is this week light in instruction?

WWYD?

Smart move. MCPS isn't keeping children safe at lunch. Masks aren't worn while eating and there is nothing magical about that interaction. COVID is spreading in schools and the MCPS data, county data and wastewater data show transmission is increasing.

If MCPS had instituted CO2 monitoring (they contracted - spent the money- but didn't do it_ and improved indoor ventilation you would have ways to determine if your children's schools were at least doing their part to mitigate risk. But they aren't and so you can only do partial mitigation with masks during classes. That's a great effort, but not enough this week to keep the kids safe. By the way, it's not just your family members, it's your kids too. COVID is damaging vital organs and the long term implications for children are not yet known. What if keeping your child safe this week benefits them too?

CO2 testing makes zero sense. We KNOW that things like masking, upgraded HVAC's, air filters in every room and hallway help but those things aren't happening. If you care abotu long term, your kids would not be in an MCPS school this year. So, why comment comment about just this week?

To you who know nothing CO2 makes zero sense. But to the Montgomery County scientists that are also MCPS parents it is a vital tool in keeping children safe.

Smart people know that transmission is up this week and getting worse. They know the difference in risk levels. People that took science classes can figure out this stuff and weigh risks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will the schools allow you just to decide they don't need to attend for a week? Serious question, this would have been reported to authorities when my DCs were young in public school.

+1

I am not in the DMV area anymore. Where we are at if you miss 4 days of school in a month you are reported to juvie---regardless of the reason. You get to explain it to them later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep them home - there is nothing being taught this week. However, don’t leave your house. There are too many things floating around. No holiday celebrations, no grocery store runs. Hunker down for a week and test daily.

7th grade English teacher here. We’re doing a lot this week. Keep your kid home, but know they will miss instruction and assignments like any other week of school and will need to muddle through as best they can upon return.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d be more concerned after break.

OP here. I’m less concerned about post break bc we essentially quarantine at my mom’s. It would break her heart if we don’t make it to Christmas but his year - it’s been a hard year for her and candidly, I’m not sure how many more Christmases we have left together.

I don’t like the idea of missing school. My kids are doing well but I don’t want them to miss out on content and it’s also the signal it sends - school’s important and not something we typically miss unless sick ourselves or at the doctor.

You just answered your own question. Keep them home from school so they can make memories to remember for years to come and you won't worry. Make sure Grandma's house is extra special and fun this year.

[Anonymous]

My Junior has it, my husband now has it. I work in the schools, mask the kids if you send them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many kids and parents in our school community have Covid and/or the flu and/or RSV (yes, some have two of these at once). We are supposed to leave Friday to visit my mom who is frail and 83 - we are her only family in the US right now and will be her only company during the holidays.

I’m thinking of keeping my kids home this week - on 3rd grader and one 7th grader - to try and protect us from getting anything before Christmas that would keep us from visiting my mom.

I hesitate because I don’t want my kids, particularly the older one, with multiple days absences. Would she be missing that much real content or is this week light in instruction?

WWYD?

Smart move. MCPS isn't keeping children safe at lunch. Masks aren't worn while eating and there is nothing magical about that interaction. COVID is spreading in schools and the MCPS data, county data and wastewater data show transmission is increasing.

If MCPS had instituted CO2 monitoring (they contracted - spent the money- but didn't do it_ and improved indoor ventilation you would have ways to determine if your children's schools were at least doing their part to mitigate risk. But they aren't and so you can only do partial mitigation with masks during classes. That's a great effort, but not enough this week to keep the kids safe. By the way, it's not just your family members, it's your kids too. COVID is damaging vital organs and the long term implications for children are not yet known. What if keeping your child safe this week benefits them too?

You know virtual academy still exists. You sound like you belong there.