School starts 2 weeks tomorrow

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want:
(1) a tutorial on online systems, how to keep track of whether my kid is doing what they are supposed to
(2) more clarity on schedules and expectations. Will they be on zoom the whole time? Can we go back and watch missed classes? What’s the deal with Wednesday’s.

Basically, a district-wide grade specific webinar (or better yet, from individual schools) on how the day will go. That would do a lot to help me structure workspace and expectations/rules for my kids. Generally I’m pretty hands off, but it’s frustrating not to have info to plan how to start off on the right foot.

Watch the archive of the parent meeting from earlier this week, and/or contact your principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

All those information are on the website except for the text books. Look there before complaining. Geez.

But did you ever get text book info 2 weeks before school started pre-COVID?

On the bright side, this thread is really just the 2020 version of the traditional annual DCUM back-to-school thread on the topic of "MCPS needs to tell me every detail way ahead of time because that's how I manage my anxiety about uncertainty."

But as a paying tax payer, I demand, let me repeat, I demand to know everything at least 1 year ahead of time. With all of the taxes I pay this county, they can easily afford to buy not just one but several crystal balls.

[Anonymous]

This is the OP.
I had heard that the draft schedule was just a draft. Our ES Principal said in an email they are " going back to the drawing board" to use her exact words.
So the schedule we all saw is not accurate, or if it is, hasn't been confirmed as accurate.
This is why im getting frustrated so close to school starting.
Am i planning for half days on Wednesdays as a definite?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

All those information are on the website except for the text books. Look there before complaining. Geez.

But did you ever get text book info 2 weeks before school started pre-COVID?

On the bright side, this thread is really just the 2020 version of the traditional annual DCUM back-to-school thread on the topic of "MCPS needs to tell me every detail way ahead of time because that's how I manage my anxiety about uncertainty."

But as a paying tax payer, I demand, let me repeat, I demand to know everything at least 1 year ahead of time. With all of the taxes I pay this county, they can easily afford to buy not just one but several crystal balls.

I feel like 2 weeks before school starts its not to much to ask to know the times my child and therefore myself will be expected to be online and which days....seriously, some of us work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the OP.
I had heard that the draft schedule was just a draft. Our ES Principal said in an email they are " going back to the drawing board" to use her exact words.
So the schedule we all saw is not accurate, or if it is, hasn't been confirmed as accurate.
This is why im getting frustrated so close to school starting.
Am i planning for half days on Wednesdays as a definite?

Yes, plan for half day Wednesday. The part up in the air is how long the lunch/break in the middle of the day will be. Perhaps it will be longer than the 75 minutes (maybe 90 min).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

All those information are on the website except for the text books. Look there before complaining. Geez.

But did you ever get text book info 2 weeks before school started pre-COVID?

On the bright side, this thread is really just the 2020 version of the traditional annual DCUM back-to-school thread on the topic of "MCPS needs to tell me every detail way ahead of time because that's how I manage my anxiety about uncertainty."

But as a paying tax payer, I demand, let me repeat, I demand to know everything at least 1 year ahead of time. With all of the taxes I pay this county, they can easily afford to buy not just one but several crystal balls.

I feel like 2 weeks before school starts its not to much to ask to know the times my child and therefore myself will be expected to be online and which days....seriously, some of us work.

I don’t understand. Did you not see this:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/reopening/MCPSDraftRecoveryPlan-updated.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the OP.
I had heard that the draft schedule was just a draft. Our ES Principal said in an email they are " going back to the drawing board" to use her exact words.
So the schedule we all saw is not accurate, or if it is, hasn't been confirmed as accurate.
This is why im getting frustrated so close to school starting.
Am i planning for half days on Wednesdays as a definite?

Your school principal is irresponsible. Never send out an email without any concrete information. Using those words just causes unnecessary confusion and anxiety. That’s amateur hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

All those information are on the website except for the text books. Look there before complaining. Geez.

But did you ever get text book info 2 weeks before school started pre-COVID?

On the bright side, this thread is really just the 2020 version of the traditional annual DCUM back-to-school thread on the topic of "MCPS needs to tell me every detail way ahead of time because that's how I manage my anxiety about uncertainty."

But as a paying tax payer, I demand, let me repeat, I demand to know everything at least 1 year ahead of time. With all of the taxes I pay this county, they can easily afford to buy not just one but several crystal balls.

I feel like 2 weeks before school starts its not to much to ask to know the times my child and therefore myself will be expected to be online and which days....seriously, some of us work.

This your specific school issue. Contact your principal and bother them. Clearly some schools are more on the ball than others right now.

[Anonymous]

I’m an Mcps teacher and parent, with my oldest transitioning to middle school. I 100% understand your anxiety about the unknown. Consider this though, teachers will return for preservice on 8/24. At that point we (teachers) will find out what the expectations and schedules are. Some principals will get input from their staff before finalizing and publishing exact schedules. That’s a good thing. I would rather that the teachers, who will be responsible for delivering instruction, have a hand in making the final schedule. A schedule that reflects teacher input is much more likely to be successful and less likely to have to be revamped after school has started.
It means that parents and students are going to have to hang tight a little longer. I know it sucks. Normally I’d be able to tell my new 6th grader what to expect, but he understands that this is not normal and we will have to be extra patient. At my house we are focusing on the things we do know (the draft reopening plan) and making fun plans around that (finding fun office supplies and decor, some cozy blankets and slippers and thinking of ways to see friends after school hours). We’re also embracing the idea that we won’t have all of the September stress that we usually have with readjusting to school/work/sports schedules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m an Mcps teacher and parent, with my oldest transitioning to middle school. I 100% understand your anxiety about the unknown. Consider this though, teachers will return for preservice on 8/24. At that point we (teachers) will find out what the expectations and schedules are. Some principals will get input from their staff before finalizing and publishing exact schedules. That’s a good thing. I would rather that the teachers, who will be responsible for delivering instruction, have a hand in making the final schedule. A schedule that reflects teacher input is much more likely to be successful and less likely to have to be revamped after school has started.
It means that parents and students are going to have to hang tight a little longer. I know it sucks. Normally I’d be able to tell my new 6th grader what to expect, but he understands that this is not normal and we will have to be extra patient. At my house we are focusing on the things we do know (the draft reopening plan) and making fun plans around that (finding fun office supplies and decor, some cozy blankets and slippers and thinking of ways to see friends after school hours). We’re also embracing the idea that we won’t have all of the September stress that we usually have with readjusting to school/work/sports schedules.

Great points, PP. You sound like a terrific teacher! Thank you!

[dcmom]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

All those information are on the website except for the text books. Look there before complaining. Geez.

But did you ever get text book info 2 weeks before school started pre-COVID?

On the bright side, this thread is really just the 2020 version of the traditional annual DCUM back-to-school thread on the topic of "MCPS needs to tell me every detail way ahead of time because that's how I manage my anxiety about uncertainty."

But as a paying tax payer, I demand, let me repeat, I demand to know everything at least 1 year ahead of time. With all of the taxes I pay this county, they can easily afford to buy not just one but several crystal balls.

I feel like 2 weeks before school starts its not to much to ask to know the times my child and therefore myself will be expected to be online and which days....seriously, some of us work.

Our principal gave us a sample schedule for each grade and made the timing clear. You should be in contact with yours to get this info. But MCPS has made this crystal clear in their materials as well, so you should be able to get them. They said all students regardless of grade level will have a 9-3:15 schedule 4 days a week. If you are ES then you have a half-day on Wed that ends right at lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an Mcps teacher and parent, with my oldest transitioning to middle school. I 100% understand your anxiety about the unknown. Consider this though, teachers will return for preservice on 8/24. At that point we (teachers) will find out what the expectations and schedules are. Some principals will get input from their staff before finalizing and publishing exact schedules. That’s a good thing. I would rather that the teachers, who will be responsible for delivering instruction, have a hand in making the final schedule. A schedule that reflects teacher input is much more likely to be successful and less likely to have to be revamped after school has started.
It means that parents and students are going to have to hang tight a little longer. I know it sucks. Normally I’d be able to tell my new 6th grader what to expect, but he understands that this is not normal and we will have to be extra patient. At my house we are focusing on the things we do know (the draft reopening plan) and making fun plans around that (finding fun office supplies and decor, some cozy blankets and slippers and thinking of ways to see friends after school hours). We’re also embracing the idea that we won’t have all of the September stress that we usually have with readjusting to school/work/sports schedules.

Great points, PP. You sound like a terrific teacher! Thank you!

Thank you for your kind words. ❤️

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

All those information are on the website except for the text books. Look there before complaining. Geez.

But did you ever get text book info 2 weeks before school started pre-COVID?

On the bright side, this thread is really just the 2020 version of the traditional annual DCUM back-to-school thread on the topic of "MCPS needs to tell me every detail way ahead of time because that's how I manage my anxiety about uncertainty."

But as a paying tax payer, I demand, let me repeat, I demand to know everything at least 1 year ahead of time. With all of the taxes I pay this county, they can easily afford to buy not just one but several crystal balls.

I feel like 2 weeks before school starts its not to much to ask to know the times my child and therefore myself will be expected to be online and which days....seriously, some of us work.

I don’t understand. Did you not see this:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/reopening/MCPSDraftRecoveryPlan-updated.pdf

Even the URL has the word "Draft" in it, implying it's not actually the final plan. 2 weeks to go -- when will they have a finalized plan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Even the URL has the word "Draft" in it, implying it's not actually the final plan. 2 weeks to go -- when will they have a finalized plan?

“The Board of Education will vote to approve a final plan on Tuesday, August 25.”
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/reopening/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Even the URL has the word "Draft" in it, implying it's not actually the final plan. 2 weeks to go -- when will they have a finalized plan?

“The Board of Education will vote to approve a final plan on Tuesday, August 25.”
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/reopening/

Yikes. Finalizing a plan 3 business days before school starts? How is that fair to all the people who need to implement it? The BOE is setting them up for failure.