Public Campaign

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Expecting the news any day now that APS Level 2 hybrid will be postponed, and I am feeling it hard, despite the fact this is not surprising. I am watching people in my neighborhood - mostly younger adults without kids - continuing to visit bars and restaurants and having house parties, activities we know are driving the current spread. I don't think that many in these groups would even start to think about the impact their actions could be having on young kids.

I was wondering if there is a chance for a public grassroots campaign that shows the faces of school-aged children and demonstrates the impact of COVID spread on their emotional, social, and academic health? I think some of the people that I know pursuing social activities would actually think twice if the downstream impact registered.

I might be naive but if our governments are not going to prioritize school over socializing, then maybe there is a way to nudge our neighbors.

I agree with you! I can't believe how our society isn't prioritizing kids. So sad to see Halloween bar crawls, packed bars, and non mask wearers. I could see this coming. I will be crushed if school is still closed Fall 2021. It gets to be a significant part of my 6 year old's life.

So let’s assume they postpone. Then what happens in the fall of 2021? We’ll be in the same boat headed towards winter with rising cases and flu season once again. What is the alternative to 100% distance instruction?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm expecting FCPS to make the announcement about their next two groups as well. The school districts made a big deal about meeting health metrics. Now VA has a 6.6% positivity rate for COVID and it is climbing by the day. Fairfax County numbers are the highest in months as well. These school districts will have to once again change their metrics if they want to send kids back to school.

FCPS is committed to reopening and pleasing the #openfcpsers, they won't let numbers stop them. They're going to open no matter what.

It will be another agonizing SB meeting in November 12th as by then(just now) the health metrics will not be met as they previously stated..... It is all so crazy...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Expecting the news any day now that APS Level 2 hybrid will be postponed, and I am feeling it hard, despite the fact this is not surprising. I am watching people in my neighborhood - mostly younger adults without kids - continuing to visit bars and restaurants and having house parties, activities we know are driving the current spread. I don't think that many in these groups would even start to think about the impact their actions could be having on young kids.

I was wondering if there is a chance for a public grassroots campaign that shows the faces of school-aged children and demonstrates the impact of COVID spread on their emotional, social, and academic health? I think some of the people that I know pursuing social activities would actually think twice if the downstream impact registered.

I might be naive but if our governments are not going to prioritize school over socializing, then maybe there is a way to nudge our neighbors.

I agree with you! I can't believe how our society isn't prioritizing kids. So sad to see Halloween bar crawls, packed bars, and non mask wearers. I could see this coming. I will be crushed if school is still closed Fall 2021. It gets to be a significant part of my 6 year old's life.

So let’s assume they postpone. Then what happens in the fall of 2021? We’ll be in the same boat headed towards winter with rising cases and flu season once again. What is the alternative to 100% distance instruction?

It’s premature and a bit hysterical to ask about next fall right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm expecting FCPS to make the announcement about their next two groups as well. The school districts made a big deal about meeting health metrics. Now VA has a 6.6% positivity rate for COVID and it is climbing by the day. Fairfax County numbers are the highest in months as well. These school districts will have to once again change their metrics if they want to send kids back to school.

FCPS is committed to reopening and pleasing the #openfcpsers, they won't let numbers stop them. They're going to open no matter what.

I am a firm believer that schools should open no matter what happens with covid numbers - I think education is worth the small risks associated with covid. However, I don't see FCPS going forward with their plans to reopen if %positivity and numbers keep trending up. They have been very risk averse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm expecting FCPS to make the announcement about their next two groups as well. The school districts made a big deal about meeting health metrics. Now VA has a 6.6% positivity rate for COVID and it is climbing by the day. Fairfax County numbers are the highest in months as well. These school districts will have to once again change their metrics if they want to send kids back to school.

FCPS is committed to reopening and pleasing the #openfcpsers, they won't let numbers stop them. They're going to open no matter what.

I am a firm believer that schools should open no matter what happens with covid numbers - I think education is worth the small risks associated with covid. However, I don't see FCPS going forward with their plans to reopen if %positivity and numbers keep trending up. They have been very risk averse.

One of the potential risks is later in life Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. that gives me pause. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-condition...effects/art-20490351

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Expecting the news any day now that APS Level 2 hybrid will be postponed, and I am feeling it hard, despite the fact this is not surprising. I am watching people in my neighborhood - mostly younger adults without kids - continuing to visit bars and restaurants and having house parties, activities we know are driving the current spread. I don't think that many in these groups would even start to think about the impact their actions could be having on young kids.

I was wondering if there is a chance for a public grassroots campaign that shows the faces of school-aged children and demonstrates the impact of COVID spread on their emotional, social, and academic health? I think some of the people that I know pursuing social activities would actually think twice if the downstream impact registered.

I might be naive but if our governments are not going to prioritize school over socializing, then maybe there is a way to nudge our neighbors.

I agree with you! I can't believe how our society isn't prioritizing kids. So sad to see Halloween bar crawls, packed bars, and non mask wearers. I could see this coming. I will be crushed if school is still closed Fall 2021. It gets to be a significant part of my 6 year old's life.

So let’s assume they postpone. Then what happens in the fall of 2021? We’ll be in the same boat headed towards winter with rising cases and flu season once again. What is the alternative to 100% distance instruction?

It’s premature and a bit hysterical to ask about next fall right now.

I disagree. Thinks about it. It has been almost 8 months since schools closed and we have barely moved towards in person instruction. We were out of school in the spring. We then didn’t start in August because the SB wanted to give everyone choice so a new plan had to be worked out. We then couldn’t start school in September while numbers were low because classes couldn’t be staffed. Now we might not bring kids in because numbers are rising again? If we couldn’t bring students back in up to this point what will be the alternative to 100% distance instruction in the future?

In 8 months we will be back to July. The virus will still be around next fall. How do we move out of this rut?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Expecting the news any day now that APS Level 2 hybrid will be postponed, and I am feeling it hard, despite the fact this is not surprising. I am watching people in my neighborhood - mostly younger adults without kids - continuing to visit bars and restaurants and having house parties, activities we know are driving the current spread. I don't think that many in these groups would even start to think about the impact their actions could be having on young kids.

I was wondering if there is a chance for a public grassroots campaign that shows the faces of school-aged children and demonstrates the impact of COVID spread on their emotional, social, and academic health? I think some of the people that I know pursuing social activities would actually think twice if the downstream impact registered.

I might be naive but if our governments are not going to prioritize school over socializing, then maybe there is a way to nudge our neighbors.

I agree with you! I can't believe how our society isn't prioritizing kids. So sad to see Halloween bar crawls, packed bars, and non mask wearers. I could see this coming. I will be crushed if school is still closed Fall 2021. It gets to be a significant part of my 6 year old's life.

So let’s assume they postpone. Then what happens in the fall of 2021? We’ll be in the same boat headed towards winter with rising cases and flu season once again. What is the alternative to 100% distance instruction?

It’s premature and a bit hysterical to ask about next fall right now.

I disagree. Thinks about it. It has been almost 8 months since schools closed and we have barely moved towards in person instruction. We were out of school in the spring. We then didn’t start in August because the SB wanted to give everyone choice so a new plan had to be worked out. We then couldn’t start school in September while numbers were low because classes couldn’t be staffed. Now we might not bring kids in because numbers are rising again? If we couldn’t bring students back in up to this point what will be the alternative to 100% distance instruction in the future?

In 8 months we will be back to July. The virus will still be around next fall. How do we move out of this rut?

We’ve learned so much already. I would think within the next few months even more information will be gained. It’s a nice thought problem to think about next year but it’s not really realistic and you’re just spinning your wheels. Let’s survive the winter first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Expecting the news any day now that APS Level 2 hybrid will be postponed, and I am feeling it hard, despite the fact this is not surprising. I am watching people in my neighborhood - mostly younger adults without kids - continuing to visit bars and restaurants and having house parties, activities we know are driving the current spread. I don't think that many in these groups would even start to think about the impact their actions could be having on young kids.

I was wondering if there is a chance for a public grassroots campaign that shows the faces of school-aged children and demonstrates the impact of COVID spread on their emotional, social, and academic health? I think some of the people that I know pursuing social activities would actually think twice if the downstream impact registered.

I might be naive but if our governments are not going to prioritize school over socializing, then maybe there is a way to nudge our neighbors.

I agree with you! I can't believe how our society isn't prioritizing kids. So sad to see Halloween bar crawls, packed bars, and non mask wearers. I could see this coming. I will be crushed if school is still closed Fall 2021. It gets to be a significant part of my 6 year old's life.

So let’s assume they postpone. Then what happens in the fall of 2021? We’ll be in the same boat headed towards winter with rising cases and flu season once again. What is the alternative to 100% distance instruction?

It’s premature and a bit hysterical to ask about next fall right now.

I disagree. Thinks about it. It has been almost 8 months since schools closed and we have barely moved towards in person instruction. We were out of school in the spring. We then didn’t start in August because the SB wanted to give everyone choice so a new plan had to be worked out. We then couldn’t start school in September while numbers were low because classes couldn’t be staffed. Now we might not bring kids in because numbers are rising again? If we couldn’t bring students back in up to this point what will be the alternative to 100% distance instruction in the future?

In 8 months we will be back to July. The virus will still be around next fall. How do we move out of this rut?

Get serious about wearing a mask. Nationwide. Stop screwing around with piecemeal contact tracing. Do it right, on a national level. Get rapid tests and make it mandatory for ALL essential workers to be tested 2x per week, with guaranteed paid leave if they need to quarantine due to an exposure or positive test. Same with schools. If you want schools to stay open and teachers to be willing to come in person, students and all school staff need to be tested twice a week and the results need to be on a public nationwide dashboard. If parents refuse, those kids can do distance learning. If a particular school or district won't report numbers or falsifies numbers, they lose funding. Same with universities. If numbers go above a set threshold in a specific town or county, everything non-essential shuts down and those businesses are given funding to stay afloat. Also, if there's a shut down and you are one of the assholes throwing a block party/ hosting a large indoor wedding/ inviting numerous classmates over for a sleepover, you and everyone in attendance gets hit with a stiff fine, no exceptions.

[Anonymous]

^ I love you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Expecting the news any day now that APS Level 2 hybrid will be postponed, and I am feeling it hard, despite the fact this is not surprising. I am watching people in my neighborhood - mostly younger adults without kids - continuing to visit bars and restaurants and having house parties, activities we know are driving the current spread. I don't think that many in these groups would even start to think about the impact their actions could be having on young kids.

I was wondering if there is a chance for a public grassroots campaign that shows the faces of school-aged children and demonstrates the impact of COVID spread on their emotional, social, and academic health? I think some of the people that I know pursuing social activities would actually think twice if the downstream impact registered.

I might be naive but if our governments are not going to prioritize school over socializing, then maybe there is a way to nudge our neighbors.

I agree with you! I can't believe how our society isn't prioritizing kids. So sad to see Halloween bar crawls, packed bars, and non mask wearers. I could see this coming. I will be crushed if school is still closed Fall 2021. It gets to be a significant part of my 6 year old's life.

So let’s assume they postpone. Then what happens in the fall of 2021? We’ll be in the same boat headed towards winter with rising cases and flu season once again. What is the alternative to 100% distance instruction?

It’s premature and a bit hysterical to ask about next fall right now.

I disagree. Thinks about it. It has been almost 8 months since schools closed and we have barely moved towards in person instruction. We were out of school in the spring. We then didn’t start in August because the SB wanted to give everyone choice so a new plan had to be worked out. We then couldn’t start school in September while numbers were low because classes couldn’t be staffed. Now we might not bring kids in because numbers are rising again? If we couldn’t bring students back in up to this point what will be the alternative to 100% distance instruction in the future?

In 8 months we will be back to July. The virus will still be around next fall. How do we move out of this rut?

Get serious about wearing a mask. Nationwide. Stop screwing around with piecemeal contact tracing. Do it right, on a national level. Get rapid tests and make it mandatory for ALL essential workers to be tested 2x per week, with guaranteed paid leave if they need to quarantine due to an exposure or positive test. Same with schools. If you want schools to stay open and teachers to be willing to come in person, students and all school staff need to be tested twice a week and the results need to be on a public nationwide dashboard. If parents refuse, those kids can do distance learning. If a particular school or district won't report numbers or falsifies numbers, they lose funding. Same with universities. If numbers go above a set threshold in a specific town or county, everything non-essential shuts down and those businesses are given funding to stay afloat. Also, if there's a shut down and you are one of the assholes throwing a block party/ hosting a large indoor wedding/ inviting numerous classmates over for a sleepover, you and everyone in attendance gets hit with a stiff fine, no exceptions.

Sorry to quote myself, but also: businesses that hide or falsify numbers also get hit with fines. Scaled depending on size and revenue. If Amazon does it, they get fined a significantly larger amount than, say, an independent coffee shop (although they would also be fined).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m seeing parents not following guidelines as well. I’m not sure they connect their own behavior to schools. I don’t think a public campaign is going do much. Short of massive outbreak I’m not sure how to bust through the shutdown fatigue.

+1 I’m a teacher and a parent. I want to go back to be with my students and I want my own kids to go back, even though I know it won’t be “normal” by any stretch of the imagination. I was so upset by the number of party invitations our family received and photos I saw on social media this weekend. Have also read many anecdotes in teacher groups about kids sharing about out-of-town trips, dinners out, parties they were going to ... its this kind of “out of our control” behavior that has so many teachers freaking out and going to extremes about not going back.

I wish we could all agree to behaviors that will keep this disease controlled/contained so that school CAN work. Until we can have that kind of collectivist mentality, I just don’t see how it’s possible.

While I’m sitting at home my Facebook showed 1 FCPS principal and 2 teachers on a girls trip out of town at the beach. Pictures included no masks on at an outside beach bar. All 3 are adamant about kids not returning to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m seeing parents not following guidelines as well. I’m not sure they connect their own behavior to schools. I don’t think a public campaign is going do much. Short of massive outbreak I’m not sure how to bust through the shutdown fatigue.

+1 I’m a teacher and a parent. I want to go back to be with my students and I want my own kids to go back, even though I know it won’t be “normal” by any stretch of the imagination. I was so upset by the number of party invitations our family received and photos I saw on social media this weekend. Have also read many anecdotes in teacher groups about kids sharing about out-of-town trips, dinners out, parties they were going to ... its this kind of “out of our control” behavior that has so many teachers freaking out and going to extremes about not going back.

I wish we could all agree to behaviors that will keep this disease controlled/contained so that school CAN work. Until we can have that kind of collectivist mentality, I just don’t see how it’s possible.

While I’m sitting at home my Facebook showed 1 FCPS principal and 2 teachers on a girls trip out of town at the beach. Pictures included no masks on at an outside beach bar. All 3 are adamant about kids not returning to school.

Are these your friends or are you FB stalking your principal and teachers? Either way, for everyone doing this you will find others who are home.

Most parents I know that are demanding schools open have the option to work from home I definitely at the moment or are SAHMs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm expecting FCPS to make the announcement about their next two groups as well. The school districts made a big deal about meeting health metrics. Now VA has a 6.6% positivity rate for COVID and it is climbing by the day. Fairfax County numbers are the highest in months as well. These school districts will have to once again change their metrics if they want to send kids back to school.

FCPS is committed to reopening and pleasing the #openfcpsers, they won't let numbers stop them. They're going to open no matter what.

I am a firm believer that schools should open no matter what happens with covid numbers - I think education is worth the small risks associated with covid. However, I don't see FCPS going forward with their plans to reopen if %positivity and numbers keep trending up. They have been very risk averse.

One of the potential risks is later in life Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. that gives me pause. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-condition...effects/art-20490351

I just checked into it. This is no different than the flu. See here:
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/anothe...es-have-this-effect?

The organ complications of COVID and the flu are basically the same because they probably dervive from the same processes. We have to find a way to live with this thing the way we live with the flu. I'm not saying the flu is as serious, because we all know it's not, but it still does kill and injure people and we live with it every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m seeing parents not following guidelines as well. I’m not sure they connect their own behavior to schools. I don’t think a public campaign is going do much. Short of massive outbreak I’m not sure how to bust through the shutdown fatigue.

+1 I’m a teacher and a parent. I want to go back to be with my students and I want my own kids to go back, even though I know it won’t be “normal” by any stretch of the imagination. I was so upset by the number of party invitations our family received and photos I saw on social media this weekend. Have also read many anecdotes in teacher groups about kids sharing about out-of-town trips, dinners out, parties they were going to ... its this kind of “out of our control” behavior that has so many teachers freaking out and going to extremes about not going back.

I wish we could all agree to behaviors that will keep this disease controlled/contained so that school CAN work. Until we can have that kind of collectivist mentality, I just don’t see how it’s possible.

While I’m sitting at home my Facebook showed 1 FCPS principal and 2 teachers on a girls trip out of town at the beach. Pictures included no masks on at an outside beach bar. All 3 are adamant about kids not returning to school.

Are these your friends or are you FB stalking your principal and teachers? Either way, for everyone doing this you will find others who are home.

Most parents I know that are demanding schools open have the option to work from home I definitely at the moment or are SAHMs.

There are other reasons to demand schools open, like, you know, your child isn't learning well virtually and you value education. Even without a dog in the "school is [not] childcare" fight, you can still firmly want the best possible education for your kids.
-not a SAHM, not working from home

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m seeing parents not following guidelines as well. I’m not sure they connect their own behavior to schools. I don’t think a public campaign is going do much. Short of massive outbreak I’m not sure how to bust through the shutdown fatigue.

+1 I’m a teacher and a parent. I want to go back to be with my students and I want my own kids to go back, even though I know it won’t be “normal” by any stretch of the imagination. I was so upset by the number of party invitations our family received and photos I saw on social media this weekend. Have also read many anecdotes in teacher groups about kids sharing about out-of-town trips, dinners out, parties they were going to ... its this kind of “out of our control” behavior that has so many teachers freaking out and going to extremes about not going back.

I wish we could all agree to behaviors that will keep this disease controlled/contained so that school CAN work. Until we can have that kind of collectivist mentality, I just don’t see how it’s possible.

While I’m sitting at home my Facebook showed 1 FCPS principal and 2 teachers on a girls trip out of town at the beach. Pictures included no masks on at an outside beach bar. All 3 are adamant about kids not returning to school.

I call bullshit for two reasons: First, no principal is well liked enough that two teachers from her school would go on a girls trip out of town with her. Second, principals are almost universally in favor of kids returning to school, or at least that's what they're saying. This is especially true at schools with lower test scores, although the schools with high scores have parents who also want the kids back in person and no principal wants to go up against that crowd because they want to hang onto those sweet scores. No chance a principal would be "adamant about kids not returning" on a social media platform unless they're trying to commit career suicide.