Masking policy Arlington Diocesan Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am anticipating masks in the fall. My hope is the schools will revisit the issue with their respective Dept of Health often. That ways decisions can be made in regards to the metrics in their specific area. The Diocese of Arlington is large and covers many counties (and health districts).

+1

My assumption is that things will be pretty much the same this year at our school as they were last year (although I'm hopeful they'll allow more mixing of the classes). I'll be really surprised if the whole school goes mask optional. I just don't see that happening considering how hard they worked to stay open last year.

I hope that year 2 our school focusing less on “staying open” and more on students emotional, social and academic kids needs. For every child that says they are fine with masks there is another that is quietly suffering in one way or another.

By being open and in-person they are focused on their emotional, social and academic needs! Much more so than a virtual education. My kids can continue to mask up at their catholic school to ensure they will once again be in-person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am anticipating masks in the fall. My hope is the schools will revisit the issue with their respective Dept of Health often. That ways decisions can be made in regards to the metrics in their specific area. The Diocese of Arlington is large and covers many counties (and health districts).

+1

My assumption is that things will be pretty much the same this year at our school as they were last year (although I'm hopeful they'll allow more mixing of the classes). I'll be really surprised if the whole school goes mask optional. I just don't see that happening considering how hard they worked to stay open last year.

I hope that year 2 our school focusing less on “staying open” and more on students emotional, social and academic kids needs. For every child that says they are fine with masks there is another that is quietly suffering in one way or another.

By being open and in-person they are focused on their emotional, social and academic needs! Much more so than a virtual education. My kids can continue to mask up at their catholic school to ensure they will once again be in-person.

Oh I hope you are in our school community because this is exactly the right attitude!

All of these “not another year of masks!!” posts are exhausting. The pandemic is not over. We are blessed that our kids were in school last year (safely) and will have an opportunity to do so again this year. If safety measures can keep schools open and prevent a loop of open-and-close cycles or quarantines, I am all for them. And until the youngest kids at our school (3) can be vaccinated, I am all for my already-vaccinated kids leading by example and keeping their masks on, whether they are in school, at sports, or at the grocery store.

[Anonymous]

I don’t see burbridge requiring it. Or they leave it up to each school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am anticipating masks in the fall. My hope is the schools will revisit the issue with their respective Dept of Health often. That ways decisions can be made in regards to the metrics in their specific area. The Diocese of Arlington is large and covers many counties (and health districts).

+1

My assumption is that things will be pretty much the same this year at our school as they were last year (although I'm hopeful they'll allow more mixing of the classes). I'll be really surprised if the whole school goes mask optional. I just don't see that happening considering how hard they worked to stay open last year.

I hope that year 2 our school focusing less on “staying open” and more on students emotional, social and academic kids needs. For every child that says they are fine with masks there is another that is quietly suffering in one way or another.

By being open and in-person they are focused on their emotional, social and academic needs! Much more so than a virtual education. My kids can continue to mask up at their catholic school to ensure they will once again be in-person.

Oh I hope you are in our school community because this is exactly the right attitude!

All of these “not another year of masks!!” posts are exhausting. The pandemic is not over. We are blessed that our kids were in school last year (safely) and will have an opportunity to do so again this year. If safety measures can keep schools open and prevent a loop of open-and-close cycles or quarantines, I am all for them. And until the youngest kids at our school (3) can be vaccinated, I am all for my already-vaccinated kids leading by example and keeping their masks on, whether they are in school, at sports, or at the grocery store.

Not got outdoor sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see burbridge requiring it. Or they leave it up to each school.

Why wouldn’t the local department of health be the one to chime in? Leaving it up to the schools seems a bit short sighted, as they are not the experts in this scenario. This is an ever changing situation that will need to be looked at multiple times during the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see burbridge requiring it. Or they leave it up to each school.

Why wouldn’t the local department of health be the one to chime in? Leaving it up to the schools seems a bit short sighted, as they are not the experts in this scenario. This is an ever changing situation that will need to be looked at multiple times during the year.

I don’t know. VDOE and VDH already said it’s up to local districts. Can FXHD over ride that?

[Anonymous]

Now, the big question, will CYO sports happen? I am all for them playing in masks, if needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see burbridge requiring it. Or they leave it up to each school.

Why wouldn’t the local department of health be the one to chime in? Leaving it up to the schools seems a bit short sighted, as they are not the experts in this scenario. This is an ever changing situation that will need to be looked at multiple times during the year.

I don’t know. VDOE and VDH already said it’s up to local districts. Can FXHD over ride that?

The local health departments of NoVA sent a letter to all school superintendents public and private last week strongly suggesting universal masking at the elementary level due to lack of vaccinated students, and masking of those students not vaccinated at the middle and high school level. This in addition to their “layered approach”. Maybe this is all they are going to do—provide general guidance as a block?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see burbridge requiring it. Or they leave it up to each school.

Why wouldn’t the local department of health be the one to chime in? Leaving it up to the schools seems a bit short sighted, as they are not the experts in this scenario. This is an ever changing situation that will need to be looked at multiple times during the year.

I don’t know. VDOE and VDH already said it’s up to local districts. Can FXHD over ride that?

The local health departments of NoVA sent a letter to all school superintendents public and private last week strongly suggesting universal masking at the elementary level due to lack of vaccinated students, and masking of those students not vaccinated at the middle and high school level. This in addition to their “layered approach”. Maybe this is all they are going to do—provide general guidance as a block?

Unfortunately, masks have become such a political wedge that governments where there is any question about losing to another party are unwilling to do anything other than “recommend”. They are putting the decision in the hands of school leaders, who then have to deal with parents questioning their decisions, rather than setting state or local policy based solely on what is in the best interest of the students to keep them in school. Masks suck but schools that were open and had universal masking last year had next to no spread. Knowing that, with universal masking indoors, this year they can contact trace and only send the true close contacts home rather than sending entire classes home for two weeks. If people would just see it as a way to keep kids in school rather than arguing about how badly kids do or don’t get sick from Covid, etc, and if politicians would put the kids first, we’d be in much better shape.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see burbridge requiring it. Or they leave it up to each school.

Why wouldn’t the local department of health be the one to chime in? Leaving it up to the schools seems a bit short sighted, as they are not the experts in this scenario. This is an ever changing situation that will need to be looked at multiple times during the year.

But this has been happening since 2020. VA and DC have had more authority over private schools even before the pandemic. In MD private schools can literally do whatever they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s stupid; there’s no real risk to children; no evidence showing that asymptotic people spread the virus; there’s documented studies showing increase physical risks of masking (bacterial infections, etc.); and there are potential emotional and social risks to children.

Why—exactly, do elementary school children need to wear masks?

WheRe iS tHe scIencE?

Everything you just wrote is unfactual

Go back to school. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/02/24/fact-check-false-claim-face-masks-cause-bacterial-pneumonia/4574295001/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am anticipating masks in the fall. My hope is the schools will revisit the issue with their respective Dept of Health often. That ways decisions can be made in regards to the metrics in their specific area. The Diocese of Arlington is large and covers many counties (and health districts).

+1

My assumption is that things will be pretty much the same this year at our school as they were last year (although I'm hopeful they'll allow more mixing of the classes). I'll be really surprised if the whole school goes mask optional. I just don't see that happening considering how hard they worked to stay open last year.

I hope that year 2 our school focusing less on “staying open” and more on students emotional, social and academic kids needs. For every child that says they are fine with masks there is another that is quietly suffering in one way or another.

By being open and in-person they are focused on their emotional, social and academic needs! Much more so than a virtual education. My kids can continue to mask up at their catholic school to ensure they will once again be in-person.

Oh I hope you are in our school community because this is exactly the right attitude!

All of these “not another year of masks!!” posts are exhausting. The pandemic is not over. We are blessed that our kids were in school last year (safely) and will have an opportunity to do so again this year. If safety measures can keep schools open and prevent a loop of open-and-close cycles or quarantines, I am all for them. And until the youngest kids at our school (3) can be vaccinated, I am all for my already-vaccinated kids leading by example and keeping their masks on, whether they are in school, at sports, or at the grocery store.

Not got outdoor sports.

Not got grammar either?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see burbridge requiring it. Or they leave it up to each school.

Why wouldn’t the local department of health be the one to chime in? Leaving it up to the schools seems a bit short sighted, as they are not the experts in this scenario. This is an ever changing situation that will need to be looked at multiple times during the year.

I don’t know. VDOE and VDH already said it’s up to local districts. Can FXHD over ride that?

The local health departments of NoVA sent a letter to all school superintendents public and private last week strongly suggesting universal masking at the elementary level due to lack of vaccinated students, and masking of those students not vaccinated at the middle and high school level. This in addition to their “layered approach”. Maybe this is all they are going to do—provide general guidance as a block?

Unfortunately, masks have become such a political wedge that governments where there is any question about losing to another party are unwilling to do anything other than “recommend”. They are putting the decision in the hands of school leaders, who then have to deal with parents questioning their decisions, rather than setting state or local policy based solely on what is in the best interest of the students to keep them in school. Masks suck but schools that were open and had universal masking last year had next to no spread. Knowing that, with universal masking indoors, this year they can contact trace and only send the true close contacts home rather than sending entire classes home for two weeks. If people would just see it as a way to keep kids in school rather than arguing about how badly kids do or don’t get sick from Covid, etc, and if politicians would put the kids first, we’d be in much better shape.

I agree and hope you are part of our school community!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now, the big question, will CYO sports happen? I am all for them playing in masks, if needed.

No way, its too dangerous to play CYO sports in masks. Volunteers could not take on that risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s stupid; there’s no real risk to children; no evidence showing that asymptotic people spread the virus; there’s documented studies showing increase physical risks of masking (bacterial infections, etc.); and there are potential emotional and social risks to children.

Why—exactly, do elementary school children need to wear masks?

WheRe iS tHe scIencE?

Then, how did the Texan House or Senate Democrats who all flew in small plane to DC have 6 covid cases? And didn't some people in DC who had contact with them get COVID?

How did white suits just whisk away my vaccinated relative from an airport?

Vaccinated people can ABSOLUTELY spread COVID. The vaccine only protects from severe illness, hospitalization, or death. It wont stop infection or spread. Might help mitigate spread, but doesnt stop it. Obviously, people who are super symptomatic coughing and sneezing a lot spread more droplets around the air and surfaces.