No more masks at VA privates?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I think the Catholic schools will do away with masks if they haven’t already.

I agree its in line with the Bishop's stance on masks a Church - optional.

BI sent an email last night asking parents their preference saying the diocese is considering what to do. I will be livid if they lift the mask mandate with the rate of infections being so high right now.

That’s great news that BI is giving parents a voice.

I think it should be up to the kids and the teachers who are there every day and will suffer the consequences of getting covid. The kids don't care about wearing masks. They're used to it and would much prefer wearing masks than being virtual. It is the idiot parents who have turned this into some political and culture war. The timing is nuts.

BI asking for feedback from the students, parents, teachers, and staff.

Are they also polling families on the dress code? Really not sure why parents would get to decide this. Use CDC guidelines and consult with public health agencies and experts.

I agree other parents should not be able to decide what my child does. Dear Bishop - Follow the Governor Let parents parent their own children.

They are doing exactly what the Governor asked — for schools to talk and listen to parents. But they are giving the same courtesy to students, teachers, and staff. This is what should be happening per the Governor.

How is it within a Governor’s legal authority to make private schools poll parents about a school’s public health measures? What else can the Governor require a private Catholic school to do? This is a very slippery slope and still seems to be an unlawful order.

My goodness, no one is talking about legal authority. The comment was based on this exchange between a Governor and a WTOP reporter regarding APS stating students would continue to wear masks: https://mobile.twitter.com/nickwtop/status/1482793696072450048

I wish my school would ask parents as I think the others parents would be surprised that most people are not like the poster who scream about “rags”. It is helpful to know what your constituents feelings are don’t you think? I prefer they hear from everyone (including health professionals), not just those parents who are the loudest.

This most definitely is about lawfulness of an executive order the Governor signed on day one in office, and realistically it will need to be resolved in the courts. Whether or not private schools decide to poll families is up to them, not up to the Governor of Virginia. The ease with which some are accepting this government overreach is concerning.

I am concerned. My kids will be wearing masks to school, as that is what it safest for the community. I think the schools should find out what their families are feeling on the issue. It helps makes the case even stronger when a majority wants to keep masks!! Especially when the antimask families are SO LOUD about their feelings. Just because I don’t scream and yell doesn’t mean I don’t have an opinion and a preference. A survey allows me to share my thoughts with the school, which they can use as evidence to the antimaskers as “see, you are a minority”. They don’t believe they are the minority, well at least least at my school. The fact that people appreciate a school providing parents a survey doesn’t indicate the Governor is correct with this EO!

Absolutely, schools should communicate with their families as they see fit, but the Governor has no business or role in dictating that to private schools pursuant to an Executive Order that oversteps his authority.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I wonder if any schools will give students a *qualified* choice to go maskless by acknowledging the tension between enrollment contracts and going maskless (our school’s contract made us commit to following the school’s covid protocols) - so it may be within the student’s legal right to go maskless, but it constitutes a breach of contract such that the student will not be invited back the next year. Obviously the issue plays out differently at a school that would prefer to make masks optional.

Sounds fair to me. If by next year my daughter’s private school is still insisting on masks we will leave anyway. And if they are so butthurt that after nearly 2 years if this COVID thing, and after vaccinations and natural immunity, we chose to not make our daughter wear a mask, that they would turn down our tuition dollars because of that … so be it. We have other options.

If it’s a good school, they’ll have a dozen kids lined up to pay the tuition and take your daughter’s spot - most people aren’t that emotional or bent out of shape about masking in schools, especially while pretty big surges are underway.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if any schools will give students a *qualified* choice to go maskless by acknowledging the tension between enrollment contracts and going maskless (our school’s contract made us commit to following the school’s covid protocols) - so it may be within the student’s legal right to go maskless, but it constitutes a breach of contract such that the student will not be invited back the next year. Obviously the issue plays out differently at a school that would prefer to make masks optional.

Sounds fair to me. If by next year my daughter’s private school is still insisting on masks we will leave anyway. And if they are so butthurt that after nearly 2 years if this COVID thing, and after vaccinations and natural immunity, we chose to not make our daughter wear a mask, that they would turn down our tuition dollars because of that … so be it. We have other options.

If it’s a good school, they’ll have a dozen kids lined up to pay the tuition and take your daughter’s spot - most people aren’t that emotional or bent out of shape about masking in schools, especially while pretty big surges are underway.

+1

I’m sure good schools will be happy to clear out any nutters who don’t want to mask during a surge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn't read every comment, but curious about how parochial schools will respond. Our school is very pro-mask. But the church it is affiliated with has less than 50% mask wearing during mass. I really have no sense of what the school community would like to see happen - teachers or parents. I personally don't even care that much, I like the extra mask protection but know that the kids don't wear them properly all day anyway, so it seems like theater. I won't be too upset if we have to keep them or if we have to give them up.

But I do wonder if giving up masks makes the exposure notifications different? Right now the school says if the children are masked it's not counted as exposure. So if there are no masks, does that mean every time a child gets covid the whole class has to quarantine? Seems like they need to figure that out before they change the mask policy.

It appears to be moving target. CDC will share that spending 15 min within 6 feet (even masked) is a close contact. However, some schools will use discretion in allowing masked vaccinated students with close contact (even that is open to interpretation in larger group settings like an assembly or at lunch) to attend if they are asymptomatic, asking parents to test them as well, while telling masked unvaccinated students they have to quarantine no questions asked, no tests will change that. I think schools should use the tools they have - vaccination, masking, social distancing, contact tracing - to keep kids at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if any schools will give students a *qualified* choice to go maskless by acknowledging the tension between enrollment contracts and going maskless (our school’s contract made us commit to following the school’s covid protocols) - so it may be within the student’s legal right to go maskless, but it constitutes a breach of contract such that the student will not be invited back the next year. Obviously the issue plays out differently at a school that would prefer to make masks optional.

Sounds fair to me. If by next year my daughter’s private school is still insisting on masks we will leave anyway. And if they are so butthurt that after nearly 2 years if this COVID thing, and after vaccinations and natural immunity, we chose to not make our daughter wear a mask, that they would turn down our tuition dollars because of that … so be it. We have other options.

Anytime someone whips out “natural immunity” you know their argument is garbage.

I’m sorry your school doesn’t proactively spike the water with ivermectin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I wonder if any schools will give students a *qualified* choice to go maskless by acknowledging the tension between enrollment contracts and going maskless (our school’s contract made us commit to following the school’s covid protocols) - so it may be within the student’s legal right to go maskless, but it constitutes a breach of contract such that the student will not be invited back the next year. Obviously the issue plays out differently at a school that would prefer to make masks optional.

Sounds fair to me. If by next year my daughter’s private school is still insisting on masks we will leave anyway. And if they are so butthurt that after nearly 2 years if this COVID thing, and after vaccinations and natural immunity, we chose to not make our daughter wear a mask, that they would turn down our tuition dollars because of that … so be it. We have other options.

Anytime someone whips out “natural immunity” you know their argument is garbage.

I’m sorry your school doesn’t proactively spike the water with ivermectin.

Also, referring to a school as being “butthurt” when it enforces a contract you willingly entered into?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Obviously didn’t name the school for a reason, but not a loony ”fundy Christian or Islamic” either. Fully enrolled, wait list only. Not an anti-vaxxer. Entire family is fully vaccinated and boosted. Again, no shutdowns and no COVID for DC or any of his classmates. You are showing your ignorance with your assumptions.

Is there testing done weekly? If not, maybe that’s why school says there are no cases.

I never said that there were no cases. I said that there were no closures. No testing. Treating COVID like the endemic virus that it is. When your child is sick, you are asked to keep them at home. When they are no longer symptomatic, they can return to school, no questions asked. Of course kids have had COVID, but there have been no massive outbreaks in the school or the school community at large.

They didn’t have a “test to return” after winter break? During a surge in a pandemic?

Do they teach science at this school?

You are showing your ignorance. No testing requirement of any kind. Yes, a school that teaches science, located in a very desirable NoVA suburb. Wait lists for every grade, because of this fact. No testing, no masks, and no explosion of COVID. The vast majority of kids are fully vaccinated. Proof that the world will not end if your kids aren't forced to wear a mask for 7 hours/day.

Give it a week.

They aren't testing, so they will never know how many asymptomatic spreaders they have or how many of those sniffles and "allergies" are COVID.

And who cares? Did you miss the notice that the PCR test does not test for contagion. I think Walensky said that recently. Not sure she meant to. Covid has never been the deadly disease it's been made out to be. Asymptomatic spread has been debunked and even if there is a bit of it, children have never been vectors of this disease. I wish I could send my child to that school instead of the real loons--the mostly neurotic greater DMV parents. This same no masks and no outbreaks is happening all over the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn't read every comment, but curious about how parochial schools will respond. Our school is very pro-mask. But the church it is affiliated with has less than 50% mask wearing during mass. I really have no sense of what the school community would like to see happen - teachers or parents. I personally don't even care that much, I like the extra mask protection but know that the kids don't wear them properly all day anyway, so it seems like theater. I won't be too upset if we have to keep them or if we have to give them up.

But I do wonder if giving up masks makes the exposure notifications different? Right now the school says if the children are masked it's not counted as exposure. So if there are no masks, does that mean every time a child gets covid the whole class has to quarantine? Seems like they need to figure that out before they change the mask policy.

Our parochial school in Arlington just announced that they won't enforce wearing the mask and sent out forms for parents to acknowledge whether our kids will or will not be wearing. And contrary to the church you describe above, I would estimate that better than 97% of mass attendees have been masking at ours - so this is a big shift

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if any schools will give students a *qualified* choice to go maskless by acknowledging the tension between enrollment contracts and going maskless (our school’s contract made us commit to following the school’s covid protocols) - so it may be within the student’s legal right to go maskless, but it constitutes a breach of contract such that the student will not be invited back the next year. Obviously the issue plays out differently at a school that would prefer to make masks optional.

Sounds fair to me. If by next year my daughter’s private school is still insisting on masks we will leave anyway. And if they are so butthurt that after nearly 2 years if this COVID thing, and after vaccinations and natural immunity, we chose to not make our daughter wear a mask, that they would turn down our tuition dollars because of that … so be it. We have other options.

If it’s a good school, they’ll have a dozen kids lined up to pay the tuition and take your daughter’s spot - most people aren’t that emotional or bent out of shape about masking in schools, especially while pretty big surges are underway.

+1

I’m sure good schools will be happy to clear out any nutters who don’t want to mask during a surge.

No mask mandate at our privates! Great news! Parents are once again free to decide what is best for their children.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Obviously didn’t name the school for a reason, but not a loony ”fundy Christian or Islamic” either. Fully enrolled, wait list only. Not an anti-vaxxer. Entire family is fully vaccinated and boosted. Again, no shutdowns and no COVID for DC or any of his classmates. You are showing your ignorance with your assumptions.

Is there testing done weekly? If not, maybe that’s why school says there are no cases.

I never said that there were no cases. I said that there were no closures. No testing. Treating COVID like the endemic virus that it is. When your child is sick, you are asked to keep them at home. When they are no longer symptomatic, they can return to school, no questions asked. Of course kids have had COVID, but there have been no massive outbreaks in the school or the school community at large.

They didn’t have a “test to return” after winter break? During a surge in a pandemic?

Do they teach science at this school?

You are showing your ignorance. No testing requirement of any kind. Yes, a school that teaches science, located in a very desirable NoVA suburb. Wait lists for every grade, because of this fact. No testing, no masks, and no explosion of COVID. The vast majority of kids are fully vaccinated. Proof that the world will not end if your kids aren't forced to wear a mask for 7 hours/day.

Give it a week.

They aren't testing, so they will never know how many asymptomatic spreaders they have or how many of those sniffles and "allergies" are COVID.

And who cares? Covid has never been the deadly disease it's been made out to be.

Who cares that 850,000 Americans have died of COVID and the United States life expectancy decreased by 1.5 years in 2020.

“I don’t really care, do you?” Way to show of your lack of compassion for fellow humans. This pandemic has really brought out the selfishness in some people.

[Anonymous]

Private school teachers with health conditions are now on notice apparently. Guess they will have to decide whether to risk it or quit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if any schools will give students a *qualified* choice to go maskless by acknowledging the tension between enrollment contracts and going maskless (our school’s contract made us commit to following the school’s covid protocols) - so it may be within the student’s legal right to go maskless, but it constitutes a breach of contract such that the student will not be invited back the next year. Obviously the issue plays out differently at a school that would prefer to make masks optional.

Sounds fair to me. If by next year my daughter’s private school is still insisting on masks we will leave anyway. And if they are so butthurt that after nearly 2 years if this COVID thing, and after vaccinations and natural immunity, we chose to not make our daughter wear a mask, that they would turn down our tuition dollars because of that … so be it. We have other options.

If it’s a good school, they’ll have a dozen kids lined up to pay the tuition and take your daughter’s spot - most people aren’t that emotional or bent out of shape about masking in schools, especially while pretty big surges are underway.

+1

I’m sure good schools will be happy to clear out any nutters who don’t want to mask during a surge.

No mask mandate at our privates! Great news! Parents are once again free to decide what is best for their children.

let me guess; rivendale?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private school teachers with health conditions are now on notice apparently. Guess they will have to decide whether to risk it or quit.

But aren’t they fuLLy vAcCinaTeD anD boOsTeD? Would you prefer we keep these stupid masks on our children for the rest of their lives? Enough already. This has become like a cult — the Branch COVIDians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private school teachers with health conditions are now on notice apparently. Guess they will have to decide whether to risk it or quit.

If they stuck out teaching in person pre vaccines last year, I doubt being around some unmasked students will push most over the edge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private school teachers with health conditions are now on notice apparently. Guess they will have to decide whether to risk it or quit.

But aren’t they fuLLy vAcCinaTeD anD boOsTeD? Would you prefer we keep these stupid masks on our children for the rest of their lives? Enough already. This has become like a cult — the Branch COVIDians.

I'd prefer the students continue to wear masks through this current omicron wave. A few weeks ago I attended the funeral for the mother of one of our school's students who died from covid. We have several teachers over the age of 65. Covid is currently spreading in our school. I would prefer our principal be able to decide what is best for our school community. I'm sad that the diocese has made the decision they did.