Snow day

[Anonymous]

As an elementary school teacher, 1 short day is going to cause a lot of stress and disruption and I doubt anyone gets much out of it.

On the other hand, it may be a good way to ease into it.

If we go, I see a lot of staff not getting in and lots of bus issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any reason why virtual school isn't done during these times? Why are kids away from school for a week because of 3 inches of snow?

Because its pointless AND because the VA dept of education will not count virtual as a counted school say.

I love these comments. I actually teach at a virtual school, we’ve just been moving along with lessons this week. Everyone understands the concepts and is doing their classwork and homework.

Shouldn’t you be engaging with your handful of private school students instead of posting here?

Lunch break! Starting back up in a few minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any reason why virtual school isn't done during these times? Why are kids away from school for a week because of 3 inches of snow?

Because its pointless AND because the VA dept of education will not count virtual as a counted school say.

I love these comments. I actually teach at a virtual school, we’ve just been moving along with lessons this week. Everyone understands the concepts and is doing their classwork and homework.

You left out some critical details: (1) what age? (2) how many students in your "class" (3) do they all have a SAHP to assist?

I teach math, so my current students are 3rd-6th (different classes throughout the day). About 20 kids in each class. They may have a parent at home, but they know how to join Zoom and Canvas on their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any reason why virtual school isn't done during these times? Why are kids away from school for a week because of 3 inches of snow?

First, there was at least 3x that amount. Over 9 inches of snow fell throughout the county.

With regard to virtual school, that’s not going to happen. Schools don’t get credit for it to be a school day per the governor so what’s the point?

And then there’s the delivery of special education services. If FCPS says they’re having a virtual school day, that means that special education services have to be delivered. That can work virtually for some students, but it’s impossible for so many more. You end with having to provide compensatory services. FCPS just finished providing them afterschool, on the weekends and in the summer AND reimbursing families if they paid a private provider during COVID. There’s no way in hell they are doing that again. It was such a costly mess. Reid would crawl across glass before signing off on virtual instruction.

First, it has nothing to do with whether it was 3 inches or 9 inches. The reason kids are away from school is because the state failed to plow/treat the neighborhood roads, which are now not safe enough for buses to get around and pick up kids and take them to and bring them home from school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any reason why virtual school isn't done during these times? Why are kids away from school for a week because of 3 inches of snow?

Because its pointless AND because the VA dept of education will not count virtual as a counted school say.

I love these comments. I actually teach at a virtual school, we’ve just been moving along with lessons this week. Everyone understands the concepts and is doing their classwork and homework.

You left out some critical details: (1) what age? (2) how many students in your "class" (3) do they all have a SAHP to assist?

I teach math, so my current students are 3rd-6th (different classes throughout the day). About 20 kids in each class. They may have a parent at home, but they know how to join Zoom and Canvas on their own.

“They may have a parent at home?” You really are a clown. Of course there is a parent at home. I would hope that parents aren’t leaving 8-11 year olds at home alone for 6 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any reason why virtual school isn't done during these times? Why are kids away from school for a week because of 3 inches of snow?

First, there was at least 3x that amount. Over 9 inches of snow fell throughout the county.

With regard to virtual school, that’s not going to happen. Schools don’t get credit for it to be a school day per the governor so what’s the point?

And then there’s the delivery of special education services. If FCPS says they’re having a virtual school day, that means that special education services have to be delivered. That can work virtually for some students, but it’s impossible for so many more. You end with having to provide compensatory services. FCPS just finished providing them afterschool, on the weekends and in the summer AND reimbursing families if they paid a private provider during COVID. There’s no way in hell they are doing that again. It was such a costly mess. Reid would crawl across glass before signing off on virtual instruction.

First, it has nothing to do with whether it was 3 inches or 9 inches. The reason kids are away from school is because the state failed to plow/treat the neighborhood roads, which are now not safe enough for buses to get around and pick up kids and take them to and bring them home from school.

So when will you be ok with safety? When everything has thawed? So another week of no school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any reason why virtual school isn't done during these times? Why are kids away from school for a week because of 3 inches of snow?

Because its pointless AND because the VA dept of education will not count virtual as a counted school say.

I love these comments. I actually teach at a virtual school, we’ve just been moving along with lessons this week. Everyone understands the concepts and is doing their classwork and homework.

You left out some critical details: (1) what age? (2) how many students in your "class" (3) do they all have a SAHP to assist?

I teach math, so my current students are 3rd-6th (different classes throughout the day). About 20 kids in each class. They may have a parent at home, but they know how to join Zoom and Canvas on their own.

“They may have a parent at home?” You really are a clown. Of course there is a parent at home. I would hope that parents aren’t leaving 8-11 year olds at home alone for 6 hours.

This. If those parents have opted into the farce that is virtual learning then they are in the rare category of parents that can manage this, meaning they are home all the time to make sure their child stays on task.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is driving to Langley HS tomorrow. Is the snow plowed on Georgetown pike, old dominion Dr, Lewinsville rd, Swinks mill, Balls hill road, Elizabeth Dr, and other small roads in McLean? Or should I tell him to take 7 and 123 to be safe? Thx

Yellow bus if he doesn't like driving in the snow.

Guessing is a transfer (like when ask to take Russian if not offered at own school) where don’t get bus is reason driving self. Why wouldn’t kid go do test run this afternoon if kid old enough to drive? Odd to forum shop here road conditions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any reason why virtual school isn't done during these times? Why are kids away from school for a week because of 3 inches of snow?

First, there was at least 3x that amount. Over 9 inches of snow fell throughout the county.

With regard to virtual school, that’s not going to happen. Schools don’t get credit for it to be a school day per the governor so what’s the point?

And then there’s the delivery of special education services. If FCPS says they’re having a virtual school day, that means that special education services have to be delivered. That can work virtually for some students, but it’s impossible for so many more. You end with having to provide compensatory services. FCPS just finished providing them afterschool, on the weekends and in the summer AND reimbursing families if they paid a private provider during COVID. There’s no way in hell they are doing that again. It was such a costly mess. Reid would crawl across glass before signing off on virtual instruction.

First, it has nothing to do with whether it was 3 inches or 9 inches. The reason kids are away from school is because the state failed to plow/treat the neighborhood roads, which are now not safe enough for buses to get around and pick up kids and take them to and bring them home from school.

So when will you be ok with safety? When everything has thawed? So another week of no school?

No school until all of the ice is gone in Fairfax County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any reason why virtual school isn't done during these times? Why are kids away from school for a week because of 3 inches of snow?

Because its pointless AND because the VA dept of education will not count virtual as a counted school say.

I love these comments. I actually teach at a virtual school, we’ve just been moving along with lessons this week. Everyone understands the concepts and is doing their classwork and homework.

Virtual works well for certain students but not for the majority of kids. DS does fine in a virtual program but he strongly prefers in person classes. He has a class that he has done in person but the advanced class is only available online, he choose the online options because he wanted the challenge. He is done great but he is a flexible kid who picks up on things with little explanation. There are kids who simply cannot handle virtual classes. I think it is great for the kids who can do well with it but it is not for every kid.

And that’s why virtual isn’t offered, it works for some but not all.

[Anonymous]

I don’t even care about virtual school. But it seems ridiculous that the high school and middle school teachers have totally checked out, not answering emails, posting nothing on schoology, not updating grades. Kids (those that care) could be using this time to catch up or study. I get it that lots won’t do that, but some will and it seems relatively low effort to just do the bare minimum like check your email.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any reason why virtual school isn't done during these times? Why are kids away from school for a week because of 3 inches of snow?

First, there was at least 3x that amount. Over 9 inches of snow fell throughout the county.

With regard to virtual school, that’s not going to happen. Schools don’t get credit for it to be a school day per the governor so what’s the point?

And then there’s the delivery of special education services. If FCPS says they’re having a virtual school day, that means that special education services have to be delivered. That can work virtually for some students, but it’s impossible for so many more. You end with having to provide compensatory services. FCPS just finished providing them afterschool, on the weekends and in the summer AND reimbursing families if they paid a private provider during COVID. There’s no way in hell they are doing that again. It was such a costly mess. Reid would crawl across glass before signing off on virtual instruction.

First, it has nothing to do with whether it was 3 inches or 9 inches. The reason kids are away from school is because the state failed to plow/treat the neighborhood roads, which are now not safe enough for buses to get around and pick up kids and take them to and bring them home from school.

So when will you be ok with safety? When everything has thawed? So another week of no school?

No school until all of the ice is gone in Fairfax County.

See you in May for SOLs!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any reason why virtual school isn't done during these times? Why are kids away from school for a week because of 3 inches of snow?

First, there was at least 3x that amount. Over 9 inches of snow fell throughout the county.

With regard to virtual school, that’s not going to happen. Schools don’t get credit for it to be a school day per the governor so what’s the point?

And then there’s the delivery of special education services. If FCPS says they’re having a virtual school day, that means that special education services have to be delivered. That can work virtually for some students, but it’s impossible for so many more. You end with having to provide compensatory services. FCPS just finished providing them afterschool, on the weekends and in the summer AND reimbursing families if they paid a private provider during COVID. There’s no way in hell they are doing that again. It was such a costly mess. Reid would crawl across glass before signing off on virtual instruction.

First, it has nothing to do with whether it was 3 inches or 9 inches. The reason kids are away from school is because the state failed to plow/treat the neighborhood roads, which are now not safe enough for buses to get around and pick up kids and take them to and bring them home from school.

So when will you be ok with safety? When everything has thawed? So another week of no school?

No school until all of the ice is gone in Fairfax County.

So February?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any reason why virtual school isn't done during these times? Why are kids away from school for a week because of 3 inches of snow?

First, there was at least 3x that amount. Over 9 inches of snow fell throughout the county.

With regard to virtual school, that’s not going to happen. Schools don’t get credit for it to be a school day per the governor so what’s the point?

And then there’s the delivery of special education services. If FCPS says they’re having a virtual school day, that means that special education services have to be delivered. That can work virtually for some students, but it’s impossible for so many more. You end with having to provide compensatory services. FCPS just finished providing them afterschool, on the weekends and in the summer AND reimbursing families if they paid a private provider during COVID. There’s no way in hell they are doing that again. It was such a costly mess. Reid would crawl across glass before signing off on virtual instruction.

First, it has nothing to do with whether it was 3 inches or 9 inches. The reason kids are away from school is because the state failed to plow/treat the neighborhood roads, which are now not safe enough for buses to get around and pick up kids and take them to and bring them home from school.

So when will you be ok with safety? When everything has thawed? So another week of no school?

It's not when I think it's safe enough. It's when FCPS thinks it is. I'm not really sure when that will be. I do agree that it wasn't safe this week. alot of streets are still horrible. I am still hoping for VDOT to get around and drop some sand today, tomorrow, this weekend and the kids can go back Monday but, if there is still an inch of ice covering roads next week, then yes, maybe they'll have to stay home a few more days. Sunday and Monday is supposed to be 40 and sunny though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any reason why virtual school isn't done during these times? Why are kids away from school for a week because of 3 inches of snow?

First, there was at least 3x that amount. Over 9 inches of snow fell throughout the county.

With regard to virtual school, that’s not going to happen. Schools don’t get credit for it to be a school day per the governor so what’s the point?

And then there’s the delivery of special education services. If FCPS says they’re having a virtual school day, that means that special education services have to be delivered. That can work virtually for some students, but it’s impossible for so many more. You end with having to provide compensatory services. FCPS just finished providing them afterschool, on the weekends and in the summer AND reimbursing families if they paid a private provider during COVID. There’s no way in hell they are doing that again. It was such a costly mess. Reid would crawl across glass before signing off on virtual instruction.

First, it has nothing to do with whether it was 3 inches or 9 inches. The reason kids are away from school is because the state failed to plow/treat the neighborhood roads, which are now not safe enough for buses to get around and pick up kids and take them to and bring them home from school.

So when will you be ok with safety? When everything has thawed? So another week of no school?

It sounds like some people are basing when the kids should go back based on the number of days they were out. Like missing Monday and Tuesday was OK but then it got crazy. Here's the thing...Most roads are no better today than they were Tuesday. Some are worse actually. So if you were ok with missing Tuesday...then you should be OK missing until the roads are safe....at least 80% as someone has suggested and those 20% can get excused absences I suppose. It sucks, but you can sit here and say 2 weeks is too much if conditions don't improve.