Capitol Hill elementary schools reopening plans

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From reading this thread it appears that SWS is the only Capitol Hill ES that chose not to bring back any students in Pk3 or Pk4.

Not at SWS, but think elementary schools should be prioritizing K-5 over Pk3 and Pk4. Not only are Pk3 and Pk4 classes optional/not mandatory, but they are the hardest to follow the safety guidelines (masks/physical distancing/etc). I'm totally pro-reopening fwiw.

I think the opposite. PK3 and PK4 are much more difficult to teach virtually, so they make the most sense to be in-person.

I think DCPS shouldn’t have virtual or in person for PK 3 and PK 4 . They should be using the staff in these classrooms to support K-5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From reading this thread it appears that SWS is the only Capitol Hill ES that chose not to bring back any students in Pk3 or Pk4.

Not at SWS, but think elementary schools should be prioritizing K-5 over Pk3 and Pk4. Not only are Pk3 and Pk4 classes optional/not mandatory, but they are the hardest to follow the safety guidelines (masks/physical distancing/etc). I'm totally pro-reopening fwiw.

I think the opposite. PK3 and PK4 are much more difficult to teach virtually, so they make the most sense to be in-person.

SWS said they don’t have at-risk or SNs kids in PK3 and 4 — that their priority was bringing back those groups.

What a “convenient” excuse

They also don’t have teachers who can come back from pk4.

Again, pk3 and pk4 are not mandatory. Your 3 and 4 year old are going to be ok.

PP here. Apologies for my snippy reply above. I’ve had a long week, month, year with work, kid, and school stress. I realize my reply wasn’t kind. I can’t wait for the day when all kids can go back to school all week!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From reading this thread it appears that SWS is the only Capitol Hill ES that chose not to bring back any students in Pk3 or Pk4.

Not at SWS, but think elementary schools should be prioritizing K-5 over Pk3 and Pk4. Not only are Pk3 and Pk4 classes optional/not mandatory, but they are the hardest to follow the safety guidelines (masks/physical distancing/etc). I'm totally pro-reopening fwiw.

I think the opposite. PK3 and PK4 are much more difficult to teach virtually, so they make the most sense to be in-person.

I think DCPS shouldn’t have virtual or in person for PK 3 and PK 4 . They should be using the staff in these classrooms to support K-5.

I think this is a choice that DCPS could have made at the beginning, but given that they offered in person, they now have an obligation to follow through. Also, there are plenty of teachers who aren’t certified for or would refuse to teach other grades, so it wouldn’t get you as much as you’d think. I say this all as the parent of a Ker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From reading this thread it appears that SWS is the only Capitol Hill ES that chose not to bring back any students in Pk3 or Pk4.

Not at SWS, but think elementary schools should be prioritizing K-5 over Pk3 and Pk4. Not only are Pk3 and Pk4 classes optional/not mandatory, but they are the hardest to follow the safety guidelines (masks/physical distancing/etc). I'm totally pro-reopening fwiw.

I think the opposite. PK3 and PK4 are much more difficult to teach virtually, so they make the most sense to be in-person.

I think DCPS shouldn’t have virtual or in person for PK 3 and PK 4 . They should be using the staff in these classrooms to support K-5.

SWS will use the aides for PK3 & PK4 to support upper grades. It was also mentioned that they were able to see K-5 kids falling behind and therefore prioritized those students.

I think this is a choice that DCPS could have made at the beginning, but given that they offered in person, they now have an obligation to follow through. Also, there are plenty of teachers who aren’t certified for or would refuse to teach other grades, so it wouldn’t get you as much as you’d think. I say this all as the parent of a Ker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From reading this thread it appears that SWS is the only Capitol Hill ES that chose not to bring back any students in Pk3 or Pk4.

Not at SWS, but think elementary schools should be prioritizing K-5 over Pk3 and Pk4. Not only are Pk3 and Pk4 classes optional/not mandatory, but they are the hardest to follow the safety guidelines (masks/physical distancing/etc). I'm totally pro-reopening fwiw.

I think the opposite. PK3 and PK4 are much more difficult to teach virtually, so they make the most sense to be in-person.

I think DCPS shouldn’t have virtual or in person for PK 3 and PK 4 . They should be using the staff in these classrooms to support K-5.

SWS will use the aides for PK3 & PK4 to support upper grades. It was also mentioned that they were able to see K-5 kids falling behind and therefore prioritized those students.

I think this is a choice that DCPS could have made at the beginning, but given that they offered in person, they now have an obligation to follow through. Also, there are plenty of teachers who aren’t certified for or would refuse to teach other grades, so it wouldn’t get you as much as you’d think. I say this all as the parent of a Ker.

Conveniently they haven’t done any testing of PKers...

The real reason is because they don’t have an eligible PK4 teacher and so built a justification around that.

[Anonymous]

Any parent in DCPS can opt of of Covid-19 testing of their kid for in-person classes.

And it's confidential information, not public.

After talking with friends in privates that are in-person that don't test, it creates a "don't know, and don't want to know" culture, especially with most kids being asymptomatic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From reading this thread it appears that SWS is the only Capitol Hill ES that chose not to bring back any students in Pk3 or Pk4.

Not at SWS, but think elementary schools should be prioritizing K-5 over Pk3 and Pk4. Not only are Pk3 and Pk4 classes optional/not mandatory, but they are the hardest to follow the safety guidelines (masks/physical distancing/etc). I'm totally pro-reopening fwiw.

+1 our schools reopening plan is CAREs which should be the priority followed by pre-K and K of space allows. I’m so baffled as to why they wouldn’t prioritize K-5 with a focus first on K-2. PK is not mandatory and there are other options (daycare or nanny’s for 3 and4 year olds). Ugh!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From reading this thread it appears that SWS is the only Capitol Hill ES that chose not to bring back any students in Pk3 or Pk4.

Not at SWS, but think elementary schools should be prioritizing K-5 over Pk3 and Pk4. Not only are Pk3 and Pk4 classes optional/not mandatory, but they are the hardest to follow the safety guidelines (masks/physical distancing/etc). I'm totally pro-reopening fwiw.

+1 our schools reopening plan is CAREs which should be the priority followed by pre-K and K of space allows. I’m so baffled as to why they wouldn’t prioritize K-5 with a focus first on K-2. PK is not mandatory and there are other options (daycare or nanny’s for 3 and4 year olds). Ugh!!!

Agree. I would love to see the attendance data from ECE. Most of my people that teach in those grades days are done by 12. Such a waste!

[Anonymous]

They do not qualify for leave.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LT is a complicated hodgepodge that differs from grade to grade. PK4 and 3rd get you a virtual guarantee of return for at least 2 days a week if you want... whereas K has 80%+ of respondents say they wanted in person (well over a majority even if all non-responses were counted as virtuals) and is sending back less than 1/3rs of students.

Is the difference because of staff availability?

For K-5, are the kids going back 2 days a week (hybrid)?

No, it’s really a total mix. PK3 is 2 classes of 8 going back 4 days/week with some sort of simulcasting for the rest of those 2 classes and 1 all virtual class. PK4 is 2 classes going back split in half one week in person/one week remote, so 40 of 54ish can go in person. One class stays remote. K the teachers apparently refused to see 2 cohorts, so it’s 10 kids in each of two classes going back 4 days with 10 kids simulcast all the time; one all virtual. 1st has only one teacher returning with 11 kids. The other kids in her class will be split between 2 all virtual classes that will be enormous now. I can’t remember all of the upper grades, but 3rd allows everyone who wants to to go back on a hybrid basis. 5th is only an 11 person CARES class setup with afternoon in person IEP and tutoring support.

4th grade is only 11 back in person (29+ indicated in person preference). One teacher who teaches all subjects.

We also have a 1st grader and there are only 11 slots for the 38+ kids that want to go back.

Yeah, 1st is the worst, but K is almost as bad. K had over 80% of respondents say they wanted to go back and instead it’s 20 out of 64ish... Even though it could be 40 if two K teachers hadn’t just unilaterally refused and the principal seemingly just caved to it.

Are you sure they refused? Or is this another example of they would have qualified for leave but they would have been out two teachers so she just kept them virtual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From reading this thread it appears that SWS is the only Capitol Hill ES that chose not to bring back any students in Pk3 or Pk4.

Not at SWS, but think elementary schools should be prioritizing K-5 over Pk3 and Pk4. Not only are Pk3 and Pk4 classes optional/not mandatory, but they are the hardest to follow the safety guidelines (masks/physical distancing/etc). I'm totally pro-reopening fwiw.

+1 our schools reopening plan is CAREs which should be the priority followed by pre-K and K of space allows. I’m so baffled as to why they wouldn’t prioritize K-5 with a focus first on K-2. PK is not mandatory and there are other options (daycare or nanny’s for 3 and4 year olds). Ugh!!!

Kids in PK do have IEPs that should be prioritized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From reading this thread it appears that SWS is the only Capitol Hill ES that chose not to bring back any students in Pk3 or Pk4.

Not at SWS, but think elementary schools should be prioritizing K-5 over Pk3 and Pk4. Not only are Pk3 and Pk4 classes optional/not mandatory, but they are the hardest to follow the safety guidelines (masks/physical distancing/etc). I'm totally pro-reopening fwiw.

+1 our schools reopening plan is CAREs which should be the priority followed by pre-K and K of space allows. I’m so baffled as to why they wouldn’t prioritize K-5 with a focus first on K-2. PK is not mandatory and there are other options (daycare or nanny’s for 3 and4 year olds). Ugh!!!

Agree. I would love to see the attendance data from ECE. Most of my people that teach in those grades days are done by 12. Such a waste!

PK also had a lot more demand at some schools. Those are the hardest to do at home & tend to be the most gentrified grades, a population in which demand to return seems much higher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From reading this thread it appears that SWS is the only Capitol Hill ES that chose not to bring back any students in Pk3 or Pk4.

Not at SWS, but think elementary schools should be prioritizing K-5 over Pk3 and Pk4. Not only are Pk3 and Pk4 classes optional/not mandatory, but they are the hardest to follow the safety guidelines (masks/physical distancing/etc). I'm totally pro-reopening fwiw.

I think the opposite. PK3 and PK4 are much more difficult to teach virtually, so they make the most sense to be in-person.

I think DCPS shouldn’t have virtual or in person for PK 3 and PK 4 . They should be using the staff in these classrooms to support K-5.

SWS will use the aides for PK3 & PK4 to support upper grades. It was also mentioned that they were able to see K-5 kids falling behind and therefore prioritized those students.

I think this is a choice that DCPS could have made at the beginning, but given that they offered in person, they now have an obligation to follow through. Also, there are plenty of teachers who aren’t certified for or would refuse to teach other grades, so it wouldn’t get you as much as you’d think. I say this all as the parent of a Ker.

Conveniently they haven’t done any testing of PKers...

The real reason is because they don’t have an eligible PK4 teacher and so built a justification around that.

What do you mean they don't have eligible teachers? I heard that the PK4 teachers refused to go back and that's why SWS isn't offering in-person for those kids. If there is another reason because I really feel annoyed at my kid's teacher for phoning it in this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brent started in-person classes with teachers for 5th, 4th, and K, and ECE in November and added two 1st grade classes and a 2nd grade class last week. Each class has a different schedule based on parent surveys. For the most part, classes are staying together with their teacher unless someone declines a spot, then it is offered to someone in a class that is staying virtual. My understanding is that the goal is to have a class for each grade back by the end of term 2. All of the teachers that are back right now have volunteered to be in-person and the school has been communicating all of the safety measures that they are taking and that they require from each of the families.

Why is 3rd grade holding out? Also, will Brent offer pre-k in person? Is it really all just voluntary for the teachers at this point?

Brent has one PK class back in person. And yes it is fully voluntary for Brent teachers at this point.

[Anonymous]

Brent is starting 3 new 3rd grade classes on Mon. One class will attend 4 days a week, the other two 2 days a week.

Four dozen 3rd graders will not go in person, but, apparently, most of these families rejected the option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From reading this thread it appears that SWS is the only Capitol Hill ES that chose not to bring back any students in Pk3 or Pk4.

Not at SWS, but think elementary schools should be prioritizing K-5 over Pk3 and Pk4. Not only are Pk3 and Pk4 classes optional/not mandatory, but they are the hardest to follow the safety guidelines (masks/physical distancing/etc). I'm totally pro-reopening fwiw.

I think the opposite. PK3 and PK4 are much more difficult to teach virtually, so they make the most sense to be in-person.

I think DCPS shouldn’t have virtual or in person for PK 3 and PK 4 . They should be using the staff in these classrooms to support K-5.

I think this is a choice that DCPS could have made at the beginning, but given that they offered in person, they now have an obligation to follow through. Also, there are plenty of teachers who aren’t certified for or would refuse to teach other grades, so it wouldn’t get you as much as you’d think. I say this all as the parent of a Ker.

Also, schools get more funding per pk student than they do for any other student. It makes financial sense for them to try and do something to make sure pk students stay enrolled