***FCPS: Return-to-School Master Thread***

[Anonymous]

So, Group 6 (grades 1-2) are considered “priority learners” but 24,500 kids in Group 8 start ahead of them. Does that “priority” designation mean anything? If Group 8 does not go in, does that stop Group 6? Group 8 also is still a “caution” for staffing while Group 6 is “go” for staffing. Do they have to be able to staff Group 8 to proceed to Group 6? Changing the order creates so much confusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, Group 6 (grades 1-2) are considered “priority learners” but 24,500 kids in Group 8 start ahead of them. Does that “priority” designation mean anything? If Group 8 does not go in, does that stop Group 6? Group 8 also is still a “caution” for staffing while Group 6 is “go” for staffing. Do they have to be able to staff Group 8 to proceed to Group 6? Changing the order creates so much confusion.

The ES principals requested this schedule, just as the HS principals did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is coming back this year. Let's all pray they get this vaccine together and we all get the damn shot so the kids can return in August. /end thread.

Winning turtle wax — It seems like a lot of parents are excited about a possible RTS, but as a teacher, if the board approves the plan, I would feel very much like I had won a consolation prize I never wanted. I would only see, at most, one fifth of my students in person, and I would be trying to figure out how to do this concurrent nonsense. So, it’s just hard to look forward to going back to the building.

What would you like to see?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, Group 6 (grades 1-2) are considered “priority learners” but 24,500 kids in Group 8 start ahead of them. Does that “priority” designation mean anything? If Group 8 does not go in, does that stop Group 6? Group 8 also is still a “caution” for staffing while Group 6 is “go” for staffing. Do they have to be able to staff Group 8 to proceed to Group 6? Changing the order creates so much confusion.

The ES principals requested this schedule, just as the HS principals did.

OK. But the questions still stand, if anyone knows. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I think the schedule for return was set to send half the kids back at first and then the second half. I have a third grader and am more than annoyed that his is the last group to return to school. I can't really compare his group to the MS and HS because those kids are in different buildings, I can only look at the ES. The ES schedule makes no real sense to me. I don't get why it is so spread out.

On the plus side, at least his hopes won't get too high when the plan fails in the first few weeks and in person is cancelled. Yes, I am very pessimistic that the kids are going to be back in school any time soon.

[Anonymous]

Who made OP "god of RTL"?

Newsflash: there are many DIFFERENT aspects and questions regarding the pandemic and school openings/closings.

We need more than one thread for everything related to returning to buildings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like these dates might actually stick this time! 3 months of two days of school a week is better than nothing. And if it goes well, I think we have a better chance at 5 days a week school in the fall.

+1

[Anonymous]

What’s everyone’s confidence level that it happens? They’ve certainly pulled the rug out from us last minute so will this actually happen?

The case #s and positivity rate seem to be dropping and should continue to drop so I don’t think that will be a reason to “pause.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s everyone’s confidence level that it happens? They’ve certainly pulled the rug out from us last minute so will this actually happen?

The case #s and positivity rate seem to be dropping and should continue to drop so I don’t think that will be a reason to “pause.”

I think the vaccine rollout (assuming it continues) gives a clear path to safety that we haven’t had before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s everyone’s confidence level that it happens? They’ve certainly pulled the rug out from us last minute so will this actually happen?

The case #s and positivity rate seem to be dropping and should continue to drop so I don’t think that will be a reason to “pause.”

I think the vaccine rollout (assuming it continues) gives a clear path to safety that we haven’t had before.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s everyone’s confidence level that it happens? They’ve certainly pulled the rug out from us last minute so will this actually happen?

The case #s and positivity rate seem to be dropping and should continue to drop so I don’t think that will be a reason to “pause.”

The spread of the new variants of COVID is predicted to get really underway in March. With teachers vaccinated, they should not experience severe illness if exposed to the new variants; however children and parents may become ill, especially as some of the new variants seem to be hitting children more severely. That may affect how many parents are willing to send their children back to in person school in March and April, depending on whether they are still trying to avoid exposure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s everyone’s confidence level that it happens? They’ve certainly pulled the rug out from us last minute so will this actually happen?

The case #s and positivity rate seem to be dropping and should continue to drop so I don’t think that will be a reason to “pause.”

The spread of the new variants of COVID is predicted to get really underway in March. With teachers vaccinated, they should not experience severe illness if exposed to the new variants; however children and parents may become ill, especially as some of the new variants seem to be hitting children more severely. That may affect how many parents are willing to send their children back to in person school in March and April, depending on whether they are still trying to avoid exposure.

But is that guaranteed? It’s just more fuel for the fear in this area to never resume normal life and school. Are other open schools closing just in case this variant starts spreading? There is no guarantee it’s going to spread like wildfire or prevent us from ever going to school again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s everyone’s confidence level that it happens? They’ve certainly pulled the rug out from us last minute so will this actually happen?

The case #s and positivity rate seem to be dropping and should continue to drop so I don’t think that will be a reason to “pause.”

The spread of the new variants of COVID is predicted to get really underway in March. With teachers vaccinated, they should not experience severe illness if exposed to the new variants; however children and parents may become ill, especially as some of the new variants seem to be hitting children more severely. That may affect how many parents are willing to send their children back to in person school in March and April, depending on whether they are still trying to avoid exposure.

But is that guaranteed? It’s just more fuel for the fear in this area to never resume normal life and school. Are other open schools closing just in case this variant starts spreading? There is no guarantee it’s going to spread like wildfire or prevent us from ever going to school again.

The vaccines are a game-changer. You prevent significant transmission by vaccinating the adults in schools. There will be some spread in the children but much less transmission and much less severe. Plus, parents can keep their kids home at any point.

If the vaccines aren't effective for one of the future mutations then things will likely change, but we aren't there yet. Cutting down on transmission now will slow down mutations.

[Anonymous]

Brabrand’s email says “under the new plan, all students will have the opportunity to return to school at least two days.” Is “all students” still limited to those who choose to send in-person or are they opening it back up again to everyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s everyone’s confidence level that it happens? They’ve certainly pulled the rug out from us last minute so will this actually happen?

The case #s and positivity rate seem to be dropping and should continue to drop so I don’t think that will be a reason to “pause.”

The spread of the new variants of COVID is predicted to get really underway in March. With teachers vaccinated, they should not experience severe illness if exposed to the new variants; however children and parents may become ill, especially as some of the new variants seem to be hitting children more severely. That may affect how many parents are willing to send their children back to in person school in March and April, depending on whether they are still trying to avoid exposure.

But is that guaranteed? It’s just more fuel for the fear in this area to never resume normal life and school. Are other open schools closing just in case this variant starts spreading? There is no guarantee it’s going to spread like wildfire or prevent us from ever going to school again.

Even if the England variant is actually as transmissible in kids as is estimated, that's still only half as transmissable as in adults. With the teachers vaccinated, this might effect HS but should not effect ES/MS so much:
https://twitter.com/TracyBethHoeg/status/1356368344929030144