APS: Open Now group (APE) fundraising for new signs for 5 day a week school

[Anonymous]

HS parent here--every other parent I have spoken to in the last week who selected staying virtual now wants to change to hybrid for their kids. This type of pressure is what will open schools further, not yard signs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HS parent here--every other parent I have spoken to in the last week who selected staying virtual now wants to change to hybrid for their kids. This type of pressure is what will open schools further, not yard signs.

This is happening at all levels-- most schools are running a wait list for hybrid now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HS parent here--every other parent I have spoken to in the last week who selected staying virtual now wants to change to hybrid for their kids. This type of pressure is what will open schools further, not yard signs.

I chose virtual for my MS students and am now second guessing myself. I’m sure part time f that is how much is they are spending talking about it this week in classes. I’d love it if they opened up the option in 4th quarter, at least for 8th and 12th.


That said, 5 days now is insane before data manipulation dad pops on, out numbers have gone down, but to last April numbers. We need to be back at summer numbers. Maybe we will be....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HS parent here--every other parent I have spoken to in the last week who selected staying virtual now wants to change to hybrid for their kids. This type of pressure is what will open schools further, not yard signs.

I agree that yard signs don't seem effective and counterproductive. I have a different experience with my HS kid. He's staying virtual and none of his friends are going back or want to go back for the rest of their junior year. They are hoping for a regular in person senior year though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So that didn't take long. Elementary students returned yesterday and already APE is fundraising for new signs that say:

Your Student, Every Day
APS is Ready

Did I miss the announcement that COVID is over? Because I swear I just heard the CDC Director and President Biden say now is not the time to relax our mitigation efforts because 50,000 people a day are catching COVID and 2,000 people a day are still dying from it. Presumably this mitigation includes the social distancing that is impossible if all students go back right now. I also heard President Biden say yesterday that adults will be vaccinated by the end of May, so maybe it's worth waiting for at least that?

WTAF is wrong with them?

LOL WTAF is wrong with you?

[Anonymous]

Good for them. Keep up the pressure. It's ridiculous these kids have been out this long. And glad they started advocating bc even with that effort APS was last in VA to give dates I believe. I think WAPO mentioned it? I'm curious if any of you have friends that live outside the region or maybe friends/neighbors with kids in private school? Maybe ask them how it is? There are plenty of schools doing five days a week and they are proving just as safe. These kids have been out of school for almost a year, why stick with sunk cost fallacy and keep them out any longer than necessary? There is not a single study that shows full in person school is less safe than hybrid or fully remote so how do you justify waiting? Also Duran et. al. showed that like 98% of the rooms were well ventilated, I bet that's better than most of the FL/TX and private schools who've been back this whole time. What other goal post has to be met exactly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HS parent here--every other parent I have spoken to in the last week who selected staying virtual now wants to change to hybrid for their kids. This type of pressure is what will open schools further, not yard signs.

I chose virtual for my MS students and am now second guessing myself. I’m sure part time f that is how much is they are spending talking about it this week in classes. I’d love it if they opened up the option in 4th quarter, at least for 8th and 12th.


That said, 5 days now is insane before data manipulation dad pops on, out numbers have gone down, but to last April numbers. We need to be back at summer numbers. Maybe we will be....

Why? Schools have been open 5 days a week with way fewer mitigation layers than APS is implementing. And they have done so with limited or no outbreaks. Our region and CA is dead last in the country for opening up schools. Talk to folks from other areas. it is FINE!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So that didn't take long. Elementary students returned yesterday and already APE is fundraising for new signs that say:

Your Student, Every Day
APS is Ready

Did I miss the announcement that COVID is over? Because I swear I just heard the CDC Director and President Biden say now is not the time to relax our mitigation efforts because 50,000 people a day are catching COVID and 2,000 people a day are still dying from it. Presumably this mitigation includes the social distancing that is impossible if all students go back right now. I also heard President Biden say yesterday that adults will be vaccinated by the end of May, so maybe it's worth waiting for at least that?

WTAF is wrong with them?

Did you miss the announcement that school is essential and should be opened?

The data is not really on the CDC's side on this one. (source). If they'd released science-backed school re-opening guidelines, that sure would've helped.

School buildings have been closed, not schools. There's a difference.

The only reason they did this was to continue paying teachers and all staff, nothing to do with education because its garbage. They took a greedy money grab and didn't even provide childcare support for the parents... Until there are repercussions like test scores and budget adjustments teachers will never come in because there is no accountability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HS parent here--every other parent I have spoken to in the last week who selected staying virtual now wants to change to hybrid for their kids. This type of pressure is what will open schools further, not yard signs.

I chose virtual for my MS students and am now second guessing myself. I’m sure part time f that is how much is they are spending talking about it this week in classes. I’d love it if they opened up the option in 4th quarter, at least for 8th and 12th.


That said, 5 days now is insane before data manipulation dad pops on, out numbers have gone down, but to last April numbers. We need to be back at summer numbers. Maybe we will be....

Why? Schools have been open 5 days a week with way fewer mitigation layers than APS is implementing. And they have done so with limited or no outbreaks. Our region and CA is dead last in the country for opening up schools. Talk to folks from other areas. it is FINE!

Yup, and it's not like you have to be FL or TX to open. Some public schools in CT were open 5 days/week this entire time. Ohio. Rhode Island. Everywhere but here and the west coast, basically, has had some districts open full-time some of the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So that didn't take long. Elementary students returned yesterday and already APE is fundraising for new signs that say:

Your Student, Every Day
APS is Ready

Did I miss the announcement that COVID is over? Because I swear I just heard the CDC Director and President Biden say now is not the time to relax our mitigation efforts because 50,000 people a day are catching COVID and 2,000 people a day are still dying from it. Presumably this mitigation includes the social distancing that is impossible if all students go back right now. I also heard President Biden say yesterday that adults will be vaccinated by the end of May, so maybe it's worth waiting for at least that?

WTAF is wrong with them?

Did you miss the announcement that school is essential and should be opened?

The data is not really on the CDC's side on this one. (source). If they'd released science-backed school re-opening guidelines, that sure would've helped.

It's not just CDC that says ventilation and distancing are required. COVID spreads through the air. There was an interview on NBC yesterday about how bad APS's engineering firm said the ventilation was in a lot of school buildings. We have schools that are well above 100% capacity. Cramming a bunch of people into a poorly ventilated room right now is not exactly the smartest move. Let's wait a few months until there are more vaccinations and fewer cases. We'll get there in the fall.

Let me guess, you're one of the people in that interview or are friends with them.

[Anonymous]

Yeah. If ever I needed evidence that APE’s strategy is being driven by Republican politics, this is it. Please. Go. Away. You are not making inroads in Arlington for statewide elections. I promise. Focus on Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HS parent here--every other parent I have spoken to in the last week who selected staying virtual now wants to change to hybrid for their kids. This type of pressure is what will open schools further, not yard signs.

This is happening at all levels-- most schools are running a wait list for hybrid now.

Eh. We’re on the waitlist for MS. But we may not take the spot if offered. All depends on how things go over the next few week. In terms of the virus and the school. I wouldn’t take a spot if offered today.

[Anonymous]

My middle school in person numbers are dropping like flies. Everyone is pulling kids out for virtual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My middle school in person numbers are dropping like flies. Everyone is pulling kids out for virtual.

Which one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My middle school in person numbers are dropping like flies. Everyone is pulling kids out for virtual.

Which one?

Great! makes 5 day a week even more likely!