APS - How was your first day?

[Anonymous]

6th and 3rd grades both had an awesome day. I'm so happy / excited / relieved!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great job teachers and admins and support staff! We missed you and appreciate all your hard work.

I was also thrilled to see many familiar faces with the extended day staff. So happy to see they were able to be kept on during virtual.

Oh yes. They were the ones coming in to supervise virtual school in person for students with disabilities while teachers stayed home.

A totally ethical situation.

That happened to your student? FCPS used that model but APS did not.

Yes. They did. Firsthand knowledge here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They told us there would be older kids to help the 1st graders find their classrooms (since parents can’t escort kids to the room), but apparently my daughter wandered around inside the new school by herself for 15 minutes before finding the room. Oops. And…she said that was her favorite part of the day.

“I was lost and it looked bleak for me. Then I found the classroom and I was only 3 minutes late! It was great!”

“It looked bleak for me”?

She has a flare for dramatics.

Love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First grader had a terrible day, was supposed to ride the bus, and the bus wouldn’t let him on, so I picked up a kid who was in tears. Said everything was really boring, the only fun thing was lunch, nobody sat next to him at lunch and he didn’t eat lunch fast enough to do recess. Couldn’t tell me anything that he learned or anything that he enjoyed.

I take it that’s not typical

I’ve already become that mom and emailed the teacher.

Oh my it was ONE DAY. Pre-pandemic my kid had a really rough transition into kindergarten. REALLY ROUGH. And she had been in preschool and was on track academically. The social aspect overwhelmed her a lot. I was nervous about her going back this year (now as a 2nd grader who did virtual school last year) and she has needed almost no adjustment time. She came home smiling and excited last night. It was awesome.

So just hang in there. Making a few friends really does make all the difference and that takes TIME.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great job teachers and admins and support staff! We missed you and appreciate all your hard work.

I was also thrilled to see many familiar faces with the extended day staff. So happy to see they were able to be kept on during virtual.

Oh yes. They were the ones coming in to supervise virtual school in person for students with disabilities while teachers stayed home.

A totally ethical situation.

That happened to your student? FCPS used that model but APS did not.

Yes. They did. Firsthand knowledge here.

Yeah. They ABSOLUTELY used that model.

[Anonymous]

My first grader was super nervous and a little teary when we dropped off but she LOVED it! She did tell me that several classmates had their masks under their noses, and the teacher sent home a photo that confirmed that...I am going to give it one more day but will definitely be reaching out if I see that again.

Lunch was apparently very hot with no shade...that will get better when the weather changes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My first grader was super nervous and a little teary when we dropped off but she LOVED it! She did tell me that several classmates had their masks under their noses, and the teacher sent home a photo that confirmed that...I am going to give it one more day but will definitely be reaching out if I see that again.

Lunch was apparently very hot with no shade...that will get better when the weather changes!

Not with global warming!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First grader had a terrible day, was supposed to ride the bus, and the bus wouldn’t let him on, so I picked up a kid who was in tears. Said everything was really boring, the only fun thing was lunch, nobody sat next to him at lunch and he didn’t eat lunch fast enough to do recess. Couldn’t tell me anything that he learned or anything that he enjoyed.

I take it that’s not typical

I’ve already become that mom and emailed the teacher.

I’d give him a week or two to transition— it’s a big change from his K experience and it’s a longer day. I don’t think that’s typical for him to be so down the first day, so I’d reach out to the school counselor by the end of next week if things haven’t improved.

I totally agree to make sure the counselor has their eyes so you can get him in a better place about school. No this is not typical, I’m so sorry he had such a bad day. The lunch thing is really throwing me. Even with outdoor lunch they have the kids in fifth grade sitting in a circle next to each other. indoor, especially in first grade they typically have to sit all the same tables together. Have a teacher keep an eye on that tomorrow to see what the deal was.

Can someone expand on the role of the counselor? Is it like the guidance counselor I remember from the 1980s? How do they help people like my kiddo? Would he have a session with them? Any info is appreciated.

Nope , very different now than in our school day. They can have a session with your kid or refer to the school pychologist if needed. Most can go into the classroom and offer support on transition topics for the class so your kid doesn'tfeel singled out. I know some that allow students to come to their space for anxiety moments during the day before returning to the classroom. Each school is different though as some schools only have a counselor and school psychologist, where as others have the fomer two and school social workers. All are qualified to help your child if needed. They are really ramped up this year from what I heard due to anticipation of transition problems.

All this and they even host group lunches, so again your kid won't feel singled out, but they can get to know other kids in a small setting.

[Anonymous]

MS kids reported that one Teacher kept letting mask go under their nose. I mean, come on. We've had 18 months to find proper fitting masks.

[Anonymous]

MS kids reported that one Teacher kept letting mask go under their nose. I mean, come on. We've had 18 months to find proper fitting masks.

What school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First grader had a terrible day, was supposed to ride the bus, and the bus wouldn’t let him on, so I picked up a kid who was in tears. Said everything was really boring, the only fun thing was lunch, nobody sat next to him at lunch and he didn’t eat lunch fast enough to do recess. Couldn’t tell me anything that he learned or anything that he enjoyed.

I take it that’s not typical

I’ve already become that mom and emailed the teacher.

Have you heard back? I am fretting on your kid's behalf.