Masking policy Arlington Diocesan Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The timing is strange given we are in the height of the pandemic. My kids will still mask until the numbers drop. They are also vaccinated. But honestly, all the family have been attending large public schools without masks for most of the pandemic and their numbers aren’t far off from those here.

My kids will still mask at their Arlington diocese school, but I like at least having the choice.

*should read all the family cousins attend large public schools with no masking requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why didn’t they just wait a few weeks? They could have announced that in mid-Feb when cases are expected to be lower that masks would become optional. Instead, they took the most divisive position possible and there will be significant issues at school now. 2 classes of students and it will cause problems. Such an ill-thought out plan.

Nope — militant maskers would have come up with some other BS “reason” and excuse to “justify” masks. It’ll never end. All of this crap was supposed to have ended when the vaccine became available. But the nuts will never let it go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why didn’t they just wait a few weeks? They could have announced that in mid-Feb when cases are expected to be lower that masks would become optional. Instead, they took the most divisive position possible and there will be significant issues at school now. 2 classes of students and it will cause problems. Such an ill-thought out plan.

Nope — militant maskers would have come up with some other BS “reason” and excuse to “justify” masks. It’ll never end. All of this crap was supposed to have ended when the vaccine became available. But the nuts will never let it go.

Question for all the mask militants: Where were you pre 2020 during flu season????? I’m not aware of a single student in the area hospitalized bc of Covid. I’m aware of several who were bc of the flu. Your incoherence, inconsistency, and pseudoscience destroy your credibility.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know. Our kids are in Arlington diocese schools and we will keep the masks on for now, but this isn’t my hill to die on. The majority of Western European countries don’t require kids to mask at school. It hasn’t impacted the pandemic that much. Omicron is milder and is just overwhelming the “mitigation” anyways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why didn’t they just wait a few weeks? They could have announced that in mid-Feb when cases are expected to be lower that masks would become optional. Instead, they took the most divisive position possible and there will be significant issues at school now. 2 classes of students and it will cause problems. Such an ill-thought out plan.

Nope — militant maskers would have come up with some other BS “reason” and excuse to “justify” masks. It’ll never end. All of this crap was supposed to have ended when the vaccine became available. But the nuts will never let it go.

We could just wait another month. Then another and another. Until our kids entire education has been destroyed.

[Anonymous]

Like it or not, the Catholic schools have made sometimes unpopular, but ultimately the correct, choices during the pandemic. Remember when others were screeching that we would spread disease all over the community at large last year by opening the schools? Didn’t happen. I see this as the next step. The masking has to end at some point. We keep moving the goal posts.

[Anonymous]

To all the supposed teachers: If you think public schools are “safer” and less stressful than Catholic schools, I encourage you to try that theory out. Enough threats and complaining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To all the supposed teachers: If you think public schools are “safer” and less stressful than Catholic schools, I encourage you to try that theory out. Enough threats and complaining.

Catholic school teachers might just quit, and either stay home (their salaries really don’t make much of an impact in their family incomes in this area) or look for a job in another industry. Nobody said they would necessarily move to teach in public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To all the supposed teachers: If you think public schools are “safer” and less stressful than Catholic schools, I encourage you to try that theory out. Enough threats and complaining.

At our catholic school teacher turnover is a huge problem. Please don’t goad them into quitting just to make a point and yourself feel better about yourself. Our kids need good teachers and some of those teachers would logically prefer that they be safe from covid when they teach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To all the supposed teachers: If you think public schools are “safer” and less stressful than Catholic schools, I encourage you to try that theory out. Enough threats and complaining.

Catholic school teachers might just quit, and either stay home (their salaries really don’t make much of an impact in their family incomes in this area) or look for a job in another industry. Nobody said they would necessarily move to teach in public schools.

Catholic schools have an incredibly difficult time keeping excellent and experienced teachers. Many who have stayed have done so people they deeply believe in the mission. Good luck getting replacements if these teachers leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Gov’s exec order is unenforceable and will almost certainly be overturned.

As for the Archdiocese, my read of its letter is cowardice, or perhaps equally crummy legal work.

Would someone post the text of the letter? We are considering a Catholic school for next year but this could be a deal breaker for our family with vulnerable immunocompromised individuals.

“By now you are all aware of Governor Youngkin’s Executive Order 2, “Reaffirming the Rights of Parents in the Upbringing, Education, and Care of Their Children.” The order rescinds Governor Northam’s Executive Order 79 of 2021 and states, in critical part, “The parents of any child enrolled in a[n] elementary or secondary school or a school based early childcare and educational program may elect for their children not to be subject to any mask mandate in effect at the child’s school or educational program.” Executive Order 2 takes effect on Monday, January 24, 2022.

The health and safety of all students and staff in our schools, while maintaining in-person instruction, remains our top priority. Throughout the pandemic, our Catholic schools have been directed to follow state and local public health directives. Where those have been in conflict, the state requirement has primacy. Therefore, Diocesan direction to our schools is to continue following local public health guidance, without however, violating the rights of parents as described in Executive Order 2. The governor’s executive order is clear on the right of parents not to have their child be subject to a mask mandate.

Joe Vorbach, Superintendent “

Pathetic. A Governor doesn’t just have magica powers to bestow parental rights that conflict with public health measures.

What’s next? Parents have a right not to quarantine their positive child because they want them back in school while infected (and maskless too)?

[Anonymous]

Question: CDC currently says someone who tests positive should quarantine for five days, then can return if fully masked around others. Will the Arlington Diocese be following that guideline or will recently infected students be returning to school on day six maskless? This is all so troubling.

[Anonymous]

If it’s so hard to retain teachers, why do they keep increasing class size so much? 20 to 23 to 27 in last three years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question: CDC currently says someone who tests positive should quarantine for five days, then can return if fully masked around others. Will the Arlington Diocese be following that guideline or will recently infected students be returning to school on day six maskless? This is all so troubling.

Our school’s email said masks will be required on days 6-10 if they choose to return to school.

Our school also recently established a COVID dashboard on the website. It will be interesting to see if there’s actually a big increase in cases, but then that assumes everyone actually reports positives to the school.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know who to reach out to in the diocese to express concern about this decision? I am reconsidering my enrollment in our parish school if I cannot trust the diocese to make common sense decisions during a massive surge.


Even Stafford county is continuing with a mask mandate