APS Teachers In School for only one week of prep

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good. I am glad they are not bringing them back permanently at this point. Get them vaccinated and get these cases down first. March is looking good. Montgomery County just voted to return March 15. Of course, they haven’t abandoned metrics altogether like APS.

There is a need to keep the pressure on or nothing will be done to prepare and students won't even be back next fall. Last spring FCPS pushed to switch to online learning for all students, while APS gave up on K-2 learners completely, stating that they'd catch up when back in person in the fall. Hahah. That didn't happen. Guess which system was better prepared in the fall? Which students lost more instruction?

I agree it doesn't make sense to go back with rates spiking, but parents have to keep pushing APS. Push to get teachers vaccinated sooner. Push to sort out details re testing, temp checks, health screening, etc. Push for HEPA filters and better ventilation. Push to sort out outdoor lunch. We can't wait until kids are vaccinated--that will literally be years from now.

I just saw a post from a teacher on AEM that it doesn't make sense to go back for Q4, even if safe, because it's too much work and too disruptive to establish new routines at the end of the year. This is ridiculous. Kids have missed a year of school. COVID restrictions will still be necessary in the fall, as kids under 16 won't be vaccinated yet. We need to keep pushing APS so kids are back as soon as this wave breaks this spring (presumably with vaccinated teachers).

[Anonymous]

Not only will teachers be vax by Q4, but many high risk family members (group 1c) will be too. That is a game changer for many I have talked with.

[Anonymous]

I'm an APS ES parent and have witnessed every day how hard my DC's teacher is working, and how much she misses being in the classroom with her kids.

If the new plan is to only have teachers in for a week to be able to raise concerns, and then go back to teaching from home, that makes sense. It gives APS time to address any of their concerns, but it makes no sense to have teachers teaching from school in masks virtually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not only will teachers be vax by Q4, but many high risk family members (group 1c) will be too. That is a game changer for many I have talked with.

+1000. Work towards Q4 hybrid. I think Duran's plan seems to be doing that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not only will teachers be vax by Q4, but many high risk family members (group 1c) will be too. That is a game changer for many I have talked with.

+1000. Work towards Q4 hybrid. I think Duran's plan seems to be doing that.

Why Q4? Won't this also be true in March?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not only will teachers be vax by Q4, but many high risk family members (group 1c) will be too. That is a game changer for many I have talked with.

+1000. Work towards Q4 hybrid. I think Duran's plan seems to be doing that.

Why Q4? Won't this also be true in March?

Doubtful. We JUST started 1b. Group 1c will need 2 shots plus a week or two to have immunity (6-7 weeks total from first shot). Have you seen everyone that qualifies for 1C? 65+, everyone with medical conditions (smokers fall in that group), and certain industries including manufacturing and accountants!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not only will teachers be vax by Q4, but many high risk family members (group 1c) will be too. That is a game changer for many I have talked with.

+1000. Work towards Q4 hybrid. I think Duran's plan seems to be doing that.

Why Q4? Won't this also be true in March?

Fair point, I wasn't paying attention to actual dates of when Q4 starts, which apparently is in April after spring break. Duran just mentioned a clean break and talked about Q2/Q3, so I just took that a step further. But if vaccines roll out in a decent fashion, then yes. And I assume case rates will have dropped by then.

Back in the summer when they switched to all DL, March was my guess at when we'd be back to hybrid. We'll see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not only will teachers be vax by Q4, but many high risk family members (group 1c) will be too. That is a game changer for many I have talked with.

+1000. Work towards Q4 hybrid. I think Duran's plan seems to be doing that.

Why Q4? Won't this also be true in March?

Fair point, I wasn't paying attention to actual dates of when Q4 starts, which apparently is in April after spring break. Duran just mentioned a clean break and talked about Q2/Q3, so I just took that a step further. But if vaccines roll out in a decent fashion, then yes. And I assume case rates will have dropped by then.

Back in the summer when they switched to all DL, March was my guess at when we'd be back to hybrid. We'll see.

March also comes with weather where we can easily open windows and have outdoor lunch.

(Yes, I know not every classroom has windows that open. But yes, I still support opening windows where they are available and would improve ventilation. Using windows may allow us to better deploy the available HEPA filters to spaces that need them.

Yes, I also know that it sometimes rains in March. It doesn't mean we can have students eat outside as often as possible. No, I'm not worried about terrorists, school shooters or West Nile disrupting outdoor lunch.)

[Anonymous]

I hope March when teachers can get vaccinated. No later than Q 4. That makes sense. February is preposterous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ridiculous! Go. To. Work! Have anxiety? Get some Xanax, put on a mask and show up. I am sick and tired to this crazy teacher worship that goes on APS for no good reason.

Duran should say at this point you come back or your fired. And no there is not going to be some mass exodus of teachers. There just is not. I don’t care how many post here or tell their friends or whatever nonsense they say. When push comes to shove, they aren’t quitting.

They. Are. Working.

Seek psychological help for your ridiculous anger, entitlement and adult tantrums. You have exactly ZERO influence over teachers. Zip.

Don't care if they have to work 100x harder. Good. I hope it's a nightmare. They are the SINGLE reason we never went back in the fall and why we're coming up on a year of no school. DL is not school.

Let them work until their fingers fall off. I have absolutely no sympathy for them.

Actually - SARS-COV-2 is the single reason that schools (and society) are upside down at the moment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope March when teachers can get vaccinated. No later than Q 4. That makes sense. February is preposterous.

But we need to be preparing now. Bringing back teachers to a empty school in January allows APS time to order any supplies that are identified as necessary.

FCPS held a vaccination clinic for teachers yesterday. Where is APS? Vaccinate teachers now!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know the guy at the head of the APE lawsuit is a maga head right? He literally retweeted that “if you are more upset about the Capitol insurrection than the stolen election, you’re a democrat”.

Great one to align yourselves with, parents.

Wow. That’s something else. The more vocal proponent at our PTA meetings is a former republican staffer. She’s said some loopy things about not understanding the need for testing and arguing that everyone who has selected hybrid what’s to go back right NOW. But nothing as wild as this guy. He’s the one fronting the lawsuit. APE needs to reconsider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know the guy at the head of the APE lawsuit is a maga head right? He literally retweeted that “if you are more upset about the Capitol insurrection than the stolen election, you’re a democrat”.

Great one to align yourselves with, parents.

Wow. That’s something else. The more vocal proponent at our PTA meetings is a former republican staffer. She’s said some loopy things about not understanding the need for testing and arguing that everyone who has selected hybrid what’s to go back right NOW. But nothing as wild as this guy. He’s the one fronting the lawsuit. APE needs to reconsider.

Perhaps you should try reading the whole thread before you perpetuate misinformation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good. I am glad they are not bringing them back permanently at this point. Get them vaccinated and get these cases down first. March is looking good. Montgomery County just voted to return March 15. Of course, they haven’t abandoned metrics altogether like APS.

There is a need to keep the pressure on or nothing will be done to prepare and students won't even be back next fall. Last spring FCPS pushed to switch to online learning for all students, while APS gave up on K-2 learners completely, stating that they'd catch up when back in person in the fall. Hahah. That didn't happen. Guess which system was better prepared in the fall? Which students lost more instruction?

I agree it doesn't make sense to go back with rates spiking, but parents have to keep pushing APS. Push to get teachers vaccinated sooner. Push to sort out details re testing, temp checks, health screening, etc. Push for HEPA filters and better ventilation. Push to sort out outdoor lunch. We can't wait until kids are vaccinated--that will literally be years from now.

I just saw a post from a teacher on AEM that it doesn't make sense to go back for Q4, even if safe, because it's too much work and too disruptive to establish new routines at the end of the year. This is ridiculous. Kids have missed a year of school. COVID restrictions will still be necessary in the fall, as kids under 16 won't be vaccinated yet. We need to keep pushing APS so kids are back as soon as this wave breaks this spring (presumably with vaccinated teachers).

This times a million.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ridiculous! Go. To. Work! Have anxiety? Get some Xanax, put on a mask and show up. I am sick and tired to this crazy teacher worship that goes on APS for no good reason.

Duran should say at this point you come back or your fired. And no there is not going to be some mass exodus of teachers. There just is not. I don’t care how many post here or tell their friends or whatever nonsense they say. When push comes to shove, they aren’t quitting.

They. Are. Working.

Seek psychological help for your ridiculous anger, entitlement and adult tantrums. You have exactly ZERO influence over teachers. Zip.

Don't care if they have to work 100x harder. Good. I hope it's a nightmare. They are the SINGLE reason we never went back in the fall and why we're coming up on a year of no school. DL is not school.

Let them work until their fingers fall off. I have absolutely no sympathy for them.

Actually - SARS-COV-2 is the single reason that schools (and society) are upside down at the moment.

Agreed- this is about public health and safety, and liability. Teachers don’t have that much power- trust me. This is about what the community wants. I know this is awful, but I’m glad teachers are getting vaccinated and some may drop out of this horrible fight. This fall, if there is no virtual option, the narrative will change, and some of these people will have to go head to head with the other parents that are worried about their kids’ health and safety. The parent teacher partnership has been breaking down for years. This damage is irreparable.