Should we prepare for virtual schooling starting in January?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What the parents who seem obsessed with "if schools close down, everything needs to shut down..." are failing to see, is the problem isn't shutting down because of omicron itself. The problem is staffing shortages. Teachers are getting sick and cannot be at school. There is no one there to cover for them. Not sure why you're not comprehending this or getting it through your head. School closures will be due to staff shortages. Period.

Actually I think that most people understand school closures that are due to staff shortages...

They will just pack the kids into the auditoriums if there are not enough staff. Expect few actual school closures. The testing is so delayed and hard to manage that we will rarely hit 5%. Loads of unvaxed/untested kids in the buildings who refuse to get tested, vaxed, or wear masks appropriately. Society says at this point it is best to keep kids in the buildings no matter what.

Yep. We tried the other extreme-closing schools for 400 days and then “returning” part time and it didn’t work out so well. So yes, we are going to try the other way. Stay tuned. I think it’s going to be fine.

Ugh, why can't they just avoid both extremes, be reasonable and go virtual for 2 or 3 weeks in January so there's some orderly albeit imperfect learning going on rather than waiting for dozens of kids and staff to get sick before being forced to shut down with tons of teachers sick and unable to teach (and kids sick and unable to learn)? Obviously what happened last year was extreme, but so is forcing teachers and kids to get sick in the middle of a brutally contagious but likely shortlived outbreak and contribute to an overstressed medical and hospital system before most schools just shut down anyway, when there's an easy solution to sidestep all that.

What’s ridiculous is that students have no choice at this point. If they don’t want to catch covid at school, then they have to quit school for a month

THIS!!!!!

And the people on here who say that kids who are afraid of Covid, afraid of bringing Covid home to a vulnerable family member or kids who are vulnerable themselves should just be homeschooled are absolutely ridiculous. I can't homeschool my kid in Pre Calculus or AP Psychology. Kids are entitled to an education and this pandemic is certainly not their fault yet they are used as pawns. MCPS is afraid to go virtual because parents will freak out. Some parents don't care about Covid, some have real reasons why they can't care for kids during the day and some special needs kids struggle with virtual. I get it. Maybe we have some in person options if needed. Certainly a limited in person situation is better than the shoulder to shoulder option we have now.

Are there really no viable options for virtual learning if we are headed toward crisis but not quite there yet? Surely a team teaching approach where one teacher is online that day and another is planning or providing support could minimize the burden (yes classes would be bigger)


I've been furious all along that kids with Covid or in quarantine are not entitled to any education while they are out. This places a strain on high school kids especially and their teachers are constantly having to deal with kids making up work.

WE NEED A VIRTUAL OPTION during this current crisis. I don't want to hear that my kid's school is at 4.98% Covid infection and if another few kids fall, we go virtual. That seems a bit cruel. Why isn't health and safety the #1 priority?

We have a virtual option. Many of us took it. Over the summer when some of us were concerned about this happening, you made fun us. Well, surprise... its happening. You can homeschool like you told us if your kids are sick. Covid is no big deal, right? You should have planned for this like others of us did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What the parents who seem obsessed with "if schools close down, everything needs to shut down..." are failing to see, is the problem isn't shutting down because of omicron itself. The problem is staffing shortages. Teachers are getting sick and cannot be at school. There is no one there to cover for them. Not sure why you're not comprehending this or getting it through your head. School closures will be due to staff shortages. Period.

Actually I think that most people understand school closures that are due to staff shortages...

They will just pack the kids into the auditoriums if there are not enough staff. Expect few actual school closures. The testing is so delayed and hard to manage that we will rarely hit 5%. Loads of unvaxed/untested kids in the buildings who refuse to get tested, vaxed, or wear masks appropriately. Society says at this point it is best to keep kids in the buildings no matter what.

Yep. We tried the other extreme-closing schools for 400 days and then “returning” part time and it didn’t work out so well. So yes, we are going to try the other way. Stay tuned. I think it’s going to be fine.

Ugh, why can't they just avoid both extremes, be reasonable and go virtual for 2 or 3 weeks in January so there's some orderly albeit imperfect learning going on rather than waiting for dozens of kids and staff to get sick before being forced to shut down with tons of teachers sick and unable to teach (and kids sick and unable to learn)? Obviously what happened last year was extreme, but so is forcing teachers and kids to get sick in the middle of a brutally contagious but likely shortlived outbreak and contribute to an overstressed medical and hospital system before most schools just shut down anyway, when there's an easy solution to sidestep all that.

What’s ridiculous is that students have no choice at this point. If they don’t want to catch covid at school, then they have to quit school for a month

THIS!!!!!

And the people on here who say that kids who are afraid of Covid, afraid of bringing Covid home to a vulnerable family member or kids who are vulnerable themselves should just be homeschooled are absolutely ridiculous. I can't homeschool my kid in Pre Calculus or AP Psychology. Kids are entitled to an education and this pandemic is certainly not their fault yet they are used as pawns. MCPS is afraid to go virtual because parents will freak out. Some parents don't care about Covid, some have real reasons why they can't care for kids during the day and some special needs kids struggle with virtual. I get it. Maybe we have some in person options if needed. Certainly a limited in person situation is better than the shoulder to shoulder option we have now.

Are there really no viable options for virtual learning if we are headed toward crisis but not quite there yet? Surely a team teaching approach where one teacher is online that day and another is planning or providing support could minimize the burden (yes classes would be bigger)


I've been furious all along that kids with Covid or in quarantine are not entitled to any education while they are out. This places a strain on high school kids especially and their teachers are constantly having to deal with kids making up work.

WE NEED A VIRTUAL OPTION during this current crisis. I don't want to hear that my kid's school is at 4.98% Covid infection and if another few kids fall, we go virtual. That seems a bit cruel. Why isn't health and safety the #1 priority?

Some high schools hit the 5% mark last week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What the parents who seem obsessed with "if schools close down, everything needs to shut down..." are failing to see, is the problem isn't shutting down because of omicron itself. The problem is staffing shortages. Teachers are getting sick and cannot be at school. There is no one there to cover for them. Not sure why you're not comprehending this or getting it through your head. School closures will be due to staff shortages. Period.

Actually I think that most people understand school closures that are due to staff shortages...

They will just pack the kids into the auditoriums if there are not enough staff. Expect few actual school closures. The testing is so delayed and hard to manage that we will rarely hit 5%. Loads of unvaxed/untested kids in the buildings who refuse to get tested, vaxed, or wear masks appropriately. Society says at this point it is best to keep kids in the buildings no matter what.

Yep. We tried the other extreme-closing schools for 400 days and then “returning” part time and it didn’t work out so well. So yes, we are going to try the other way. Stay tuned. I think it’s going to be fine.

Ugh, why can't they just avoid both extremes, be reasonable and go virtual for 2 or 3 weeks in January so there's some orderly albeit imperfect learning going on rather than waiting for dozens of kids and staff to get sick before being forced to shut down with tons of teachers sick and unable to teach (and kids sick and unable to learn)? Obviously what happened last year was extreme, but so is forcing teachers and kids to get sick in the middle of a brutally contagious but likely shortlived outbreak and contribute to an overstressed medical and hospital system before most schools just shut down anyway, when there's an easy solution to sidestep all that.

What’s ridiculous is that students have no choice at this point. If they don’t want to catch covid at school, then they have to quit school for a month

THIS!!!!!

And the people on here who say that kids who are afraid of Covid, afraid of bringing Covid home to a vulnerable family member or kids who are vulnerable themselves should just be homeschooled are absolutely ridiculous. I can't homeschool my kid in Pre Calculus or AP Psychology. Kids are entitled to an education and this pandemic is certainly not their fault yet they are used as pawns. MCPS is afraid to go virtual because parents will freak out. Some parents don't care about Covid, some have real reasons why they can't care for kids during the day and some special needs kids struggle with virtual. I get it. Maybe we have some in person options if needed. Certainly a limited in person situation is better than the shoulder to shoulder option we have now.

Are there really no viable options for virtual learning if we are headed toward crisis but not quite there yet? Surely a team teaching approach where one teacher is online that day and another is planning or providing support could minimize the burden (yes classes would be bigger)


I've been furious all along that kids with Covid or in quarantine are not entitled to any education while they are out. This places a strain on high school kids especially and their teachers are constantly having to deal with kids making up work.

WE NEED A VIRTUAL OPTION during this current crisis. I don't want to hear that my kid's school is at 4.98% Covid infection and if another few kids fall, we go virtual. That seems a bit cruel. Why isn't health and safety the #1 priority?

Some high schools hit the 5% mark last week.

Haven't you noticed MCPS purposely doesn't update the website.

We have a virtual option You choose not to take it. Homeschool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What the parents who seem obsessed with "if schools close down, everything needs to shut down..." are failing to see, is the problem isn't shutting down because of omicron itself. The problem is staffing shortages. Teachers are getting sick and cannot be at school. There is no one there to cover for them. Not sure why you're not comprehending this or getting it through your head. School closures will be due to staff shortages. Period.

Actually I think that most people understand school closures that are due to staff shortages...

They will just pack the kids into the auditoriums if there are not enough staff. Expect few actual school closures. The testing is so delayed and hard to manage that we will rarely hit 5%. Loads of unvaxed/untested kids in the buildings who refuse to get tested, vaxed, or wear masks appropriately. Society says at this point it is best to keep kids in the buildings no matter what.

Yep. We tried the other extreme-closing schools for 400 days and then “returning” part time and it didn’t work out so well. So yes, we are going to try the other way. Stay tuned. I think it’s going to be fine.

Ugh, why can't they just avoid both extremes, be reasonable and go virtual for 2 or 3 weeks in January so there's some orderly albeit imperfect learning going on rather than waiting for dozens of kids and staff to get sick before being forced to shut down with tons of teachers sick and unable to teach (and kids sick and unable to learn)? Obviously what happened last year was extreme, but so is forcing teachers and kids to get sick in the middle of a brutally contagious but likely shortlived outbreak and contribute to an overstressed medical and hospital system before most schools just shut down anyway, when there's an easy solution to sidestep all that.

What’s ridiculous is that students have no choice at this point. If they don’t want to catch covid at school, then they have to quit school for a month

THIS!!!!!

And the people on here who say that kids who are afraid of Covid, afraid of bringing Covid home to a vulnerable family member or kids who are vulnerable themselves should just be homeschooled are absolutely ridiculous. I can't homeschool my kid in Pre Calculus or AP Psychology. Kids are entitled to an education and this pandemic is certainly not their fault yet they are used as pawns. MCPS is afraid to go virtual because parents will freak out. Some parents don't care about Covid, some have real reasons why they can't care for kids during the day and some special needs kids struggle with virtual. I get it. Maybe we have some in person options if needed. Certainly a limited in person situation is better than the shoulder to shoulder option we have now.

Are there really no viable options for virtual learning if we are headed toward crisis but not quite there yet? Surely a team teaching approach where one teacher is online that day and another is planning or providing support could minimize the burden (yes classes would be bigger)


I've been furious all along that kids with Covid or in quarantine are not entitled to any education while they are out. This places a strain on high school kids especially and their teachers are constantly having to deal with kids making up work.

WE NEED A VIRTUAL OPTION during this current crisis. I don't want to hear that my kid's school is at 4.98% Covid infection and if another few kids fall, we go virtual. That seems a bit cruel. Why isn't health and safety the #1 priority?

You can homeschool, you are refusing to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What the parents who seem obsessed with "if schools close down, everything needs to shut down..." are failing to see, is the problem isn't shutting down because of omicron itself. The problem is staffing shortages. Teachers are getting sick and cannot be at school. There is no one there to cover for them. Not sure why you're not comprehending this or getting it through your head. School closures will be due to staff shortages. Period.

Actually I think that most people understand school closures that are due to staff shortages...

They will just pack the kids into the auditoriums if there are not enough staff. Expect few actual school closures. The testing is so delayed and hard to manage that we will rarely hit 5%. Loads of unvaxed/untested kids in the buildings who refuse to get tested, vaxed, or wear masks appropriately. Society says at this point it is best to keep kids in the buildings no matter what.

Yep. We tried the other extreme-closing schools for 400 days and then “returning” part time and it didn’t work out so well. So yes, we are going to try the other way. Stay tuned. I think it’s going to be fine.

Ugh, why can't they just avoid both extremes, be reasonable and go virtual for 2 or 3 weeks in January so there's some orderly albeit imperfect learning going on rather than waiting for dozens of kids and staff to get sick before being forced to shut down with tons of teachers sick and unable to teach (and kids sick and unable to learn)? Obviously what happened last year was extreme, but so is forcing teachers and kids to get sick in the middle of a brutally contagious but likely shortlived outbreak and contribute to an overstressed medical and hospital system before most schools just shut down anyway, when there's an easy solution to sidestep all that.

What’s ridiculous is that students have no choice at this point. If they don’t want to catch covid at school, then they have to quit school for a month

THIS!!!!!

And the people on here who say that kids who are afraid of Covid, afraid of bringing Covid home to a vulnerable family member or kids who are vulnerable themselves should just be homeschooled are absolutely ridiculous. I can't homeschool my kid in Pre Calculus or AP Psychology. Kids are entitled to an education and this pandemic is certainly not their fault yet they are used as pawns. MCPS is afraid to go virtual because parents will freak out. Some parents don't care about Covid, some have real reasons why they can't care for kids during the day and some special needs kids struggle with virtual. I get it. Maybe we have some in person options if needed. Certainly a limited in person situation is better than the shoulder to shoulder option we have now.

Are there really no viable options for virtual learning if we are headed toward crisis but not quite there yet? Surely a team teaching approach where one teacher is online that day and another is planning or providing support could minimize the burden (yes classes would be bigger)


I've been furious all along that kids with Covid or in quarantine are not entitled to any education while they are out. This places a strain on high school kids especially and their teachers are constantly having to deal with kids making up work.

WE NEED A VIRTUAL OPTION during this current crisis. I don't want to hear that my kid's school is at 4.98% Covid infection and if another few kids fall, we go virtual. That seems a bit cruel. Why isn't health and safety the #1 priority?

We don’t need virtual. You want virtual. Those are two very different things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What the parents who seem obsessed with "if schools close down, everything needs to shut down..." are failing to see, is the problem isn't shutting down because of omicron itself. The problem is staffing shortages. Teachers are getting sick and cannot be at school. There is no one there to cover for them. Not sure why you're not comprehending this or getting it through your head. School closures will be due to staff shortages. Period.

Actually I think that most people understand school closures that are due to staff shortages...

They will just pack the kids into the auditoriums if there are not enough staff. Expect few actual school closures. The testing is so delayed and hard to manage that we will rarely hit 5%. Loads of unvaxed/untested kids in the buildings who refuse to get tested, vaxed, or wear masks appropriately. Society says at this point it is best to keep kids in the buildings no matter what.

Yep. We tried the other extreme-closing schools for 400 days and then “returning” part time and it didn’t work out so well. So yes, we are going to try the other way. Stay tuned. I think it’s going to be fine.

Ugh, why can't they just avoid both extremes, be reasonable and go virtual for 2 or 3 weeks in January so there's some orderly albeit imperfect learning going on rather than waiting for dozens of kids and staff to get sick before being forced to shut down with tons of teachers sick and unable to teach (and kids sick and unable to learn)? Obviously what happened last year was extreme, but so is forcing teachers and kids to get sick in the middle of a brutally contagious but likely shortlived outbreak and contribute to an overstressed medical and hospital system before most schools just shut down anyway, when there's an easy solution to sidestep all that.

What’s ridiculous is that students have no choice at this point. If they don’t want to catch covid at school, then they have to quit school for a month

THIS!!!!!

And the people on here who say that kids who are afraid of Covid, afraid of bringing Covid home to a vulnerable family member or kids who are vulnerable themselves should just be homeschooled are absolutely ridiculous. I can't homeschool my kid in Pre Calculus or AP Psychology. Kids are entitled to an education and this pandemic is certainly not their fault yet they are used as pawns. MCPS is afraid to go virtual because parents will freak out. Some parents don't care about Covid, some have real reasons why they can't care for kids during the day and some special needs kids struggle with virtual. I get it. Maybe we have some in person options if needed. Certainly a limited in person situation is better than the shoulder to shoulder option we have now.

Are there really no viable options for virtual learning if we are headed toward crisis but not quite there yet? Surely a team teaching approach where one teacher is online that day and another is planning or providing support could minimize the burden (yes classes would be bigger)


I've been furious all along that kids with Covid or in quarantine are not entitled to any education while they are out. This places a strain on high school kids especially and their teachers are constantly having to deal with kids making up work.

WE NEED A VIRTUAL OPTION during this current crisis. I don't want to hear that my kid's school is at 4.98% Covid infection and if another few kids fall, we go virtual. That seems a bit cruel. Why isn't health and safety the #1 priority?

We don’t need virtual. You want virtual. Those are two very different things.

It is a crisis made by MCPS policies. This is longer a “safety” issue for vaccinated high schoolers. The hysteria has to end but I’m afraid it never will.

[Anonymous]

If vaccinated people have low risk of severe illness which seems to be the case ( data from Uk and South Africa), there is no need for counting cases and shutting down schools based on the number of cases. People will get infected and they will recover. Stop the hysteria. Stop the madness.

[Anonymous]

My first grade twins who turned back in their Chromebooks when they went back in August and have not used them since now came home yesterday with their Chromebooks. I guess they are uncertain what will happen after the break at this point. Virtual kindergarten was a disaster for us and my kids love going to school in person. I really hope they will not transition to virtual again.

[Anonymous]

We'll know better how omnicron is going by the end of winter break. Speculating at this point seems only to cause anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What the parents who seem obsessed with "if schools close down, everything needs to shut down..." are failing to see, is the problem isn't shutting down because of omicron itself. The problem is staffing shortages. Teachers are getting sick and cannot be at school. There is no one there to cover for them. Not sure why you're not comprehending this or getting it through your head. School closures will be due to staff shortages. Period.

Actually I think that most people understand school closures that are due to staff shortages...

They will just pack the kids into the auditoriums if there are not enough staff. Expect few actual school closures. The testing is so delayed and hard to manage that we will rarely hit 5%. Loads of unvaxed/untested kids in the buildings who refuse to get tested, vaxed, or wear masks appropriately. Society says at this point it is best to keep kids in the buildings no matter what.

Yep. We tried the other extreme-closing schools for 400 days and then “returning” part time and it didn’t work out so well. So yes, we are going to try the other way. Stay tuned. I think it’s going to be fine.

Ugh, why can't they just avoid both extremes, be reasonable and go virtual for 2 or 3 weeks in January so there's some orderly albeit imperfect learning going on rather than waiting for dozens of kids and staff to get sick before being forced to shut down with tons of teachers sick and unable to teach (and kids sick and unable to learn)? Obviously what happened last year was extreme, but so is forcing teachers and kids to get sick in the middle of a brutally contagious but likely shortlived outbreak and contribute to an overstressed medical and hospital system before most schools just shut down anyway, when there's an easy solution to sidestep all that.

What’s ridiculous is that students have no choice at this point. If they don’t want to catch covid at school, then they have to quit school for a month

THIS!!!!!

And the people on here who say that kids who are afraid of Covid, afraid of bringing Covid home to a vulnerable family member or kids who are vulnerable themselves should just be homeschooled are absolutely ridiculous. I can't homeschool my kid in Pre Calculus or AP Psychology. Kids are entitled to an education and this pandemic is certainly not their fault yet they are used as pawns. MCPS is afraid to go virtual because parents will freak out. Some parents don't care about Covid, some have real reasons why they can't care for kids during the day and some special needs kids struggle with virtual. I get it. Maybe we have some in person options if needed. Certainly a limited in person situation is better than the shoulder to shoulder option we have now.

Are there really no viable options for virtual learning if we are headed toward crisis but not quite there yet? Surely a team teaching approach where one teacher is online that day and another is planning or providing support could minimize the burden (yes classes would be bigger)


I've been furious all along that kids with Covid or in quarantine are not entitled to any education while they are out. This places a strain on high school kids especially and their teachers are constantly having to deal with kids making up work.

WE NEED A VIRTUAL OPTION during this current crisis. I don't want to hear that my kid's school is at 4.98% Covid infection and if another few kids fall, we go virtual. That seems a bit cruel. Why isn't health and safety the #1 priority?

We don’t need virtual. You want virtual. Those are two very different things.

The thing is MCPS totally ignores that a good portion of students now want to switch to virtual but there is no option for them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We'll know better how omnicron is going by the end of winter break. Speculating at this point seems only to cause anxiety.

Catch up. We already know how omicrom is going. Cases are up, beyond anything in the entire pandemic. Because of the sheer numbers it is overwhelming our health care system.
Testing centers are booked up and there won't be any testing for people returning from vacations before school starts. Schools will open with thousands of omicron exposures and no way to test or prevent spread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What the parents who seem obsessed with "if schools close down, everything needs to shut down..." are failing to see, is the problem isn't shutting down because of omicron itself. The problem is staffing shortages. Teachers are getting sick and cannot be at school. There is no one there to cover for them. Not sure why you're not comprehending this or getting it through your head. School closures will be due to staff shortages. Period.

Actually I think that most people understand school closures that are due to staff shortages...

They will just pack the kids into the auditoriums if there are not enough staff. Expect few actual school closures. The testing is so delayed and hard to manage that we will rarely hit 5%. Loads of unvaxed/untested kids in the buildings who refuse to get tested, vaxed, or wear masks appropriately. Society says at this point it is best to keep kids in the buildings no matter what.

Yep. We tried the other extreme-closing schools for 400 days and then “returning” part time and it didn’t work out so well. So yes, we are going to try the other way. Stay tuned. I think it’s going to be fine.

Ugh, why can't they just avoid both extremes, be reasonable and go virtual for 2 or 3 weeks in January so there's some orderly albeit imperfect learning going on rather than waiting for dozens of kids and staff to get sick before being forced to shut down with tons of teachers sick and unable to teach (and kids sick and unable to learn)? Obviously what happened last year was extreme, but so is forcing teachers and kids to get sick in the middle of a brutally contagious but likely shortlived outbreak and contribute to an overstressed medical and hospital system before most schools just shut down anyway, when there's an easy solution to sidestep all that.

What’s ridiculous is that students have no choice at this point. If they don’t want to catch covid at school, then they have to quit school for a month

THIS!!!!!

And the people on here who say that kids who are afraid of Covid, afraid of bringing Covid home to a vulnerable family member or kids who are vulnerable themselves should just be homeschooled are absolutely ridiculous. I can't homeschool my kid in Pre Calculus or AP Psychology. Kids are entitled to an education and this pandemic is certainly not their fault yet they are used as pawns. MCPS is afraid to go virtual because parents will freak out. Some parents don't care about Covid, some have real reasons why they can't care for kids during the day and some special needs kids struggle with virtual. I get it. Maybe we have some in person options if needed. Certainly a limited in person situation is better than the shoulder to shoulder option we have now.

Are there really no viable options for virtual learning if we are headed toward crisis but not quite there yet? Surely a team teaching approach where one teacher is online that day and another is planning or providing support could minimize the burden (yes classes would be bigger)


I've been furious all along that kids with Covid or in quarantine are not entitled to any education while they are out. This places a strain on high school kids especially and their teachers are constantly having to deal with kids making up work.

WE NEED A VIRTUAL OPTION during this current crisis. I don't want to hear that my kid's school is at 4.98% Covid infection and if another few kids fall, we go virtual. That seems a bit cruel. Why isn't health and safety the #1 priority?

We don’t need virtual. You want virtual. Those are two very different things.

The thing is MCPS totally ignores that a good portion of students now want to switch to virtual but there is no option for them

BFD. They’re not going to rework staffing logistics to accommodate your evolving needs. Homeschool or apply to private that are more in line with your needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We'll know better how omnicron is going by the end of winter break. Speculating at this point seems only to cause anxiety.

Catch up. We already know how omicrom is going. Cases are up, beyond anything in the entire pandemic. Because of the sheer numbers it is overwhelming our health care system.
Testing centers are booked up and there won't be any testing for people returning from vacations before school starts. Schools will open with thousands of omicron exposures and no way to test or prevent spread.

Oh well. If a school exceeds the 5 percent threshold, it sounds like they’ll do a short-term closure.

[Anonymous]

Md hospitals are filling up per 103.5 fm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We'll know better how omnicron is going by the end of winter break. Speculating at this point seems only to cause anxiety.

Catch up. We already know how omicrom is going. Cases are up, beyond anything in the entire pandemic. Because of the sheer numbers it is overwhelming our health care system.
Testing centers are booked up and there won't be any testing for people returning from vacations before school starts. Schools will open with thousands of omicron exposures and no way to test or prevent spread.

Oh well. If a school exceeds the 5 percent threshold, it sounds like they’ll do a short-term closure.

And if all the schools do, the entire system closes.