APS: Splitting hybrid and virtual classes Jan 15th

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting- Campbell staff hasn’t even heard the plan yet!

Campbell family here with kids in two different grade levels (not first, but one of them is in a grade that will go back when 1st does). Haven’t heard a word.

[Anonymous]

nonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I’m ready to pick virtual at this point just so this crazy train is over for my kid. I think virtual is sub par and I’d like to see her go back in when it’s safer, which really could be this year. But if they force the issue now, I guess she’s virtual the rest of the year.



This is what many of us already did. We weren’t die hard DL types but forced into it by APS’s insistence that you couldn’t switch. It sucks. And it’s not good for kids.



100% this. We chose virtual because we saw the writing on the wall. It sucks, and there were only about 12 kids in a grade of 80 who did. I’m not pushing teachers back when it’s not safe, and you know it’s not safe.



Yes. We are part of the 20% minority at our school. Didn’t want DL for the year but didn’t like the way APS kept being shifty about metrics. Now, we are stuck in DL for the year. But preferable to being forced in with virus spinning out of control. Really a nightmare. This is how teachers, who have no choice, feel too.



Except up until about 5 minutes ago, the teacher's choice was THE main factor. That's why we didn't go back in person at all in August. Not enough of them wanted to do it. That was really the only reason. What other profession had that kind of choice? Look at the list of frontline essential workers grouped in 1b vaccine. https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites.../2021/01/Phase-1b-In-Depth.pdf
All people who have been doing their jobs in person since March 2020. All people who genuinely can't stay 6 feet from others while doing their jobs.

I think teachers were too unreasonable and now their bluff is being called and it sucks for all of us. This whole situation was mishandled. The kids could have been back safely for part of the Fall and everyone could have stayed home now. But now lots of these kids are failing, the assessments came in and make everyone look REALLY bad, and they're panicking, which they kind of should be.

You clearly do not work for APS. Are you aware that many APS teachers were never even consulted about the fall decisions? Stop blaming the teachers for decisions that are way above their pay grade.

[Anonymous]

Agree. Stop the teacher bashing. I’m an APS parent and I think it’s unfair to use teachers (who are working their tails off) as scape goats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone explain how the concurrent model works logistically? Will the teacher be sitting at his/her desk in front of their computer (with mask on) and teaching from there to both the hybrid and DL students?

Yes. We display the class meet to the smart screen. Kids in class watch it there. Kids at home participate via device as always. In theory the kids in room respond to the chat and the kids at home respond out loud and everyone hears because of the computer being hooked up to the speaker in the room. When it’s time for activities kids do them on their device as always. Maybe at home kids go to breakouts and in person kids are a group. More likely, since most of my in person sections have 2-3 kids they all just do their work on their device.

We can’t break 6 feet so I can’t go to their desk, work right alongside them, etc. At best the difference is I can see them screwing off and make them get back on task. But I’m still answering DL kids via the chat and whatever the in person kids ask I can respond to them. Otherwise activities and instruction remain the same.

Thank you for this explanation. It sounds incredibly challenging for a teacher to manage this (even though most teachers are miracle workers). Curious too how this might work at schools where there are frequent issues with smart boards. This could be technologically challenging. I hope APS is planning to increase the on site tech help.

It will and it won’t at the same time. The reality is it’s going to mostly still be what we are doing in DL just with reminders to in person kids to do stuff and stay on task.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

nonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I’m ready to pick virtual at this point just so this crazy train is over for my kid. I think virtual is sub par and I’d like to see her go back in when it’s safer, which really could be this year. But if they force the issue now, I guess she’s virtual the rest of the year.



This is what many of us already did. We weren’t die hard DL types but forced into it by APS’s insistence that you couldn’t switch. It sucks. And it’s not good for kids.



100% this. We chose virtual because we saw the writing on the wall. It sucks, and there were only about 12 kids in a grade of 80 who did. I’m not pushing teachers back when it’s not safe, and you know it’s not safe.



Yes. We are part of the 20% minority at our school. Didn’t want DL for the year but didn’t like the way APS kept being shifty about metrics. Now, we are stuck in DL for the year. But preferable to being forced in with virus spinning out of control. Really a nightmare. This is how teachers, who have no choice, feel too.



Except up until about 5 minutes ago, the teacher's choice was THE main factor. That's why we didn't go back in person at all in August. Not enough of them wanted to do it. That was really the only reason. What other profession had that kind of choice? Look at the list of frontline essential workers grouped in 1b vaccine. https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites.../2021/01/Phase-1b-In-Depth.pdf
All people who have been doing their jobs in person since March 2020. All people who genuinely can't stay 6 feet from others while doing their jobs.

I think teachers were too unreasonable and now their bluff is being called and it sucks for all of us. This whole situation was mishandled. The kids could have been back safely for part of the Fall and everyone could have stayed home now. But now lots of these kids are failing, the assessments came in and make everyone look REALLY bad, and they're panicking, which they kind of should be.

You clearly do not work for APS. Are you aware that many APS teachers were never even consulted about the fall decisions? Stop blaming the teachers for decisions that are way above their pay grade.

Were teachers polled about whether or not they preferred to come back? Yes. They were.

That’s all PP is saying. When the numbers from teacher preferences didn’t match up with families who preferred in person learning, the whole thing was DOA.

It should have never been framed that way for teachers. Preferences. Which is not the teachers fault.

[Anonymous]

That’s right as it was explained to me. It will be the same interface as DL, but in school. The burden for teachers will be in ensuring the live students keep themselves apart, wear masks, etc. while they are teaching them and everyone on line thru the iPad. So hardest for 3D grade I imagine and some challenges beyond that.

[Anonymous]

Should’ve never been framed as preferences for anyone. Either it’s safe or it isn’t. APS parent privilege was fueled by this idea of surveying preferences for delivery in July. Should have been one thing for everyone except those with medical conditions. Either DL or hybrid.

[Anonymous]

I just want to know if I need to do some back to school shopping? Is this happening anytime soon? We’re still in summer clothes and no backpack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just want to know if I need to do some back to school shopping? Is this happening anytime soon? We’re still in summer clothes and no backpack.

I can't imagine going back before March or April. We had a superspreader event once a week for the past three weeks and another is coming in about 10 days. I'm serious. Our country is not containing it well and although this area does, we have visitor-infested right now and will be again soon.

[Anonymous]

Kids in hybrid will also need headphones so there isn’t feedback and they can do small group breakout rooms. What a cluster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I apologize if this is a stupid question, but why can’t APS hold off on getting people back into buildings until teachers and staff are vaccinated?

Not a stupid question. It’s a question a lot of parents and teachers have. Truly seems rushed. I know it’s not the case, but it’s almost like Durán gets a bonus if he gets everyone back in school by Feb 1.

Teachers start getting vaccinated on Monday. Many will have at least the first vaccine by beginning of Feb

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I apologize if this is a stupid question, but why can’t APS hold off on getting people back into buildings until teachers and staff are vaccinated?

Not a stupid question. It’s a question a lot of parents and teachers have. Truly seems rushed. I know it’s not the case, but it’s almost like Durán gets a bonus if he gets everyone back in school by Feb 1.

Teachers start getting vaccinated on Monday. Many will have at least the first vaccine by beginning of Feb

That’s great news. So give them 3 weeks for the vaccine to take effect and start in March! When rates will hopefully be lower for students as well!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I picked DL once I heard the APE advocate at my school PTA arguing that metrics didn’t matter and everyone wanted back no matter how bad it got in the winter. Knew APS might blow in the wind.

Yup. These APE people are nuts, they want in-person no matter how bad it is. I don't get how they just don't seem to care about anyone's safety at all, their kids, their family, teachers. We have APE to blame for the opening now. I guess Duran finally caved.

This really really sucks for those of us who picked hybrid back when we thought there would be metrics. They better let us switch to distance, even though I don't really want to be stuck in it all year in case things improve later. So better yet, don't open now. And those poor teachers......

I'm writing to the School Board and Engage. Again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Should’ve never been framed as preferences for anyone. Either it’s safe or it isn’t. APS parent privilege was fueled by this idea of surveying preferences for delivery in July. Should have been one thing for everyone except those with medical conditions. Either DL or hybrid.

except they say it's safe but we all know it's not....

[Anonymous]

Sorry, original poster here. But I’m still struggling with it apparently being only our school that is splitting up classes and teachers at the end of this week. I just want my kid to stay with their teacher for as long as possible. And with no set return date and cases sky high and rising, are they really going to be sending kids back any time soon?

And why would only one school do this? It seems disruptive and premature.