***FCPS: Return-to-School Master Thread***

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grades 1-2 should have gone back March 2 and 3-6 go back March 9.

It had something to do with wanting time to acclimate the kindergarteners, and maybe also something to do with the large number of monitors still needed for 3-6 (plug: apply to be a monitor if you can).

Why do kindergarteners need several weeks in the building alone?

I have 2 kids in elementary and they had an hour orientation in the spring. They went to school on the first day of school like everyone else.

It isn’t like kindergartners are in the same classroom as 1st and 2nd graders.

As the parent of a 1st grader, I don't mind the idea of giving kindergartners a long time to be introduced to school in the building Some districts starts k-ers a week early in normal years -- this is basically doing that now. Those poor kids have never been in the school building before, ever. They've never met their teacher or classmates in person, ever.

I don’t mind the extra time in and of itself but will mind if there are other impacts having older kids in sooner than these younger ones. It’s not clear if that could even happen. Also their release/update after the meeting said “Students that are most disproportionately impacted by a lack of in-person instruction will be among the first groups to return to school buildings and centers. These groups comprise FCPS Groups 1-6 and include early learners, students with disabilities and English Language Learners.” which is not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brabrand’s email says “under the new plan, all students will have the opportunity to return to school at least two days.” Is “all students” still limited to those who choose to send in-person or are they opening it back up again to everyone?

Yes, all students. Brabrand wants all students to choose hybrid.

Schools will honor all requests to switch if there's room.

PP here. We chose virtual for one of our kids (7th). The principal made it sound like there was absolutely no room to accommodate more students than who’d originally chosen hybrid in the summer, so we let our original summer decision to stay home stand. His wording in this new email was interesting.

I think his phrase “all students will have the opportunity” was simply sloppy writing. They are not allowing any family that wants to switch switch

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brabrand’s email says “under the new plan, all students will have the opportunity to return to school at least two days.” Is “all students” still limited to those who choose to send in-person or are they opening it back up again to everyone?

Yes, all students. Brabrand wants all students to choose hybrid.

Schools will honor all requests to switch if there's room.

PP here. We chose virtual for one of our kids (7th). The principal made it sound like there was absolutely no room to accommodate more students than who’d originally chosen hybrid in the summer, so we let our original summer decision to stay home stand. His wording in this new email was interesting.

BS. You were resurveyed in the fall and could have switched. This is on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brabrand’s email says “under the new plan, all students will have the opportunity to return to school at least two days.” Is “all students” still limited to those who choose to send in-person or are they opening it back up again to everyone?

Yes, all students. Brabrand wants all students to choose hybrid.

Schools will honor all requests to switch if there's room.

PP here. We chose virtual for one of our kids (7th). The principal made it sound like there was absolutely no room to accommodate more students than who’d originally chosen hybrid in the summer, so we let our original summer decision to stay home stand. His wording in this new email was interesting.

BS. You were resurveyed in the fall and could have switched. This is on you.

They changed the whole plan after that survey. If FCPS can change the plan willy-nilly, families should be allowed to update their choices based on the new plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s everyone’s confidence level that it happens? They’ve certainly pulled the rug out from us last minute so will this actually happen?

The case #s and positivity rate seem to be dropping and should continue to drop so I don’t think that will be a reason to “pause.”

The spread of the new variants of COVID is predicted to get really underway in March. With teachers vaccinated, they should not experience severe illness if exposed to the new variants; however children and parents may become ill, especially as some of the new variants seem to be hitting children more severely. That may affect how many parents are willing to send their children back to in person school in March and April, depending on whether they are still trying to avoid exposure.

But is that guaranteed? It’s just more fuel for the fear in this area to never resume normal life and school. Are other open schools closing just in case this variant starts spreading? There is no guarantee it’s going to spread like wildfire or prevent us from ever going to school again.

The data for England is public so you can go and look at what the new variant did over there. It takes a lot for England to shut down schools/colleges, but they had to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brabrand’s email says “under the new plan, all students will have the opportunity to return to school at least two days.” Is “all students” still limited to those who choose to send in-person or are they opening it back up again to everyone?

Yes, all students. Brabrand wants all students to choose hybrid.

Schools will honor all requests to switch if there's room.

PP here. We chose virtual for one of our kids (7th). The principal made it sound like there was absolutely no room to accommodate more students than who’d originally chosen hybrid in the summer, so we let our original summer decision to stay home stand. His wording in this new email was interesting.

BS. You were resurveyed in the fall and could have switched. This is on you.

PP here. I’m not switching my kid back to in-person and never said I did, so take your BS back and shove it. I simply asked a question about his wording.

[Anonymous]

For the concurrent model, are they following last-name alphabetical assignments for which days each kid is in school?

I've received the assignment for my ES-er, but not my MS-er (who will actually be going back earlier according to the current plan). I'm still trying to figure out if they'll be in school on the same days or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the concurrent model, are they following last-name alphabetical assignments for which days each kid is in school?

I've received the assignment for my ES-er, but not my MS-er (who will actually be going back earlier according to the current plan). I'm still trying to figure out if they'll be in school on the same days or not.

In general, yes. But they now have flexibility if needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brabrand’s email says “under the new plan, all students will have the opportunity to return to school at least two days.” Is “all students” still limited to those who choose to send in-person or are they opening it back up again to everyone?

Yes, all students. Brabrand wants all students to choose hybrid.

Schools will honor all requests to switch if there's room.

Why does he want this and where did he discuss it? I would like to listen to/read that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brabrand’s email says “under the new plan, all students will have the opportunity to return to school at least two days.” Is “all students” still limited to those who choose to send in-person or are they opening it back up again to everyone?

Yes, all students. Brabrand wants all students to choose hybrid.

Schools will honor all requests to switch if there's room.

Why does he want this and where did he discuss it? I would like to listen to/read that.

It was towards the end of the school board meeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brabrand’s email says “under the new plan, all students will have the opportunity to return to school at least two days.” Is “all students” still limited to those who choose to send in-person or are they opening it back up again to everyone?

Yes, all students. Brabrand wants all students to choose hybrid.

Schools will honor all requests to switch if there's room.

Why does he want this and where did he discuss it? I would like to listen to/read that.

It was towards the end of the school board meeting.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like the “no teacher and no parent bashing” clause. Good for you. Let’s promote civil discussion!

Do you believe in Santa Claus?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like the “no teacher and no parent bashing” clause. Good for you. Let’s promote civil discussion!

Do you believe in Santa Claus?

Well no teacher or parent bashing yet. Seems to be working.

[Anonymous]

Are teachers going to be back? When will we know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are teachers going to be back? When will we know?

Are you a teacher? There were dates communicated about when all staff needs to be in the building based on their group. I think it’s 1-2 weeks before kids return.