Return to school options - TJ Freshman

[Anonymous]

Any freshman parents or seniors who can suggest for freshman experience -
With all that we know about Fairfax county distance learning and Covid numbers what are you all opting for the return to school option? Any pros and cons of each or suggestions? Hope it's not too much to ask!

[Anonymous]

i am a TJ parent and i don't think theres anything special i can tell you except you have to decide for yourself what's best.

[Anonymous]

Completely disagree. DS is a rising senior and he feels that freshman year was very crucial in the TJ experience

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Completely disagree. DS is a rising senior and he feels that freshman year was very crucial in the TJ experience

So are you suggesting one option over other for freshman? We are worried about the safety concerns but not sure what we would be missing if we go virtual option

[Anonymous]

15:01 here. I also have a rising senior and I agree that freshman year was important. but they are all important. Struggling now myself thinking about DL for a senior. I guess my point is the decision really can't be about the year, because every year would be better in person.

[Anonymous]

Freshmen year is super important. TJ is many ways is like a miniature version of a top university. The spirit, the people, the air, you have to be there to feel it.

My children pointed out that the rising sophomores never got a chance to experience the infamous robot building challenge and therefore, class of 2023 will never understand how to make things out of nothing or accomplish a task when you know you might fail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15:01 here. I also have a rising senior and I agree that freshman year was important. but they are all important. Struggling now myself thinking about DL for a senior. I guess my point is the decision really can't be about the year, because every year would be better in person.

Now that my older has graduated, I can say that senior fall semester online isn’t a bad option. They will all be too busy writing college essays. But class of 2020 losing their Spring senior semester, most fun semester that everyone Has bee looking forward to is a really rough one.

In person is the best, but safety first.

[Anonymous]

I had 2 kids at TJ. I would think that an all-remote freshman year would be very, very difficult. Not to mention, quite tedious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Freshmen year is super important. TJ is many ways is like a miniature version of a top university. The spirit, the people, the air, you have to be there to feel it.

My children pointed out that the rising sophomores never got a chance to experience the infamous robot building challenge and therefore, class of 2023 will never understand how to make things out of nothing or accomplish a task when you know you might fail.

So how did the class of 2023 finish their IBET project with a sudden lockdown from March - June? Did they get any exceptions in grading?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had 2 kids at TJ. I would think that an all-remote freshman year would be very, very difficult. Not to mention, quite tedious.

And would set kids up or failure in future years. I’m shocked any TJ parents would consider DL. So many classes don translate and/are single sections. Especially Tech track and CS track. TJ is so lab based.

[Anonymous]

Covid causes long term brain damage in recovered patients (also kidney, lungs, heart and other organs). This is freaking me out. https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-symptoms-brain-damage/a-54111054

[Anonymous]

MIT is only allowing seniors on campus. If MIT can make it work DL, so can TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had 2 kids at TJ. I would think that an all-remote freshman year would be very, very difficult. Not to mention, quite tedious.

And would set kids up or failure in future years. I’m shocked any TJ parents would consider DL. So many classes don translate and/are single sections. Especially Tech track and CS track. TJ is so lab based.

See the post right after yours.. Rather be disease-free than having missed the experience. We have a rising senior (TJ) and a rising sophomore (base). Both are going online.

OP - While I agree with the sentiment that freshman year is important at TJ, it's not worth the risk. Besides, all the activities will be so heavily curtailed that I don't think it's going to be any better that DL.

[Anonymous]

TJ 2022 parent here. We opted for online. DC had a solid experience with DL this spring and we are happy to continue for next year. Was an easy choice for us. The experts change their opinions like the wind on how to stay safe these days So much about this virus remains unknown. I couldn’t get comfortable with in-school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TJ 2022 parent here. We opted for online. DC had a solid experience with DL this spring and we are happy to continue for next year. Was an easy choice for us. The experts change their opinions like the wind on how to stay safe these days So much about this virus remains unknown. I couldn’t get comfortable with in-school.

Medical experts/scientists are like the financial news people on CNBC. They generally don't know sh*t but pretend to and are literally just a few days/hours ahead of everyone else. The rest of the time, they just wing it.

We are in the same boat. I think for TJ seniors, it's an easy choice to go DL. Most of the college impact is already baked into their grades. If they end up getting a non-TJ teacher for one of the AP classes, it's bound to be an easier A. Sure, they will miss the senior project but come on.. is that really worth risking your life for?

For freshmen, it's a bit more challenging. It is a crucial year but again, many kids join in sophomore year and do pretty well so if your kid is really TJ material, missing freshman year in school should not be a big deal either.