Absenteeism-reduction measures at Dranesville ES feel like misplaced student pressure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fcps needs to redistrict to spread the population around. We shouldn't have any schools like Dranesville with so much extra space when nearby schools are full and overfull.

Are the nearby schools over-full? What I’ve noticed is that under-enrollment begets under-enrollment. The entire eastern/central area of the county - Springfield, Annandale, Falls Church, the Alexandria sections of Fairfax County- is mostly under enrolled at this point with a few exceptions. Even some family friendly areas in Burke are decreasing. Having capacity in far western Herndon or in Alexandria does nothing for McLean or Chantilly.

Isn't coates so enormous they built two
Buildings? Why do that when nearby Dranesville has capacity?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fcps needs to redistrict to spread the population around. We shouldn't have any schools like Dranesville with so much extra space when nearby schools are full and overfull.

Are the nearby schools over-full? What I’ve noticed is that under-enrollment begets under-enrollment. The entire eastern/central area of the county - Springfield, Annandale, Falls Church, the Alexandria sections of Fairfax County- is mostly under enrolled at this point with a few exceptions. Even some family friendly areas in Burke are decreasing. Having capacity in far western Herndon or in Alexandria does nothing for McLean or Chantilly.

Isn't coates so enormous they built two
Buildings? Why do that when nearby Dranesville has capacity?

Because Dranesville isn't anywhere near Coates. There are 5 other Elementary Schools in between them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So unlike pretty much everyone else commenting here, I am a Dranesville parent and am very supportive of this effort during the past school year. It was communicated very clearly to parents throughout the school year, there was clear goals and methodologies communicated to teachers and support staff and at the forefront was the care and concern from the administration for the students well-being and success.

Dranesville has a pretty evenly split population between low income Hispanic families and UMC affluent families. The school population has been declining in past years (when my 1st kid started there school population was over 800, now it is hovering around 600). Families area leaving for 2 main reasons - to attend the local Catholic school and to send their kids to the AAP Center school.

The administration was faced with a challenge - lower chronic absenteeism rates - and they did. They targeted the specific reasons on a family-by-family basis and provided the supports needed for each family to get those kids into their seats in the classroom each day. There was no pressure on families to send sick kids to school (seriously? ew). And yes, the primary reasons for chronic absenteeism were 1) families not prioritizing school for their kids for voluntary or involuntary reasons and 2) lengthy vacations.

I'm not sure why so many people are so bent over an administrator facing a challenge and finding a way to successfully overcome it. Good for the principal - the results speak for themselves.

Thanks for sharing that.

A high absenteeism rate is one basis that the Virginia DOE uses to deny schools accredited status. The state government under Youngkin is salivating at the opportunity to deny accreditation to more schools that have significant numbers of low-income families and high absentee rates. If a school responded to that dynamic and took other steps to try and ensure kids spent more times in classrooms (when not sick), they deserve praise, not criticism. Dranesville ES is not the only school in FCPS that has been tackling this issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fcps needs to redistrict to spread the population around. We shouldn't have any schools like Dranesville with so much extra space when nearby schools are full and overfull.

The population of Fairfax County is decreasing. There's no need to worry about overfull schools. The problem will take care of itself. Unfortunately.

No, the population of Fairfax County, after losing residents from 2020 to 2022, is increasing again. So too has been the enrollment in FCPS.

And even when FCPS enrollment declined in the past, the solution wasn't simply to reshuffle kids to under-enrolled schools long distances from their homes. In some cases it meant closing schools while opening or expanding schools in growing parts of the county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fcps needs to redistrict to spread the population around. We shouldn't have any schools like Dranesville with so much extra space when nearby schools are full and overfull.

Are the nearby schools over-full? What I’ve noticed is that under-enrollment begets under-enrollment. The entire eastern/central area of the county - Springfield, Annandale, Falls Church, the Alexandria sections of Fairfax County- is mostly under enrolled at this point with a few exceptions. Even some family friendly areas in Burke are decreasing. Having capacity in far western Herndon or in Alexandria does nothing for McLean or Chantilly.

Isn't coates so enormous they built two
Buildings? Why do that when nearby Dranesville has capacity?

No, you're thinking of McNair. McNair Upper opened in 2020. They weren't thinking about boundary changes with other schools at the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a way to get sick kids to come to school and infect everyone else.

yeah and shame kids with chronic illnesses. this is so awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a way to get sick kids to come to school and infect everyone else.

yeah and shame kids with chronic illnesses. this is so awful.

You’re missing the plot, but whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if the school nurse there (a health department employee) has been consulted on any of these measures. Doubtful.

FCPS has pretty clearly said attendance policies for illness are back to pre-pandemic. The fact that some people on DCUM cannot get used to that idea doesn't change it.

Precovid kids still aren’t supposed to come to school when sick, and some children are going to miss due to chronic illness or other issues. Here are all the current reasons your child should stay home: severe coughing, pink eye, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, rash/fever, strep.

Agree this is misplaced. My children have had low level gunk since the beginning of September and we haven’t missed a day, but we would if we had any of the above symptoms.

Disagree. Yes, kids get sick and should stay home and yes, kids are getting sick more and for longer after covid.

But the big problem is parents who have decided that school is optional and have passed that idea on to their kids. It's not a low SES idea either, it's across all SES. It's all over this forum, everywhere. And it harms kids to miss school.

So how will kids who missed an entire year and a half of school going to be compensated for the harm they suffered? Any kid who was school age during the pandemic years has ZERO obligation to adhere to the policies of a system that DENIED them education (and according to you, caused them harm!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if the school nurse there (a health department employee) has been consulted on any of these measures. Doubtful.

FCPS has pretty clearly said attendance policies for illness are back to pre-pandemic. The fact that some people on DCUM cannot get used to that idea doesn't change it.

Precovid kids still aren’t supposed to come to school when sick, and some children are going to miss due to chronic illness or other issues. Here are all the current reasons your child should stay home: severe coughing, pink eye, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, rash/fever, strep.

Agree this is misplaced. My children have had low level gunk since the beginning of September and we haven’t missed a day, but we would if we had any of the above symptoms.

Disagree. Yes, kids get sick and should stay home and yes, kids are getting sick more and for longer after covid.

But the big problem is parents who have decided that school is optional and have passed that idea on to their kids. It's not a low SES idea either, it's across all SES. It's all over this forum, everywhere. And it harms kids to miss school.

So how will kids who missed an entire year and a half of school going to be compensated for the harm they suffered? Any kid who was school age during the pandemic years has ZERO obligation to adhere to the policies of a system that DENIED them education (and according to you, caused them harm!)

Wrong.

Your poor kids, with a parent who spouts stuff like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if the school nurse there (a health department employee) has been consulted on any of these measures. Doubtful.

FCPS has pretty clearly said attendance policies for illness are back to pre-pandemic. The fact that some people on DCUM cannot get used to that idea doesn't change it.

Precovid kids still aren’t supposed to come to school when sick, and some children are going to miss due to chronic illness or other issues. Here are all the current reasons your child should stay home: severe coughing, pink eye, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, rash/fever, strep.

Agree this is misplaced. My children have had low level gunk since the beginning of September and we haven’t missed a day, but we would if we had any of the above symptoms.

Disagree. Yes, kids get sick and should stay home and yes, kids are getting sick more and for longer after covid.

But the big problem is parents who have decided that school is optional and have passed that idea on to their kids. It's not a low SES idea either, it's across all SES. It's all over this forum, everywhere. And it harms kids to miss school.

So how will kids who missed an entire year and a half of school going to be compensated for the harm they suffered? Any kid who was school age during the pandemic years has ZERO obligation to adhere to the policies of a system that DENIED them education (and according to you, caused them harm!)

You act like every single kid at every single school in every single state in the entire country (and world) wasn't faced with the same pandemic that caused learning loss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if the school nurse there (a health department employee) has been consulted on any of these measures. Doubtful.

FCPS has pretty clearly said attendance policies for illness are back to pre-pandemic. The fact that some people on DCUM cannot get used to that idea doesn't change it.

Precovid kids still aren’t supposed to come to school when sick, and some children are going to miss due to chronic illness or other issues. Here are all the current reasons your child should stay home: severe coughing, pink eye, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, rash/fever, strep.

Agree this is misplaced. My children have had low level gunk since the beginning of September and we haven’t missed a day, but we would if we had any of the above symptoms.

Disagree. Yes, kids get sick and should stay home and yes, kids are getting sick more and for longer after covid.

But the big problem is parents who have decided that school is optional and have passed that idea on to their kids. It's not a low SES idea either, it's across all SES. It's all over this forum, everywhere. And it harms kids to miss school.

So how will kids who missed an entire year and a half of school going to be compensated for the harm they suffered? Any kid who was school age during the pandemic years has ZERO obligation to adhere to the policies of a system that DENIED them education (and according to you, caused them harm!)

You act like every single kid at every single school in every single state in the entire country (and world) wasn't faced with the same pandemic that caused learning loss.

Well, many private schools and schools in other states actually WERE in person class for the 2020-21 school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if the school nurse there (a health department employee) has been consulted on any of these measures. Doubtful.

FCPS has pretty clearly said attendance policies for illness are back to pre-pandemic. The fact that some people on DCUM cannot get used to that idea doesn't change it.

Precovid kids still aren’t supposed to come to school when sick, and some children are going to miss due to chronic illness or other issues. Here are all the current reasons your child should stay home: severe coughing, pink eye, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, rash/fever, strep.

Agree this is misplaced. My children have had low level gunk since the beginning of September and we haven’t missed a day, but we would if we had any of the above symptoms.

Disagree. Yes, kids get sick and should stay home and yes, kids are getting sick more and for longer after covid.

But the big problem is parents who have decided that school is optional and have passed that idea on to their kids. It's not a low SES idea either, it's across all SES. It's all over this forum, everywhere. And it harms kids to miss school.

So how will kids who missed an entire year and a half of school going to be compensated for the harm they suffered? Any kid who was school age during the pandemic years has ZERO obligation to adhere to the policies of a system that DENIED them education (and according to you, caused them harm!)

You act like every single kid at every single school in every single state in the entire country (and world) wasn't faced with the same pandemic that caused learning loss.

Red states were in person while blue states were debating how long to stay closed. FCPS chose to stay closed far longer than necessary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fcps needs to redistrict to spread the population around. We shouldn't have any schools like Dranesville with so much extra space when nearby schools are full and overfull.

Are the nearby schools over-full? What I’ve noticed is that under-enrollment begets under-enrollment. The entire eastern/central area of the county - Springfield, Annandale, Falls Church, the Alexandria sections of Fairfax County- is mostly under enrolled at this point with a few exceptions. Even some family friendly areas in Burke are decreasing. Having capacity in far western Herndon or in Alexandria does nothing for McLean or Chantilly.

Isn't coates so enormous they built two
Buildings? Why do that when nearby Dranesville has capacity?

Because Dranesville isn't anywhere near Coates. There are 5 other Elementary Schools in between them.

They are only 4 miles apart! That's very close by.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if the school nurse there (a health department employee) has been consulted on any of these measures. Doubtful.

FCPS has pretty clearly said attendance policies for illness are back to pre-pandemic. The fact that some people on DCUM cannot get used to that idea doesn't change it.

Precovid kids still aren’t supposed to come to school when sick, and some children are going to miss due to chronic illness or other issues. Here are all the current reasons your child should stay home: severe coughing, pink eye, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, rash/fever, strep.

Agree this is misplaced. My children have had low level gunk since the beginning of September and we haven’t missed a day, but we would if we had any of the above symptoms.

Disagree. Yes, kids get sick and should stay home and yes, kids are getting sick more and for longer after covid.

But the big problem is parents who have decided that school is optional and have passed that idea on to their kids. It's not a low SES idea either, it's across all SES. It's all over this forum, everywhere. And it harms kids to miss school.

So how will kids who missed an entire year and a half of school going to be compensated for the harm they suffered? Any kid who was school age during the pandemic years has ZERO obligation to adhere to the policies of a system that DENIED them education (and according to you, caused them harm!)

Part of your solution to COVID closing is to pull your child out of school that is in person for cheaper vacations? That is your logic?

FCPS schedule sucks. It does. There are far too many 4 day weeks, heck there are now 3 day weeks. The schedule is disruptive to learning, it is that simple. I don't begrudge Teacher their work days, they need the time. I think the Professional days are unnecessary, especially since I don't know a Teacher who thinks that those days are useful. I think the additional of cultural and religious holidays are unnecessary and disruptive.

That said, it sends an awful message to my child to tell him I expect him to work hard and make his best effort and then pull him from school to take a cruise.

And they were not denied an education. The education was not delivered in a great way but plenty of people made it work and a good number made it work well. It sucked but parents found a way to make up the areas that were missing and to keep their kids engaged. The ones I hear complaining about denying education tend to be the ones who just let their kids not log on or not do the work or not return to school when they did open and are complaining about how much their kid missed. Kids did miss things but the amount they misses was directly effected by the level of parental commitment to their kid attending what was available.

[Anonymous]

I believe Coates is specifically mentioned in the boundary study-is it overcrowded? That might have been what made pp refer to it.