Closed Tuesday?

[Anonymous]

You guys are all ridiculous. We have 10 snow days. We don’t need virtual. We started two weeks before Labor Day and are going until June 17. It’s unheard of. Missing a few extra days is ok!!!

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I've been so disappointed in my broader neighborhood. There are so many houses with pristine, cleared driveways and untouched sidewalks. The worst are the corner lots, where people just decided that it was too much work to break up the ice.

As part of this, a big problem has been the lack of help for the older folks. But I understand it. It is normally a 10-15 minute job to shovel someone's sidewalk in a normal 1/4 acre residential neighborhood. In these conditions it ends up being an hour-plus.

There's nothing that FCPS can do to make this better. They just have to decide what is the tipping point where the kids have missed enough school that it is ok to send them out in potentially dangerous conditions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why aren't they doing virtual?

Originally a couple years ago there was a plan to do virtual on all snow days. Then a group complained and said kids deserved the days to play in the snow, so they changed it. While I agree that on the first day it’s fun to play in the snow, that doesn’t account for weeks like this where it’s closed for piles of ice.

I know virtual doesn’t work for the young elementary school students, but it could be done for MS and HS.

I mean, my kid didn't bring a computer home so I have absolutely no clue how they'd do virtual. Definitely isn't something they can just decide mid snow days.

Exactly. A plan would really need to been in place to switch to virtual instruction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A practicle solution that is not ideal but better then what I have seen suggested so far…

Go out and buy two bags of sand. Sand won’t melt the ice but it provides traction. Put the sand on the sidewalks that are not cleared. If the families who didn’t shovel did this, their side walks would be safer. Have extra so you can reapply. The sand isn’t ideal but it is better then nothing and provides traction which will help kids walking to bus stops and school.

This is effectively what they do in the coldest parts of the country. There is no bare pavement for months, but they put sand down to give cars some grip. Then they sweep it up in Spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why aren’t we doing virtual?

What do you picture when you say “virtual”? Are you thinking purely asynchronous work? Synchronous instruction?

People keep bringing this up. If you are going to do virtual instruction it needs to be planned ahead of time. You can’t just flip a switch and do it. Students and teachers both need to be prepped on expectations, especially if any type of synchronous instruction is going to happen. You’d have to make sure to send their laptops and Chromebooks home before the storm.

Not the person you are responding to, but I think if you warned students in advance that they need to have laptops in case of virtual and you remind them then of rules, then it can be done. You remind them again when the virtual session starts of rules. You don't even need to use all the class time. Just have a check in, teach something so when you revisit it, it is not the first time they heard it, but if people don't join they don't completely lose out. Then have a little asynchronous work that they can self-check. Sure some will just cheat, but quite a few won't and it will only help them when they return to schol. In the case of AP classes I would definitely have some zoom classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why aren't they doing virtual?

Originally a couple years ago there was a plan to do virtual on all snow days. Then a group complained and said kids deserved the days to play in the snow, so they changed it. While I agree that on the first day it’s fun to play in the snow, that doesn’t account for weeks like this where it’s closed for piles of ice.

I know virtual doesn’t work for the young elementary school students, but it could be done for MS and HS.

I mean, my kid didn't bring a computer home so I have absolutely no clue how they'd do virtual. Definitely isn't something they can just decide mid snow days.

Exactly. A plan would really need to been in place to switch to virtual instruction.

So I will be lobbying for a plan to be in place next year when this happens again.

With the number of days off and half days already in this insane calendar, we really do the kids a huge disservice but not pushing for more actual educating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A practicle solution that is not ideal but better then what I have seen suggested so far…

Go out and buy two bags of sand. Sand won’t melt the ice but it provides traction. Put the sand on the sidewalks that are not cleared. If the families who didn’t shovel did this, their side walks would be safer. Have extra so you can reapply. The sand isn’t ideal but it is better then nothing and provides traction which will help kids walking to bus stops and school.

Cute. Are you posting locally?

The untouched 1.5 mile of sidewalks leading up to/near our HS are now piles of 3+ ft snow banks .
Bus stops are also mega piles of snow.

We live in Reston and shoveled to pavement on Sunday and Monday. Our sidewalks are safe. It took hours and it sucked.

I am well aware of the issue. Adding sand on the side walks will make them safer. It doesn’t melt them but it helps with traction, making slipping and falling less likely. I lived in Michigan where the temps were low enough that salt simply didn’t work, they used sand because salt didn’t work.

I am not saying it will make the ice go away but that it will help with traction. The question now is how to get kids back to school as safely as possible. This stuff is melting any time soon and school cannot wait until the stuff is gone. Sand is a part of the solution. If you couldn’t take the time to shovel your driveway or you couldn’t for wahtever reason, get some sand and start placing it down. It helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why aren't they doing virtual?

Originally a couple years ago there was a plan to do virtual on all snow days. Then a group complained and said kids deserved the days to play in the snow, so they changed it. While I agree that on the first day it’s fun to play in the snow, that doesn’t account for weeks like this where it’s closed for piles of ice.

I know virtual doesn’t work for the young elementary school students, but it could be done for MS and HS.

I mean, my kid didn't bring a computer home so I have absolutely no clue how they'd do virtual. Definitely isn't something they can just decide mid snow days.

Exactly. A plan would really need to been in place to switch to virtual instruction.

So I will be lobbying for a plan to be in place next year when this happens again.

With the number of days off and half days already in this insane calendar, we really do the kids a huge disservice but not pushing for more actual educating.

Yes. That’s fair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There aren't that many school districts left that are both closed and not offering virtual learning. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/02/01/school-delays-dc-maryland-virginia-snow-storm/

Alexandria City Public Schools: Virtual learning
Anne Arundel County Public Schools: Two-hour delay Monday and Tuesday.
Arlington County Public Schools: Closed; two-hour delay Tuesday
Calvert County Public Schools: Two-hour delay
Charles County Public Schools: Two-hour delay
Culpeper County Public Schools: Two-hour delay
D.C. Public Schools: Two-hour delay
Fairfax County Public Schools: Closed
Falls Church City Public Schools: Two-hour delay
Fauquier County Public Schools: Closed
Howard County Public Schools: Two-hour delay Monday and Tuesday
Loudoun County Public Schools: Two-hour delay
Montgomery County Public Schools: Closed
Pr. George’s County Public Schools: Two-hour delay; Code Orange
Prince William County Public Schools: Closed
Spotsylvania County Public Schools: Remote learning Monday and Tuesday; 12-month employees to report on time.
Stafford County Public Schools: Closed

FCPS will not do virtual. Remember that OCR filed against FCPS for COVID virtual, and FCPS had to provide compensatory services- because families complained. The other nearby counties did not have to do this. FCPS was singled out and made an example of for legal precedent and because of SEPTA advocates like Callie Oettinger. Stop suggesting virtual days. Kids with disabilities cannot access services. We don’t want computers coming home everyday, and we want less edtech. You cannot compare FCPS to these other nearby districts. Apples and oranges.

Give it a few years, it'll happen. All that history will be...history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A practicle solution that is not ideal but better then what I have seen suggested so far…

Go out and buy two bags of sand. Sand won’t melt the ice but it provides traction. Put the sand on the sidewalks that are not cleared. If the families who didn’t shovel did this, their side walks would be safer. Have extra so you can reapply. The sand isn’t ideal but it is better then nothing and provides traction which will help kids walking to bus stops and school.

Cute. Are you posting locally?

The untouched 1.5 mile of sidewalks leading up to/near our HS are now piles of 3+ ft snow banks .
Bus stops are also mega piles of snow.

We live in Reston and shoveled to pavement on Sunday and Monday. Our sidewalks are safe. It took hours and it sucked.

I am well aware of the issue. Adding sand on the side walks will make them safer. It doesn’t melt them but it helps with traction, making slipping and falling less likely. I lived in Michigan where the temps were low enough that salt simply didn’t work, they used sand because salt didn’t work.

I am not saying it will make the ice go away but that it will help with traction. The question now is how to get kids back to school as safely as possible. This stuff is melting any time soon and school cannot wait until the stuff is gone. Sand is a part of the solution. If you couldn’t take the time to shovel your driveway or you couldn’t for wahtever reason, get some sand and start placing it down. It helps.

Agree about sand, just be sure to stomp it off well before you step foot in your house--it will make a mess and might damage your floors.

But, sand won't work if the snow is mounded on the sidewalk. And, the bus stop on the corner near my house is pretty awful. Several feet of ice.

The sun is out today, and hopefully it will open tomorrow as planned. I hope all the schools were checked out last week by administrators. I suspect water and heat could be an issue if they were not checked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why aren't they doing virtual?

Originally a couple years ago there was a plan to do virtual on all snow days. Then a group complained and said kids deserved the days to play in the snow, so they changed it. While I agree that on the first day it’s fun to play in the snow, that doesn’t account for weeks like this where it’s closed for piles of ice.

I know virtual doesn’t work for the young elementary school students, but it could be done for MS and HS.

I mean, my kid didn't bring a computer home so I have absolutely no clue how they'd do virtual. Definitely isn't something they can just decide mid snow days.

Exactly. A plan would really need to been in place to switch to virtual instruction.

So I will be lobbying for a plan to be in place next year when this happens again.

With the number of days off and half days already in this insane calendar, we really do the kids a huge disservice but not pushing for more actual educating.

Ok, what's your plan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why aren’t we doing virtual?

What do you picture when you say “virtual”? Are you thinking purely asynchronous work? Synchronous instruction?

People keep bringing this up. If you are going to do virtual instruction it needs to be planned ahead of time. You can’t just flip a switch and do it. Students and teachers both need to be prepped on expectations, especially if any type of synchronous instruction is going to happen. You’d have to make sure to send their laptops and Chromebooks home before the storm.

Not the person you are responding to, but I think if you warned students in advance that they need to have laptops in case of virtual and you remind them then of rules, then it can be done. You remind them again when the virtual session starts of rules. You don't even need to use all the class time. Just have a check in, teach something so when you revisit it, it is not the first time they heard it, but if people don't join they don't completely lose out. Then have a little asynchronous work that they can self-check. Sure some will just cheat, but quite a few won't and it will only help them when they return to schol. In the case of AP classes I would definitely have some zoom classes.

Exactly. In advance. That hasn’t been done. Keep in mind that what you are suggesting probably won’t be so simple with ES students. Maybe the expectations will be different for those in ES, but that all has to be understood beforehand. You can’t just say, “Online instruction begins tomorrow”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why aren’t we doing virtual?

What do you picture when you say “virtual”? Are you thinking purely asynchronous work? Synchronous instruction?

People keep bringing this up. If you are going to do virtual instruction it needs to be planned ahead of time. You can’t just flip a switch and do it. Students and teachers both need to be prepped on expectations, especially if any type of synchronous instruction is going to happen. You’d have to make sure to send their laptops and Chromebooks home before the storm.

Other counties do it, so it wouldn't be that hard to start. In Henrico, they were told at the start of the year that they would go virtual after 3 snow days, so I know a few teachers that were making lessons plans on that 3rd snow day. They knew a storm was in the forecast, so the kids took their devices home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why aren't they doing virtual?

Originally a couple years ago there was a plan to do virtual on all snow days. Then a group complained and said kids deserved the days to play in the snow, so they changed it. While I agree that on the first day it’s fun to play in the snow, that doesn’t account for weeks like this where it’s closed for piles of ice.

I know virtual doesn’t work for the young elementary school students, but it could be done for MS and HS.

I mean, my kid didn't bring a computer home so I have absolutely no clue how they'd do virtual. Definitely isn't something they can just decide mid snow days.

Exactly. A plan would really need to been in place to switch to virtual instruction.

So I will be lobbying for a plan to be in place next year when this happens again.

With the number of days off and half days already in this insane calendar, we really do the kids a huge disservice but not pushing for more actual educating.

We haven't even hit the snow day limit yet, wtf is wrong with you people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why aren't they doing virtual?

Originally a couple years ago there was a plan to do virtual on all snow days. Then a group complained and said kids deserved the days to play in the snow, so they changed it. While I agree that on the first day it’s fun to play in the snow, that doesn’t account for weeks like this where it’s closed for piles of ice.

I know virtual doesn’t work for the young elementary school students, but it could be done for MS and HS.

I mean, my kid didn't bring a computer home so I have absolutely no clue how they'd do virtual. Definitely isn't something they can just decide mid snow days.

Exactly. A plan would really need to been in place to switch to virtual instruction.

So I will be lobbying for a plan to be in place next year when this happens again.

With the number of days off and half days already in this insane calendar, we really do the kids a huge disservice but not pushing for more actual educating.

Yes. That’s fair.

Sure go ahead but really you should lobby for upper elementary middle and high schools to go virtual. Most sane people don’t want to have to watch their little kids during virtual grade 1 Prek and kindergarten instruction. It is a waste of actual teaching time to teach logging on to those kids. Not to mention the budget will be horrible this round so to give all of those kids devices to a once every 10-15 year storm is ridiculous.

Use some calm down techniques and place this storm historically so you can take it in stride rather than start advocating for something that wastes time and money.

Love a virtual kindergarten and first grade parent during Covid