I Work in a Cares Room AMA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a strict policy on maintaining distance during outdoor recess (I'm in a CARE room too) and it's easily the hardest part about the day. How is your assigned school handling recess/social distancing?

Recess is tough! Only 1 class outside at a time. I am watching and the students are good at saying '6 feet!'. but things happen. I focus on what I can control- masks up/tight, hand sanitizer ect.

I have thought about sectioning the playground in quads, and placing 2-3 kids per section. But at the end of the day I am just not sure if it would be worth it. I would love to hear about what your school does!

I find the focus on keeping kids 6 feet apart while masked outdoors bizarre because, if this is anything like our DCPS, the same kids are all playing together on the playground afterschool (masked, but definitely not 6 feet apart). There is virtually no evidence of outdoor masked transmission; when you add in that these are kids, who appear to transmit somewhat less (degree unclear) in general, it actually seems like an unnecessary precaution. Parents who are willing to send their kids back to school are willing to have them free play masked outdoors.

more distance is more better. I agree children are far less likely to spread outdoors and masked, but once you remove that 6 foot verbage they will be in maskless puddles wrestling on the ground in no time. You have to draw the line somewhere. Not a normal year....

That's the problem with recess. It is unnatural for kids to social distance when they are outside playing. Even with the constant reminders and fierce supervision it is really hard to keep them away from each other. From my experience running recess for a CARE classroom, if social distance must be enforced, the only way I can see it working is organized play, like outdoor PE with structured games and rules. There is no room for free play this year with kids in schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a strict policy on maintaining distance during outdoor recess (I'm in a CARE room too) and it's easily the hardest part about the day. How is your assigned school handling recess/social distancing?

Recess is tough! Only 1 class outside at a time. I am watching and the students are good at saying '6 feet!'. but things happen. I focus on what I can control- masks up/tight, hand sanitizer ect.

I have thought about sectioning the playground in quads, and placing 2-3 kids per section. But at the end of the day I am just not sure if it would be worth it. I would love to hear about what your school does!

I find the focus on keeping kids 6 feet apart while masked outdoors bizarre because, if this is anything like our DCPS, the same kids are all playing together on the playground afterschool (masked, but definitely not 6 feet apart). There is virtually no evidence of outdoor masked transmission; when you add in that these are kids, who appear to transmit somewhat less (degree unclear) in general, it actually seems like an unnecessary precaution. Parents who are willing to send their kids back to school are willing to have them free play masked outdoors.

more distance is more better. I agree children are far less likely to spread outdoors and masked, but once you remove that 6 foot verbage they will be in maskless puddles wrestling on the ground in no time. You have to draw the line somewhere. Not a normal year....

That's the problem with recess. It is unnatural for kids to social distance when they are outside playing. Even with the constant reminders and fierce supervision it is really hard to keep them away from each other. From my experience running recess for a CARE classroom, if social distance must be enforced, the only way I can see it working is organized play, like outdoor PE with structured games and rules. There is no room for free play this year with kids in schools.

I actually draw the line at masks. I guarantee you the rates of transmission in masked outdoor play that is monitored only for mask wearing is lower than in classroom spaces with masks on. Guarantee it. This is a dumb optics thing to focus on that is not backed by science and just makes teachers' lives harder and kids' lives worse for no reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a strict policy on maintaining distance during outdoor recess (I'm in a CARE room too) and it's easily the hardest part about the day. How is your assigned school handling recess/social distancing?

Recess is tough! Only 1 class outside at a time. I am watching and the students are good at saying '6 feet!'. but things happen. I focus on what I can control- masks up/tight, hand sanitizer ect.

I have thought about sectioning the playground in quads, and placing 2-3 kids per section. But at the end of the day I am just not sure if it would be worth it. I would love to hear about what your school does!

I find the focus on keeping kids 6 feet apart while masked outdoors bizarre because, if this is anything like our DCPS, the same kids are all playing together on the playground afterschool (masked, but definitely not 6 feet apart). There is virtually no evidence of outdoor masked transmission; when you add in that these are kids, who appear to transmit somewhat less (degree unclear) in general, it actually seems like an unnecessary precaution. Parents who are willing to send their kids back to school are willing to have them free play masked outdoors.

more distance is more better. I agree children are far less likely to spread outdoors and masked, but once you remove that 6 foot verbage they will be in maskless puddles wrestling on the ground in no time. You have to draw the line somewhere. Not a normal year....

That's the problem with recess. It is unnatural for kids to social distance when they are outside playing. Even with the constant reminders and fierce supervision it is really hard to keep them away from each other. From my experience running recess for a CARE classroom, if social distance must be enforced, the only way I can see it working is organized play, like outdoor PE with structured games and rules. There is no room for free play this year with kids in schools.

I actually draw the line at masks. I guarantee you the rates of transmission in masked outdoor play that is monitored only for mask wearing is lower than in classroom spaces with masks on. Guarantee it. This is a dumb optics thing to focus on that is not backed by science and just makes teachers' lives harder and kids' lives worse for no reason.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a strict policy on maintaining distance during outdoor recess (I'm in a CARE room too) and it's easily the hardest part about the day. How is your assigned school handling recess/social distancing?

Recess is tough! Only 1 class outside at a time. I am watching and the students are good at saying '6 feet!'. but things happen. I focus on what I can control- masks up/tight, hand sanitizer ect.

I have thought about sectioning the playground in quads, and placing 2-3 kids per section. But at the end of the day I am just not sure if it would be worth it. I would love to hear about what your school does!

I find the focus on keeping kids 6 feet apart while masked outdoors bizarre because, if this is anything like our DCPS, the same kids are all playing together on the playground afterschool (masked, but definitely not 6 feet apart). There is virtually no evidence of outdoor masked transmission; when you add in that these are kids, who appear to transmit somewhat less (degree unclear) in general, it actually seems like an unnecessary precaution. Parents who are willing to send their kids back to school are willing to have them free play masked outdoors.

It will be lower but its still a concern. And, there is very little to no testing so we don't really know rate of transmission as people are only testing with symptoms or another reason like seeing someone or travel.
more distance is more better. I agree children are far less likely to spread outdoors and masked, but once you remove that 6 foot verbage they will be in maskless puddles wrestling on the ground in no time. You have to draw the line somewhere. Not a normal year....

That's the problem with recess. It is unnatural for kids to social distance when they are outside playing. Even with the constant reminders and fierce supervision it is really hard to keep them away from each other. From my experience running recess for a CARE classroom, if social distance must be enforced, the only way I can see it working is organized play, like outdoor PE with structured games and rules. There is no room for free play this year with kids in schools.

I actually draw the line at masks. I guarantee you the rates of transmission in masked outdoor play that is monitored only for mask wearing is lower than in classroom spaces with masks on. Guarantee it. This is a dumb optics thing to focus on that is not backed by science and just makes teachers' lives harder and kids' lives worse for no reason.

[Anonymous]

op here. so this is what you do not get about returning to in person schooling. it is truly all about liability. So yes, we are told to keep your kids 6 feet apart on the playground, and yes we enforce it. You can keep/draw your line wherever you would like to- but then you can also keep your child at home.

I do think cares rooms are great. But parents (I am one too) you have got to stop acting like you call the shots here. You agree to the in place program or your kid gets the boot. My school has already sent one kid home, for good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:op here. so this is what you do not get about returning to in person schooling. it is truly all about liability. So yes, we are told to keep your kids 6 feet apart on the playground, and yes we enforce it. You can keep/draw your line wherever you would like to- but then you can also keep your child at home.

I do think cares rooms are great. But parents (I am one too) you have got to stop acting like you call the shots here. You agree to the in place program or your kid gets the boot. My school has already sent one kid home, for good.

So if kid's don't follow rules - like masks, distancing, etc they get the boot? Or was there something else?

The former makes me feel better but what about SN kids or kids with real trauma at home?

Still 3 more adults in CARES rooms have COVID. Out of 800 adults 80 adults with COVID is not a good look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:op here. so this is what you do not get about returning to in person schooling. it is truly all about liability. So yes, we are told to keep your kids 6 feet apart on the playground, and yes we enforce it. You can keep/draw your line wherever you would like to- but then you can also keep your child at home.

I do think cares rooms are great. But parents (I am one too) you have got to stop acting like you call the shots here. You agree to the in place program or your kid gets the boot. My school has already sent one kid home, for good.

Good points. I am glad they mask outside, kids are gross and snotty and yell every thing they say - a mask even outdoors will definitely help. The 6 feet outdoors I personally could do without, but I hope they keep up the masks! Thanks for the work you are doing in the CARES rooms, and for sharing your insight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:op here. so this is what you do not get about returning to in person schooling. it is truly all about liability. So yes, we are told to keep your kids 6 feet apart on the playground, and yes we enforce it. You can keep/draw your line wherever you would like to- but then you can also keep your child at home.

I do think cares rooms are great. But parents (I am one too) you have got to stop acting like you call the shots here. You agree to the in place program or your kid gets the boot. My school has already sent one kid home, for good.

Yes. You pointed out the big elephant in the room. A lot of parents are used to calling the shots, going and talking to the principal about what they want, etc. That ends here. Your kid has to comply with the OSSE regulations or they are out. You don't get to complain or make excuses. You comply or you do virtual learning. It's a simple as that. I think this is going to be a big shock for some people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:op here. so this is what you do not get about returning to in person schooling. it is truly all about liability. So yes, we are told to keep your kids 6 feet apart on the playground, and yes we enforce it. You can keep/draw your line wherever you would like to- but then you can also keep your child at home.

I do think cares rooms are great. But parents (I am one too) you have got to stop acting like you call the shots here. You agree to the in place program or your kid gets the boot. My school has already sent one kid home, for good.

Yes. You pointed out the big elephant in the room. A lot of parents are used to calling the shots, going and talking to the principal about what they want, etc. That ends here. Your kid has to comply with the OSSE regulations or they are out. You don't get to complain or make excuses. You comply or you do virtual learning. It's a simple as that. I think this is going to be a big shock for some people.

I don't think any of us parents think we call the shots on this, we are just pointing out where the rules and regs should be changed, not assuming they WILL change or much less that a CARES teacher will skirt the rules for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:op here. so this is what you do not get about returning to in person schooling. it is truly all about liability. So yes, we are told to keep your kids 6 feet apart on the playground, and yes we enforce it. You can keep/draw your line wherever you would like to- but then you can also keep your child at home.

I do think cares rooms are great. But parents (I am one too) you have got to stop acting like you call the shots here. You agree to the in place program or your kid gets the boot. My school has already sent one kid home, for good.

Yes. You pointed out the big elephant in the room. A lot of parents are used to calling the shots, going and talking to the principal about what they want, etc. That ends here. Your kid has to comply with the OSSE regulations or they are out. You don't get to complain or make excuses. You comply or you do virtual learning. It's a simple as that. I think this is going to be a big shock for some people.

I don't think any of us parents think we call the shots on this, we are just pointing out where the rules and regs should be changed, not assuming they WILL change or much less that a CARES teacher will skirt the rules for us.

You may think that but there are lots of upper nw parents at my school who are used to going in and telling principal what is going to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:op here. so this is what you do not get about returning to in person schooling. it is truly all about liability. So yes, we are told to keep your kids 6 feet apart on the playground, and yes we enforce it. You can keep/draw your line wherever you would like to- but then you can also keep your child at home.

I do think cares rooms are great. But parents (I am one too) you have got to stop acting like you call the shots here. You agree to the in place program or your kid gets the boot. My school has already sent one kid home, for good.

I hear you OP but didn’t you say earlier in the thread that one family refuses to have their child tested and still can send them to school? Did I misunderstand that? Because that seems like parents do get to say how it goes and still send their kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:op here. so this is what you do not get about returning to in person schooling. it is truly all about liability. So yes, we are told to keep your kids 6 feet apart on the playground, and yes we enforce it. You can keep/draw your line wherever you would like to- but then you can also keep your child at home.

I do think cares rooms are great. But parents (I am one too) you have got to stop acting like you call the shots here. You agree to the in place program or your kid gets the boot. My school has already sent one kid home, for good.

Yes. You pointed out the big elephant in the room. A lot of parents are used to calling the shots, going and talking to the principal about what they want, etc. That ends here. Your kid has to comply with the OSSE regulations or they are out. You don't get to complain or make excuses. You comply or you do virtual learning. It's a simple as that. I think this is going to be a big shock for some people.

Our school doesn’t enforce 6 feet apart at recess.

[Anonymous]

If you have multiple CARRS rooms at your school do the cohorts mix at recess?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:op here. so this is what you do not get about returning to in person schooling. it is truly all about liability. So yes, we are told to keep your kids 6 feet apart on the playground, and yes we enforce it. You can keep/draw your line wherever you would like to- but then you can also keep your child at home.

I do think cares rooms are great. But parents (I am one too) you have got to stop acting like you call the shots here. You agree to the in place program or your kid gets the boot. My school has already sent one kid home, for good.

I hear you OP but didn’t you say earlier in the thread that one family refuses to have their child tested and still can send them to school? Did I misunderstand that? Because that seems like parents do get to say how it goes and still send their kid.

Hi there! Yes- OSSE allows kids in who won't be covid tested but does make parents/kids sign an agreement about social distancing and wearing masks- even during outside play.
Make it make sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have multiple CARRS rooms at your school do the cohorts mix at recess?

No, kids do not mix at recess. We have sectioned off the play areas and also utilize nontraditional play spaces (fields, front of school building ect)