PGCPS going back to in-person/hybrid starting first week of April -- thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Are people planning to send their kids back for quarter 4?

If so which grades?

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to hold off on making a decision, as I don't know yet how our school will actually implement things. I've heard from parents at other schools that the classroom will essentially be virtual learning, but just in a desk at school. I'm not interested in that scenario. My main purpose for sending my kids back is the social aspect, but if they're still spending their time staring at a screen, I'm not that interested.

[Anonymous]

My kids are in high school and don't want to go back until September when hopefully we all will have access to vaccines. They have settled in with virtual classes and don't feel the need to be in the building, which is old, crowded and doesn't have windows. Their teachers are telling them that it's going to be both chaotic logistically and boring for the kids who come to school because they will still be on laptops for classes, just sitting in a classroom. But I guess for the high schoolers with stressful homes and poor wifi, going to school will be better.

Now, for the little ones, I think it will be great. They really need to go to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in high school and don't want to go back until September when hopefully we all will have access to vaccines. They have settled in with virtual classes and don't feel the need to be in the building, which is old, crowded and doesn't have windows. Their teachers are telling them that it's going to be both chaotic logistically and boring for the kids who come to school because they will still be on laptops for classes, just sitting in a classroom. But I guess for the high schoolers with stressful homes and poor wifi, going to school will be better.

Now, for the little ones, I think it will be great. They really need to go to school.

I think my kids might be in the same school. They feel the same.

[Anonymous]

2 days a week starting April? For what at this point? We are going to pass for kindergarten!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2 days a week starting April? For what at this point? We are going to pass for kindergarten!

I think just to give them a sense of what it is like to be in a school?

Isn't your kindergartener having a hard time with distance learning? Sending him to school could be good to let him see other kids and see a real teacher instead of someone on a computer screen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2 days a week starting April? For what at this point? We are going to pass for kindergarten!

I think just to give them a sense of what it is like to be in a school?

Isn't your kindergartener having a hard time with distance learning? Sending him to school could be good to let him see other kids and see a real teacher instead of someone on a computer screen.

Not really. They have gotten used to it and I supplement at home. No need to throw 2 days in the mix.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm trying to hold off on making a decision, as I don't know yet how our school will actually implement things. I've heard from parents at other schools that the classroom will essentially be virtual learning, but just in a desk at school. I'm not interested in that scenario. My main purpose for sending my kids back is the social aspect, but if they're still spending their time staring at a screen, I'm not that interested.

Our principal gave a presentation at a PTA meeting last week and that is exactly as he described it- the students will be sitting at a desk on their computers, with the teacher also teaching on the computer. My DC wanted to go back until he heard this. At least at home, he can get up and walk around during breaks. We haven't made a final decision, but leaning strongly toward not going back at this point.

[Anonymous]

We are going to give it a shot with our kids. Even if they only get to eat lunch in the same room with their friends it is worth it.
Most families I know will not be sending their kids back so social distancing should be possible.
It's a calculated risk but we feel like it is the right one for our family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm trying to hold off on making a decision, as I don't know yet how our school will actually implement things. I've heard from parents at other schools that the classroom will essentially be virtual learning, but just in a desk at school. I'm not interested in that scenario. My main purpose for sending my kids back is the social aspect, but if they're still spending their time staring at a screen, I'm not that interested.

Our principal gave a presentation at a PTA meeting last week and that is exactly as he described it- the students will be sitting at a desk on their computers, with the teacher also teaching on the computer. My DC wanted to go back until he heard this. At least at home, he can get up and walk around during breaks. We haven't made a final decision, but leaning strongly toward not going back at this point.

My kid in private has been in school while the teacher teaches virtual kids concurrently. He started off as virtual, then wanted to go back in person so has seen both. He says he vastly prefers being in person because of the social aspect. Even though they are separated at their desks (with plexiglass), they still talk to each other, have lunch, and go outside for recess. I have two kids in pgcps who are doing well academically in virtual but I want them to have this social connection also, even if it isn’t like the before times. I’m torn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm trying to hold off on making a decision, as I don't know yet how our school will actually implement things. I've heard from parents at other schools that the classroom will essentially be virtual learning, but just in a desk at school. I'm not interested in that scenario. My main purpose for sending my kids back is the social aspect, but if they're still spending their time staring at a screen, I'm not that interested.

Our principal gave a presentation at a PTA meeting last week and that is exactly as he described it- the students will be sitting at a desk on their computers, with the teacher also teaching on the computer. My DC wanted to go back until he heard this. At least at home, he can get up and walk around during breaks. We haven't made a final decision, but leaning strongly toward not going back at this point.

My kid in private has been in school while the teacher teaches virtual kids concurrently. He started off as virtual, then wanted to go back in person so has seen both. He says he vastly prefers being in person because of the social aspect. Even though they are separated at their desks (with plexiglass), they still talk to each other, have lunch, and go outside for recess. I have two kids in pgcps who are doing well academically in virtual but I want them to have this social connection also, even if it isn’t like the before times. I’m torn.

PP here- thanks, this is a helpful perspective!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are going to give it a shot with our kids. Even if they only get to eat lunch in the same room with their friends it is worth it.
Most families I know will not be sending their kids back so social distancing should be possible.
It's a calculated risk but we feel like it is the right one for our family.

Forgot to add they are in 1st, 4th and 7th

[Anonymous]

My tenth grader and her best friend both say that they don't know anyone who is planning to go back to in-person so far. They say distance learning is going OK and that returning to in person won't bring them anything social. What they miss from the school day they can't have (hanging out together) and what they get won't be worth the long bus ride. They do want to do afterschool sports of some kind, outdoors.