If your child is staying virtual...

[Anonymous]

Let me start by saying that I am hoping this thread doesn’t get hijacked into a “open schools now” thread. I am supportive of the schools reopening and fully understand figuring out opening procedures these next few weeks is necessary and critical.

My son is having major surgery in June so we we keeping all 3 of our elementary school aged kids home. This was a decision that we made with our doctors and we feel good about it.

Now that it’s happening next week, I am feeling like my kids are by far the minority stating home. One of my sons is one of 4 in his class current classroom. All communication has been about the in-person students, with very little info about what the students at home will be getting. Is DL going to be even more watered down now?

We’ve been trucking a long and making the best of it but now, I am really considering an alternative. Would love to hear from any other parents who share this class concern. Again, not trying to reopen the debate of whether or not schools are safe or should be opening.

Thx!

[Anonymous]

I’m a teacher. I promise you that I want to do the best I can, by all of them, whether they are in person or at home. Even in person students will still be at home half of the time! I think we all do. I hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

Nothing will change for virtual students, since ALL students will be virtual some days.

Good luck for the surgery!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing will change for virtual students, since ALL students will be virtual some days.

Good luck for the surgery!

A lot is going to change for virtual students. Lunch at a ridiculous time, listening to a teacher over an iPad with a mask on, no socialization.

[Anonymous]

OP, I hope all goes well for your son this summer and for your family this spring.

It depends quite a lot on your school. Within APS, there are schools where most (maybe 80%) are going in person and some where it’s a very small amount; I imagine something similar in other systems? We are hybrid (not trying to open that can of worms, at all, but just for clarity) so there are many details we need now: do we buy new notebooks and leave one set at school, can they have reusable lunch containers, should we purchase more/extra disposable masks or do we need to use the school-issued? I think you will see lots of emails about these things bc we have to prepare.

But one thing I’ve seen (correctly) emphasized is that on any given day, 2/3 of the kids will be virtual and I think there will be plenty of focus on the (majority of) kids at home, even if a large chunk are returning in person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing will change for virtual students, since ALL students will be virtual some days.

Good luck for the surgery!

A lot is going to change for virtual students. Lunch at a ridiculous time, listening to a teacher over an iPad with a mask on, no socialization.

I think there are advantages and disadvantages to both, quite frankly, and will also vary by individual child. But I think the teachers will try to the best they can by both of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing will change for virtual students, since ALL students will be virtual some days.

Good luck for the surgery!

x1000 And I also wish your son good luck for the surger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing will change for virtual students, since ALL students will be virtual some days.

Good luck for the surgery!

A lot is going to change for virtual students. Lunch at a ridiculous time, listening to a teacher over an iPad with a mask on, no socialization.

For students staying home?!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me start by saying that I am hoping this thread doesn’t get hijacked into a “open schools now” thread. I am supportive of the schools reopening and fully understand figuring out opening procedures these next few weeks is necessary and critical.

My son is having major surgery in June so we we keeping all 3 of our elementary school aged kids home. This was a decision that we made with our doctors and we feel good about it.

Now that it’s happening next week, I am feeling like my kids are by far the minority stating home. One of my sons is one of 4 in his class current classroom. All communication has been about the in-person students, with very little info about what the students at home will be getting. Is DL going to be even more watered down now?

We’ve been trucking a long and making the best of it but now, I am really considering an alternative. Would love to hear from any other parents who share this class concern. Again, not trying to reopen the debate of whether or not schools are safe or should be opening.

Thx!

My friend's child's kindergarten class of 22 children only has 8 in person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me start by saying that I am hoping this thread doesn’t get hijacked into a “open schools now” thread. I am supportive of the schools reopening and fully understand figuring out opening procedures these next few weeks is necessary and critical.

My son is having major surgery in June so we we keeping all 3 of our elementary school aged kids home. This was a decision that we made with our doctors and we feel good about it.

Now that it’s happening next week, I am feeling like my kids are by far the minority stating home. One of my sons is one of 4 in his class current classroom. All communication has been about the in-person students, with very little info about what the students at home will be getting. Is DL going to be even more watered down now?

We’ve been trucking a long and making the best of it but now, I am really considering an alternative. Would love to hear from any other parents who share this class concern. Again, not trying to reopen the debate of whether or not schools are safe or should be opening.

Thx!

My friend's child's kindergarten class of 22 children only has 8 in person.

Interesting! 19 of 20 of my kid’s K classmates are returning in-person.

[Anonymous]

My kid is FCPS MS, so may be a little different.

Last summer we signed up for hybrid - in person. They were put in classes and schedules grouped by that choice; so now that students are going back the majority of my kids classmates will be returning. The teachers did an informal poll and Only about 3 or 4 are remaining virtual in most classes. The way it works .... Everyday only 1/2 or so students (by last name) will be in person and the teacher will be teaching to the other half online. Our choice has changed and Now my kid will be in the online half everyday.

My DC decided to remain virtual mainly because of how the teachers explained the “rules” and because most friends aren’t in current classes so they wouldn’t be able to socialize together anyway. I didn’t push it, as there are only a few months left this year and DC now socializes through spring sports. The virtual and in person curriculum will be the same. Everyone will be listening to masked teachers.

only a few more months left of 8th grade; so we’ll start in person in high school - hopefully!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing will change for virtual students, since ALL students will be virtual some days.

Good luck for the surgery!

Actually, much could change. Teachers are already speaking in excited tones how happy they are that kids are coming back. I know more than one child who has cried feeling left out. The videos our principal sent home as to what concurrent looks like suggest that virtual kids on concurrent days might not be able to see their classmates or potentially even their teacher. PE in the gym while our kids follow along at home.

The online lunch meet-ups or after school get togethers may change as their friends wait for delayed busses.
Concurrent for 3rd-8th graders, a developmentally inappropriate education according to the Assistant Superintendent may negatively impact the experience of virtual kids. We chose virtual in October when there was no vaccine and virtual classes would be their own thing.

Like OP we would absolutely like to hear more communication about what to expect. I know teachers will do their best, but what are they going to have to work with to give both sets of kids an equally quality experience.

[Anonymous]

The teachers I know are primarily focused on ensuring that the virtual kids have a good experience. They are very leery of giving any extra consideration to the RTS kids.

Most of the teachers seem okay with returning to school but I don't know any who are happy about it. They still have way too many safety questions that are unanswered. I don't blame them. You would have to hold a gun to my head to make me go to school under the conditions that we're asking teachers to put up with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The teachers I know are primarily focused on ensuring that the virtual kids have a good experience. They are very leery of giving any extra consideration to the RTS kids.

Most of the teachers seem okay with returning to school but I don't know any who are happy about it. They still have way too many safety questions that are unanswered. I don't blame them. You would have to hold a gun to my head to make me go to school under the conditions that we're asking teachers to put up with.

Really? I have both vaccines and with that , masks, distancing, I feel fine. Excited to meet the few kids coming. You’re right that most of our focus still has to be online instruction. It’s the only way to instruct the two groups at once. In person kids will do slightly different stuff when possible but not “this is 2 distinct lessons” different. There’s not enough time in our week to plan for 40 classes a week (20 classes x 2 different lessons).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teachers I know are primarily focused on ensuring that the virtual kids have a good experience. They are very leery of giving any extra consideration to the RTS kids.

Most of the teachers seem okay with returning to school but I don't know any who are happy about it. They still have way too many safety questions that are unanswered. I don't blame them. You would have to hold a gun to my head to make me go to school under the conditions that we're asking teachers to put up with.

Really? I have both vaccines and with that , masks, distancing, I feel fine. Excited to meet the few kids coming. You’re right that most of our focus still has to be online instruction. It’s the only way to instruct the two groups at once. In person kids will do slightly different stuff when possible but not “this is 2 distinct lessons” different. There’s not enough time in our week to plan for 40 classes a week (20 classes x 2 different lessons).

Yeah, really. And I don't blame them. There is no way I would want to be in a room with a bunch of kids unmasked for breakfast and lunch and lunch breaks. No way.

At our local elementary, we've already had one classroom with 2 SN kids who have tested positive in the same class. The teacher and paras are very worried and I don't blame them. Plus the school is not being candid in any way about it. No information has been shared with the school community, and those 2 kids have siblings who are expecting to be coming to school next week. Yuck.

That is a horrible way to treat the teachers and I would be mad about it, too.