Why is GDS unable to lead on Covid??

[Anonymous]

I am so tired of my kid’s school. We are always the LAST one to do anything differently. Russell did not go to a hybrid model until every other school did the same. He seems paralyzed. And now again. All the other schools are opening 5 days in the next couple weeks. But Russell can’t do it. Again. I know I should not bother with DCuM. But no one gives a crap what I want ... and many many of us have tried. I need to vent. And I least that a GDS admin person reads DCUM and HEARS the frustration! Why can’t we just open properly already??

[Anonymous]

They have 3 days of school this week then are off or virtual until 4/5, so they have 3 weeks to make this decision before they set foot back in school. Chill.

[Anonymous]

I think they are leading, by being the safest. Other schools are competing to be the riskiest. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

[Anonymous]

They have a tiny campus. Social distancing is difficult to achieve for GDS.

[Anonymous]

I've given up on this year. I hate the asychronous Wednesdays and that even when my kid is physically on campus he's still on his Chromebook and as likely to be zooming with his teacher than having live instruction. But that's not going to change this year.

But I will be furious if there is not full time in person school next year. It is true that kids won't be vaccinated, but the adults will be. The email they sent yesterday outlining the limitations of vaccination makes me worried.

[Anonymous]

OP all I can tell you is that the parents have to push on this. You have to get patents together- across grades and throughout the school- and demand (at this point, that is the right word) action. Go to every board member with a petition signed by hundreds of patents. Ask for a meeting with the board chairman and your HOS. You have to organize yourselves and keep at it. We’re not in the DC area but at a school in a nearby city that was the same way- the last to reopen and move on thiis issue. It took a parent uprising, including threats of media coverage, to finally see results

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP all I can tell you is that the parents have to push on this. You have to get patents together- across grades and throughout the school- and demand (at this point, that is the right word) action. Go to every board member with a petition signed by hundreds of patents. Ask for a meeting with the board chairman and your HOS. You have to organize yourselves and keep at it. We’re not in the DC area but at a school in a nearby city that was the same way- the last to reopen and move on thiis issue. It took a parent uprising, including threats of media coverage, to finally see results

And similarly, those who want the school and its families to stay safe need to make sure your voices are heard too. Make sure to let admin know that you appreciate all these steps to stay safe despite the ridiculous rush to reopen led by some parents who care more about optics than community safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP all I can tell you is that the parents have to push on this. You have to get patents together- across grades and throughout the school- and demand (at this point, that is the right word) action. Go to every board member with a petition signed by hundreds of patents. Ask for a meeting with the board chairman and your HOS. You have to organize yourselves and keep at it. We’re not in the DC area but at a school in a nearby city that was the same way- the last to reopen and move on thiis issue. It took a parent uprising, including threats of media coverage, to finally see results

And similarly, those who want the school and its families to stay safe need to make sure your voices are heard too. Make sure to let admin know that you appreciate all these steps to stay safe despite the ridiculous rush to reopen led by some parents who care more about optics than community safety.

Thank you, teacher. Time to get back to class - online, of course.

The line "ridiculous RUSH to reopen" is laughable. It's been a year. If they can't figure out within one year how to safely hold classes on campus in a time of diminishing positive cases throughout the nation and region - well, the leadership is more incompetent than can possibly be explained here.

[Anonymous]

Russell told me that he's been hearing that people like the asychronous Wednesdays as a "mental health break" for their kids. With that attitude, will there be school 5 days a week next year? They are terrible for my child's mental health and for his education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Russell told me that he's been hearing that people like the asychronous Wednesdays as a "mental health break" for their kids. With that attitude, will there be school 5 days a week next year? They are terrible for my child's mental health and for his education.

Hearing that "people" like the Wednesdays? WTH does that mean? What "people?" How many "people" - 2 or 3? Is that the way this HOS makes decisions - based on rumors of what he's been hearing that nebulous "people" like?

It sounds to me like GDS has problems that go deeper than the reopening issue.

[Anonymous]

Dumb question, but what are asynchronous Wednesdays?

Signed, future GDS parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dumb question, but what are asynchronous Wednesdays?

Signed, future GDS parent

In the MS (and maybe the HS, I'm not sure), there are no classes, in person or virtual. Instead, students get assignments from 3 of their classes, each designed to take an hour. Kids do them by themselves, with no help or interaction. The rest of the day is totally free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dumb question, but what are asynchronous Wednesdays?

Signed, future GDS parent

In the MS (and maybe the HS, I'm not sure), there are no classes, in person or virtual. Instead, students get assignments from 3 of their classes, each designed to take an hour. Kids do them by themselves, with no help or interaction. The rest of the day is totally free.

OMG that is lame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Russell told me that he's been hearing that people like the asychronous Wednesdays as a "mental health break" for their kids. With that attitude, will there be school 5 days a week next year? They are terrible for my child's mental health and for his education.

I guarantee they already know what they are doing for next year. Teacher contracts have been signed, so it was addressed there. What new information could they possibly expect after a year's time that would change planning on this? More people will be vaccinated. They know that. Question is, why isn't the GDS administration making information about plans for the 2021 - 2022 school year public now?

Could it be that they are waiting until the admissions season is over, and new contracts/ commitments are due by March 19? Or, worse, could they be waiting until May 31, when everyone is on the hook for full tuition dollars for next year?

If I were a GDS parent, or admitted family, I would be asking a lot of hard questions now. If they are ducking the responses, that tells you even more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dumb question, but what are asynchronous Wednesdays?

Signed, future GDS parent

In the MS (and maybe the HS, I'm not sure), there are no classes, in person or virtual. Instead, students get assignments from 3 of their classes, each designed to take an hour. Kids do them by themselves, with no help or interaction. The rest of the day is totally free.

Wait, and you're paying how much for this?