APS - Elementary school -who is opting for virtual in 2021/22

[Anonymous]

I'd like to hear the views of those more inclined to enroll their kids for virtual learning in 2021/2022. We are torn between virtual and in-person - our DS has medical issues, but hates learning virtually and feels stifled at home. We didn't switch to hybrid this spring, but seeing his friends back in school, it's depressing. Who else is in a similar situation?

[Anonymous]

What kind of medical issues, OP? Sorry to ask a personal question, but that is key here. You do realize that the threat of Covid to children is very, very small, right?

[Anonymous]

I only know 1 family at our entire school who plans to stay virtual. It’s paranoia though not a medical issue. I think you have a valid reason op. I would prepare yourself or your child for the fact that the fall will probably not be concurrent if you stay virtual. There will probably be a virtual class made up of kids from all over the county instead of just kids from your school.

[Anonymous]

Our family has medical issues including one of our children, but nothing that makes them totally high risk. We ended up sending them back in hybrid and I can’t even explain how good It has been for them. Even just two days a week has made a huge difference on their schoolwork, attitudes, everything. I feel like in this area we live in a huge bubble where doing in person things seems super risky; when you look across the country museums are open schools are open five days a week, etc. I say this as a completely cautious person who hasn’t had a haircut, pedicure, in person doctors appointment in over a year. But the data is just not showing that being in school is super risky. What does your doctor say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only know 1 family at our entire school who plans to stay virtual. It’s paranoia though not a medical issue. I think you have a valid reason op. I would prepare yourself or your child for the fact that the fall will probably not be concurrent if you stay virtual. There will probably be a virtual class made up of kids from all over the county instead of just kids from your school.

It better not be concurrent. No reason to require teachers to do that, should be small numbers not going in person and they can be grouped together. Or at least not requiring every teacher to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I only know 1 family at our entire school who plans to stay virtual. It’s paranoia though not a medical issue. I think you have a valid reason op. I would prepare yourself or your child for the fact that the fall will probably not be concurrent if you stay virtual. There will probably be a virtual class made up of kids from all over the county instead of just kids from your school.

It better not be concurrent. No reason to require teachers to do that, should be small numbers not going in person and they can be grouped together. Or at least not requiring every teacher to do it.

No concurrent in the fall - wasn't that said already? Even the schools are telling the kids (bc my MS kids came home and told me) that virtual will be completely separate next year.

[Anonymous]

does the doctor say that going to school is to risky? Or are you assuming that based on medical issue? My kids have asthma- at one point that was thought of as high risk, but its not anymore.
Prior to the pandemic, did the potential for illness keep your child from school? (e.g. a child going through cancer treatments who is immuno suppressed.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I only know 1 family at our entire school who plans to stay virtual. It’s paranoia though not a medical issue. I think you have a valid reason op. I would prepare yourself or your child for the fact that the fall will probably not be concurrent if you stay virtual. There will probably be a virtual class made up of kids from all over the county instead of just kids from your school.

It better not be concurrent. No reason to require teachers to do that, should be small numbers not going in person and they can be grouped together. Or at least not requiring every teacher to do it.

No concurrent in the fall - wasn't that said already? Even the schools are telling the kids (bc my MS kids came home and told me) that virtual will be completely separate next year.

APS has already announced that virtual will be separate- you will not “attend” your neighborhood school virtually. Classes will be made up of other students in the county that chose virtual. Teachers will be all virtual and the program will have its own admin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I only know 1 family at our entire school who plans to stay virtual. It’s paranoia though not a medical issue. I think you have a valid reason op. I would prepare yourself or your child for the fact that the fall will probably not be concurrent if you stay virtual. There will probably be a virtual class made up of kids from all over the county instead of just kids from your school.

It better not be concurrent. No reason to require teachers to do that, should be small numbers not going in person and they can be grouped together. Or at least not requiring every teacher to do it.

No concurrent in the fall - wasn't that said already? Even the schools are telling the kids (bc my MS kids came home and told me) that virtual will be completely separate next year.

APS has already announced that virtual will be separate- you will not “attend” your neighborhood school virtually. Classes will be made up of other students in the county that chose virtual. Teachers will be all virtual and the program will have its own admin.

Correct. The email to staff said there may be some limited concurrent in classes like AP/IB.
" The program will be separate from the school of record with dedicated distance learning staff, allowing full focus on strong, fully optimized distance learning for all enrolled. APS will assign a dedicated administrator and staff to run the program, via an application process. Staffing will be based on enrollment, as determined by the family survey.
Students enrolled in the program will maintain connection and alignment with their school of record for reporting, attendance, counselors, sports and extracurricular activities, and graduation.
In-person workspace may be provided, as needed, to support a limited number of identified full-time distance learning students who need help connecting and academic and social-emotional learning (SEL) support."

[Anonymous]

No concurrent in the fall - wasn't that said already? Even the schools are telling the kids (bc my MS kids came home and told me) that virtual will be completely separate next year.

APS has already announced that virtual will be separate- you will not “attend” your neighborhood school virtually. Classes will be made up of other students in the county that chose virtual. Teachers will be all virtual and the program will have its own admin.
Correct. The email to staff said there may be some limited concurrent in classes like AP/IB.
" The program will be separate from the school of record with dedicated distance learning staff, allowing full focus on strong, fully optimized distance learning for all enrolled. APS will assign a dedicated administrator and staff to run the program, via an application process. Staffing will be based on enrollment, as determined by the family survey.
Students enrolled in the program will maintain connection and alignment with their school of record for reporting, attendance, counselors, sports and extracurricular activities, and graduation.
In-person workspace may be provided, as needed, to support a limited number of identified full-time distance learning students who need help connecting and academic and social-emotional learning (SEL) support."

So I gather gifted services will not be offered to virtual students? How about students from option schools like ATS or language immersion schools? Will everyone be mixed together?

[Anonymous]

If there's a separate admin and virtual teaching staff no longer linked to respective schools, so I gather gifted services will not be offered to virtual students? How about students from option schools like ATS or language immersion schools? Will everyone be mixed together?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If there's a separate admin and virtual teaching staff no longer linked to respective schools, so I gather gifted services will not be offered to virtual students? How about students from option schools like ATS or language immersion schools? Will everyone be mixed together?

They haven't released many details but there is no reason to think there cannot be some gifted enrichment in the virtual program.

[Anonymous]

My kid would essentially have to have zero immune system due to chemo and be housebound for me to consider any possibility of virtual. I’m a teacher. Virtual is not an effective way of learning for most kids and another year of it when their peers are back in would be isolating and emotionally challenging on top of academically impactful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If there's a separate admin and virtual teaching staff no longer linked to respective schools, so I gather gifted services will not be offered to virtual students? How about students from option schools like ATS or language immersion schools? Will everyone be mixed together?

We are at an immersion school and i heard yesterday they would not be offering immersion virtually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I only know 1 family at our entire school who plans to stay virtual. It’s paranoia though not a medical issue. I think you have a valid reason op. I would prepare yourself or your child for the fact that the fall will probably not be concurrent if you stay virtual. There will probably be a virtual class made up of kids from all over the county instead of just kids from your school.

It better not be concurrent. No reason to require teachers to do that, should be small numbers not going in person and they can be grouped together. Or at least not requiring every teacher to do it.

No concurrent in the fall - wasn't that said already? Even the schools are telling the kids (bc my MS kids came home and told me) that virtual will be completely separate next year.

APS has already announced that virtual will be separate- you will not “attend” your neighborhood school virtually. Classes will be made up of other students in the county that chose virtual. Teachers will be all virtual and the program will have its own admin.

Correct. The email to staff said there may be some limited concurrent in classes like AP/IB.
" The program will be separate from the school of record with dedicated distance learning staff, allowing full focus on strong, fully optimized distance learning for all enrolled. APS will assign a dedicated administrator and staff to run the program, via an application process. Staffing will be based on enrollment, as determined by the family survey.
Students enrolled in the program will maintain connection and alignment with their school of record for reporting, attendance, counselors, sports and extracurricular activities, and graduation.
In-person workspace may be provided, as needed, to support a limited number of identified full-time distance learning students who need help connecting and academic and social-emotional learning (SEL) support."

What else did the email to staff say? Parents know nothing here. Don't teachers hate concurrent?