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Anonymous wrote:Our school’s presentation was tonight and I have a lot of concerns. Kids will keep their teachers but all instruction is virtual, even if the kids are in person with their teacher in front of them. Ok, not ideal, but ok. But when asked what will happen to students who repeatedly refuse to wear masks or wear them improperly, the AP said it will be a “teachable moment” as we encourage the child to wear their mask. Then, several parents asked via chat how we can prevent parents from sending sick students to school. We were all ignored. I am concerned that parents will send asymptomatic students or students with mild covid symptoms to school, and there will be no repercussions.
Multiple people also asked about the plan for contact tracing, quarantine, and testing. We were told MCPS hasn’t decided yet. Seriously?! You've had 6-8 months to think through this exact scenario and you don’t know? I suspect they won’t or can’t do anything about tracing and quarantining, so they’re dodging until we go back, hoping we’ll all forget about it and worry about other details.
Sounds like you should switch your kid to DL.
Smartfood is so much better. The thick layer of fake cheese that accumulates on the hand — skinny pop comes nowhere near it.
Wow, MCPS is really going to have to switch its schedule. Not just on Wednesdays, but on all the other half-days on the calendar (and there are quite a few).
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
All those information are on the website except for the text books. Look there before complaining. Geez.
But did you ever get text book info 2 weeks before school started pre-COVID?
On the bright side, this thread is really just the 2020 version of the traditional annual DCUM back-to-school thread on the topic of "MCPS needs to tell me every detail way ahead of time because that's how I manage my anxiety about uncertainty."
But as a paying tax payer, I demand, let me repeat, I demand to know everything at least 1 year ahead of time. With all of the taxes I pay this county, they can easily afford to buy not just one but several crystal balls.
I feel like 2 weeks before school starts its not to much to ask to know the times my child and therefore myself will be expected to be online and which days....seriously, some of us work.
Our principal gave us a sample schedule for each grade and made the timing clear. You should be in contact with yours to get this info. But MCPS has made this crystal clear in their materials as well, so you should be able to get them. They said all students regardless of grade level will have a 9-3:15 schedule 4 days a week. If you are ES then you have a half-day on Wed that ends right at lunch.
It involves DL for all MS and HS students, with ES students spread out among all schools. Also before and after care offered in HS.
Wow, Smondroski has her own super detailed plan.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher and I just wanted to hop on to say I’m not convinced in person is really going to be that much better from DL. The social distancing factor alone takes a lot of classroom “best practices” out of play — like collaborative learning opportunities and group work, small group station work, etc. It’s kind of an eerie scene to think about, tbh. I’m not quite sure I can wrap my mind around what my own classroom would look like in person! (Lecture, notes, individual assessments, ick!)
Thanks for sharing your perspective--I can completely see how it could eerie.
I'll say, though, that my young elementary kids have adapted well to the modifications their camps have put in place. I absolutely know it's not the same, but they've come up with creative ways to still engage with their peers even with masks, at a distance, etc. And the improvement in their moods from when we were doing DL this Spring is staggering. I appreciate your sharing around the lack of best practices for academics and learning, and agree on that, but from a social interaction perspective, in person with modifications, for many if not most kids, is likely to be far better than DL. And for the elementary kids in particular, I think that matters hugely.
Agree. I thought my young ES child would not do well wearing a mask at camp, and it’s NBD when everyone is doing it. Also she’s pretty shy and I didn’t realize how much social interaction she was craving. It’s like I have a different kid after sending her last week. She is SO MUCH happier than she was before. It’s clear to me that for her, learning in person will be better than online, so if they go to use to offer the blended option, we will go for that.
dcmom wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
Everyone state and jurisdiction posts the numbers. Do the research.
The eight benchmarks that have been met or shown “substantial progress” include:
● Number of new COVID-19 related deaths: 1 (three-day average); 13 declining days
● COVID-19 related hospitalizations: 113 (three-day average); 14 declining days
● COVID-19 related intensive care unit hospitalizations: 40 (three-day average); 14 declining days
● Acute care bed utilization rate: 64% (three-day average); the county’s goal of 70% or less has been met for 14 days
● ICU bed utilization rate: 49% (three-day average); the county’s goal of 80% or less has been met for 14 days
● Percentage of ventilators in use: 31% (three-day average); the county’s goal of 70% or less has been met for 14 days
● Test positivity: 5% (three-day average); 14 declining days
● Test administered: 1,716 (three-day average); the county is reporting that it has 4.3% testing capacity in the last 30 days; the county’s goal is 5%
The two benchmarks that haven’t been met are:
● Number of new confirmed cases: 83 (three-day average); eight declining days
● Number of COVID-19 related emergency room patients: 5 (three-day average); 10 declining days.
https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/coronavirus/after-one-day-jump-montgomery-county-covid-19-case-increase-again-below-1/
The problem is its increasing in other states and people have been traveling so they will bring it back here. Many ICU beds in some states are completely full. Is that a risk you want to take? I don't. We should have stayed quarantined for the summer.
DP. Yes, it’s a risk that I am willing to take. But if you aren’t, you won’t have to; everyone will have a 100% DL option.
Also, I meant to add: I also think we opened too early and should have stayed quarantined longer. But that doesn’t change my view now that given the numbers in the area, and assuming they stay like this, I would send my kid to school (and would respect the decision of other parents not to send their kids). They are tracking stats carefully, and if they get worse they can pull back from in-person learning, and as they get better, they can add more.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
Everyone state and jurisdiction posts the numbers. Do the research.
The eight benchmarks that have been met or shown “substantial progress” include:
● Number of new COVID-19 related deaths: 1 (three-day average); 13 declining days
● COVID-19 related hospitalizations: 113 (three-day average); 14 declining days
● COVID-19 related intensive care unit hospitalizations: 40 (three-day average); 14 declining days
● Acute care bed utilization rate: 64% (three-day average); the county’s goal of 70% or less has been met for 14 days
● ICU bed utilization rate: 49% (three-day average); the county’s goal of 80% or less has been met for 14 days
● Percentage of ventilators in use: 31% (three-day average); the county’s goal of 70% or less has been met for 14 days
● Test positivity: 5% (three-day average); 14 declining days
● Test administered: 1,716 (three-day average); the county is reporting that it has 4.3% testing capacity in the last 30 days; the county’s goal is 5%
The two benchmarks that haven’t been met are:
● Number of new confirmed cases: 83 (three-day average); eight declining days
● Number of COVID-19 related emergency room patients: 5 (three-day average); 10 declining days.
https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/coronavirus/after-one-day-jump-montgomery-county-covid-19-case-increase-again-below-1/
The problem is its increasing in other states and people have been traveling so they will bring it back here. Many ICU beds in some states are completely full. Is that a risk you want to take? I don't. We should have stayed quarantined for the summer.
DP. Yes, it’s a risk that I am willing to take. But if you aren’t, you won’t have to; everyone will have a 100% DL option.
Anonymous wrote:We will be using before and after are for our kindergarten aged child.
I doubt it will be offered next year.
Yes
Anonymous wrote:Just curious are your families wearing masks when walking In your neighborhood? In our neighborhood there is barley anyone outside when we go. If we pass someone we try to social distance. We are waiting for our masks to arrive in the mail but still want to enjoy the wonderful weather.
No. We wear only when going place where social distancing is hard to do (basically just the grocery store). When we go on neighborhood walks, we can easily stay six feet away from everyone.
We have ordered some.
Anonymous wrote:Give it up. The mortgage is more imlortwbt .
Agree with this.
And I’m sorry OP. This is such a stressful time.
Just pulled the potty out. My 2 year old was afraid of it when we brought it out a few months ago, but I pulled it back out yesterday and now she is interested. So, I think we are going to do this!