Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, all schools that have the ability and capacity to add more students more days/week should be doing this. Enough with the equity already. My 3rd graders entire class that opted for hybrid is there on the same days. So basically the class is empty 3 days/week. It's ridiculous.

Are you sure the class is empty? My classroom is used by another grade level the other 2 days per week when my class is not there. The classrooms we typically use were not large enough to hold all 17 of us on the hybrid days at one time. You probably don’t know since you haven’t been in the building this year.

NP, I know my daughter's second grade classroom sits empty three days a week. Moving to 4 days a week would be very simple.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, all schools that have the ability and capacity to add more students more days/week should be doing this. Enough with the equity already. My 3rd graders entire class that opted for hybrid is there on the same days. So basically the class is empty 3 days/week. It's ridiculous.

Are you sure the class is empty? My classroom is used by another grade level the other 2 days per week when my class is not there. The classrooms we typically use were not large enough to hold all 17 of us on the hybrid days at one time. You probably don’t know since you haven’t been in the building this year.

NP, I know my daughter's second grade classroom sits empty three days a week. Moving to 4 days a week would be very simple.

Bits is too logistically challenging for the bozos running APS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, all schools that have the ability and capacity to add more students more days/week should be doing this. Enough with the equity already. My 3rd graders entire class that opted for hybrid is there on the same days. So basically the class is empty 3 days/week. It's ridiculous.

Are you sure the class is empty? My classroom is used by another grade level the other 2 days per week when my class is not there. The classrooms we typically use were not large enough to hold all 17 of us on the hybrid days at one time. You probably don’t know since you haven’t been in the building this year.

NP, I know my daughter's second grade classroom sits empty three days a week. Moving to 4 days a week would be very simple.

Bits is too logistically challenging for the bozos running APS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, all schools that have the ability and capacity to add more students more days/week should be doing this. Enough with the equity already. My 3rd graders entire class that opted for hybrid is there on the same days. So basically the class is empty 3 days/week. It's ridiculous.

Are you sure the class is empty? My classroom is used by another grade level the other 2 days per week when my class is not there. The classrooms we typically use were not large enough to hold all 17 of us on the hybrid days at one time. You probably don’t know since you haven’t been in the building this year.

NP, I know my daughter's second grade classroom sits empty three days a week. Moving to 4 days a week would be very simple.

Bits is too logistically challenging for the bozos running APS.

Anonymous wrote:Our school said in our PTA meeting that four days a week was out of their hands and was a decision of the school board/Duran. They indicated they’re testing out having all the kids in the same classroom 3 feet apart (where possible), moving furniture out, etc because kids really do learn better the more they are together and in school. If they find they aren’t able to do small groups or other important learning activities with so many children in the classroom they will go back to the two separate classroom. I was actually encouraged by this conversation because it was clear that learning opportunities in school were a priority, no matter what school board is doing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school said in our PTA meeting that four days a week was out of their hands and was a decision of the school board/Duran. They indicated they’re testing out having all the kids in the same classroom 3 feet apart (where possible), moving furniture out, etc because kids really do learn better the more they are together and in school. If they find they aren’t able to do small groups or other important learning activities with so many children in the classroom they will go back to the two separate classroom. I was actually encouraged by this conversation because it was clear that learning opportunities in school were a priority, no matter what school board is doing.

I think a lot of ES principals are quietly grumbling about what Duran and Loft are doing, but it is hard for them to speak up because Duran is their boss. For ES, they should just space the desks as far apart as feasible (even if they can only get 2ft instead of 3ft) and then let parents decide whether they are comfortable with the arrangement. The risk of COVID spread is so low in that age group, especially with teachers vaccinated.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school said in our PTA meeting that four days a week was out of their hands and was a decision of the school board/Duran. They indicated they’re testing out having all the kids in the same classroom 3 feet apart (where possible), moving furniture out, etc because kids really do learn better the more they are together and in school. If they find they aren’t able to do small groups or other important learning activities with so many children in the classroom they will go back to the two separate classroom. I was actually encouraged by this conversation because it was clear that learning opportunities in school were a priority, no matter what school board is doing.

I think a lot of ES principals are quietly grumbling about what Duran and Loft are doing, but it is hard for them to speak up because Duran is their boss. For ES, they should just space the desks as far apart as feasible (even if they can only get 2ft instead of 3ft) and then let parents decide whether they are comfortable with the arrangement. The risk of COVID spread is so low in that age group, especially with teachers vaccinated.

I've heard that the rumor is that the distancing will be abandoned in the fall. This was derived from a conversation with a PTA leadership member discussing how APS will handle next fall and that in option programs they are likely to be at capacity given the lack of guarantee to maintain your spot. I asked how the issue of spacing would be handled and the response was that APS is likely to abandon the 3ft in order to accommodate all in the fall. I said that would mean this entire year was basically endured for nothing if it will be abandoned in the end as though it is actually without merit. I think we are beyond reason and rationale in APS. If those were driving the decisions, we would have moved to 4 or 5 days a week of in person school. Saying it's too hard when FCPS, which is the largest system in VA is doing it, literally does not add up in any way, shape, or form. So, we are just at the mercy of Duran I guess. I've never been one to call for his firing, etc., but, his apparent comfort with driving things in to the ground and leaning in hard to a very difficult to defend position is beyond comprehension for me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school said in our PTA meeting that four days a week was out of their hands and was a decision of the school board/Duran. They indicated they’re testing out having all the kids in the same classroom 3 feet apart (where possible), moving furniture out, etc because kids really do learn better the more they are together and in school. If they find they aren’t able to do small groups or other important learning activities with so many children in the classroom they will go back to the two separate classroom. I was actually encouraged by this conversation because it was clear that learning opportunities in school were a priority, no matter what school board is doing.

I think a lot of ES principals are quietly grumbling about what Duran and Loft are doing, but it is hard for them to speak up because Duran is their boss. For ES, they should just space the desks as far apart as feasible (even if they can only get 2ft instead of 3ft) and then let parents decide whether they are comfortable with the arrangement. The risk of COVID spread is so low in that age group, especially with teachers vaccinated.

I've heard that the rumor is that the distancing will be abandoned in the fall. This was derived from a conversation with a PTA leadership member discussing how APS will handle next fall and that in option programs they are likely to be at capacity given the lack of guarantee to maintain your spot. I asked how the issue of spacing would be handled and the response was that APS is likely to abandon the 3ft in order to accommodate all in the fall. I said that would mean this entire year was basically endured for nothing if it will be abandoned in the end as though it is actually without merit. I think we are beyond reason and rationale in APS. If those were driving the decisions, we would have moved to 4 or 5 days a week of in person school. Saying it's too hard when FCPS, which is the largest system in VA is doing it, literally does not add up in any way, shape, or form. So, we are just at the mercy of Duran I guess. I've never been one to call for his firing, etc., but, his apparent comfort with driving things in to the ground and leaning in hard to a very difficult to defend position is beyond comprehension for me.

I think AEM's collective head would explode if this happened. I would love to see it!

Anonymous wrote:I've heard that the rumor is that the distancing will be abandoned in the fall. This was derived from a conversation with a PTA leadership member discussing how APS will handle next fall and that in option programs they are likely to be at capacity given the lack of guarantee to maintain your spot. I asked how the issue of spacing would be handled and the response was that APS is likely to abandon the 3ft in order to accommodate all in the fall. I said that would mean this entire year was basically endured for nothing if it will be abandoned in the end as though it is actually without merit. I think we are beyond reason and rationale in APS. If those were driving the decisions, we would have moved to 4 or 5 days a week of in person school. Saying it's too hard when FCPS, which is the largest system in VA is doing it, literally does not add up in any way, shape, or form. So, we are just at the mercy of Duran I guess. I've never been one to call for his firing, etc., but, his apparent comfort with driving things in to the ground and leaning in hard to a very difficult to defend position is beyond comprehension for me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've heard that the rumor is that the distancing will be abandoned in the fall. This was derived from a conversation with a PTA leadership member discussing how APS will handle next fall and that in option programs they are likely to be at capacity given the lack of guarantee to maintain your spot. I asked how the issue of spacing would be handled and the response was that APS is likely to abandon the 3ft in order to accommodate all in the fall. I said that would mean this entire year was basically endured for nothing if it will be abandoned in the end as though it is actually without merit. I think we are beyond reason and rationale in APS. If those were driving the decisions, we would have moved to 4 or 5 days a week of in person school. Saying it's too hard when FCPS, which is the largest system in VA is doing it, literally does not add up in any way, shape, or form. So, we are just at the mercy of Duran I guess. I've never been one to call for his firing, etc., but, his apparent comfort with driving things in to the ground and leaning in hard to a very difficult to defend position is beyond comprehension for me.

A potential decision to abandon spacing in the fall (when COVID community numbers will likely be even lower) does not mean spacing is not appropriate now. I would expect CDC to revise guidelines for fall too. Before fall at least age 12+ should be vaccine eligible (and maybe even lower) so I would think high schools can be back to near normal. Lower grades is TBD.

lpstout wrote:Valuable WaPo article today on what Fairfax is doing this spring to be ready for school in August--note especially the intensive outreach to families and purchases they’re making now to ensure they’ll have the physical capacity they’ll need. Arlington needs to do the same, and before the School Board approves a budget on May 6. https://wapo.st/3sJXM9g

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At risk kids or South Arlington - yes.

Whiny parents in the far north elementaries, no.

UMMMM.. seriously? talk about discriminating. this sounds like a very "equitable" approach, loser.

Anonymous wrote:

lpstout wrote:Valuable WaPo article today on what Fairfax is doing this spring to be ready for school in August--note especially the intensive outreach to families and purchases they’re making now to ensure they’ll have the physical capacity they’ll need. Arlington needs to do the same, and before the School Board approves a budget on May 6. https://wapo.st/3sJXM9g

Any time you see a news article about FCPS, assume it's wildly overstated. They love getting good press and hate doing hard work. They also made it sound like they were bringing back most in-person kids 4 days a week and then parents had to flood admin with emails to get them to actually do it, and even then some schools that could chose not to.