Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t do it. I volunteer during lunch for DD’s lunch period and I see how much fun the kids have interacting. They are so happy to talk (or for 3rd graders shout) with each other. They do goofy things, share insane stories, just have fun. I think after so much time out of the classroom last year they need this unstructured time together. So many have forgotten how to act in a group of peers that lunch helps reestablish bonds and their group norms.

Shouting without masks on sounds…not great with an airborne upper respiratory virus.

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t do it. I volunteer during lunch for DD’s lunch period and I see how much fun the kids have interacting. They are so happy to talk (or for 3rd graders shout) with each other. They do goofy things, share insane stories, just have fun. I think after so much time out of the classroom last year they need this unstructured time together. So many have forgotten how to act in a group of peers that lunch helps reestablish bonds and their group norms.

What school has parent volunteers right now? Our child's APS school has been doing outdoor recess but the kids have to eat indoors if it's below 40. That's 15 or 20min with masks off in close quarters with hundreds of other kids. DC can eat a sandwich in the car with me and then head to recess with his friends this month.

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t do it. I volunteer during lunch for DD’s lunch period and I see how much fun the kids have interacting. They are so happy to talk (or for 3rd graders shout) with each other. They do goofy things, share insane stories, just have fun. I think after so much time out of the classroom last year they need this unstructured time together. So many have forgotten how to act in a group of peers that lunch helps reestablish bonds and their group norms.

Are you in APS? Which school is allowing parent lunch volunteers?

I wouldn’t do it. I volunteer during lunch for DD’s lunch period and I see how much fun the kids have interacting. They are so happy to talk (or for 3rd graders shout) with each other. They do goofy things, share insane stories, just have fun. I think after so much time out of the classroom last year they need this unstructured time together. So many have forgotten how to act in a group of peers that lunch helps reestablish bonds and their group norms.

This is OP here. Our school has done outdoor lunches almost every day this year, which we are grateful for. I also am in the camp of people who believe we will get hit with Omicron just by nature of our kids being in school; we're stocking up and planning accordingly, as much as we can. That said, indoor lunch is definitely the highest risk activity happening at school. Much higher risk than sitting in a class with a kn95. We're going to reach out to the school and see what it possible. It seems like a helpful step in mitigation even if not perfect. My son won't love it - he loves lunch with his friends - but he'll miss a lot more socialization by being out with COVID. And, even if getting infected is inevitable, I also think it is far better to have it occur as the peak passes and hospitals / doctors are in a slightly better place - just in case any one in the family needs medical attention (knock on wood).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lunch is really fast. Like 22 minutes all said and done. What grade is your kid in? Technically I guess maybe you could sign him out every day to way in your car with you for 20 minutes but that’s a lot of hassle and he would miss the socialization. The way omicron works if he’s going to get it at school he is going to get it. I don’t know that missing lunch every day will guarantee he doesn’t.

This how I’m starting to feel too. I’m just trying to make sure my family is prepared to quarantine/stay home for 2 weeks once one of us brings it home. I’m a teacher with a school aged vaxxed child and another preschool in vaxxed child and am anticipating it taking us all down soon. Trying to get ahead of planning so I have a stockpile of lessons for a sub- if I even get one.

Hugs. It’s going to be a rough couple of weeks.

Anonymous wrote:Lunch is really fast. Like 22 minutes all said and done. What grade is your kid in? Technically I guess maybe you could sign him out every day to way in your car with you for 20 minutes but that’s a lot of hassle and he would miss the socialization. The way omicron works if he’s going to get it at school he is going to get it. I don’t know that missing lunch every day will guarantee he doesn’t.

This how I’m starting to feel too. I’m just trying to make sure my family is prepared to quarantine/stay home for 2 weeks once one of us brings it home. I’m a teacher with a school aged vaxxed child and another preschool in vaxxed child and am anticipating it taking us all down soon. Trying to get ahead of planning so I have a stockpile of lessons for a sub- if I even get one.

Lunch is really fast. Like 22 minutes all said and done. What grade is your kid in? Technically I guess maybe you could sign him out every day to way in your car with you for 20 minutes but that’s a lot of hassle and he would miss the socialization. The way omicron works if he’s going to get it at school he is going to get it. I don’t know that missing lunch every day will guarantee he doesn’t.

We are not permitting indoor lunch at least until infection rates die down later this winter. I am blocking time on my calendar daily to go to school and pull my child out to eat either outdoors or in the car. Our principal has not allowed lunch outdoors in temperatures under 40 degrees this year.

Our school has the option for kids to eat outside. Though I don’t blame mine for not choosing that when it is cold, I wouldn’t want to sit in the cold either.

I’ve walked by a few of our neighborhood schools around lunchtime and seen several parents eating outside with their kids picnic-style. We’re ACPS, which has basically refused to implement consistent outdoor lunches.

Has anyone arranged to take their kids out of school just for lunch, during cold or inclement weather days? As context, our school has eaten outside nearly every day this year. But I suspect later this week will not allow for that - just as omicron rates ascend to peak levels. I am fortunate to have enough flexibility at work that I could meet my kid at school and have him eat with me. Has anyone done or explored this?