Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sort of wondering about the band/orchestra festival next week. That's a lot of kids crammed in together, and I'm not sure how much benefit to anyone.

Thinking of kids playing instruments breathing the air, blowing it out of tubas, saxophones, flutes...

Lol! My kid plays cello, but when you put it that way, seems like it should definitely be cancelled.

I would assume music festivals/trips will be cancelled as well.

Anonymous wrote:State band/chorus/orchestra is cancelled.

But no word on county?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sort of wondering about the band/orchestra festival next week. That's a lot of kids crammed in together, and I'm not sure how much benefit to anyone.

Thinking of kids playing instruments breathing the air, blowing it out of tubas, saxophones, flutes...

Emptying spit valves...
[mom of a trombone player]

Anonymous wrote:I am sort of wondering about the band/orchestra festival next week. That's a lot of kids crammed in together, and I'm not sure how much benefit to anyone.

My kid’s band is scheduled to attend, and I admit I’m a little concerned. Any outbreak that might otherwise have been contained to one school could instead spread like wildfire in that environment. Especially given that recent research in Germany is showing that patients are contagious for several days before they start showing symptoms.

I don’t think my kid as an individual is at a higher risk than they would be at their own school (they’re already crammed in like sardines at their overcrowded MS), but from a public health perspective it seems like a bad idea.

Anonymous wrote:Many parents believe that any non academics school activity that gathers people should be put on hold for now. What can be done via skype or other forms, fine, but everything else is frustrating for those in attendance. Many teachers and parents are in high risk groups and per WHO, CDC and GOV. HOGAN office should avoid gatherings. Also this is against prudence of minimizing risks at this time. We are not tested as a herd, we may have lots of potential silent asymptomatic cases among us, especially considering exposure of R. Frost kids to the patients and facility that had a visiting case for 6 hours!
All kids are related through siblings that cover the entire web of school. We have reasons for concern.

MCPS, Please consider.

Those parents have the option of choosing not to attend those activities.

Many other parents believe that MCPS should not make public-health decisions based on the beliefs of parents.

State band/chorus/orchestra is cancelled.

Anonymous wrote:I am sort of wondering about the band/orchestra festival next week. That's a lot of kids crammed in together, and I'm not sure how much benefit to anyone.

Thinking of kids playing instruments breathing the air, blowing it out of tubas, saxophones, flutes...

I am sort of wondering about the band/orchestra festival next week. That's a lot of kids crammed in together, and I'm not sure how much benefit to anyone.

Luckily they are committed so they must consider this.

From the MCPS site

Montgomery County Public Schools is committed to the health and safety of our students

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/

This is not “business as usual”. Unusual times call for extraordinary measures.

This was smart move, no gatherings are safe now.

American Council on Education cancels San Diego conference due to coronavirus

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/education/story/2020-03-09/american-council-on-education-cancels-san-diego-conference-due-to-coronavirus

What about kids clubs that extend and expand the exposure?

Does your school have any meetings you feel uneasy about?

Many parents believe that any non academics school activity that gathers people should be put on hold for now. What can be done via skype or other forms, fine, but everything else is frustrating for those in attendance. Many teachers and parents are in high risk groups and per WHO, CDC and GOV. HOGAN office should avoid gatherings. Also this is against prudence of minimizing risks at this time. We are not tested as a herd, we may have lots of potential silent asymptomatic cases among us, especially considering exposure of R. Frost kids to the patients and facility that had a visiting case for 6 hours!
All kids are related through siblings that cover the entire web of school. We have reasons for concern.

MCPS, Please consider.