We got an email today saying our first grader would have a new teacher as of Jan 19th.

They are splitting the classes into virtual and hybrid at that time, but still with no return to school date.

Anonymous wrote:As of right now, the only real plan is that they are sending back pre-K-2nd teachers back into schools this month. 6-12 will go back a week later I believe. There is still no plan for 3-5 teachers to get back into schools. They also haven’t given any dates for kids starting.

It also sounds like 3-5 might be the last ones into a classroom which will be devastating for my third grader who has been under the impression he would be in the pre-K through third group (aka first group in) all along.

Last in the classroom and switched to a concurrent model if the other thread is all accurate.

As of right now, the only real plan is that they are sending back pre-K-2nd teachers back into schools this month. 6-12 will go back a week later I believe. There is still no plan for 3-5 teachers to get back into schools. They also haven’t given any dates for kids starting.

It also sounds like 3-5 might be the last ones into a classroom which will be devastating for my third grader who has been under the impression he would be in the pre-K through third group (aka first group in) all along.

Fall 2021 maybe

Anonymous wrote:APS teacher here- my impression is that nobody knows. I think Duran is doing this as a gesture to appease parents but it is not totally thought out. The logistics alone are a mess to figure out. Staffing, procedures, policies re: vaccines, hybrid scheduling, ventilation, distance learning, support and specials staff ability to float between classes, etc etc etc. I will tell you that teachers are totally expecting to go back. I have yet to hear of a single one of my colleagues protest. We are prepared to go back when things are ironed out.

I hope for teachers’ sake they hold off a few extra weeks and everyone can get vaccinated. The virus is only going to get worse for a few more weeks. Bring them back mid February if it starts to drop. Get them vaccinated. Try to get kids back in March. That is doable. February is just going to lead to closure, sickness and unnecessary drama.

APS teacher here- my impression is that nobody knows. I think Duran is doing this as a gesture to appease parents but it is not totally thought out. The logistics alone are a mess to figure out. Staffing, procedures, policies re: vaccines, hybrid scheduling, ventilation, distance learning, support and specials staff ability to float between classes, etc etc etc. I will tell you that teachers are totally expecting to go back. I have yet to hear of a single one of my colleagues protest. We are prepared to go back when things are ironed out.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have a real sense on when we'll hear about the student timeline? Will he wait to announce until teachers are in the building and see how that goes? He has to give a head's up to parents so I'm just curious. Would like to know if anyone has any real info.

Also, any idea of how long each phase will last?

Same question. Anyone know?

Does anyone have a real sense on when we'll hear about the student timeline? Will he wait to announce until teachers are in the building and see how that goes? He has to give a head's up to parents so I'm just curious. Would like to know if anyone has any real info.

Also, any idea of how long each phase will last?

There is a school board meeting this Thursday where Duran will provide an update on reopening plans.

You can find the current plan on page 10 of this: https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/files/BWDM2N592534/$file/D-1%20School%20Year%202020-21%20Update%20121720.pdf

PP is correct that they’ve split elementary into three phases, PK/K, 1/2 and 3-5. All groups, including secondary, are targeted for a January return although dates have not been publicly released yet.

This plan appears to leave open the possibility that secondary could return before all elementary are in the building, which makes sense. Younger kids will need more time and effort to adapt to routines, so a slower phase-in will make it easier for staff to focus on smaller groups in succession. None of this affects whether secondary can return, though, so secondary can return at the same time as elementary.

I think it was three phases for elementary— pk/k, 1/2, then 3-5. I imagine each will be about two weeks apart, which means that 3-5 wouldn’t be back until mid-February. I feel a little more comfortable with this since I feel like we might be on the tail end of the surge at that point. That and theoretically teachers will be vaccinated by then.

I don’t see middle school or high school going back this year.

I can also see them pulling back and saying they will reassess at the end of January, and that slowly turning into end of March for when 3-5 goes back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was K-3, like in the original plan.

DP, it looks they’re now talking about splitting it K-2 and then 3-5, but beyond that I don’t know the schedule other than that they’re targeting getting both groups back in January. No timeline yet for secondary students.

Best news I've heard all year

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was K-3, like in the original plan.

DP, it looks they’re now talking about splitting it K-2 and then 3-5, but beyond that I don’t know the schedule other than that they’re targeting getting both groups back in January. No timeline yet for secondary students.

I thought it was K-3, like in the original plan.

Trying to read 64 pages off the other forum but can someone who actually knows summarize the current thinking about sending kids back? Is it still going to be phased in by k-2 and then 3-5? And two weeks apart?