So since the latest APS metric said that masks are not required for anyone once we fall in CDC's low transmission category, and CDC just announced that Arlington is in the low transmission category, does that mean no masks required next week? No opt out form necessary? I assume this will apply to teachers and staff too?

Anonymous wrote:I think the parents in APS heads exploded this afternoon after the CDC update

TICK TOCK. I'm WAITING for the update, Duran!!!

"We've done a great job lowering the transmission of COVID-19 (in the last 24 hours where our levels magically went from low to high), accordingly, (I'm withdrawing APS from the mask lawsuit against Youngkin's EO) and starting on Monday, 2/28/22, masks will be optional for students at all APS schools and on buses."

I think the parents in APS heads exploded this afternoon after the CDC update

Anonymous wrote:I meant can you, not can’t you.

APS did not allow teachers to teach any new material when they shuttered schools in March 2020 and made everything asynchronous and no requirement you do any work or homework at all. No grades. That was what they did for almost half an academic year. They promised to do catch up the next year and simply did not. Private schools were teaching new material and requiring homework, giving tests, etc. the entire time. In fall 2021, private schools were open 5 days a week. APS was closed and went "hybird" in spring 2021. Hybrid was kids looking at their iPads just like the kids at home so it was a bust. Private still has real grades and requirements, whereas APS basically just requires you to show up to graduate. APS has decided that the year and half off because of Covid necessitates that they water-down the curriculum so no one struggles. Privates are not doing that at all.

I meant can you, not can’t you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have one fully vaccinated kid in aps and their mask is off as soon as it is legal.
We already pulled one out of aps for private but let the other stay as they only had full k and 1st grade in person and had a nice group of friends.
We hope to convince dc for private next year. Masks or not aps is not a great school system.

+1. Masks are not the reason we are leaving APS either. Private is simply better set up to educate our children. Sad. I now understand the achievement gap so much better when it comes to education.

Can’t you elaborate on this a bit more? My kids are early ES so I suspect we just haven’t been in public long enough to see what people talk about with these kinds of comments, but it worries me for the future. Thank you!

Anonymous wrote:I have one fully vaccinated kid in aps and their mask is off as soon as it is legal.
We already pulled one out of aps for private but let the other stay as they only had full k and 1st grade in person and had a nice group of friends.
We hope to convince dc for private next year. Masks or not aps is not a great school system.

+1. Masks are not the reason we are leaving APS either. Private is simply better set up to educate our children. Sad. I now understand the achievement gap so much better when it comes to education.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once the CDC relaxes its mask guidelines tomorrow, the mask requirements should all go away. If your child wants to wear one, you're completely within your rights to have them do so. But no more mandatory masks, starting next week. Remember your mantra: Follow the science.

I agree with this. When the cdc reframes the metrics to focus on hospitalizations and capacity instead of cases, we'll all be in low areas vs high.

But the science! What about the science?!? I've been following the science!! Now you are moving the goal posts closer. That's not science.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Staff will still be required to mask but kids will not? The APS website doesn't seem to say anything about staff.

We need the staff to be able to unmask too. This mask theater needs to be optional for all people in schools.

My principal told me there is no flexibility for us and we will remain masked.

The law only covers kids the way it is written. Technically the teachers, parents, and other visitors could be made to wear a mask while on school property.

Yes. This was made clear. Parents can choose for their kids, but APS chooses for all staff and visitors. So now we're in a situation where teachers have to mask and children have the option. Which I think is not the way to go. I'd MUCH rather keep my 2nd grade kid masked and allow the teacher to unmask so they can freaking HERE her and SEE her mouth.

I realize these decisions aren't made for instruction purposes. And I hope that cases continue to fall and that teachers have the option to take them off soon.

Anonymous wrote:Once the CDC relaxes its mask guidelines tomorrow, the mask requirements should all go away. If your child wants to wear one, you're completely within your rights to have them do so. But no more mandatory masks, starting next week. Remember your mantra: Follow the science.

I agree with this. When the cdc reframes the metrics to focus on hospitalizations and capacity instead of cases, we'll all be in low areas vs high.

Once the CDC relaxes its mask guidelines tomorrow, the mask requirements should all go away. If your child wants to wear one, you're completely within your rights to have them do so. But no more mandatory masks, starting next week. Remember your mantra: Follow the science.

I have one fully vaccinated kid in aps and their mask is off as soon as it is legal.
We already pulled one out of aps for private but let the other stay as they only had full k and 1st grade in person and had a nice group of friends.
We hope to convince dc for private next year. Masks or not aps is not a great school system.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Staff will still be required to mask but kids will not? The APS website doesn't seem to say anything about staff.

We need the staff to be able to unmask too. This mask theater needs to be optional for all people in schools.

My principal told me there is no flexibility for us and we will remain masked.

The law only covers kids the way it is written. Technically the teachers, parents, and other visitors could be made to wear a mask while on school property.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Staff will still be required to mask but kids will not? The APS website doesn't seem to say anything about staff.

We need the staff to be able to unmask too. This mask theater needs to be optional for all people in schools.

My principal told me there is no flexibility for us and we will remain masked.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should have to get the form notarized and bring to school in person during school hours.

Huh, why?

To make it more difficult, duh.

Sounds like an easy lawsuit victory. My kids are getting dropped off by my husband at school on March 1st without any mask on them. They're done.

You sound very authoritarian. Go gently with your kids. Please?