"1) The re-open crowd is very vocal and LOUD. OK, OK. We get it."

Um, no, this is not the case in DC. If you hint at wanting schools to reopen you are shouted down as not caring about racial equity and being pro-death.

General observations:

1) The re-open crowd is very vocal and LOUD. OK, OK. We get it. The "science" that says schools should be open may be correct in the long run. Or not. I just don't think you can claim the science is settled at this point, especially with the new mutations that are highly contagious. Remember when we were putting Clorox on deliveries. And don't pressure people that don't want schools fully open to reassure your decision is correct.

2) If DL is working for your family and you don't feel comfortable sending a kiddo back, don't feel intimidated about going back just because you were offered a spot. Save it for those who really want/need it.

3) Just because other places in the country/world have schools open doesn't mean it is going swimmingly. School spread can and does happen. Hell, it happens at playgrounds. Mask + outside is good, but not magical.

4) DC's plan to only allow a limited number of students sucks royal ass. It's creating a new system of have's and have not's. But it probably does make it safer, sadly b/c the classrooms aren't as crowded and it will be people that have been the least risk averse the entire pandemic. Politically speaking, I think it is smart policy by the Mayor. She is on record of saying it will give IPL seats to those families that "want" them. Doesn't make it good public policy, though.

5) If all the teachers/staff and parents start getting vaccinated, I really think they will expand openings for term 4. Even if it goes against some of the current science, it will be too politically advantageous to do so.

6) CARES classrooms/hubs should have been open the whole time. Huge failure. I feel so bad for those kids that need it. Not just parents that are sick of their kids being home.

Hang in there! Needles in the arms as fast as possible please. Stay the course and grind it out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15% of open DCPS classrooms have covid per DCPS' Ferabee. So yeah happy to turn down a spot. DCPS hasn't figured out how to bring us back safely

This sure is a misleading way to state it, making it sound as if the whole classroom is affected, when it’s probably isolated cases in 15% of the classrooms.

If its one classroom from one person it can a) spread and b) the classroom has to shut down and everyone needs to quarantine.

BTW this is how the Chancellor said it so......

Right. But really all this shows us is there’s tons of COVID going undetected. Classrooms full of kids purposely selected for need in DC should be expected to have at least average community rates of COVID. 15% of classrooms... which could be 2 or 3% of students... is not surprising at all.

It's 10 percent of the adults in schools.

And the CARE classrooms are not based on need all over the city. We have housing insecure and very poor kids not in CARES classrooms but rich, white, two parent households sending theirs.

Where are you getting the data that it’s 10% of adults? That doesn’t seem accurate. Even if it were, these are adults who volunteered for in class assignments and are therefore likely not either high risk or risk averse; common sense tells you’d they have above average rates. In some ways more importantly, if teachers are getting COVID from other teachers, they are just like every other worker working in person in the city. It’s only if students pose some special/increased risk that the argument we’ve heard from day 1 (those germy kids won’t wear masks and will hug/cough on me) makes any sense. Now we see that that’s not true at all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child's private school (in DC) is testing the entire student body (students and teachers) prior to any return to in-person learning. The school has about 575 kids (grades 4-12) in two cohorts.
They tested cohort 1 ten days ago and came up with one positive.
They tested cohort 2 last week and camp up with zero positives.

They use PCR testing.This is a student body who travelled over the break (many went out of town against advice) and continually does travel sports.

I found it very encouraging that there was so little virus among the kids.

Our DCPS, Brent elementary on Capitol Hill, tested the entire student body (students and teachers) after winter break.

More than 100 kids are back in-person at Brent. Zero positives. Totally worth it to have our kids back in school, one 5 days a week with IEP, one starting hybrid on Mon.

Yes, Covid is really not as endemic (AT ALL) in kids as people fear.

I'm the private school mom (also with kids in DCPS). The testing our school does is legit---i'm there for the swabbing in the car. It's PCR and done correctly--brain tickling swabs up the nose.
They have now tested the entire school 3 times. And they come up with 0-1 cases each time (out of almost 600 kids plus teachers). And these kids are out and about doing all sorts of stuff: maskless sports with close contact, skiing, playdates, sleepovers (I've heard all sorts of maddening things through my kid's tales about friends).
So they're not staying isolated at home. Plus I think about every other family flew on planes over Christmas. This is definitely a "rules don't apply to me" population.
AND YET--the kids are not Covid positive.

So your private school has had zero positives. That's great news. But we also know that kids in the CARE rooms HAVE tested positive. We know this because of the data that DC publishes listing the number of students who test positive. Now I think we should open, but we can't say there will be zero positive cases because we know that is NOT the case.

But the CDC study is showing these kids likely didn't get the COVID from schools. Which is what matters here.

Anonymous wrote:Forcing people back to work when it could cause permanent medical damage to their person - wow - you all really show the reason we need a union.

Once people are vaccinated that's an irrational fear...sorry, but it's true.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15% of open DCPS classrooms have covid per DCPS' Ferabee. So yeah happy to turn down a spot. DCPS hasn't figured out how to bring us back safely

This sure is a misleading way to state it, making it sound as if the whole classroom is affected, when it’s probably isolated cases in 15% of the classrooms.

If its one classroom from one person it can a) spread and b) the classroom has to shut down and everyone needs to quarantine.

BTW this is how the Chancellor said it so......

Right. But really all this shows us is there’s tons of COVID going undetected. Classrooms full of kids purposely selected for need in DC should be expected to have at least average community rates of COVID. 15% of classrooms... which could be 2 or 3% of students... is not surprising at all.

It's 10 percent of the adults in schools.

And the CARE classrooms are not based on need all over the city. We have housing insecure and very poor kids not in CARES classrooms but rich, white, two parent households sending theirs.

CARES classrooms are based on need all over the city. You are wrong. Higher needs kids may have turned them down, but the spots were prioritized (in whatever grade level(s) the classrooms cover) all over the city. Schools only had flexibility on how to allocate seats post-priorities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You people are crazy. Of course you should take a spot, especially for PK-3 grades. Young children have a low likelihood of transmitting the virus (i.e., you are safe), and in DC, 0% of persons 19 and under infected with covid have died (i.e., your kids are safe). Science! With your logic, you would have been crazy to send your kid to school pre-covid, when schools were being less cautious and your kid could have caught the flu, which they can transmit to you and get really ill from. Worried about infecting an older person? They are all being vaccinated right now. Get your vaccine. Send your kid to school. Be a reasonably good citizen.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02973-3

Low doesn't mean no-risk. I know a couple that contracted COVID from their daughter, who caught it from her daycare teacher. Both parents got sick and dad missed 3 weeks of work. This changed my perspective entirely.

Is missing work feasible for a family that lives paycheck to paycheck? Or who lives with a grandparent with a high-risk condition?

Stop shaming people for making the decisions that are best for themselves and their families.

Oh, you have an anecdote. An anecdote where nothing of consequence happened, compared to the consequence of withholding children from school. You don't think a family living from paycheck to paycheck would be better off sending their kid to school? You know anyone over 65 in DC who tried to get a vaccine appointment in DC and hasn't gotten one yet? Shame on you for scaremongering without facts or data.

The same way the PP is being over dramatic, so are you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You people are crazy. Of course you should take a spot, especially for PK-3 grades. Young children have a low likelihood of transmitting the virus (i.e., you are safe), and in DC, 0% of persons 19 and under infected with covid have died (i.e., your kids are safe). Science! With your logic, you would have been crazy to send your kid to school pre-covid, when schools were being less cautious and your kid could have caught the flu, which they can transmit to you and get really ill from. Worried about infecting an older person? They are all being vaccinated right now. Get your vaccine. Send your kid to school. Be a reasonably good citizen.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02973-3

Low doesn't mean no-risk. I know a couple that contracted COVID from their daughter, who caught it from her daycare teacher. Both parents got sick and dad missed 3 weeks of work. This changed my perspective entirely.

Is missing work feasible for a family that lives paycheck to paycheck? Or who lives with a grandparent with a high-risk condition?

Stop shaming people for making the decisions that are best for themselves and their families.

Oh, you have an anecdote. An anecdote where nothing of consequence happened, compared to the consequence of withholding children from school. You don't think a family living from paycheck to paycheck would be better off sending their kid to school? You know anyone over 65 in DC who tried to get a vaccine appointment in DC and hasn't gotten one yet? Shame on you for scaremongering without facts or data.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child's private school (in DC) is testing the entire student body (students and teachers) prior to any return to in-person learning. The school has about 575 kids (grades 4-12) in two cohorts.
They tested cohort 1 ten days ago and came up with one positive.
They tested cohort 2 last week and camp up with zero positives.

They use PCR testing.This is a student body who travelled over the break (many went out of town against advice) and continually does travel sports.

I found it very encouraging that there was so little virus among the kids.

Our DCPS, Brent elementary on Capitol Hill, tested the entire student body (students and teachers) after winter break.

More than 100 kids are back in-person at Brent. Zero positives. Totally worth it to have our kids back in school, one 5 days a week with IEP, one starting hybrid on Mon.

Yes, Covid is really not as endemic (AT ALL) in kids as people fear.

I'm the private school mom (also with kids in DCPS). The testing our school does is legit---i'm there for the swabbing in the car. It's PCR and done correctly--brain tickling swabs up the nose.
They have now tested the entire school 3 times. And they come up with 0-1 cases each time (out of almost 600 kids plus teachers). And these kids are out and about doing all sorts of stuff: maskless sports with close contact, skiing, playdates, sleepovers (I've heard all sorts of maddening things through my kid's tales about friends).
So they're not staying isolated at home. Plus I think about every other family flew on planes over Christmas. This is definitely a "rules don't apply to me" population.
AND YET--the kids are not Covid positive.

So your private school has had zero positives. That's great news. But we also know that kids in the CARE rooms HAVE tested positive. We know this because of the data that DC publishes listing the number of students who test positive. Now I think we should open, but we can't say there will be zero positive cases because we know that is NOT the case.

Look, some DC demographics are experiencing a lot less Covid spread than others, e.g. the students at Brent vs. the students at elementary schools in Wards 7 and 8. No miracles possible: we can only do our best by DC public school families as a city and community. Be realistic while trying lot harder as a city.

DCPS, aggressively reopen every school and class that can possibly reopen in Term 3. Quarantine class groups as necessary without flapping or embracing defeatism.

Take all the Federal help the District can get to reopen schools and use the support efficiently and wisely. Push for all teachers eligible to return to be buildings to be vaccinated ASAP.

Keep on trying, keep on plugging, keep on innovating, week in and week out. DL is clobbering tens of thousands of DC kids, jeopardizing their health, safety and futures (and not just poor kids). CDD wants school closures as a last resort, not the way the WTU has foisted them on us for 8 months worth of school time.

Very well said.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child's private school (in DC) is testing the entire student body (students and teachers) prior to any return to in-person learning. The school has about 575 kids (grades 4-12) in two cohorts.
They tested cohort 1 ten days ago and came up with one positive.
They tested cohort 2 last week and camp up with zero positives.

They use PCR testing.This is a student body who travelled over the break (many went out of town against advice) and continually does travel sports.

I found it very encouraging that there was so little virus among the kids.

Our DCPS, Brent elementary on Capitol Hill, tested the entire student body (students and teachers) after winter break.

More than 100 kids are back in-person at Brent. Zero positives. Totally worth it to have our kids back in school, one 5 days a week with IEP, one starting hybrid on Mon.

Yes, Covid is really not as endemic (AT ALL) in kids as people fear.

I'm the private school mom (also with kids in DCPS). The testing our school does is legit---i'm there for the swabbing in the car. It's PCR and done correctly--brain tickling swabs up the nose.
They have now tested the entire school 3 times. And they come up with 0-1 cases each time (out of almost 600 kids plus teachers). And these kids are out and about doing all sorts of stuff: maskless sports with close contact, skiing, playdates, sleepovers (I've heard all sorts of maddening things through my kid's tales about friends).
So they're not staying isolated at home. Plus I think about every other family flew on planes over Christmas. This is definitely a "rules don't apply to me" population.
AND YET--the kids are not Covid positive.

So your private school has had zero positives. That's great news. But we also know that kids in the CARE rooms HAVE tested positive. We know this because of the data that DC publishes listing the number of students who test positive. Now I think we should open, but we can't say there will be zero positive cases because we know that is NOT the case.

Look, some DC demographics are experiencing a lot less Covid spread than others, e.g. the students at Brent vs. the students at elementary schools in Wards 7 and 8. No miracles possible: we can only do our best by DC public school families as a city and community. Be realistic while trying lot harder as a city.

DCPS, aggressively reopen every school and class that can possibly reopen in Term 3. Quarantine class groups as necessary without flapping or embracing defeatism.

Take all the Federal help the District can get to reopen schools and use the support efficiently and wisely. Push for all teachers eligible to return to be buildings to be vaccinated ASAP.

Keep on trying, keep on plugging, keep on innovating, week in and week out. DL is clobbering tens of thousands of DC kids, jeopardizing their health, safety and futures (and not just poor kids). CD[C] wants school closures as a last resort, not the way the WTU has foisted them on us for 8 months worth of school time.

That's a great attitude. Wish it was the prevailing one since August.

Thank you, PP. I agree completely.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child's private school (in DC) is testing the entire student body (students and teachers) prior to any return to in-person learning. The school has about 575 kids (grades 4-12) in two cohorts.
They tested cohort 1 ten days ago and came up with one positive.
They tested cohort 2 last week and camp up with zero positives.

They use PCR testing.This is a student body who travelled over the break (many went out of town against advice) and continually does travel sports.

I found it very encouraging that there was so little virus among the kids.

Our DCPS, Brent elementary on Capitol Hill, tested the entire student body (students and teachers) after winter break.

More than 100 kids are back in-person at Brent. Zero positives. Totally worth it to have our kids back in school, one 5 days a week with IEP, one starting hybrid on Mon.

Yes, Covid is really not as endemic (AT ALL) in kids as people fear.

I'm the private school mom (also with kids in DCPS). The testing our school does is legit---i'm there for the swabbing in the car. It's PCR and done correctly--brain tickling swabs up the nose.
They have now tested the entire school 3 times. And they come up with 0-1 cases each time (out of almost 600 kids plus teachers). And these kids are out and about doing all sorts of stuff: maskless sports with close contact, skiing, playdates, sleepovers (I've heard all sorts of maddening things through my kid's tales about friends).
So they're not staying isolated at home. Plus I think about every other family flew on planes over Christmas. This is definitely a "rules don't apply to me" population.
AND YET--the kids are not Covid positive.

So your private school has had zero positives. That's great news. But we also know that kids in the CARE rooms HAVE tested positive. We know this because of the data that DC publishes listing the number of students who test positive. Now I think we should open, but we can't say there will be zero positive cases because we know that is NOT the case.

Look, some DC demographics are experiencing a lot less Covid spread than others, e.g. the students at Brent vs. the students at elementary schools in Wards 7 and 8. No miracles possible: we can only do our best by DC public school families as a city and community. Be realistic while trying lot harder as a city.

DCPS, aggressively reopen every school and class that can possibly reopen in Term 3. Quarantine class groups as necessary without flapping or embracing defeatism.

Take all the Federal help the District can get to reopen schools and use the support efficiently and wisely. Push for all teachers eligible to return to be buildings to be vaccinated ASAP.

Keep on trying, keep on plugging, keep on innovating, week in and week out. DL is clobbering tens of thousands of DC kids, jeopardizing their health, safety and futures (and not just poor kids). CDD wants school closures as a last resort, not the way the WTU has foisted them on us for 8 months worth of school time.

The two closest elementary schools to us here in Petworth both closed due to positive cases in December. Just remember that we're all experiencing this differently, and being at home all the time limits the distance we think about. It seems there is a lot of local variation in willingness to return to school though DCPS is unwilling to share school-level data.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child's private school (in DC) is testing the entire student body (students and teachers) prior to any return to in-person learning. The school has about 575 kids (grades 4-12) in two cohorts.
They tested cohort 1 ten days ago and came up with one positive.
They tested cohort 2 last week and camp up with zero positives.

They use PCR testing.This is a student body who travelled over the break (many went out of town against advice) and continually does travel sports.

I found it very encouraging that there was so little virus among the kids.

Our DCPS, Brent elementary on Capitol Hill, tested the entire student body (students and teachers) after winter break.

More than 100 kids are back in-person at Brent. Zero positives. Totally worth it to have our kids back in school, one 5 days a week with IEP, one starting hybrid on Mon.

Yes, Covid is really not as endemic (AT ALL) in kids as people fear.

I'm the private school mom (also with kids in DCPS). The testing our school does is legit---i'm there for the swabbing in the car. It's PCR and done correctly--brain tickling swabs up the nose.
They have now tested the entire school 3 times. And they come up with 0-1 cases each time (out of almost 600 kids plus teachers). And these kids are out and about doing all sorts of stuff: maskless sports with close contact, skiing, playdates, sleepovers (I've heard all sorts of maddening things through my kid's tales about friends).
So they're not staying isolated at home. Plus I think about every other family flew on planes over Christmas. This is definitely a "rules don't apply to me" population.
AND YET--the kids are not Covid positive.

So your private school has had zero positives. That's great news. But we also know that kids in the CARE rooms HAVE tested positive. We know this because of the data that DC publishes listing the number of students who test positive. Now I think we should open, but we can't say there will be zero positive cases because we know that is NOT the case.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child's private school (in DC) is testing the entire student body (students and teachers) prior to any return to in-person learning. The school has about 575 kids (grades 4-12) in two cohorts.
They tested cohort 1 ten days ago and came up with one positive.
They tested cohort 2 last week and camp up with zero positives.

They use PCR testing.This is a student body who travelled over the break (many went out of town against advice) and continually does travel sports.

I found it very encouraging that there was so little virus among the kids.

Our DCPS, Brent elementary on Capitol Hill, tested the entire student body (students and teachers) after winter break.

More than 100 kids are back in-person at Brent. Zero positives. Totally worth it to have our kids back in school, one 5 days a week with IEP, one starting hybrid on Mon.

Yes, Covid is really not as endemic (AT ALL) in kids as people fear.

I'm the private school mom (also with kids in DCPS). The testing our school does is legit---i'm there for the swabbing in the car. It's PCR and done correctly--brain tickling swabs up the nose.
They have now tested the entire school 3 times. And they come up with 0-1 cases each time (out of almost 600 kids plus teachers). And these kids are out and about doing all sorts of stuff: maskless sports with close contact, skiing, playdates, sleepovers (I've heard all sorts of maddening things through my kid's tales about friends).
So they're not staying isolated at home. Plus I think about every other family flew on planes over Christmas. This is definitely a "rules don't apply to me" population.
AND YET--the kids are not Covid positive.