Anonymous
04/13/2021 20:45
Subject: Re:If APS could send some schools back 4 days and not others, should it do it?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm an APS elementary teacher and I'm ready to go back 4 days. It's much easier and more efficient in person. However at my school we have limited rooms to accommodate big numbers and so on the days when my hybrid group is not there, another grade level uses the room. Not sure where we'd go if all 4 days.
Can I ask how you think Fairfax is doing it then? Just out of curiosity. If they are the biggest school system in VA, and can do it, what exact reason is there for APS to be unable to do so? I'd be interested in an insider's perspective. For reference, a 2nd grade FFX teacher tutors our elementary child because they are just not doing well virtually, and she expressed total shock and dismay that APS is not shifting to 4 days per week.
I think in many other parts of the country, schools are just operating with status quo spacing--and implementing masking and other measures to maintain safety.
Finally, APS could get creative, just like parents and every other person tethered to a school has, and consider using alternative spaces if spacing is an issue. I'd imagine HS is most flexible to pivot. They could utilize community center spaces, vacant commercial spaces, etc etc etc. Though this has obviously been an option since day 1 of COVID, no one has meaningfully explored it it seems. Yes, I know, logistical challenges.
You know what's more logistically challenging than getting APS students in to schools more than 2 days per week? COVID vaccination distribution. Management of the border crisis. Yet, those are both still happening because there is accountability for the individuals running those programs, and they don't get to say, "It's just too hard", or, "too operationally challenging". They are sucking it up and figuring it out.
Fairfax is doing it at the schools that have capacity and not doing it at schools where they don’t. APS is saying if we all can’t do it we won’t.
Anonymous
04/13/2021 20:06
Subject: Re:If APS could send some schools back 4 days and not others, should it do it?
Anonymous wrote:Duran just emailed that with 3' distancing it is possible to combine classrooms in many instances. Boom. More classrooms.
Not sure it will get upper elementary kids back but for sure k-2 can combine from the half in each room model in most cases and they should. We are already at 15-17 per room on hybrid days at my school.
My kindergartner’s class combined last week. I truly don’t understand why APS can’t make this work.
Anonymous
04/13/2021 17:28
Subject: Re:If APS could send some schools back 4 days and not others, should it do it?
Duran just emailed that with 3' distancing it is possible to combine classrooms in many instances. Boom. More classrooms.
Not sure it will get upper elementary kids back but for sure k-2 can combine from the half in each room model in most cases and they should. We are already at 15-17 per room on hybrid days at my school.
Anonymous
04/13/2021 17:14
Subject: Re:If APS could send some schools back 4 days and not others, should it do it?
Anonymous wrote:I'm an APS elementary teacher and I'm ready to go back 4 days. It's much easier and more efficient in person. However at my school we have limited rooms to accommodate big numbers and so on the days when my hybrid group is not there, another grade level uses the room. Not sure where we'd go if all 4 days.
Duran just emailed that with 3' distancing it is possible to combine classrooms in many instances. Boom. More classrooms.
Anonymous
04/13/2021 16:54
Subject: If APS could send some schools back 4 days and not others, should it do it?
Yes! We're in a North Arl school with high hybrid rates and likely could not do 4 days due to space/demand. However, I know other families are really struggling so wherever we can get 4 days in for kids, we should!
Anonymous
04/13/2021 16:53
Subject: Re:If APS could send some schools back 4 days and not others, should it do it?
Anonymous wrote:I'm an APS elementary teacher and I'm ready to go back 4 days. It's much easier and more efficient in person. However at my school we have limited rooms to accommodate big numbers and so on the days when my hybrid group is not there, another grade level uses the room. Not sure where we'd go if all 4 days.
Can I ask how you think Fairfax is doing it then? Just out of curiosity. If they are the biggest school system in VA, and can do it, what exact reason is there for APS to be unable to do so? I'd be interested in an insider's perspective. For reference, a 2nd grade FFX teacher tutors our elementary child because they are just not doing well virtually, and she expressed total shock and dismay that APS is not shifting to 4 days per week.
I think in many other parts of the country, schools are just operating with status quo spacing--and implementing masking and other measures to maintain safety.
Finally, APS could get creative, just like parents and every other person tethered to a school has, and consider using alternative spaces if spacing is an issue. I'd imagine HS is most flexible to pivot. They could utilize community center spaces, vacant commercial spaces, etc etc etc. Though this has obviously been an option since day 1 of COVID, no one has meaningfully explored it it seems. Yes, I know, logistical challenges.
You know what's more logistically challenging than getting APS students in to schools more than 2 days per week? COVID vaccination distribution. Management of the border crisis. Yet, those are both still happening because there is accountability for the individuals running those programs, and they don't get to say, "It's just too hard", or, "too operationally challenging". They are sucking it up and figuring it out.
Anonymous
04/13/2021 15:42
Subject: Re:If APS could send some schools back 4 days and not others, should it do it?
I'm an APS elementary teacher and I'm ready to go back 4 days. It's much easier and more efficient in person. However at my school we have limited rooms to accommodate big numbers and so on the days when my hybrid group is not there, another grade level uses the room. Not sure where we'd go if all 4 days.
Anonymous
04/13/2021 15:25
Subject: If APS could send some schools back 4 days and not others, should it do it?
I cannot imagine the screeching involved here if that happened.
Anonymous
04/13/2021 15:23
Subject: Re:If APS could send some schools back 4 days and not others, should it do it?
Anonymous wrote:Interestingly the schools that could most readily go back 4 days per week are the lower income ones where the majority of kids are still at home. Carlin Springs could easily go to 4-5 days/wk since more than half their students are virtual.
It could end up being a "reverse equity" issue where the higher SES schools remain at 2 days per week since they don't have the capacity.
We thought that in FCPS also, but it's not what's happening.
Principals at the highest SES schools are coming through and bringing back everyone even though they are highly in-person. At the lower SES schools it varies.
Anonymous
04/13/2021 15:15
Subject: Re:If APS could send some schools back 4 days and not others, should it do it?
Interestingly the schools that could most readily go back 4 days per week are the lower income ones where the majority of kids are still at home. Carlin Springs could easily go to 4-5 days/wk since more than half their students are virtual.
It could end up being a "reverse equity" issue where the higher SES schools remain at 2 days per week since they don't have the capacity.
It could end up being a "reverse equity" issue where the higher SES schools remain at 2 days per week since they don't have the capacity.
Anonymous
04/13/2021 14:57
Subject: Re:If APS could send some schools back 4 days and not others, should it do it?
Anonymous wrote:K-2 should have been in school this whole damn time so yes, there are zero excuses to not bring them back and it's totally doable.
They are done pressing the teachers. This is all we're going to get.
I don't know that it's about the teachers. I'm pretty sure my kid's 2nd grade hybrid teacher would much prefer they be in person the entire time.
Anonymous
04/13/2021 13:58
Subject: Re:If APS could send some schools back 4 days and not others, should it do it?
I mean, all elementary can/should go back. This should not even be a question, but, sadly, it is. Time's up, APS. Get on it!!
Anonymous
04/13/2021 13:43
Subject: If APS could send some schools back 4 days and not others, should it do it?
Yes, absolutely, and the sooner the better
Anonymous
04/13/2021 13:06
Subject: If APS could send some schools back 4 days and not others, should it do it?
I think they should do this. This year has been a mess for our family but I would be fine if kids who were at greater need/higher risk were prioritized over my kids (i.e. kids with IEPs, not reading at grade level, etc). I also agree that APS is not even going to try.
Anonymous
04/13/2021 12:57
Subject: Re:If APS could send some schools back 4 days and not others, should it do it?
K-2 should have been in school this whole damn time so yes, there are zero excuses to not bring them back and it's totally doable.
They are done pressing the teachers. This is all we're going to get.
They are done pressing the teachers. This is all we're going to get.