Anonymous wrote:We are still masking for the foreseeable future.

I tried talking to my kid this morning about treating everyone with the same kindness at school whether they were wearing a mask or not and he was legitimately offended, saying that people who were not wearing masks were failing to take care of the people in the community who had lower immunity levels or at risk people at home, and I said we would have to continue the conversation this evening (because, though I didn't say it, he wasn't really wrong and I don't know a great response to this argument).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are still masking for the foreseeable future.

I tried talking to my kid this morning about treating everyone with the same kindness at school whether they were wearing a mask or not and he was legitimately offended, saying that people who were not wearing masks were failing to take care of the people in the community who had lower immunity levels or at risk people at home, and I said we would have to continue the conversation this evening (because, though I didn't say it, he wasn't really wrong and I don't know a great response to this argument).

Similar. We’re struggling with language that won’t add to any conflict/confusion at school. If you come up with something, would love to hear it. Ours is in 1st.

Anonymous wrote:We are still masking for the foreseeable future.

I tried talking to my kid this morning about treating everyone with the same kindness at school whether they were wearing a mask or not and he was legitimately offended, saying that people who were not wearing masks were failing to take care of the people in the community who had lower immunity levels or at risk people at home, and I said we would have to continue the conversation this evening (because, though I didn't say it, he wasn't really wrong and I don't know a great response to this argument).

Anonymous wrote:We will have our kids mask for a few more weeks until community spread drops a bit more. The guidance will need to be broad reaching - sports and other indoor attendance like theater productions, what the impact on quarantines will be if a child is a close contact with a Covid positive person and one or both of them aren't masked. How to handle situations where parents or teachers are uncomfortable with unmasked kids (see the entire thread about teachers who may not want to come right up to the desk of a child who is unmasked. That's a public health measure, not a discrimination measure).

It's not as easy as "ok, opt out is an option for everyone including teachers". The entire safety framework is built on masking as one of the primary means of safety.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote: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?

Duran's Friday email just came out...they need to "review" the new guidance and will get back to us on Monday

I think this is great actually. Maybe APS can save face, there doesn't have to be tension between kids about who is opting out, and teachers can get a break too (if they want one).

I think this just proves APS cares more saving face than timely communicating with families. Which seems just about right.

Because they didn’t announce a whole new policy within minutes of CDC changing it’s guidelines, late on a Friday afternoon when there is no school the next day? I like my administrators and policy folks to think through what the policies will be going forward, and a weekend is a reasonable amount of time to do so.

No. Because regardless of what the CDC says, masks are coming off Tuesday. If there is going to be a formal “opt out” out process then that needs to be communicated with more than one day’s notice. And everyone has know for days now the CDC was going to change its metrics. The writing was on the wall that transmission would possibly be lowered. How did they not already have a plan/press release ready to go knowing this was a likely scenario? What exactly are these people at Syphax with bloated six figure salaries who responsible for writing these policies doing all day?

And under their current policy, you’ll be able to opt out your kids on Tuesday. Any new policy would, if anything, be even more flexible. Since you seem to be of the view that your kids will go mask free on Tuesday, this really doesn’t impact you. As for me, we’ll probably follow whatever guidelines are ultimately issued, and since masks aren’t a big deal to my kids I think we’ll be fine waiting until Monday to find out what the new policy will be.

But it’s not as simple as masks just coming off on Tuesday. We have been given no guidance as to whether a written opt out is required. No update on how masking vs. not masking may affect kids being required to quarantine or not being allowed to do test to stay (I’m hoping there is no change to that, but who knows). Is there a chance kids will be moved around the classroom based on their masking decision? My family is leaning toward unmasking, but I’ve been waiting to hear how it will be implemented to decide for sure.

None of this came out of the blue. And this isn’t the first issue for which APS has had poor communication. I’m sorry I expect a bit more from highly paid professionals.

As of this morning it's a qualtrics survey similar to the one that was sent for vaccine verification. Students will not be moved to separate classrooms. Some 504/IEP accommodations may be made. Teachers won't be mask police.

Maybe not, but one of my kid’s teachers flat out told the kids that she will quit if they don’t wear masks.

Great, thanks anti-maskers.

Schools were doing pretty well this year until the antimaskers got their way.

You need to spend some time outside of the dmv. Or meet some people outside of the dmv. Or better yet, outside of America.

This area has gone so far in one direction with covid hysteria that it cannot even fathom how to turn itself around. Really sad.

You should start a support group with anxious teacher and crazy ventilation lady.

Anonymous wrote:We will have our kids mask for a few more weeks until community spread drops a bit more. The guidance will need to be broad reaching - sports and other indoor attendance like theater productions, what the impact on quarantines will be if a child is a close contact with a Covid positive person and one or both of them aren't masked. How to handle situations where parents or teachers are uncomfortable with unmasked kids (see the entire thread about teachers who may not want to come right up to the desk of a child who is unmasked. That's a public health measure, not a discrimination measure).

It's not as easy as "ok, opt out is an option for everyone including teachers". The entire safety framework is built on masking as one of the primary means of safety.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

Duran's Friday email just came out...they need to "review" the new guidance and will get back to us on Monday

I think this is great actually. Maybe APS can save face, there doesn't have to be tension between kids about who is opting out, and teachers can get a break too (if they want one).

I think this just proves APS cares more saving face than timely communicating with families. Which seems just about right.

Because they didn’t announce a whole new policy within minutes of CDC changing it’s guidelines, late on a Friday afternoon when there is no school the next day? I like my administrators and policy folks to think through what the policies will be going forward, and a weekend is a reasonable amount of time to do so.

No. Because regardless of what the CDC says, masks are coming off Tuesday. If there is going to be a formal “opt out” out process then that needs to be communicated with more than one day’s notice. And everyone has know for days now the CDC was going to change its metrics. The writing was on the wall that transmission would possibly be lowered. How did they not already have a plan/press release ready to go knowing this was a likely scenario? What exactly are these people at Syphax with bloated six figure salaries who responsible for writing these policies doing all day?

And under their current policy, you’ll be able to opt out your kids on Tuesday. Any new policy would, if anything, be even more flexible. Since you seem to be of the view that your kids will go mask free on Tuesday, this really doesn’t impact you. As for me, we’ll probably follow whatever guidelines are ultimately issued, and since masks aren’t a big deal to my kids I think we’ll be fine waiting until Monday to find out what the new policy will be.

But it’s not as simple as masks just coming off on Tuesday. We have been given no guidance as to whether a written opt out is required. No update on how masking vs. not masking may affect kids being required to quarantine or not being allowed to do test to stay (I’m hoping there is no change to that, but who knows). Is there a chance kids will be moved around the classroom based on their masking decision? My family is leaning toward unmasking, but I’ve been waiting to hear how it will be implemented to decide for sure.

None of this came out of the blue. And this isn’t the first issue for which APS has had poor communication. I’m sorry I expect a bit more from highly paid professionals.

As of this morning it's a qualtrics survey similar to the one that was sent for vaccine verification. Students will not be moved to separate classrooms. Some 504/IEP accommodations may be made. Teachers won't be mask police.

Maybe not, but one of my kid’s teachers flat out told the kids that she will quit if they don’t wear masks.

Great, thanks anti-maskers.

Schools were doing pretty well this year until the antimaskers got their way.

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax just released this:

Based on these new metrics and CDC guidance, FCPS will now adjust our roll back plan and allow everyone - staff and parents/guardians of FCPS students - to make a choice whether or not they will wear a mask starting Tuesday, March

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

Duran's Friday email just came out...they need to "review" the new guidance and will get back to us on Monday

I think this is great actually. Maybe APS can save face, there doesn't have to be tension between kids about who is opting out, and teachers can get a break too (if they want one).

I think this just proves APS cares more saving face than timely communicating with families. Which seems just about right.

Because they didn’t announce a whole new policy within minutes of CDC changing it’s guidelines, late on a Friday afternoon when there is no school the next day? I like my administrators and policy folks to think through what the policies will be going forward, and a weekend is a reasonable amount of time to do so.

No. Because regardless of what the CDC says, masks are coming off Tuesday. If there is going to be a formal “opt out” out process then that needs to be communicated with more than one day’s notice. And everyone has know for days now the CDC was going to change its metrics. The writing was on the wall that transmission would possibly be lowered. How did they not already have a plan/press release ready to go knowing this was a likely scenario? What exactly are these people at Syphax with bloated six figure salaries who responsible for writing these policies doing all day?

And under their current policy, you’ll be able to opt out your kids on Tuesday. Any new policy would, if anything, be even more flexible. Since you seem to be of the view that your kids will go mask free on Tuesday, this really doesn’t impact you. As for me, we’ll probably follow whatever guidelines are ultimately issued, and since masks aren’t a big deal to my kids I think we’ll be fine waiting until Monday to find out what the new policy will be.

But it’s not as simple as masks just coming off on Tuesday. We have been given no guidance as to whether a written opt out is required. No update on how masking vs. not masking may affect kids being required to quarantine or not being allowed to do test to stay (I’m hoping there is no change to that, but who knows). Is there a chance kids will be moved around the classroom based on their masking decision? My family is leaning toward unmasking, but I’ve been waiting to hear how it will be implemented to decide for sure.

None of this came out of the blue. And this isn’t the first issue for which APS has had poor communication. I’m sorry I expect a bit more from highly paid professionals.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

Duran's Friday email just came out...they need to "review" the new guidance and will get back to us on Monday

I think this is great actually. Maybe APS can save face, there doesn't have to be tension between kids about who is opting out, and teachers can get a break too (if they want one).

I think this just proves APS cares more saving face than timely communicating with families. Which seems just about right.

Because they didn’t announce a whole new policy within minutes of CDC changing it’s guidelines, late on a Friday afternoon when there is no school the next day? I like my administrators and policy folks to think through what the policies will be going forward, and a weekend is a reasonable amount of time to do so.

No. Because regardless of what the CDC says, masks are coming off Tuesday. If there is going to be a formal “opt out” out process then that needs to be communicated with more than one day’s notice. And everyone has know for days now the CDC was going to change its metrics. The writing was on the wall that transmission would possibly be lowered. How did they not already have a plan/press release ready to go knowing this was a likely scenario? What exactly are these people at Syphax with bloated six figure salaries who responsible for writing these policies doing all day?

And under their current policy, you’ll be able to opt out your kids on Tuesday. Any new policy would, if anything, be even more flexible. Since you seem to be of the view that your kids will go mask free on Tuesday, this really doesn’t impact you. As for me, we’ll probably follow whatever guidelines are ultimately issued, and since masks aren’t a big deal to my kids I think we’ll be fine waiting until Monday to find out what the new policy will be.

But it’s not as simple as masks just coming off on Tuesday. We have been given no guidance as to whether a written opt out is required. No update on how masking vs. not masking may affect kids being required to quarantine or not being allowed to do test to stay (I’m hoping there is no change to that, but who knows). Is there a chance kids will be moved around the classroom based on their masking decision? My family is leaning toward unmasking, but I’ve been waiting to hear how it will be implemented to decide for sure.

None of this came out of the blue. And this isn’t the first issue for which APS has had poor communication. I’m sorry I expect a bit more from highly paid professionals.

As of this morning it's a qualtrics survey similar to the one that was sent for vaccine verification. Students will not be moved to separate classrooms. Some 504/IEP accommodations may be made. Teachers won't be mask police.

Maybe not, but one of my kid’s teachers flat out told the kids that she will quit if they don’t wear masks.

Great, thanks anti-maskers.

Schools were doing pretty well this year until the antimaskers got their way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

Duran's Friday email just came out...they need to "review" the new guidance and will get back to us on Monday

I think this is great actually. Maybe APS can save face, there doesn't have to be tension between kids about who is opting out, and teachers can get a break too (if they want one).

I think this just proves APS cares more saving face than timely communicating with families. Which seems just about right.

Because they didn’t announce a whole new policy within minutes of CDC changing it’s guidelines, late on a Friday afternoon when there is no school the next day? I like my administrators and policy folks to think through what the policies will be going forward, and a weekend is a reasonable amount of time to do so.

No. Because regardless of what the CDC says, masks are coming off Tuesday. If there is going to be a formal “opt out” out process then that needs to be communicated with more than one day’s notice. And everyone has know for days now the CDC was going to change its metrics. The writing was on the wall that transmission would possibly be lowered. How did they not already have a plan/press release ready to go knowing this was a likely scenario? What exactly are these people at Syphax with bloated six figure salaries who responsible for writing these policies doing all day?

And under their current policy, you’ll be able to opt out your kids on Tuesday. Any new policy would, if anything, be even more flexible. Since you seem to be of the view that your kids will go mask free on Tuesday, this really doesn’t impact you. As for me, we’ll probably follow whatever guidelines are ultimately issued, and since masks aren’t a big deal to my kids I think we’ll be fine waiting until Monday to find out what the new policy will be.

But it’s not as simple as masks just coming off on Tuesday. We have been given no guidance as to whether a written opt out is required. No update on how masking vs. not masking may affect kids being required to quarantine or not being allowed to do test to stay (I’m hoping there is no change to that, but who knows). Is there a chance kids will be moved around the classroom based on their masking decision? My family is leaning toward unmasking, but I’ve been waiting to hear how it will be implemented to decide for sure.

None of this came out of the blue. And this isn’t the first issue for which APS has had poor communication. I’m sorry I expect a bit more from highly paid professionals.

As of this morning it's a qualtrics survey similar to the one that was sent for vaccine verification. Students will not be moved to separate classrooms. Some 504/IEP accommodations may be made. Teachers won't be mask police.

Maybe not, but one of my kid’s teachers flat out told the kids that she will quit if they don’t wear masks.

Great, thanks anti-maskers.

Schools were doing pretty well this year until the antimaskers got their way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

Duran's Friday email just came out...they need to "review" the new guidance and will get back to us on Monday

I think this is great actually. Maybe APS can save face, there doesn't have to be tension between kids about who is opting out, and teachers can get a break too (if they want one).

I think this just proves APS cares more saving face than timely communicating with families. Which seems just about right.

Because they didn’t announce a whole new policy within minutes of CDC changing it’s guidelines, late on a Friday afternoon when there is no school the next day? I like my administrators and policy folks to think through what the policies will be going forward, and a weekend is a reasonable amount of time to do so.

No. Because regardless of what the CDC says, masks are coming off Tuesday. If there is going to be a formal “opt out” out process then that needs to be communicated with more than one day’s notice. And everyone has know for days now the CDC was going to change its metrics. The writing was on the wall that transmission would possibly be lowered. How did they not already have a plan/press release ready to go knowing this was a likely scenario? What exactly are these people at Syphax with bloated six figure salaries who responsible for writing these policies doing all day?

And under their current policy, you’ll be able to opt out your kids on Tuesday. Any new policy would, if anything, be even more flexible. Since you seem to be of the view that your kids will go mask free on Tuesday, this really doesn’t impact you. As for me, we’ll probably follow whatever guidelines are ultimately issued, and since masks aren’t a big deal to my kids I think we’ll be fine waiting until Monday to find out what the new policy will be.

But it’s not as simple as masks just coming off on Tuesday. We have been given no guidance as to whether a written opt out is required. No update on how masking vs. not masking may affect kids being required to quarantine or not being allowed to do test to stay (I’m hoping there is no change to that, but who knows). Is there a chance kids will be moved around the classroom based on their masking decision? My family is leaning toward unmasking, but I’ve been waiting to hear how it will be implemented to decide for sure.

None of this came out of the blue. And this isn’t the first issue for which APS has had poor communication. I’m sorry I expect a bit more from highly paid professionals.

As of this morning it's a qualtrics survey similar to the one that was sent for vaccine verification. Students will not be moved to separate classrooms. Some 504/IEP accommodations may be made. Teachers won't be mask police.

Maybe not, but one of my kid’s teachers flat out told the kids that she will quit if they don’t wear masks.

Great, thanks anti-maskers.

Schools were doing pretty well this year until the antimaskers got their way.