My kid at McLean said about 95% still had masks on. One of her teachers did not. She said it was a teacher who had been very strict about masks, so she was a bit surprised. My kid kept hers on. The masks don’t bother her and I think she likes the sense of anonymity.

Chesterbrook ES – One kid said she only noticed a couple of unmasked kids in her grade. My other kid said about 1/3 unmasked in her classes. She wore hers about half of the day (no rhyme or reason as to when – just said it still felt weird). She said one of her teachers had her mask on and off throughout the day.

It's weird that people are keeping track. Some people and kids may have personal health reasons to mask and peer pressure will not affect that at all. Not everyone is a lemming.

Anonymous wrote:It will be nice when kids don’t feel the peer pressure to keep the masks on.

It will be nice when Covid infections are low enough that people can safely unmask. Waiting for that day, but you do you.

Anonymous wrote:No one is Saying Covid is over or people aren’t still dying. What we are saying is that given the lower transmission and high vaccine rate here, maybe kids and Adults can have the choice to unmask and maybe kids don’t need to be masked forever since adult attitudes aren’t going to change.

What's your point? You HAVE that choice right now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high schooler says that the worst of the judgmental remarks come from other students, not the teachers. Parents: please tell your kids to wear their mask if they desire and to respect others' decisions not to.

My HS kid know better than to say anything. But, she also doesn’t want to be around unmasked kids. And, it’s her right to decide where to eat lunch and to ask for changes in seat assignements and to hang out with other masked kids. If your kid feels judged, it’s probably because they are being judged.

+1. My kid doesn't say anything rude or mean but she also doesn't want to be around unmasked people and I won't force her too. People want to take their masks off, go for it. But if people have a reaction to that it is their right.

+2. Decisions have consequences. It’s a good life lesson for your kod. I would hope no one is unnecessarily rude to the COVID vector kids. But I can certainly understand why the HS kids with a lot to lose if they have to isolate for 2 weeks would steer clear of unmasked kids. Especially since kids who make high risk decisions in terms of masking are probably engaging in higher risk COVID behaviors outside of school.

Your saying COVID is over doesn’t make COVID over. Especially when FCPS has such draconian exclusion policies. COVID is only “no worse than a cold” when my kid only has to miss a day or two of school while symptomatic. She’s already missed two spring plays. She doesn’t want to miss this years as well. Or spring break. Or prom. Or APs. Etc., Etc. She plans to wear her mask and avoid the IDGAF kids and the kids making political statements.

My kids are no longer masking in school. I've told my kids to be compassionate but I understand why HS kids want to steer clear of the kids that remain masked. They are clearly suffering emotionally, and who knows what they will do next.

The high schools kids don't have anything to lose. The school is not contact tracing anymore, so there is no rational for masking just to avoid quarantines. If you want to test every time your child has a sniffle, and alert everyone you know that she has covid, and stay home for 10 days, and skip all you plans. That's on you.

If that makes you feel better . . . many what a self-serving view of the situation. There is someone suffering emotionally, PP. But it isn't the kids. I hope you get the help you need to get you through this trying time. LOL.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high schooler says that the worst of the judgmental remarks come from other students, not the teachers. Parents: please tell your kids to wear their mask if they desire and to respect others' decisions not to.

My HS kid know better than to say anything. But, she also doesn’t want to be around unmasked kids. And, it’s her right to decide where to eat lunch and to ask for changes in seat assignements and to hang out with other masked kids. If your kid feels judged, it’s probably because they are being judged.

+1. My kid doesn't say anything rude or mean but she also doesn't want to be around unmasked people and I won't force her too. People want to take their masks off, go for it. But if people have a reaction to that it is their right.

+2. Decisions have consequences. It’s a good life lesson for your kod. I would hope no one is unnecessarily rude to the COVID vector kids. But I can certainly understand why the HS kids with a lot to lose if they have to isolate for 2 weeks would steer clear of unmasked kids. Especially since kids who make high risk decisions in terms of masking are probably engaging in higher risk COVID behaviors outside of school.

Your saying COVID is over doesn’t make COVID over. Especially when FCPS has such draconian exclusion policies. COVID is only “no worse than a cold” when my kid only has to miss a day or two of school while symptomatic. She’s already missed two spring plays. She doesn’t want to miss this years as well. Or spring break. Or prom. Or APs. Etc., Etc. She plans to wear her mask and avoid the IDGAF kids and the kids making political statements.

So I was actually with you for the idea that kids should have free will over who they are near. I respect that everyone assesses risk differently and even though my kids have unmasked, I get that others may want some distance.

But then you throw out inflammatory language like “COVID vectors” and “IDGAF kids.” Clearly you are hoping to be proven right that unmasked kids will suffer higher incidences of COVID infection and you assume they just don’t care about others without even giving any thought as to why they may reasonably view masking as a mitigation not scientifically well supported at this point (you know in line with the White House and CDC).

What are parents like you going to do when case counts continue to drop and unmasked kids aren’t getting sick left and right? Because I truly believe that is what will happen. And I know you’ll be so disappointed not be proven “right” that unmasking is some huge mistake. People like you obviously want unmasking to fail so you can gloat in your moral superiority. The same way we were told the sky would fall if schools reopened. Of course there will be no self reflection when everything ends up fine. I’m sure you’ll just move on to something else to be smug about.

Of course it will happen. Jesus, that's the end game and entirely the point.

As for being smug, pot meet kettle . . .

Anonymous wrote:Biden and his CDC say kids don't need to wear masks in schools and yet in FCPS all our kids are still wearing masks and are scared not to. What is going with Fairfax County? I used to think we were Center Left, Rational, Data-Driven. Our political culture is becoming San Francisco East without the charm and beauty.

You are a wackadoo.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Biden and his CDC say kids don't need to wear masks in schools and yet in FCPS all our kids are still wearing masks and are scared not to. What is going with Fairfax County? I used to think we were Center Left, Rational, Data-Driven. Our political culture is becoming San Francisco East without the charm and beauty.

Daughter at GFES said ~2/3 of her class was unmasked yesterday.

Following this thread makes me happy that we live in one of the more sane parts of the county. At the end of the day, who cares how many students are masked or unmasked? The great thing about the new rules is that everyone gets to make their own choice. (And, if one follows the actual -- and not just the political -- science, one should know that unmasked students are not putting their masked classmates at any materially higher risk of Covid infection.)

Interesting, my son at GFES said he was one of a few without masks (like five in his class). Most kids still wearing them.

Kid said about 25% didn’t wear masks yesterday in class. He was one of them. I’m sad that someone people will judge but that is their problem. The CDC had spoken and that was always our line—follow the science. It’s absolutely fine to drop masks now and absolutely fine to keep one on if you are very worried.

Anonymous wrote:My kids in HS said about 1/4 unmasked kids and 1/2 teachers. They wanted to unmask but said it felt like a political statement they weren’t interested in making. My daughter also said some of the cute boys weren’t as cute. LOL!

Heard the same from my daughter, who said some of the boys were "Mask-fishing" - a take on CatFishing.

At my kids ES, my kids reported the specials teachers (PE, music, art) all seemed to be unmasked. They also took of theirs in PE and specials but about 10-20% in their classes were unmasked.

My favorite photos/videos from last week on social media is of a packed HS basketball game in regionals - in the stands most kids appear to have unmasked or if masked, about 95% are around their chins or below their nose and are shouting, standing inches apart in a completely packed indoor stadium.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high schooler says that the worst of the judgmental remarks come from other students, not the teachers. Parents: please tell your kids to wear their mask if they desire and to respect others' decisions not to.

My HS kid know better than to say anything. But, she also doesn’t want to be around unmasked kids. And, it’s her right to decide where to eat lunch and to ask for changes in seat assignements and to hang out with other masked kids. If your kid feels judged, it’s probably because they are being judged.

+1. My kid doesn't say anything rude or mean but she also doesn't want to be around unmasked people and I won't force her too. People want to take their masks off, go for it. But if people have a reaction to that it is their right.

+2. Decisions have consequences. It’s a good life lesson for your kod. I would hope no one is unnecessarily rude to the COVID vector kids. But I can certainly understand why the HS kids with a lot to lose if they have to isolate for 2 weeks would steer clear of unmasked kids. Especially since kids who make high risk decisions in terms of masking are probably engaging in higher risk COVID behaviors outside of school.

Your saying COVID is over doesn’t make COVID over. Especially when FCPS has such draconian exclusion policies. COVID is only “no worse than a cold” when my kid only has to miss a day or two of school while symptomatic. She’s already missed two spring plays. She doesn’t want to miss this years as well. Or spring break. Or prom. Or APs. Etc., Etc. She plans to wear her mask and avoid the IDGAF kids and the kids making political statements.

My kids are no longer masking in school. I've told my kids to be compassionate but I understand why HS kids want to steer clear of the kids that remain masked. They are clearly suffering emotionally, and who knows what they will do next.

The high schools kids don't have anything to lose. The school is not contact tracing anymore, so there is no rational for masking just to avoid quarantines. If you want to test every time your child has a sniffle, and alert everyone you know that she has covid, and stay home for 10 days, and skip all you plans. That's on you.

You are all nuts. DD is in 1st grade and she said there were only maybe 2 or 3 kids in her class who still wore masks yesterday.

My younger children have been in daycare all of COVID without masks and there has been no outbreaks. Yes maybe a few cases here and there but no outbreaks. You all need to chill.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Biden and his CDC say kids don't need to wear masks in schools and yet in FCPS all our kids are still wearing masks and are scared not to. What is going with Fairfax County? I used to think we were Center Left, Rational, Data-Driven. Our political culture is becoming San Francisco East without the charm and beauty.

Daughter at GFES said ~2/3 of her class was unmasked yesterday.

Following this thread makes me happy that we live in one of the more sane parts of the county. At the end of the day, who cares how many students are masked or unmasked? The great thing about the new rules is that everyone gets to make their own choice. (And, if one follows the actual -- and not just the political -- science, one should know that unmasked students are not putting their masked classmates at any materially higher risk of Covid infection.)

We told our 9 year old to wear his mask but we know people who are high risk at his school. We have not heard anything about his class and told him to not worry about what anyone else is doing. We also said we would keep monitoring and that decision might change based on numbers and what is happening at the school. If his Teachers and classmates are not wearing their masks, then there is no point in his wearing a mask. He is healthy and vaccinated. we are healthy and vaccinated and boosted.

This is not a black and white issue. It saddens me that some kids are so anxious that they are struggling with this. It saddens me that there are kids on both sides antagonizing kids who made a different choice. I think most of that comes from how their parents are approaching this and what they are teaching their kids. And that sucks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high schooler says that the worst of the judgmental remarks come from other students, not the teachers. Parents: please tell your kids to wear their mask if they desire and to respect others' decisions not to.

My HS kid know better than to say anything. But, she also doesn’t want to be around unmasked kids. And, it’s her right to decide where to eat lunch and to ask for changes in seat assignements and to hang out with other masked kids. If your kid feels judged, it’s probably because they are being judged.

+1. My kid doesn't say anything rude or mean but she also doesn't want to be around unmasked people and I won't force her too. People want to take their masks off, go for it. But if people have a reaction to that it is their right.

+2. Decisions have consequences. It’s a good life lesson for your kod. I would hope no one is unnecessarily rude to the COVID vector kids. But I can certainly understand why the HS kids with a lot to lose if they have to isolate for 2 weeks would steer clear of unmasked kids. Especially since kids who make high risk decisions in terms of masking are probably engaging in higher risk COVID behaviors outside of school.

Your saying COVID is over doesn’t make COVID over. Especially when FCPS has such draconian exclusion policies. COVID is only “no worse than a cold” when my kid only has to miss a day or two of school while symptomatic. She’s already missed two spring plays. She doesn’t want to miss this years as well. Or spring break. Or prom. Or APs. Etc., Etc. She plans to wear her mask and avoid the IDGAF kids and the kids making political statements.

So I was actually with you for the idea that kids should have free will over who they are near. I respect that everyone assesses risk differently and even though my kids have unmasked, I get that others may want some distance.

But then you throw out inflammatory language like “COVID vectors” and “IDGAF kids.” Clearly you are hoping to be proven right that unmasked kids will suffer higher incidences of COVID infection and you assume they just don’t care about others without even giving any thought as to why they may reasonably view masking as a mitigation not scientifically well supported at this point (you know in line with the White House and CDC).

What are parents like you going to do when case counts continue to drop and unmasked kids aren’t getting sick left and right? Because I truly believe that is what will happen. And I know you’ll be so disappointed not be proven “right” that unmasking is some huge mistake. People like you obviously want unmasking to fail so you can gloat in your moral superiority. The same way we were told the sky would fall if schools reopened. Of course there will be no self reflection when everything ends up fine. I’m sure you’ll just move on to something else to be smug about.