Anonymous wrote:As a parent of a5th grader, I could literally not care less about their opinion on a group of families choosing to hold their own in-person outdoor graduation ceremony.

This is where MCPS needs to take a step back from the lecturing. They have chosen to not allow in person events or visitors on campus. I disagree with that decision, but they have that authority over their buildings.

They can also STFU about what people do in their free time on their private property.

So true! What's more, the more the county and MCPS lags and drags, the more I feel myself wanting to push back. I'm so tired of it all, but I'm **especially** tired of our kids getting the shortest end of every stick. They have been forced to sacrifice more than any other group, for every other group, with nothing in return. The county and MCPS haven't made any effort to give back anything that they've lost, even and especially now that it can be safely done with compromise and accomodations. I'm so incredibly fed up and disgusted with it all. I read that email this morning and just wished all county and MCPS leadership straight to hell.

I lost brain cells listening to Jack Smith talking about virus transmission and “we just don’t know” at the most recent meeting. Dude is on his way out (thank god) and could care less whether they are back in person.
100% will support my kid’s alternative prom plans and long as they are not crazy (they and all their friends have been vaxed). There is absolutely no reason not to have something.

Anonymous wrote:My neighbor's kid was invited to a beautiful mansion in Potomac where they will have their own private prom. I am sure it will be much more elegant and fun than the typical MCPS sponsored events.

If it's not at the Pooks Hill Marriott, it's not prom. It's just a party with dressed-up high school kids in a big house in Potomac. Whoopee.

I've heard of a private school prom that
a) has mandatory testing (on site) 2 days before event
b) is located outdoors with tents
c) has kids in small (30 or 50 or something student) pods. You stay with the same pod all evenings, but travel between the different tents which have different themes.

It's not quite a typical pod but sounds 100% safe. I'd love it if my school figured something like this out, but I don't care enough to do it, myself!

My neighbor's kid was invited to a beautiful mansion in Potomac where they will have their own private prom. I am sure it will be much more elegant and fun than the typical MCPS sponsored events.

Can "Together Again MCPS" (whoever they are) please stop spamming this forum?

Anonymous wrote:MCPS may have sent the message, but the caution is coming from the Health department.

Exactly. The sad part is that the health dept., county council, and MCPS are basing guidance on fear and desire for zero risk. Listen to both Council Member Rice and Superintendent Smith talking about how vaccines don't prevent spread. With this mindset, it all makes sense where MOCO and MCPS are compared with the rest of the state/country/world.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of a5th grader, I could literally not care less about their opinion on a group of families choosing to hold their own in-person outdoor graduation ceremony.

This is where MCPS needs to take a step back from the lecturing. They have chosen to not allow in person events or visitors on campus. I disagree with that decision, but they have that authority over their buildings.

They can also STFU about what people do in their free time on their private property.

I listened to part of the board meeting where this came up and it was interesting. Problem with these parent sponsored things is that many kids get left out. So the most popular rich kids get something nice and the disadvantaged and kids with disabilities are left out. But well if there is anything this pandemic taught us, it is that many people don't care about anyone but themselves. Enjoy your party!

If MCPS cared about poor kids (and special needs kids) they would get everyone back into school 5 days a week. It is absolutely laughable to think that this note was being driven by "inclusion". This note is CYA for MCPS. Nothing more.

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of a5th grader, I could literally not care less about their opinion on a group of families choosing to hold their own in-person outdoor graduation ceremony.

This is where MCPS needs to take a step back from the lecturing. They have chosen to not allow in person events or visitors on campus. I disagree with that decision, but they have that authority over their buildings.

They can also STFU about what people do in their free time on their private property.

This 100%

What’s the fuss here exactly? They have the right to express their opinion. They don’t claim to have authority over what you do.

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? How often do you actually sit back and think about prom or high school grad? Hell, it wasn't even important when it was happening for all the people I went to school with. This is all for the parents. (Especially graduations)

I disagree. You have to have had a prom and a graduation in order to be able to say, "Oh, prom and graduation were so unimportant!" Kids are missing out on the experience of being let down by prom and graduation.

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of a5th grader, I could literally not care less about their opinion on a group of families choosing to hold their own in-person outdoor graduation ceremony.

This is where MCPS needs to take a step back from the lecturing. They have chosen to not allow in person events or visitors on campus. I disagree with that decision, but they have that authority over their buildings.

They can also STFU about what people do in their free time on their private property.

I listened to part of the board meeting where this came up and it was interesting. Problem with these parent sponsored things is that many kids get left out. So the most popular rich kids get something nice and the disadvantaged and kids with disabilities are left out. But well if there is anything this pandemic taught us, it is that many people don't care about anyone but themselves. Enjoy your party!

Anonymous wrote:I would not only let my kids go, but I would help plan if my kids were this age. Easily can offer outdoor options. Easily show vac cards. Easy to make something a little special.

Something. Anything.

They will all be going to Senior Beach Week too. These seniors have been through enough.

“Been through enough,” are you serious? If missing beach week is the worst thing that happens to your kids, I think they’ll survive. Geez.

Who cares? How often do you actually sit back and think about prom or high school grad? Hell, it wasn't even important when it was happening for all the people I went to school with. This is all for the parents. (Especially graduations)

MCPS may have sent the message, but the caution is coming from the Health department.