Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait. Are people COMPLAINING that kids are wearing masks in the fall?

You can’t be serious.

Agree- it’s never enough for these folks.

I'm not complaining about masks in the fall, but I do think it's important to realize that the masks are going to come off at some point. If we continue on our current trajectory, that time is probably going to come sooner than you are comfortable with - most likely by spring semester when all elementary kids have had a chance to be vaccinated.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait. Are people COMPLAINING that kids are wearing masks in the fall?

You can’t be serious.

Agree- it’s never enough for these folks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait. Are people COMPLAINING that kids are wearing masks in the fall?

You can’t be serious.

Agree- it’s never enough for these folks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not surprised.

Even the nuttiest nutters I know are sending kids back.

My concern is that, since their kids are back, those folks will push for unreasonable measures that are inconsistent with APS providing actual education.

"unreasonable measures?"

What do you consider unreasonable?

On in person days my K-2 kid is on her iPad about 80-90% of the day. Either teachers are

-- delivering classes virtually because they are afraid of exposure despite being classified as "in person" with no health issues,
--"team teaching" so one teacher is teaching 30+ kids in two classrooms at the same time so each teacher only has to prep and teach half as much,
--teaching in person, but the room is set up so awkwardly that kids can't see the whiteboard, or
-- playing a prerecorded video of themselves teaching instead of actually teaching in person, despite being physically present in the classroom.

All of this is happening daily. It all needs to stop.

Anonymous wrote:Wait. Are people COMPLAINING that kids are wearing masks in the fall?

You can’t be serious.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not surprised.

Even the nuttiest nutters I know are sending kids back.

My concern is that, since their kids are back, those folks will push for unreasonable measures that are inconsistent with APS providing actual education.

"unreasonable measures?"

What do you consider unreasonable?

On in person days my K-2 kid is on her iPad about 80-90% of the day. Either teachers are

-- delivering classes virtually because they are afraid of exposure despite being classified as "in person" with no health issues,
--"team teaching" so one teacher is teaching 30+ kids in two classrooms at the same time so each teacher only has to prep and teach half as much,
--teaching in person, but the room is set up so awkwardly that kids can't see the whiteboard, or
-- playing a prerecorded video of themselves teaching instead of actually teaching in person, despite being physically present in the classroom.

All of this is happening daily. It all needs to stop.

Good news: on 3/30/21, Northam approved SB1303 so, starting in July, APS is mandated to provide 5 days in-person with live instructor.
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+ful+SB1303H1

And Duran removed distancing requirement for fall:
https://www.apsva.us/school-year-2021-22/instructional-models-2021-22/#inperson

So.....

Nothing in SB1303 says that an in person teacher has to be the one teaching. There just has to be a teacher in the classroom, which is the case currently during most iPad instruction.

Yes it does:
"In-person instruction" does not include the act of proctoring remote online learning in a classroom.

Oh, but they're not proctoring, they're "co-teaching" or "team teaching."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not surprised.

Even the nuttiest nutters I know are sending kids back.

My concern is that, since their kids are back, those folks will push for unreasonable measures that are inconsistent with APS providing actual education.

"unreasonable measures?"

What do you consider unreasonable?

Not that PP, but--fixating on a certain amount of distance/capacity (6', 3') when we might be seeing a tiny number of COVID cases by then. I expect most MS and HS kids to be vaccinated by the start of the next school year, but I also think people will push to mandate that kids get vaccinated which I think is a bad call. (If we're heading in that direction--we should start by mandating that teachers get flu shots!!!! There is WAY more data around this and it would benefit the kids!) I also think a subset of APS parents are letting the perfect be the enemy of the good by obsessing over stuff like outdoor lunches, HVAC, and such. They have made some tweaks and improvements--I would prefer that they ALWAYS allow older kids some flexibility around where they choose to eat--but I think it's overkill to spend the next 4 months harping on the same stuff. Use that energy to do vaccine outreach!

My elementary school originally said that there would be no written work done on in person days (it would still be all on the ipad) due to the need to avoid touching contaminated surfaces/disinfecting. They walked that back -- in fact my youngest doesn't even use her ipad on in person days -- but that would be unreasonable and inconsistent with providing education. Masks, reasonable distancing during lunch, etc, all sounds good to me.

My ES kid is still on an iPad basically all day during in person days and they just removed the Plexiglass box from around the desks. We are not follow the science here. I am fine with masks in the fall if they are needed, but we don't make kids/adults wear masks during a regular flu season. Many of the precautions we're taking now are fine and I fully accept and even embrace them. I fill out the Qualtrics thing 7 days a week, we wear masks indoors, no indoor play dates, etc etc etc. But if we are at a point where we're seeing, say, a couple of COVID cases a week in Arlington, are we still going to maintain the same level of precautions? Even for kids who are fully vaccinated (as all MS and HS kids will have the option to be by then)? I'm just saying that it doesn't seem worth it to me to keep debating things now when we can't anticipate what August looks like. APS has already said they'll follow CDC and VDH guidance--if mask mandates are lifted by late August, are APS parents going to flip out if APS doesn't override and maintain them? Experience tells me that yes, they will.

People generally are not asymptomatic when they get the flu and stay home or are sent home. LOTS of people - LOTS and LOTS of kids - can be asymptomatic but have AND SPREAD COVID. This is why masks are used for COVID and not for the freekin flu.

Masks are used for Covid right now, and that makes sense. However, there will come a time when the masks are unnecessary. Will it be fall? Probably not. Once there is a readily available pediatric vaccine for all kids, you're going to have a hard time justifying their continued use.

APS has said we will be masked in the fall.

APS has said that they will follow VDH and CDC recommendations. If those recommendations change by late August, it may mean kids are not wearing masks this fall unless APS decides to step outside of CDC/VDH guidance.

No one in elementary will be vaccinated. 100% ES kids will be in masks, not only to protect themselves, but the adults in the buildings.

Every adult in the building is already eligible to be vaccinated. If they choose not to, then that is their choice. But why does a 4 year old wear a mask to protect a vaccinated adult?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not surprised.

Even the nuttiest nutters I know are sending kids back.

My concern is that, since their kids are back, those folks will push for unreasonable measures that are inconsistent with APS providing actual education.

"unreasonable measures?"

What do you consider unreasonable?

Not that PP, but--fixating on a certain amount of distance/capacity (6', 3') when we might be seeing a tiny number of COVID cases by then. I expect most MS and HS kids to be vaccinated by the start of the next school year, but I also think people will push to mandate that kids get vaccinated which I think is a bad call. (If we're heading in that direction--we should start by mandating that teachers get flu shots!!!! There is WAY more data around this and it would benefit the kids!) I also think a subset of APS parents are letting the perfect be the enemy of the good by obsessing over stuff like outdoor lunches, HVAC, and such. They have made some tweaks and improvements--I would prefer that they ALWAYS allow older kids some flexibility around where they choose to eat--but I think it's overkill to spend the next 4 months harping on the same stuff. Use that energy to do vaccine outreach!

My elementary school originally said that there would be no written work done on in person days (it would still be all on the ipad) due to the need to avoid touching contaminated surfaces/disinfecting. They walked that back -- in fact my youngest doesn't even use her ipad on in person days -- but that would be unreasonable and inconsistent with providing education. Masks, reasonable distancing during lunch, etc, all sounds good to me.

My ES kid is still on an iPad basically all day during in person days and they just removed the Plexiglass box from around the desks. We are not follow the science here. I am fine with masks in the fall if they are needed, but we don't make kids/adults wear masks during a regular flu season. Many of the precautions we're taking now are fine and I fully accept and even embrace them. I fill out the Qualtrics thing 7 days a week, we wear masks indoors, no indoor play dates, etc etc etc. But if we are at a point where we're seeing, say, a couple of COVID cases a week in Arlington, are we still going to maintain the same level of precautions? Even for kids who are fully vaccinated (as all MS and HS kids will have the option to be by then)? I'm just saying that it doesn't seem worth it to me to keep debating things now when we can't anticipate what August looks like. APS has already said they'll follow CDC and VDH guidance--if mask mandates are lifted by late August, are APS parents going to flip out if APS doesn't override and maintain them? Experience tells me that yes, they will.

People generally are not asymptomatic when they get the flu and stay home or are sent home. LOTS of people - LOTS and LOTS of kids - can be asymptomatic but have AND SPREAD COVID. This is why masks are used for COVID and not for the freekin flu.

Masks are used for Covid right now, and that makes sense. However, there will come a time when the masks are unnecessary. Will it be fall? Probably not. Once there is a readily available pediatric vaccine for all kids, you're going to have a hard time justifying their continued use.

APS has said we will be masked in the fall.

APS has said that they will follow VDH and CDC recommendations. If those recommendations change by late August, it may mean kids are not wearing masks this fall unless APS decides to step outside of CDC/VDH guidance.

No one in elementary will be vaccinated. 100% ES kids will be in masks, not only to protect themselves, but the adults in the buildings.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not surprised.

Even the nuttiest nutters I know are sending kids back.

My concern is that, since their kids are back, those folks will push for unreasonable measures that are inconsistent with APS providing actual education.

"unreasonable measures?"

What do you consider unreasonable?

Not that PP, but--fixating on a certain amount of distance/capacity (6', 3') when we might be seeing a tiny number of COVID cases by then. I expect most MS and HS kids to be vaccinated by the start of the next school year, but I also think people will push to mandate that kids get vaccinated which I think is a bad call. (If we're heading in that direction--we should start by mandating that teachers get flu shots!!!! There is WAY more data around this and it would benefit the kids!) I also think a subset of APS parents are letting the perfect be the enemy of the good by obsessing over stuff like outdoor lunches, HVAC, and such. They have made some tweaks and improvements--I would prefer that they ALWAYS allow older kids some flexibility around where they choose to eat--but I think it's overkill to spend the next 4 months harping on the same stuff. Use that energy to do vaccine outreach!

My elementary school originally said that there would be no written work done on in person days (it would still be all on the ipad) due to the need to avoid touching contaminated surfaces/disinfecting. They walked that back -- in fact my youngest doesn't even use her ipad on in person days -- but that would be unreasonable and inconsistent with providing education. Masks, reasonable distancing during lunch, etc, all sounds good to me.

My ES kid is still on an iPad basically all day during in person days and they just removed the Plexiglass box from around the desks. We are not follow the science here. I am fine with masks in the fall if they are needed, but we don't make kids/adults wear masks during a regular flu season. Many of the precautions we're taking now are fine and I fully accept and even embrace them. I fill out the Qualtrics thing 7 days a week, we wear masks indoors, no indoor play dates, etc etc etc. But if we are at a point where we're seeing, say, a couple of COVID cases a week in Arlington, are we still going to maintain the same level of precautions? Even for kids who are fully vaccinated (as all MS and HS kids will have the option to be by then)? I'm just saying that it doesn't seem worth it to me to keep debating things now when we can't anticipate what August looks like. APS has already said they'll follow CDC and VDH guidance--if mask mandates are lifted by late August, are APS parents going to flip out if APS doesn't override and maintain them? Experience tells me that yes, they will.

People generally are not asymptomatic when they get the flu and stay home or are sent home. LOTS of people - LOTS and LOTS of kids - can be asymptomatic but have AND SPREAD COVID. This is why masks are used for COVID and not for the freekin flu.

Masks are used for Covid right now, and that makes sense. However, there will come a time when the masks are unnecessary. Will it be fall? Probably not. Once there is a readily available pediatric vaccine for all kids, you're going to have a hard time justifying their continued use.

APS has said we will be masked in the fall.

APS has said that they will follow VDH and CDC recommendations. If those recommendations change by late August, it may mean kids are not wearing masks this fall unless APS decides to step outside of CDC/VDH guidance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not surprised.

Even the nuttiest nutters I know are sending kids back.

My concern is that, since their kids are back, those folks will push for unreasonable measures that are inconsistent with APS providing actual education.

"unreasonable measures?"

What do you consider unreasonable?

On in person days my K-2 kid is on her iPad about 80-90% of the day. Either teachers are

-- delivering classes virtually because they are afraid of exposure despite being classified as "in person" with no health issues,
--"team teaching" so one teacher is teaching 30+ kids in two classrooms at the same time so each teacher only has to prep and teach half as much,
--teaching in person, but the room is set up so awkwardly that kids can't see the whiteboard, or
-- playing a prerecorded video of themselves teaching instead of actually teaching in person, despite being physically present in the classroom.

All of this is happening daily. It all needs to stop.

Good news: on 3/30/21, Northam approved SB1303 so, starting in July, APS is mandated to provide 5 days in-person with live instructor.
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+ful+SB1303H1

And Duran removed distancing requirement for fall:
https://www.apsva.us/school-year-2021-22/instructional-models-2021-22/#inperson

So.....

Nothing in SB1303 says that an in person teacher has to be the one teaching. There just has to be a teacher in the classroom, which is the case currently during most iPad instruction.

Yes it does:
"In-person instruction" does not include the act of proctoring remote online learning in a classroom.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not surprised.

Even the nuttiest nutters I know are sending kids back.

My concern is that, since their kids are back, those folks will push for unreasonable measures that are inconsistent with APS providing actual education.

"unreasonable measures?"

What do you consider unreasonable?

Not that PP, but--fixating on a certain amount of distance/capacity (6', 3') when we might be seeing a tiny number of COVID cases by then. I expect most MS and HS kids to be vaccinated by the start of the next school year, but I also think people will push to mandate that kids get vaccinated which I think is a bad call. (If we're heading in that direction--we should start by mandating that teachers get flu shots!!!! There is WAY more data around this and it would benefit the kids!) I also think a subset of APS parents are letting the perfect be the enemy of the good by obsessing over stuff like outdoor lunches, HVAC, and such. They have made some tweaks and improvements--I would prefer that they ALWAYS allow older kids some flexibility around where they choose to eat--but I think it's overkill to spend the next 4 months harping on the same stuff. Use that energy to do vaccine outreach!

My elementary school originally said that there would be no written work done on in person days (it would still be all on the ipad) due to the need to avoid touching contaminated surfaces/disinfecting. They walked that back -- in fact my youngest doesn't even use her ipad on in person days -- but that would be unreasonable and inconsistent with providing education. Masks, reasonable distancing during lunch, etc, all sounds good to me.

My ES kid is still on an iPad basically all day during in person days and they just removed the Plexiglass box from around the desks. We are not follow the science here. I am fine with masks in the fall if they are needed, but we don't make kids/adults wear masks during a regular flu season. Many of the precautions we're taking now are fine and I fully accept and even embrace them. I fill out the Qualtrics thing 7 days a week, we wear masks indoors, no indoor play dates, etc etc etc. But if we are at a point where we're seeing, say, a couple of COVID cases a week in Arlington, are we still going to maintain the same level of precautions? Even for kids who are fully vaccinated (as all MS and HS kids will have the option to be by then)? I'm just saying that it doesn't seem worth it to me to keep debating things now when we can't anticipate what August looks like. APS has already said they'll follow CDC and VDH guidance--if mask mandates are lifted by late August, are APS parents going to flip out if APS doesn't override and maintain them? Experience tells me that yes, they will.

People generally are not asymptomatic when they get the flu and stay home or are sent home. LOTS of people - LOTS and LOTS of kids - can be asymptomatic but have AND SPREAD COVID. This is why masks are used for COVID and not for the freekin flu.

Masks are used for Covid right now, and that makes sense. However, there will come a time when the masks are unnecessary. Will it be fall? Probably not. Once there is a readily available pediatric vaccine for all kids, you're going to have a hard time justifying their continued use.

APS has said we will be masked in the fall.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not surprised.

Even the nuttiest nutters I know are sending kids back.

My concern is that, since their kids are back, those folks will push for unreasonable measures that are inconsistent with APS providing actual education.

"unreasonable measures?"

What do you consider unreasonable?

Not that PP, but--fixating on a certain amount of distance/capacity (6', 3') when we might be seeing a tiny number of COVID cases by then. I expect most MS and HS kids to be vaccinated by the start of the next school year, but I also think people will push to mandate that kids get vaccinated which I think is a bad call. (If we're heading in that direction--we should start by mandating that teachers get flu shots!!!! There is WAY more data around this and it would benefit the kids!) I also think a subset of APS parents are letting the perfect be the enemy of the good by obsessing over stuff like outdoor lunches, HVAC, and such. They have made some tweaks and improvements--I would prefer that they ALWAYS allow older kids some flexibility around where they choose to eat--but I think it's overkill to spend the next 4 months harping on the same stuff. Use that energy to do vaccine outreach!

My elementary school originally said that there would be no written work done on in person days (it would still be all on the ipad) due to the need to avoid touching contaminated surfaces/disinfecting. They walked that back -- in fact my youngest doesn't even use her ipad on in person days -- but that would be unreasonable and inconsistent with providing education. Masks, reasonable distancing during lunch, etc, all sounds good to me.

My ES kid is still on an iPad basically all day during in person days and they just removed the Plexiglass box from around the desks. We are not follow the science here. I am fine with masks in the fall if they are needed, but we don't make kids/adults wear masks during a regular flu season. Many of the precautions we're taking now are fine and I fully accept and even embrace them. I fill out the Qualtrics thing 7 days a week, we wear masks indoors, no indoor play dates, etc etc etc. But if we are at a point where we're seeing, say, a couple of COVID cases a week in Arlington, are we still going to maintain the same level of precautions? Even for kids who are fully vaccinated (as all MS and HS kids will have the option to be by then)? I'm just saying that it doesn't seem worth it to me to keep debating things now when we can't anticipate what August looks like. APS has already said they'll follow CDC and VDH guidance--if mask mandates are lifted by late August, are APS parents going to flip out if APS doesn't override and maintain them? Experience tells me that yes, they will.

People generally are not asymptomatic when they get the flu and stay home or are sent home. LOTS of people - LOTS and LOTS of kids - can be asymptomatic but have AND SPREAD COVID. This is why masks are used for COVID and not for the freekin flu.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not surprised.

Even the nuttiest nutters I know are sending kids back.

My concern is that, since their kids are back, those folks will push for unreasonable measures that are inconsistent with APS providing actual education.

"unreasonable measures?"

What do you consider unreasonable?

Not that PP, but--fixating on a certain amount of distance/capacity (6', 3') when we might be seeing a tiny number of COVID cases by then. I expect most MS and HS kids to be vaccinated by the start of the next school year, but I also think people will push to mandate that kids get vaccinated which I think is a bad call. (If we're heading in that direction--we should start by mandating that teachers get flu shots!!!! There is WAY more data around this and it would benefit the kids!) I also think a subset of APS parents are letting the perfect be the enemy of the good by obsessing over stuff like outdoor lunches, HVAC, and such. They have made some tweaks and improvements--I would prefer that they ALWAYS allow older kids some flexibility around where they choose to eat--but I think it's overkill to spend the next 4 months harping on the same stuff. Use that energy to do vaccine outreach!

My elementary school originally said that there would be no written work done on in person days (it would still be all on the ipad) due to the need to avoid touching contaminated surfaces/disinfecting. They walked that back -- in fact my youngest doesn't even use her ipad on in person days -- but that would be unreasonable and inconsistent with providing education. Masks, reasonable distancing during lunch, etc, all sounds good to me.

My ES kid is still on an iPad basically all day during in person days and they just removed the Plexiglass box from around the desks. We are not follow the science here. I am fine with masks in the fall if they are needed, but we don't make kids/adults wear masks during a regular flu season. Many of the precautions we're taking now are fine and I fully accept and even embrace them. I fill out the Qualtrics thing 7 days a week, we wear masks indoors, no indoor play dates, etc etc etc. But if we are at a point where we're seeing, say, a couple of COVID cases a week in Arlington, are we still going to maintain the same level of precautions? Even for kids who are fully vaccinated (as all MS and HS kids will have the option to be by then)? I'm just saying that it doesn't seem worth it to me to keep debating things now when we can't anticipate what August looks like. APS has already said they'll follow CDC and VDH guidance--if mask mandates are lifted by late August, are APS parents going to flip out if APS doesn't override and maintain them? Experience tells me that yes, they will.

People generally are not asymptomatic when they get the flu and stay home or are sent home. LOTS of people - LOTS and LOTS of kids - can be asymptomatic but have AND SPREAD COVID. This is why masks are used for COVID and not for the freekin flu.

Masks are used for Covid right now, and that makes sense. However, there will come a time when the masks are unnecessary. Will it be fall? Probably not. Once there is a readily available pediatric vaccine for all kids, you're going to have a hard time justifying their continued use.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not surprised.

Even the nuttiest nutters I know are sending kids back.

My concern is that, since their kids are back, those folks will push for unreasonable measures that are inconsistent with APS providing actual education.

"unreasonable measures?"

What do you consider unreasonable?

On in person days my K-2 kid is on her iPad about 80-90% of the day. Either teachers are

-- delivering classes virtually because they are afraid of exposure despite being classified as "in person" with no health issues,
--"team teaching" so one teacher is teaching 30+ kids in two classrooms at the same time so each teacher only has to prep and teach half as much,
--teaching in person, but the room is set up so awkwardly that kids can't see the whiteboard, or
-- playing a prerecorded video of themselves teaching instead of actually teaching in person, despite being physically present in the classroom.

All of this is happening daily. It all needs to stop.

Good news: on 3/30/21, Northam approved SB1303 so, starting in July, APS is mandated to provide 5 days in-person with live instructor.
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+ful+SB1303H1

And Duran removed distancing requirement for fall:
https://www.apsva.us/school-year-2021-22/instructional-models-2021-22/#inperson

So.....

Nothing in SB1303 says that an in person teacher has to be the one teaching. There just has to be a teacher in the classroom, which is the case currently during most iPad instruction.