Yes, tests are free and available for APS students. I had to get tested last week and coincidentally it was my DS's school nurse doing the testing. She asked me to spread the word and remind families that the testing is available.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about lingering sniffles and a negative test?

Out for a week?

I don't think so. I have had kids in my summer school class with colds return after a negative test (still sniffly, with mild cough)

What is the threshold for requiring a student get a Covid test? Any cough or sneeze? We weren't in APS last year. Are tests free and readily available in Arlington? I'm just curious what to expect if we have to deal with this. Thanks.

Yes, tests are free and somewhat readily available.
https://curative.com/sites/27891

AND they were required in the spring for every sniffle. Some schools also required a doctor’s note to return to school.

Literally every symptom under the sun is considered a covid symptom. Just assume you will need a doctor's note and negative covid test to come back. Two of my kids had stomach aches in the spring and needed both of these to come back to school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an APS elementary teacher who is fully vaccinated and also a parent of 2 APS high schoolers who are also vaccinated and one kid who is too young for the vax. I support full masking at all levels. I really think the parents are the ones with issues. My kids all had no issues wearing masks in the spring and in any of their activities this summer indoors. As an adult I am totally over wearing masks, but that doesn’t mean I won’t continue to do so for health purposes because it’s safest. We can all agree wearing a mask sucks. But we do things that suck all the time in the name of health such as eating certain foods, wearing seatbelts, bike helmets, life jackets, looking both ways before crossing the street, etc. wearing a mask is not a big ask if it allows us to return to full time in person school.

Why does wearing a seatbelt suck?

You must not have a large chest.

More testing options:
https://health.arlingtonva.us/covid-19-coronavirus-updates/covid-19-testing/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about lingering sniffles and a negative test?

Out for a week?

I don't think so. I have had kids in my summer school class with colds return after a negative test (still sniffly, with mild cough)

What is the threshold for requiring a student get a Covid test? Any cough or sneeze? We weren't in APS last year. Are tests free and readily available in Arlington? I'm just curious what to expect if we have to deal with this. Thanks.

Yes, tests are free and somewhat readily available.
https://curative.com/sites/27891

AND they were required in the spring for every sniffle. Some schools also required a doctor’s note to return to school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an APS elementary teacher who is fully vaccinated and also a parent of 2 APS high schoolers who are also vaccinated and one kid who is too young for the vax. I support full masking at all levels. I really think the parents are the ones with issues. My kids all had no issues wearing masks in the spring and in any of their activities this summer indoors. As an adult I am totally over wearing masks, but that doesn’t mean I won’t continue to do so for health purposes because it’s safest. We can all agree wearing a mask sucks. But we do things that suck all the time in the name of health such as eating certain foods, wearing seatbelts, bike helmets, life jackets, looking both ways before crossing the street, etc. wearing a mask is not a big ask if it allows us to return to full time in person school.

Why does wearing a seatbelt suck?

I'll ask my MIL the next time I tell her she has to wear her seat belt, she never wants to put it on. She is shorter and complains about how it sits on her shoulder. We have shown her how to adjust the height but she just grumbles and is annoyed.

Ask any kid you see riding a bike or skate board or scooter without a helmet. Or the parents that are riding with their kids and no one is wearing a helmet. The helmet doesn't look cool and feels weird and a long list of excuses. Parents wax nostalgic about not needing helmets when they were kids.

Same for life jackets.

People in the US complain about being "made" to do anything regardless of how many statistics show that the measures will help them survive an accident or be safer overall.

I am fine if DS needs to wear a mask at school. I started to use my mask again when I go into stores because Delta worries me. We are vaccinated but DS isn't. And yes, I know that kids are far less likely to get seriously ill with COVID then an adult, but if there is something simple that I can do to further reduce that risk then I am fine with doing it. I am not dancing with joy, I don't like wearing a mask, I don't like scarves in winter either. But it is a simple enough step so I'll do it.

Just like putting on my seat belt and wearing a helmet when I ride my bike and wearing a life jacket in a boat. Except that I am hoping that the mask can go away sooner rather then later when more people wake up and get the damn vaccine.

Gonna be another weird and long year with APS.

It doesn’t “suck” but it is a restraint. It holds you down. If it wasn’t safer people would probably not do it. I read a statistic that 91% of people wear seatbelts but 47% of car crash fatalities are from unrestrained people. People do it because it keeps you safe. Like masking around unvaccinated people.

Anonymous wrote:I’m an APS elementary teacher who is fully vaccinated and also a parent of 2 APS high schoolers who are also vaccinated and one kid who is too young for the vax. I support full masking at all levels. I really think the parents are the ones with issues. My kids all had no issues wearing masks in the spring and in any of their activities this summer indoors. As an adult I am totally over wearing masks, but that doesn’t mean I won’t continue to do so for health purposes because it’s safest. We can all agree wearing a mask sucks. But we do things that suck all the time in the name of health such as eating certain foods, wearing seatbelts, bike helmets, life jackets, looking both ways before crossing the street, etc. wearing a mask is not a big ask if it allows us to return to full time in person school.

Why does wearing a seatbelt suck?

Anonymous wrote:I’m an APS elementary teacher who is fully vaccinated and also a parent of 2 APS high schoolers who are also vaccinated and one kid who is too young for the vax. I support full masking at all levels. I really think the parents are the ones with issues. My kids all had no issues wearing masks in the spring and in any of their activities this summer indoors. As an adult I am totally over wearing masks, but that doesn’t mean I won’t continue to do so for health purposes because it’s safest. We can all agree wearing a mask sucks. But we do things that suck all the time in the name of health such as eating certain foods, wearing seatbelts, bike helmets, life jackets, looking both ways before crossing the street, etc. wearing a mask is not a big ask if it allows us to return to full time in person school.

Amen

I’m an APS elementary teacher who is fully vaccinated and also a parent of 2 APS high schoolers who are also vaccinated and one kid who is too young for the vax. I support full masking at all levels. I really think the parents are the ones with issues. My kids all had no issues wearing masks in the spring and in any of their activities this summer indoors. As an adult I am totally over wearing masks, but that doesn’t mean I won’t continue to do so for health purposes because it’s safest. We can all agree wearing a mask sucks. But we do things that suck all the time in the name of health such as eating certain foods, wearing seatbelts, bike helmets, life jackets, looking both ways before crossing the street, etc. wearing a mask is not a big ask if it allows us to return to full time in person school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If an elementary class gets shut down because of a positive test, will it go virtual until in person can resume?

It’s not getting quarantined because they’re going to be masked. That’s what the website indicates.

Where does it indicate that? The table says elementary class would be excluded from school.

I’m with you this language is confusing.

I read it as excluded from school

If it was excluded from quarantine, the language for secondary school makes no sense. Only those in close proximity are excluded?

Plus the new definition of close contact at schools, allows for students to be between 3-6 feet and not be considered close contact. But the table removes all reference to distancing at 3 feet.

It’s poor wording for sure. CDC guidance says if BOTH parties are masked, no quarantine needed. Secondary School wording is different because ES kids don’t switch classes. Hopefully APS has an intern who can edit

where does it say that? I read it as saying no quarantine needed if masked and distanced. but without distancing, would presumably still need to quarantine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If an elementary class gets shut down because of a positive test, will it go virtual until in person can resume?

It’s not getting quarantined because they’re going to be masked. That’s what the website indicates.

Where does it indicate that? The table says elementary class would be excluded from school.

I’m with you this language is confusing.

I read it as excluded from school

If it was excluded from quarantine, the language for secondary school makes no sense. Only those in close proximity are excluded?

Plus the new definition of close contact at schools, allows for students to be between 3-6 feet and not be considered close contact. But the table removes all reference to distancing at 3 feet.

It’s poor wording for sure. CDC guidance says if BOTH parties are masked, no quarantine needed. Secondary School wording is different because ES kids don’t switch classes. Hopefully APS has an intern who can edit

CDC guidance says if both parties are masked and between 3-6 feet. If they are less than 3 feet then what?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No mention of lunch.

Has it been abolished?

I believe lunch will be back in cafeterias

Cafeterias?

Yes, the room where people eat

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No mention of lunch.

Has it been abolished?

I believe lunch will be back in cafeterias

Cafeterias?