Anonymous wrote:This is the same man who; wants to be Secretary of Education 🤣, placed his daughter at Episcopal during COVID-19, hired his crony to head Jefferson Houston and then fired him for being inept, and bullsh$ts the School Board with lies to get what he “thinks” is best for our children.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Moreover, the SOL scores proved that Hutchings claims about his virtual school program were entirely a sham.

I don't like him or think he does a good job as superintendent. However, I can 100 percent say that the virtual schooling that my kids got at GW was pretty good. I attribute that to their teachers, rather than Hutchings personally, but it really was as good as it could have been.

We can say the same for Hammond. In fact I think that it was 100 times better than I would have ever thought possible. I was home during the day so I heard and saw most of the classes. Their teachers were engaging and interactive. They maintained a positive beat and I know for a fact that they reached out to kids they were concerned about, either academically or emotionally. We also got lots of contact, either through phone calls or emails or stuff from Canvas. It was so much that I even had to set up an inbox filter for it all because I was getting a little overwhelmed. Our kids were interested and involved in their classes, and they learned. I thought the pacing was about right compared to what stuff we had left lying around from the older kids. There was a lot of communication from the school and we had a good idea what was happening. I completely agree that it was really as good as it could have been.

We didn't do the hybrid concurrent thing but our kids are back and so far so good. They are very happy and again the school has done a great job keeping us informed. The only thing I am not happy about is that the breakfasts are being eaten in the classrooms and the lunch is indoors. Those cafeterias are small and apparently the kids are really crammed in there. That makes me very nervous given what is being published in the media over the past two days about the rise in cases here in Virginia.

Our kids are really happy being back at school but I am not worried if we have to re
turn to virtual. The teachers at Hammond are on it and I don't think they would miss a beat.

Middle grades Elementary school instruction was a completely different story - especially in math. For math, often, the teacher would administer a “pre test” on material the students did not understand that would take an entire day. Then, a day or two would be used to go over the pre test. Then, maybe there was a a day or two of instruction but very little time for the students to practice and master the material (some days for example there would be two practice problems over an hour on a fourth grade level math problem). Then, having not mastered the material, there was a final test. Break out rooms were not used for any small group instruction. It seemed it was up to me as a parent to use ixl to teach the material on asynchronous days or after school when there was computer burn out. This continued all year. It was perfectly clear it was a failed, uncreative approach and the SOL scores reflect that. Hutchings, who cheerlead for virtual school all year and did nothing to improve it, is responsible for this utter and complete failure.
Th.

I'm sorry. Our experience was completely the opposite, especially in math. Our kid's math teachers had them on the whole time doing work and they were chatting up a storm asking questions and such. One teacher even had them doing dance breaks and it was pretty funny to watch her get the kids excited about it. Almost all the screens were on in her class which I thought was a great sign. I disagree with you about breakout rooms. Our kids didn't like them and I don't think they are very effective as a tool for middle school students. Like I said, it was a good year for our kids and we would be fine going virtual again.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Moreover, the SOL scores proved that Hutchings claims about his virtual school program were entirely a sham.

I don't like him or think he does a good job as superintendent. However, I can 100 percent say that the virtual schooling that my kids got at GW was pretty good. I attribute that to their teachers, rather than Hutchings personally, but it really was as good as it could have been.

We can say the same for Hammond. In fact I think that it was 100 times better than I would have ever thought possible. I was home during the day so I heard and saw most of the classes. Their teachers were engaging and interactive. They maintained a positive beat and I know for a fact that they reached out to kids they were concerned about, either academically or emotionally. We also got lots of contact, either through phone calls or emails or stuff from Canvas. It was so much that I even had to set up an inbox filter for it all because I was getting a little overwhelmed. Our kids were interested and involved in their classes, and they learned. I thought the pacing was about right compared to what stuff we had left lying around from the older kids. There was a lot of communication from the school and we had a good idea what was happening. I completely agree that it was really as good as it could have been.

We didn't do the hybrid concurrent thing but our kids are back and so far so good. They are very happy and again the school has done a great job keeping us informed. The only thing I am not happy about is that the breakfasts are being eaten in the classrooms and the lunch is indoors. Those cafeterias are small and apparently the kids are really crammed in there. That makes me very nervous given what is being published in the media over the past two days about the rise in cases here in Virginia.

Our kids are really happy being back at school but I am not worried if we have to re
turn to virtual. The teachers at Hammond are on it and I don't think they would miss a beat.

Middle grades Elementary school instruction was a completely different story - especially in math. For math, often, the teacher would administer a “pre test” on material the students did not understand that would take an entire day. Then, a day or two would be used to go over the pre test. Then, maybe there was a a day or two of instruction but very little time for the students to practice and master the material (some days for example there would be two practice problems over an hour on a fourth grade level math problem). Then, having not mastered the material, there was a final test. Break out rooms were not used for any small group instruction. It seemed it was up to me as a parent to use ixl to teach the material on asynchronous days or after school when there was computer burn out. This continued all year. It was perfectly clear it was a failed, uncreative approach and the SOL scores reflect that. Hutchings, who cheerlead for virtual school all year and did nothing to improve it, is responsible for this utter and complete failure.
Th.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Moreover, the SOL scores proved that Hutchings claims about his virtual school program were entirely a sham.

I don't like him or think he does a good job as superintendent. However, I can 100 percent say that the virtual schooling that my kids got at GW was pretty good. I attribute that to their teachers, rather than Hutchings personally, but it really was as good as it could have been.

We can say the same for Hammond. In fact I think that it was 100 times better than I would have ever thought possible. I was home during the day so I heard and saw most of the classes. Their teachers were engaging and interactive. They maintained a positive beat and I know for a fact that they reached out to kids they were concerned about, either academically or emotionally. We also got lots of contact, either through phone calls or emails or stuff from Canvas. It was so much that I even had to set up an inbox filter for it all because I was getting a little overwhelmed. Our kids were interested and involved in their classes, and they learned. I thought the pacing was about right compared to what stuff we had left lying around from the older kids. There was a lot of communication from the school and we had a good idea what was happening. I completely agree that it was really as good as it could have been.

We didn't do the hybrid concurrent thing but our kids are back and so far so good. They are very happy and again the school has done a great job keeping us informed. The only thing I am not happy about is that the breakfasts are being eaten in the classrooms and the lunch is indoors. Those cafeterias are small and apparently the kids are really crammed in there. That makes me very nervous given what is being published in the media over the past two days about the rise in cases here in Virginia.

Our kids are really happy being back at school but I am not worried if we have to re
turn to virtual. The teachers at Hammond are on it and I don't think they would miss a beat.

Anonymous wrote:

Moreover, the SOL scores proved that Hutchings claims about his virtual school program were entirely a sham.

I don't like him or think he does a good job as superintendent. However, I can 100 percent say that the virtual schooling that my kids got at GW was pretty good. I attribute that to their teachers, rather than Hutchings personally, but it really was as good as it could have been.

Moreover, the SOL scores proved that Hutchings claims about his virtual school program were entirely a sham.

Anonymous wrote:Now there are videos of violent fights in the high school cafeteria this week making the rounds on listservs, etc. All those kids, crowded around each other, some have masks on, others don’t, fighting (as in punching, rolling around, and some stomping on people on the ground). Remember no police officers anymore in schools.

And now the school board sends reminders it’s against school policy to videotape anything at school (not just the locker room or bathroom). How convenient. No statement. No acknowledgment what’s happening. Apparently there are on average 3 fights A DAY. Violent fights. Not just pushing and shoving.

But hey, we’re just whiny parents who like to complain. GMAFB.

Anonymous wrote:This is the guy who sent his kid to private school, right, while keeping ACPS closed?

What's the private school doing for lunch. Just curious.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh look. Whiny parents in Alexandria City hate their superintendent. Again.

What’s this, like five in row? Is that a record?

There is no pleasing some people.

Look, jackass. My kid is high risk due to lung problems. I have to take him to the ER sometimes if he catches a cold. I do not want to find out what Delta is going to do to him. So no, I don't like our self-serving superintendent who is more worried about his political career and virtue signaling than about high risk children and actually providing a good education.

Anonymous wrote:We don’t need armed police officers to break up cafeteria scuffles. Unarmed security guards would suffice.