Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are any schools recommending vaccines? Our school has a hands off approach. I wish they would at least encourage them. So frustrating!

I’m really frustrated with our school, St. Luke in McLean, about this as well. The school does not mention vaccines at all, or testing. It’s odd and every e-mail feels like they try to thread a needle of concerned but not pissing anyone off. Candidly the middle of the road approach misses the mark. We received an email today that school is planned as scheduled next week (good), the priority is in person school (great), and they are following the CDC guidelines (good). But, there is not a single mention of vaccinations, either requiring or recommending them (odd and disappointing), no testing required to come back to school next week (cringey), and not a mention of what the plan will be if a sizable number of children or staff are out with positive cases (shortsighted).

I hope the “please do not send your kid to school if they are sick” ask will work, but I am skeptical without a firmer approach, and concerned that we don’t know what the plan is if that falls apart.

People won’t accept a mandate for a EUA vaccine for their small kids. Of course the school is not requiring them.

Then just strongly recommend and encourage it until fully approved. Shouldn’t be anything wrong with that, and only upsides for the school’s ability to operate in-person, which they articulated as their main priority.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are any schools recommending vaccines? Our school has a hands off approach. I wish they would at least encourage them. So frustrating!

I’m really frustrated with our school, St. Luke in McLean, about this as well. The school does not mention vaccines at all, or testing. It’s odd and every e-mail feels like they try to thread a needle of concerned but not pissing anyone off. Candidly the middle of the road approach misses the mark. We received an email today that school is planned as scheduled next week (good), the priority is in person school (great), and they are following the CDC guidelines (good). But, there is not a single mention of vaccinations, either requiring or recommending them (odd and disappointing), no testing required to come back to school next week (cringey), and not a mention of what the plan will be if a sizable number of children or staff are out with positive cases (shortsighted).

I hope the “please do not send your kid to school if they are sick” ask will work, but I am skeptical without a firmer approach, and concerned that we don’t know what the plan is if that falls apart.

People won’t accept a mandate for a EUA vaccine for their small kids. Of course the school is not requiring them.

Not mandate the vaccine, but could they at least encourage, nudge, recommend?

Our school says they will keep business as usual. There will be no changes in mitigation. It sounds to me like a recipe for disaster with omicron. Kids and staff will start testing positive by Wednesday, if they can get tested. It just puts everybody in harms way. Our school is already stretched: not enough subs, rooms are tight (up to 31 kids in one grade). I fear my kids will bring the virus to grandma, who is all vaxxed up, but still could get sick.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are any schools recommending vaccines? Our school has a hands off approach. I wish they would at least encourage them. So frustrating!

I’m really frustrated with our school, St. Luke in McLean, about this as well. The school does not mention vaccines at all, or testing. It’s odd and every e-mail feels like they try to thread a needle of concerned but not pissing anyone off. Candidly the middle of the road approach misses the mark. We received an email today that school is planned as scheduled next week (good), the priority is in person school (great), and they are following the CDC guidelines (good). But, there is not a single mention of vaccinations, either requiring or recommending them (odd and disappointing), no testing required to come back to school next week (cringey), and not a mention of what the plan will be if a sizable number of children or staff are out with positive cases (shortsighted).

I hope the “please do not send your kid to school if they are sick” ask will work, but I am skeptical without a firmer approach, and concerned that we don’t know what the plan is if that falls apart.

People won’t accept a mandate for a EUA vaccine for their small kids. Of course the school is not requiring them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Ann is doing asynchronous Monday 1/3 and virtual remainder of the week. Ridiculous. They also did practice virtual days after other breaks. Are other parents as irate as me?

Not irate, but concerned.

Have you been following the numbers in the zip code? A lot of families had to change plans this week due to positive tests in vaccinated older kids (and these kids have younger siblings and cousins). Some are still having trouble getting tests.

source:

https://www.arlnow.com/2021/12/30/new-another-covid-case-record-amid-huge-lines-for-tests/

Is the Diocese allowed to require or track staff vaccination? At some
Point if enough staff are out and a school is full of subs who aren’t actual teachers what is the point of in person?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a petition going around to ask st Ann to reconsider its week of virtual learning. They seem to have gone off the deep end and apparently require outdoor masking.

Curious as to the reason for the petition?

What is wrong with virtual learning for one week considering the impact Omicron has had on the community in the last 2-3 weeks? Many families have been impacted and many others traveled and are now testing positive.

The whole situation has been dreadfully under-explained. Parents got an email from an admin account that was just a few sentences announcing the change. No real details. Then a few days later we got a second email from the principal that was also only a few sentences long and referred people to the previous email if they had questions.

Apparently in an email to a parent the principal said that virtual learning could go on for “weeks”. The whole situation is a mess.

Anonymous wrote:There’s a petition going around to ask st Ann to reconsider its week of virtual learning. They seem to have gone off the deep end and apparently require outdoor masking.

Curious as to the reason for the petition?

What is wrong with virtual learning for one week considering the impact Omicron has had on the community in the last 2-3 weeks? Many families have been impacted and many others traveled and are now testing positive.

Anonymous wrote:There’s a petition going around to ask st Ann to reconsider its week of virtual learning. They seem to have gone off the deep end and apparently require outdoor masking.

Our school has had outdoor masking last year and this year thus far.

There’s a petition going around to ask st Ann to reconsider its week of virtual learning. They seem to have gone off the deep end and apparently require outdoor masking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school will go back on Monday. Fingers crossed all goes well. Pray for us! I hope there is a push for higher quality masks, and consequences for kids who do not wear them correctly. So far, many kids get away with wearing them under their chins.

Sorry, but I will be praying for a swift end to the mask mandate. The majority of the kids in our parish are already attending Sunday mass unmasked anyway, as endorsed by the diocese, so I don’t get the double standard. Not to mention that the cloth masks do little to prevent the spread of omicron and they are regularly removing them for recess/PE/lunch anyway. It’s just theater to placate the paranoid parents at the expense of those of us who have children with speech issues, etc.

As a teacher, living with my elderly, vaxxed, and boosted parents, I will think twice about approaching students wearing low quality, ill-fitting masks. I hope Johnny does not extra help with his shoe laces or opening his juice box.

I hope you’re not teaching young elementary students.

I hope you will send your kids with a proper fitting mask and also model good mask behavior at home. We all need to do our part. I have no issues helping little Johnny out, as long as he is wearing a good mask, over his nose and mouth. I wear one all day, and do most of the talking. I am sure you understand how miserable it is to talk in a mask, but guess what, we still do it.

Protecting my parents is my top priority: Honor your father and mother. I am sorry, but my family comes first. If admins drop the mask requirement, many teachers will leave. Trust me, many Catholic School teachers are not in it for the money! Hardly any of us are the main breadwinners! We can get by without our salaries just fine.

I genuinely appreciate and respect your desire to protect your elderly parents. I just question whether my child wearing a cloth mask during 2/3 of the school day (omitting morning snack, recess, lunch/ mask breaks and Gym class) is really contributing in any meaningful way toward that goal (Especially given that in our case we regularly see her primary teacher and several of her classmates attending our fairly packed parish mass unmasked each Sunday ). At the same time I have seen a distinct impact on my daughter’s classroom participation/socialization as a result of masking. She is shy/soft spoken as it is and has a bit of a speech impediment and masking has made it harder for her to communicate with her teachers/classmates. As a result over the last 18 months she has become increasingly withdrawn and her classroom participation grades have declined.

At our school, students wear masks to PE and recess. Cloth masks will not be enough thus time around. Double masking (surgical + cloth) and KN95s are recommended now.

Yes, I have also seen people without masks at Sunday masses. It makes me very uncomfortable. Via social media, I saw mask-less people attending Christmas mass at my parish. Parishioners do have the safe virtual mass option. There are choices for mass. If schools go mask-less, there is no other
“safer” choice.

I also understand how wearing masks affects learning and socializing. I am a “specials” teacher. I have a hard time getting to know all my students as it is. Masks make it so much worse. What would be worse is more teachers having to stay home, and students missing out on learning altogether.

Kids are eating out, carpooling, having playdates, and sleepovers all without masks. Parents aren't that concerned.

It's been almost 2 years. Just being in school isn't enough. The kids are way behind. And even the average students is sitting in the back, masked, not paying attention and browsing the internet on the computer. And, how are teachers suppose to engage them if t hey can't see their face.

They don't have to stay home anymore. CDC says only a 5 day quarantine is needed. Kids always missed school for illness in the past. Remove the mask, stay home when you are sick. Get back to your core mission.

Five day quarantine if asymptomatic. You are part of the problem. Dispensing incorrect public health advice that isn’t in line with CDC guidance.

It’s not u correct. . If exposed, and not vaccinated, quarantine for 5 days ( or test to stay) No symptoms then return.

If you test positive ( a separates issue), isolate for 5 days, and return if symptoms improving ( not gone).

Anonymous wrote:Are any schools recommending vaccines? Our school has a hands off approach. I wish they would at least encourage them. So frustrating!

I’m really frustrated with our school, St. Luke in McLean, about this as well. The school does not mention vaccines at all, or testing. It’s odd and every e-mail feels like they try to thread a needle of concerned but not pissing anyone off. Candidly the middle of the road approach misses the mark. We received an email today that school is planned as scheduled next week (good), the priority is in person school (great), and they are following the CDC guidelines (good). But, there is not a single mention of vaccinations, either requiring or recommending them (odd and disappointing), no testing required to come back to school next week (cringey), and not a mention of what the plan will be if a sizable number of children or staff are out with positive cases (shortsighted).

I hope the “please do not send your kid to school if they are sick” ask will work, but I am skeptical without a firmer approach, and concerned that we don’t know what the plan is if that falls apart.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school will go back on Monday. Fingers crossed all goes well. Pray for us! I hope there is a push for higher quality masks, and consequences for kids who do not wear them correctly. So far, many kids get away with wearing them under their chins.

Sorry, but I will be praying for a swift end to the mask mandate. The majority of the kids in our parish are already attending Sunday mass unmasked anyway, as endorsed by the diocese, so I don’t get the double standard. Not to mention that the cloth masks do little to prevent the spread of omicron and they are regularly removing them for recess/PE/lunch anyway. It’s just theater to placate the paranoid parents at the expense of those of us who have children with speech issues, etc.

As a teacher, living with my elderly, vaxxed, and boosted parents, I will think twice about approaching students wearing low quality, ill-fitting masks. I hope Johnny does not extra help with his shoe laces or opening his juice box.

I hope you’re not teaching young elementary students.

I hope you will send your kids with a proper fitting mask and also model good mask behavior at home. We all need to do our part. I have no issues helping little Johnny out, as long as he is wearing a good mask, over his nose and mouth. I wear one all day, and do most of the talking. I am sure you understand how miserable it is to talk in a mask, but guess what, we still do it.

Protecting my parents is my top priority: Honor your father and mother. I am sorry, but my family comes first. If admins drop the mask requirement, many teachers will leave. Trust me, many Catholic School teachers are not in it for the money! Hardly any of us are the main breadwinners! We can get by without our salaries just fine.

I genuinely appreciate and respect your desire to protect your elderly parents. I just question whether my child wearing a cloth mask during 2/3 of the school day (omitting morning snack, recess, lunch/ mask breaks and Gym class) is really contributing in any meaningful way toward that goal (Especially given that in our case we regularly see her primary teacher and several of her classmates attending our fairly packed parish mass unmasked each Sunday ). At the same time I have seen a distinct impact on my daughter’s classroom participation/socialization as a result of masking. She is shy/soft spoken as it is and has a bit of a speech impediment and masking has made it harder for her to communicate with her teachers/classmates. As a result over the last 18 months she has become increasingly withdrawn and her classroom participation grades have declined.

At our school, students wear masks to PE and recess. Cloth masks will not be enough thus time around. Double masking (surgical + cloth) and KN95s are recommended now.

Yes, I have also seen people without masks at Sunday masses. It makes me very uncomfortable. Via social media, I saw mask-less people attending Christmas mass at my parish. Parishioners do have the safe virtual mass option. There are choices for mass. If schools go mask-less, there is no other
“safer” choice.

I also understand how wearing masks affects learning and socializing. I am a “specials” teacher. I have a hard time getting to know all my students as it is. Masks make it so much worse. What would be worse is more teachers having to stay home, and students missing out on learning altogether.

Kids are eating out, carpooling, having playdates, and sleepovers all without masks. Parents aren't that concerned.

It's been almost 2 years. Just being in school isn't enough. The kids are way behind. And even the average students is sitting in the back, masked, not paying attention and browsing the internet on the computer. And, how are teachers suppose to engage them if t hey can't see their face.

They don't have to stay home anymore. CDC says only a 5 day quarantine is needed. Kids always missed school for illness in the past. Remove the mask, stay home when you are sick. Get back to your core mission.

Five day quarantine if asymptomatic. You are part of the problem. Dispensing incorrect public health advice that isn’t in line with CDC guidance.

**Saving this comment for when the CDC revises their guidance down AGAIN.**

The pattern is clear. CDC does this every time. They give us the most restrictive guidance possible and refuse to back off for fear of looking stupid. Then they eventually do back off once it's been obvious how stupid (and often unscientific) the guidance is, and sticking with it threatens the institution's credibility. Then they will back off a little, but will again make the absolute minimum changes necessary.

I would bet a boatload of cash that "stay home when you are sick" becomes the CDC's official guidance within the next 3-6 months, with more conservative exceptions made for people who work with old people and the immunocompromised.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school will go back on Monday. Fingers crossed all goes well. Pray for us! I hope there is a push for higher quality masks, and consequences for kids who do not wear them correctly. So far, many kids get away with wearing them under their chins.

Sorry, but I will be praying for a swift end to the mask mandate. The majority of the kids in our parish are already attending Sunday mass unmasked anyway, as endorsed by the diocese, so I don’t get the double standard. Not to mention that the cloth masks do little to prevent the spread of omicron and they are regularly removing them for recess/PE/lunch anyway. It’s just theater to placate the paranoid parents at the expense of those of us who have children with speech issues, etc.

As a teacher, living with my elderly, vaxxed, and boosted parents, I will think twice about approaching students wearing low quality, ill-fitting masks. I hope Johnny does not extra help with his shoe laces or opening his juice box.

I hope you’re not teaching young elementary students.

I hope you will send your kids with a proper fitting mask and also model good mask behavior at home. We all need to do our part. I have no issues helping little Johnny out, as long as he is wearing a good mask, over his nose and mouth. I wear one all day, and do most of the talking. I am sure you understand how miserable it is to talk in a mask, but guess what, we still do it.

Protecting my parents is my top priority: Honor your father and mother. I am sorry, but my family comes first. If admins drop the mask requirement, many teachers will leave. Trust me, many Catholic School teachers are not in it for the money! Hardly any of us are the main breadwinners! We can get by without our salaries just fine.

I genuinely appreciate and respect your desire to protect your elderly parents. I just question whether my child wearing a cloth mask during 2/3 of the school day (omitting morning snack, recess, lunch/ mask breaks and Gym class) is really contributing in any meaningful way toward that goal (Especially given that in our case we regularly see her primary teacher and several of her classmates attending our fairly packed parish mass unmasked each Sunday ). At the same time I have seen a distinct impact on my daughter’s classroom participation/socialization as a result of masking. She is shy/soft spoken as it is and has a bit of a speech impediment and masking has made it harder for her to communicate with her teachers/classmates. As a result over the last 18 months she has become increasingly withdrawn and her classroom participation grades have declined.

At our school, students wear masks to PE and recess. Cloth masks will not be enough thus time around. Double masking (surgical + cloth) and KN95s are recommended now.

Yes, I have also seen people without masks at Sunday masses. It makes me very uncomfortable. Via social media, I saw mask-less people attending Christmas mass at my parish. Parishioners do have the safe virtual mass option. There are choices for mass. If schools go mask-less, there is no other
“safer” choice.

I also understand how wearing masks affects learning and socializing. I am a “specials” teacher. I have a hard time getting to know all my students as it is. Masks make it so much worse. What would be worse is more teachers having to stay home, and students missing out on learning altogether.

Kids are eating out, carpooling, having playdates, and sleepovers all without masks. Parents aren't that concerned.

It's been almost 2 years. Just being in school isn't enough. The kids are way behind. And even the average students is sitting in the back, masked, not paying attention and browsing the internet on the computer. And, how are teachers suppose to engage them if t hey can't see their face.

They don't have to stay home anymore. CDC says only a 5 day quarantine is needed. Kids always missed school for illness in the past. Remove the mask, stay home when you are sick. Get back to your core mission.

Five day quarantine if asymptomatic. You are part of the problem. Dispensing incorrect public health advice that isn’t in line with CDC guidance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school will go back on Monday. Fingers crossed all goes well. Pray for us! I hope there is a push for higher quality masks, and consequences for kids who do not wear them correctly. So far, many kids get away with wearing them under their chins.

Sorry, but I will be praying for a swift end to the mask mandate. The majority of the kids in our parish are already attending Sunday mass unmasked anyway, as endorsed by the diocese, so I don’t get the double standard. Not to mention that the cloth masks do little to prevent the spread of omicron and they are regularly removing them for recess/PE/lunch anyway. It’s just theater to placate the paranoid parents at the expense of those of us who have children with speech issues, etc.

As a teacher, living with my elderly, vaxxed, and boosted parents, I will think twice about approaching students wearing low quality, ill-fitting masks. I hope Johnny does not extra help with his shoe laces or opening his juice box.

I hope you’re not teaching young elementary students.

I hope you will send your kids with a proper fitting mask and also model good mask behavior at home. We all need to do our part. I have no issues helping little Johnny out, as long as he is wearing a good mask, over his nose and mouth. I wear one all day, and do most of the talking. I am sure you understand how miserable it is to talk in a mask, but guess what, we still do it.

Protecting my parents is my top priority: Honor your father and mother. I am sorry, but my family comes first. If admins drop the mask requirement, many teachers will leave. Trust me, many Catholic School teachers are not in it for the money! Hardly any of us are the main breadwinners! We can get by without our salaries just fine.

I genuinely appreciate and respect your desire to protect your elderly parents. I just question whether my child wearing a cloth mask during 2/3 of the school day (omitting morning snack, recess, lunch/ mask breaks and Gym class) is really contributing in any meaningful way toward that goal (Especially given that in our case we regularly see her primary teacher and several of her classmates attending our fairly packed parish mass unmasked each Sunday ). At the same time I have seen a distinct impact on my daughter’s classroom participation/socialization as a result of masking. She is shy/soft spoken as it is and has a bit of a speech impediment and masking has made it harder for her to communicate with her teachers/classmates. As a result over the last 18 months she has become increasingly withdrawn and her classroom participation grades have declined.

At our school, students wear masks to PE and recess. Cloth masks will not be enough thus time around. Double masking (surgical + cloth) and KN95s are recommended now.

Yes, I have also seen people without masks at Sunday masses. It makes me very uncomfortable. Via social media, I saw mask-less people attending Christmas mass at my parish. Parishioners do have the safe virtual mass option. There are choices for mass. If schools go mask-less, there is no other
“safer” choice.

I also understand how wearing masks affects learning and socializing. I am a “specials” teacher. I have a hard time getting to know all my students as it is. Masks make it so much worse. What would be worse is more teachers having to stay home, and students missing out on learning altogether.

Kids are eating out, carpooling, having playdates, and sleepovers all without masks. Parents aren't that concerned.

It's been almost 2 years. Just being in school isn't enough. The kids are way behind. And even the average students is sitting in the back, masked, not paying attention and browsing the internet on the computer. And, how are teachers suppose to engage them if t hey can't see their face.

They don't have to stay home anymore. CDC says only a 5 day quarantine is needed. Kids always missed school for illness in the past. Remove the mask, stay home when you are sick. Get back to your core mission.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school will go back on Monday. Fingers crossed all goes well. Pray for us! I hope there is a push for higher quality masks, and consequences for kids who do not wear them correctly. So far, many kids get away with wearing them under their chins.

Sorry, but I will be praying for a swift end to the mask mandate. The majority of the kids in our parish are already attending Sunday mass unmasked anyway, as endorsed by the diocese, so I don’t get the double standard. Not to mention that the cloth masks do little to prevent the spread of omicron and they are regularly removing them for recess/PE/lunch anyway. It’s just theater to placate the paranoid parents at the expense of those of us who have children with speech issues, etc.

As a teacher, living with my elderly, vaxxed, and boosted parents, I will think twice about approaching students wearing low quality, ill-fitting masks. I hope Johnny does not extra help with his shoe laces or opening his juice box.

I hope you’re not teaching young elementary students.

I hope you will send your kids with a proper fitting mask and also model good mask behavior at home. We all need to do our part. I have no issues helping little Johnny out, as long as he is wearing a good mask, over his nose and mouth. I wear one all day, and do most of the talking. I am sure you understand how miserable it is to talk in a mask, but guess what, we still do it.

Protecting my parents is my top priority: Honor your father and mother. I am sorry, but my family comes first. If admins drop the mask requirement, many teachers will leave. Trust me, many Catholic School teachers are not in it for the money! Hardly any of us are the main breadwinners! We can get by without our salaries just fine.

I genuinely appreciate and respect your desire to protect your elderly parents. I just question whether my child wearing a cloth mask during 2/3 of the school day (omitting morning snack, recess, lunch/ mask breaks and Gym class) is really contributing in any meaningful way toward that goal (Especially given that in our case we regularly see her primary teacher and several of her classmates attending our fairly packed parish mass unmasked each Sunday ). At the same time I have seen a distinct impact on my daughter’s classroom participation/socialization as a result of masking. She is shy/soft spoken as it is and has a bit of a speech impediment and masking has made it harder for her to communicate with her teachers/classmates. As a result over the last 18 months she has become increasingly withdrawn and her classroom participation grades have declined.

At our school, students wear masks to PE and recess. Cloth masks will not be enough thus time around. Double masking (surgical + cloth) and KN95s are recommended now.

Yes, I have also seen people without masks at Sunday masses. It makes me very uncomfortable. Via social media, I saw mask-less people attending Christmas mass at my parish. Parishioners do have the safe virtual mass option. There are choices for mass. If schools go mask-less, there is no other
“safer” choice.

I also understand how wearing masks affects learning and socializing. I am a “specials” teacher. I have a hard time getting to know all my students as it is. Masks make it so much worse. What would be worse is more teachers having to stay home, and students missing out on learning altogether.

Interesting- our arlington diocese school has been maskless for gym/recess all year. Also (somewhat oddly I acknowledge) KN95 masks aren’t allowed for the students- the only two accepted options per the school guidelines are the cloth mask designed to go with the uniform (which the vast majority wear) or the blue disposable surgical mask. (I’d imagine if a parent put up a fuss/cited a medical need it would be permitted but I’ve never seen a student wearing one).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they will open on time, and then close when too many staff are out. They could start planning right now, instead of having to “pivot” in a hastely manner when the **** hits the fan! I feel all schools will end up doing this. They have to be able to say they had the intention of opening. Any thoughts on CYO basketball? I am pretty sure they will shut that down pretty soon.

Our CYO is only for 7th and 8th graders this year, with proof of vaccination. I would really be upset if CYO shuts down. (this is St. Joe's in Herndon)

What? St Joe’s (Herndon) coach told me vaccinations were not required. Masks on bench but not during play.

I’m very curious when this changed, because I asked specifically about this.

First they said only vaxxed kids could play. I assume there was backlash, so they changed the rules a week or two later.

It was definitely a rough start for the Saints.