|
Post by monklady123 on Sept 1, 2021 17:47:52 GMT
I was just catching up on this thread and something someone said above made me remember the photos I saw yesterday that were posted by the principal of the elementary school where I sub. Keep in mind that I live in a VERY blue area, with a very high vaccination rate -- high for adults and kids who are old enough (which obviously isn't any of the kids at this K-5 school) -- the photos were from a 4th grade math lesson. The kids were sitting on the rug basically on top of each other and I could see at least three kids whose masks weren't covering their noses. I suspect that the principal has already heard from parents about the whole setup. This is why I'm expecting quarantines shortly. (we just started two days ago so there hasn't been enough time yet...)
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 1, 2024 9:22:50 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2021 0:23:22 GMT
I was thinking more of an online lesson, not something that has to be monitored the entire school day. I can't imagine giving teachers more responsibility. But they have to check the paper packet, why not switch it for an online lesson. Last year my child did a lot of her classes using Canvas. I guess I was thinking of something more in line with that. But I'm from the days of cranking a ditto sheet so maybe I shouldn't be making suggestions here. It can take a great deal of time and work to make an online lesson - even more than sourcing an appropriate worksheet/written work. (Yes, some worksheets can be done online, but I don't see a particular educational benefit to doing that vs. a paper one.) Last year I had to teach in person and post asynchronous online lessons for the kids at home. I spent approximately 10-12 hours per week of my own time creating those lessons so they'd be appropriate for the kids I teach. I needed instructional videos with engaging graphics for new material and review, and then had to design activities the kids could do independently with typical materials at home. It was a freaking nightmare. I can't even imagine how stressful your entire year was. I am, and always will be grateful to our underpaid and overworked teachers. I'm one of those annoying Moms that bring in gifts, volunteer and send gratitude emails. I would never want to add more to a teacher's workload. I just thought most schools would have a system in place by now to deal with numerous illnesses and quarantines, etc. Thank you for explaining all of that to me. (I don't come here just to bitch about politics, I do love to learn.)
|
|
katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,378
Jun 25, 2014 23:25:39 GMT
|
Post by katybee on Sept 2, 2021 1:26:36 GMT
Our district is the same way. We were just told today in a meeting that we are not under any obligation to provide work to kids that are home sick or quarantined. Although in our district, it’s really hard to require a kid to quarantine. They can basically come to school positive if they want to – as long as they don’t tell us they’re positive. Also—masks are NOT required, because the district is being sued. We are not allowed to tell a kid to put a mask on. Period. The kids who have chosen virtual are doing a completely separate program. We are not doing any kind of virtual teaching from our school. So there won’t be any hybrid teaching like there was last year. Last year, if one of my kids had a quarantine, they could log onto my virtual class. But I don’t have a virtual class this year…
We had an hour and a half long meeting after school today to find out that, basically, it’s business as usual. What covid? We’ll see what happens in a few weeks phone numbers are skyrocketing…
|
|
paigepea
Drama Llama
Enter your message here...
Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
|
Post by paigepea on Sept 2, 2021 12:33:24 GMT
I haven’t read the replies.
Who decides when a child needs to quarantine and how old is your grandson?
It should be a deciding body outside of school that decides. That is how it is done at our school. Our public health authority does contact tracing and decides.
When dd had exposure once at school last year because her friend tested positive we put her into quarantine for a day and a half until public health called us and said dd wasn’t at risk. She was always masked with this girl and they happened to eat lunch outdoors that week because of good weather. When they are outdoors unmasked ti eat they spread their arms and made sure they were arms length apart (it happened to be a bad Covid week in our city - post spring break gatherings).
Just because you’re in a class with someone who has Covid doesn’t mean you have to quarantine. Especially if everyone is masked. Or at least if your grandson is masked.
The year will be difficult if they are quarantining once a month.
Our school had no on line school for anyone quarantining but a friend could FaceTime you in if you wanted. Teachers were responsible for providing work when a student was quarantining. They had a teacher responsible for organizing this in each grade. This year we’ve been told there will again be no on line option. They expect every child to be vaccinated and therefore quarantining should be greatly reduced. We will see. Go back after labour day.
|
|
|
Post by tuva42 on Sept 2, 2021 13:45:57 GMT
Our school system stayed with online learning from Aug. 2020 until March of 2021. Covid numbers in our area are worse right now than they were at any time during that period, and yet our district has no plan for extended online learning. Nearly 2,000 kids are quarantined right now, over 400 have tested positive for Covid. We have record numbers of kids in the hospital and our PICUs are almost full.
Part of the problem is that our idiotic state legislature passed a bill earlier this year stating that no school district can use more than 10 days of "non-traditional instruction." Several counties are already at that 10 day mark. So from now on they have to just shut down, with no learning happening and just make up the days at the end of the year. How stupid is that?
|
|
RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,401
Jun 25, 2014 19:28:04 GMT
|
Post by RosieKat on Sept 2, 2021 17:55:49 GMT
Although in our district, it’s really hard to require a kid to quarantine. I'm a parent in katybee's district. My high schooler got sent the letter yesterday that someone in her class tested positive, but that she is not considered a close contact because (insert all the CDC's rules about being vaxxed, wearing masks correctly, being at least 3 feet apart, etc.). But half the kids in her classes aren't wearing masks, most of her classes are overcrowded and definitely not 3 feet apart, etc. So in all likelihood, she actually IS a close contact, albeit one who has been vaccinated. Therefore the district is not requiring her to quarantine because on paper, they are all wearing masks, 3 feet apart, etc. I also wish they could at least tell us which class (I understand the privacy challenge with that), because some of her classes are more crowded than others, she's playing basketball and in people's faces, etc. I mean, if it's a kid in her Spanish class where she says for some reason, almost no one wears a mask including the kids she sits at a freakin' table with, I'm more concerned than I am about it being someone in a different class. And I'm sure the seats at a classroom table aren't all 3 feet apart, either! There are no provisions whatsoever for anyone in grade 7 and up to quarantine and be able to attend online temporarily (or for the year, for that matter), and if you choose to quarantine, it counts against your allowed absences. So I really can't be quarantining her for now, but have told her that (like always) she needs to be aware of feeling bad, and we'll go get her tested in a few days to be safe. What I really don't trust is the school district's numbers. We get letters daily from the high school and almost daily from middle school about "someone" being a probable or confirmed case. Yet magically, no one ever seems to be a close contact. The district has a dashboard that shows cases and close contacts broken down by school and day and cumulative numbers. Somehow, despite us getting way more than 3 of those letters from the middle school, they have supposedly only had 3 cumulative cases and 2 close contacts. The high school numbers are kind of the same, seemingly way below where they should be. One hinky thing I have been told is that if someone is a close contact and quarantines, and then is diagnosed while quarantined, the district doesn't count it as a case because they weren't at school. I get it, but if someone is quarantined because of exposure at school and then shows up positive, that is a case that is linked to school in my opinion. This year is just going to be a mess. We're missing several teachers in the high school, too. (Like positions that are just not filled, but there are classes. I'm lucky for once that it's not the case in any of my DD's classes, but I know someone whose freshman has 2 classes out of 7 that just have unqualified subs.) And yeah, just wait till flu hits.
|
|
|
Post by stormsts on Sept 2, 2021 21:29:37 GMT
Just now getting back to this thread. My grandson is 9 and in 4th grade. The school nurse determines who needs to be quarantined. Our governor just announced yesterday that schools that require masks to be worn at all times will be able to ease the quarantine requirements. My grandson was sent home at lunch Tuesday and can go back to school tomorrow. So maybe it is now only a 3 day quarantine…
|
|
|
Post by iteach3rdgrade on Sept 2, 2021 23:08:10 GMT
Keep kids in school at all costs. We can't force you to wear masks or stay home. Good luck.
We had good plans last year and we were in person all year. I think everything is put back on the health department.
I'm just dumbfounded. What do you think will happen when all requirements that worked last year are removed. Sigh.
|
|
katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,378
Jun 25, 2014 23:25:39 GMT
|
Post by katybee on Sept 3, 2021 3:02:46 GMT
RosieKat We got an email from our principal today instructing us to be proactive in preparing for remote learning, “just in case.” Even the district knows it’s inevitable. When you don’t use any mitigation strategies whatsoever, Covid is going to spread like wild fire… 🤷🏼♀️ BTW, Williamson county had 658 new cases today. I do believe that is a record for the most new cases in one single day since the beginning of the pandemic. Super! Good news – we went from having only 2 ICU beds available yesterday to having 5 today. I guess some people died… 🤷🏼♀️
|
|
RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,401
Jun 25, 2014 19:28:04 GMT
|
Post by RosieKat on Sept 8, 2021 15:08:53 GMT
RosieKat We got an email from our principal today instructing us to be proactive in preparing for remote learning, “just in case.” Even the district knows it’s inevitable. When you don’t use any mitigation strategies whatsoever, Covid is going to spread like wild fire… 🤷🏼♀️ BTW, Williamson county had 658 new cases today. I do believe that is a record for the most new cases in one single day since the beginning of the pandemic. Super! Good news – we went from having only 2 ICU beds available yesterday to having 5 today. I guess some people died… 🤷🏼♀️ Well, I'm glad that maybe at least behind the scenes there are some people thinking about it. Both my kids' schools are Travis/CoA so at least there's that little bit of help, but I know at the HS there are a ton of people who aren't wearing masks. My kids are pretty good about it, even my rather rebellious middle schooler, though he doesn't wear it during sports (which is football right now, so outside at least). My daughter does try to wear it as much during her sport (basketball) as she can, and thankfully a lot of her conditioning right now is with the cross country kids so outside. I think people are seeing the numbers start to come back down and thinking we're home free! When we're just no longer at impossible levels but at almost impossible levels.
|
|