theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,411
Jun 26, 2014 12:50:12 GMT
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Post by theshyone on Jul 23, 2020 4:57:46 GMT
It’s a tough choice for our family.
my daughter and I have heart condition that would make being treated for covid very difficult. My son has asthma.
my daughter has been 100% online education since 8th grade, but her online school was closed in June. (Budget cuts)
my son entering grade 12, still needs 27 credits will most likely do two grade 12 years (autistic). He Needs the supports in place at an actual school, but the chances of him bringing something home could be catastrophic for our family.
he has done blended in school, and online for all of high school. Online is not “home school”.
Alberta has decided school is starting in September as close to old normal as possible. No masks, just increased cleaning and hand sanitizer. Alberta numbers are rising daily.
Im torn as to what is best for the family as a whole versus what is best for him. So torn.
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Jul 23, 2020 4:58:10 GMT
There are also other factors at play besides exposure. One of my friends has very limited English (and her husband has less). Her daughters do speak English because they have attended school and daycare but they are 1st and 2nd grade so very young and don't read well enough to do it on their own. She told me this week that trying to help her kids with online classes is beyond her English speaking skill and that it takes hours because she has to use translator programs to help her. She also really can't afford for one of them to stay home. Their daycare may be offering additional programs/teachers for home schooled kids during the day but it will probably increase her daycare costs by 2 to 3 times or more and they also can't afford that. So her choices are to send her children to school if it is even open and hope that it doesn't get closed (it will), leave her job to stay home and spend frustrating hours for all of them because of her limited English (which they can't afford), or hope that the daycare has another solution (which she also likely won't be able to afford). Aw! That's really tough. It's too bad schools can't offer a choice for situations like this to do in person so a very limited number would be in the school. I suppose that'd violate some law...
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Jul 23, 2020 5:02:31 GMT
It’s a tough choice for our family. my daughter and I have heart condition that would make being treated for covid very difficult. My son has asthma. my daughter has been 100% online education since 8th grade, but her online school was closed in June. (Budget cuts) my son entering grade 12, still needs 27 credits will most likely do two grade 12 years (autistic). He Needs the supports in place at an actual school, but the chances of him bringing something home could be catastrophic for our family. he has done blended in school, and online for all of high school. Online is not “home school”. Alberta has decided school is starting in September as close to old normal as possible. No masks, just increased cleaning and hand sanitizer. Alberta numbers are rising daily. Im torn as to what is best for the family as a whole versus what is best for him. So torn. Wow. I wish schools would be able to offer in person to a limited number of students for situations like this. I think with in person 100% back at school that so much of the academics will be lacking at least in the elementary. We will be spending so much time washing hands and sanitizing that very little will be used for teaching. Every transition, every pencil, every restroom break etc. will use all the time. It will probably be less disruptive in upper grades, but I have no idea.
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Jul 23, 2020 5:05:00 GMT
I just don't understand people!
I just hope our mask mandate lasts for 6-8 weeks. My son was excited to hear it's required, otherwise, peer pressure could get to him as well. I haven't given up on our governor just yet to make everything online. He'll see what the masks are doing and a lot of fairs are beginning so maybe the masks will prevent a lot.
i wish my governor would nut up and just say, masks are required across the board for schools. That way the superintendents don't have to piss one side or the other off and people aren't able to yank their kids out and go somewhere else. Although our state association may organza a strike/walk out, so maybe we will force his hand I hope he changes his mind. It was a relief today to hear the mandate. Our state association isn't too involved right now. I don't know how we get them to change.
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theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,411
Jun 26, 2014 12:50:12 GMT
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Post by theshyone on Jul 23, 2020 5:15:34 GMT
It’s a tough choice for our family. my daughter and I have heart condition that would make being treated for covid very difficult. My son has asthma. my daughter has been 100% online education since 8th grade, but her online school was closed in June. (Budget cuts) my son entering grade 12, still needs 27 credits will most likely do two grade 12 years (autistic). He Needs the supports in place at an actual school, but the chances of him bringing something home could be catastrophic for our family. he has done blended in school, and online for all of high school. Online is not “home school”. Alberta has decided school is starting in September as close to old normal as possible. No masks, just increased cleaning and hand sanitizer. Alberta numbers are rising daily. Im torn as to what is best for the family as a whole versus what is best for him. So torn. Wow. I wish schools would be able to offer in person to a limited number of students for situations like this. I think with in person 100% back at school that so much of the academics will be lacking at least in the elementary. We will be spending so much time washing hands and sanitizing that very little will be used for teaching. Every transition, every pencil, every restroom break etc. will use all the time. It will probably be less disruptive in upper grades, but I have no idea. No class size limits at all. Most core classes last year at his school had 35-40 kids. His high school runs at over 100% capacity. Him being autistic at a younger age was terribly difficult I can’t imagine kids like him being forced to wear masks, and adhere to most covid protocol or the teachers and aids in charge of them. I’m scared special needs kids learning gap will widen even more
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Jul 23, 2020 5:19:47 GMT
Our special education teachers are very concerned.
?? I don't know how to link/tag someone without quoting.
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stittsygirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,590
Location: In the leaves and rain.
Jun 25, 2014 19:57:33 GMT
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Post by stittsygirl on Jul 23, 2020 5:22:20 GMT
We made the choice to keep our sophomore home, at least for the first semester, and I know we are fortunate that we can choose that. We’re just waiting to see what our district’s online option will look like.
My other high schooler, a junior, is doing a concurrent college degree program and we already know his courses, other than band, will all be online. We haven’t heard how band will be handled yet.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jul 8, 2024 22:36:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2020 5:34:57 GMT
Our special education teachers are very concerned. ?? I don't know how to link/tag someone without quoting. iteach3rdgrade so you do the @ and immediately type their name. No space. LOL sorry peaname, I had no idea there was an actual pea named peaname
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Post by MalleyCat on Jul 23, 2020 5:57:07 GMT
Here in California, the schools and parents don’t have a choice. Governor Newsom made that decision for us! 🥴
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Jul 23, 2020 5:57:27 GMT
@sunnycamom Thanks!
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Jul 23, 2020 5:59:05 GMT
Here in California, the schools and parents don’t have a choice. Governor Newsom made that decision for us! 🥴 Crazy numbers.
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msliz
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The Procrastinator
Posts: 6,419
Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
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Post by msliz on Jul 23, 2020 6:08:47 GMT
DD's high school just sent out a survey to the parents. I replied that I hoped they could come up with a hybrid model that would reduce the number of kids on the campus each day. That's what many of the colleges here are doing.
School is slated to begin in September here.
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Jul 23, 2020 6:10:46 GMT
msliz Did they send a survey in the spring?
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Gennifer
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Jun 26, 2014 8:22:26 GMT
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Post by Gennifer on Jul 23, 2020 7:21:48 GMT
We have the option, but whatever we choose is a commitment for the first semester and cannot be changed until after that point. My gut instinct was online, although my kids (12, 14, and 17) wanted to go back.
Over the weekend, I spent some time talking with my sister to get her opinion... she’s a teacher in our school district. She said if she still had kids in the district (her youngest just graduated) she would do online. We’re sticking with that, although I haven’t broken it to my kids yet.
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anaterra
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,925
Location: Texas
Jun 29, 2014 3:04:02 GMT
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Post by anaterra on Jul 23, 2020 8:01:23 GMT
Allmy children are adults and i only 2 school age grands.... but it is scarey and frustrating... here it is either in person or online... nothing hybrid... and once you make a choice for your students you cant change until the next 6 weeks...
My neice and nephew have a half n half class schedule to start... so students last name A-M go into school mon and wed and do online classes tue n thur... students N-Z go to school tue n thur and do online mon and wed.... everyone is online on Friday.... it will work out ok for them because my sister can rearrange her work schedule... but that wont work for a lot of parents... because day cares are not gonna do online schools for them.... who watches the kids while parents work???
Also some families have different last names for their kids... so you do have families of last initial A and R... if that is a single parent... when would they ever have time to work???
I know its easy for some and super stressful for others... i dont have any decisions to make.... but i feel for all of you who do... definitely pros n cons to each choice...
Good luck pea friends
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Post by PEAcan pie on Jul 23, 2020 8:46:28 GMT
Not going to lie....I am so anxious and downright distraught on making a decision.
I have three in three schools, Elementary-High. I am very high risk. My Daughter is shy and needs more socialization. My 8 year old son has not seen any kids his age since this started!!! His one friend moved away and the other two are just not open for visiting. He is sorta shy too. This just stinks terribly. My 16 year old son feels like he is missing out on some of the best times of his life.
I do not know what to do, but I will say I shed a lot of tears. My parents are extremely high risk too.
I am leaning towards online but I am emotional just thinking about it.
Edited my choices are... commit to full year of online or in-school. No hybrid, no changes mid-year.
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gsquaredmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,086
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Jul 23, 2020 9:55:05 GMT
Not going to lie....I am so anxious and downright distraught on making a decision. I have three in three schools, Elementary-High. I am very high risk. My Daughter is shy and needs more socialization. My 8 year old son has not seen any kids his age since this started!!! His one friend moved away and the other two are just not open for visiting. He is sorta shy too. This just stinks terribly. My 16 year old son feels like he is missing out on some of the best times of his life. I do not know what to do, but I will say I shed a lot of tears. My parents are extremely high risk too. I am leaning towards online but I am emotional just thinking about it. Edited my choices are... commit to full year of online or in-school. No hybrid, no changes mid-year. I am glad I don’t have to make that choice, as they are adults, but they would be home if they were in school. Kids are resilient. In person school will not have much socializing going on if they follow the guidelines. All it takes is one person with COVID to bring down your family. To me, there is not even a choice. Life takes precedence. And when it spreads through schools like crazy, they will shift to remote anyway. Why risk your LIVES for the non-normal, go back to remote learning anyway, schooling.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jul 23, 2020 11:19:12 GMT
I am torn.
I have a teen with ADHD that absolutely struggles with focusing on online learning.
I also have a child that requires special resources for learning (that they haven't received since March!!) and speech therapy. Online is nearly no help for him.
But there are also people in my household that are susceptible to severe illness.
There are no winning answers.
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johnnysmom
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Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Jul 23, 2020 11:29:03 GMT
I was shocked to see our tiny school is offering options. Got a survey this week to gauge parents but they’re planning to offer in person plus online or hybrid or maybe all 3. We have options as we only have 1 kid in school and he’s young enough (4th grade) that he doesn’t switch classes but old enough that he doesn’t lick door knobs. Also dh works from home and I might or might not work at the school, plus we don’t rely on my income so if need be I could quit.
That said, staying home is not good for ds’ mental health. I’m sure most kids are fine with it but this kid I have, more than once, carried to the car kicking and screaming to go get ice cream. We’re on vacation right now (a cabin in the woods) and he cried the first night bc he was homesick.....he wasn’t missing a person, we were all here, he was missing his house. He would be perfectly fine staying home forever.
We chose face to face with a second choice of hybrid and we’re comfortable with that. Our numbers are increases gradually but still pretty low in our county. We’re relatively low risk and don’t regularly see high risk people. Our school will follow the state mask mandate for schools and our class sizes are small (around 20 kids in a regular year, I predict fewer this year). To answer your question, some parents are understandably torn, thankfully we really weren’t.
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Post by littlemama on Jul 23, 2020 12:13:02 GMT
I think the parents who have to send their kids to school so they can go to work are the ones in the worst position.
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Post by SockMonkey on Jul 23, 2020 12:19:11 GMT
There are also other factors at play besides exposure. One of my friends has very limited English (and her husband has less). Her daughters do speak English because they have attended school and daycare but they are 1st and 2nd grade so very young and don't read well enough to do it on their own. She told me this week that trying to help her kids with online classes is beyond her English speaking skill and that it takes hours because she has to use translator programs to help her. She also really can't afford for one of them to stay home. Their daycare may be offering additional programs/teachers for home schooled kids during the day but it will probably increase her daycare costs by 2 to 3 times or more and they also can't afford that. So her choices are to send her children to school if it is even open and hope that it doesn't get closed (it will), leave her job to stay home and spend frustrating hours for all of them because of her limited English (which they can't afford), or hope that the daycare has another solution (which she also likely won't be able to afford). This is why I advocate for remote learning for most, hybrid in-person for some, especially language learners or students with disabilities for whom remote learning is impossible (some students with serious cognitive disabilities, for example). Some students with disabilities (health issues, some students with autism, anxiety) actually seemed to do BETTER with remote learning. Keeping most at home limits community risk and spread, prioritizes in-person instruction for those who need it most, and is the safest choice to meet kids' needs right now. I don't envy most parents. It is SO hard any my parent friends (many of whom are ALSO teachers) are having hard conversations and making hard choices. There are no good answers.
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iluvpink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,310
Location: Michigan
Jul 13, 2014 12:40:31 GMT
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Post by iluvpink on Jul 23, 2020 12:19:14 GMT
My dd is 20 and not currently in college, so this doesn't apply to me.
I do know if she were younger than high school, I would be very torn. I am working from home until at least next year, but young children need attention even if it's online school. Some needs lot of attention. I know that when my dd was younger than around 12, she would have needed lots of attention just to sit and pay attention.
My boss has a two year old and an eight year old. I haven't talked to her in a while as she is on voluntary furlough until next month. Until she took the furlough she was so stressed trying to deal with her kids. I haven't spoke to her but our manager has and it sounds like she is now extremely stressed out about the situation.
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Post by karen on Jul 23, 2020 12:30:18 GMT
There are also other factors at play besides exposure. One of my friends has very limited English (and her husband has less). Her daughters do speak English because they have attended school and daycare but they are 1st and 2nd grade so very young and don't read well enough to do it on their own. She told me this week that trying to help her kids with online classes is beyond her English speaking skill and that it takes hours because she has to use translator programs to help her. She also really can't afford for one of them to stay home. Their daycare may be offering additional programs/teachers for home schooled kids during the day but it will probably increase her daycare costs by 2 to 3 times or more and they also can't afford that. So her choices are to send her children to school if it is even open and hope that it doesn't get closed (it will), leave her job to stay home and spend frustrating hours for all of them because of her limited English (which they can't afford), or hope that the daycare has another solution (which she also likely won't be able to afford). Has she reached out to the school? Surely that is something that schools are planning for. Parents need all the help they can get right now.
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AnotherPea
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,968
Jan 4, 2015 1:47:52 GMT
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Post by AnotherPea on Jul 23, 2020 12:34:52 GMT
We had to make a major decision for our kids and not as simple as in person or virtual. It feels like there is no right answer and there will be guilt no matter what. And if “something” happens then the guilt will continue to pile up. I realize that the stress of our decisions pale in comparison to those of single parents and working parents, but damn it still sucks. I like being in control, like really like being in control (enneagram 1 🙋🏻♀️), but part of me just wants to go one day without making a big decision or second guessing a decision I already made. Having choices feels like a double edged sword. If this doesn’t end up being the best or right choice, it was mine and I will feel responsible. In our situation, our older kids were at a very small private school where we were happy. I began asking questions this month about their plans and wasn’t happy with what I heard. No masks for anyone and just doing their best to distance (because most people want a “normal” experience) paired with “at least this surge will get us closer to herd immunity”. Oh hell to the no! Our public school district is small and rural, but offering in person and virtual. Putting aside our academic concerns, they would be masks when necessary (read buses and hallways) for in person and we still don’t have a plan for virtual even though school starts in 2 weeks. So those options suck too. So do we homeschool? We were in a hybrid program and did pretty well, but I know the limits of my ability and it wouldn’t be good for any of us. So next option... we had the opportunity to hire my son’s first grade teacher (who is amazing and we adored). But what happens if/when her kids’ public school gets shut down, what about my kids getting no social interaction to speak of for another 9 months. Ugh. You can see why part of me wishes I didn’t have to make a decision at this point. We ended up hiring the former teacher. One child is thrilled and rolling with it the other is still mad at me 3 days later about leaving behind school and friends. In my heart I feel like we made the best and safest choice for our family, and we are so lucky to even have the choice and means to make it, but it still sucks for all of us. Sorry for the long ramble but I am so tired of making big decisions. But I would probably complain if the decision were out of our hands too. Everything feels like a no win situation at this point 😏 I want to help alleviate some of your concerns. I teach in a public school. Every year I have several students that come from private schools. It is the very rare exception for such a child to be above or even at the same level of his/her peers. Every single one had parents that would have sworn their kids were advanced because of the private school education. Some of these kids came from prestigious schools in New York and L.A. I don’t know the specifics of your schools of course, but don’t assume that the public school will have lower academics. Private school parents pay for private school grades.
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Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,992
Jun 25, 2014 20:07:06 GMT
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Post by Sarah*H on Jul 23, 2020 12:36:35 GMT
We needed to decide by Monday and my response was that we haven't decided. I'm sick to my stomach just thinking about it.
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Post by mandolyn9909 on Jul 23, 2020 12:46:07 GMT
DH and I both work full time so one of us would need to quit in order to do at home teaching with our children.
Our 'choice' would be sending them to school or paying for a tutor/private teacher to teach them which we have talked about. I wish there was some kind of tax break for not using the public school services.
I can drive my kids to school so they wouldn't have to take bussing. It would mean they would be at school almost an hour before school started but would limit the risk of being in a small bus with so many people, So we will probably do this at the very least.
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Post by aj2hall on Jul 23, 2020 12:51:36 GMT
The school that I work at and the high school for my youngest have not yet announced plans, we don’t go back until the very end of August. I’m very conflicted, DS has ADD and would do better in person. If I’m home, I could help him, he did OK this spring. We could mitigate some of the risk by driving him. His school will most likely require masks, but I worry about exposure. And since he has the ability to stay home, I’m wondering if we should keep him home to help other families who don’t have that choice? Ideally, I’m hoping for a hybrid model for my school and ds, as long as they’re on the same schedule. Different schedules would really complicate things. Lots of factors to consider in the decision.
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Post by AnastasiaBeaverhausn on Jul 23, 2020 13:06:46 GMT
I am a retired middle school teacher (taught in Michigan - moved to Texas after I retired) and had a few neighbors ask me my opinion. At the time, Texas still had fairly low numbers but as you know, that didn't last. One family has a 5th grader and a K. The advice I gave them if I were a parent and had options was to keep them home for at least the start of the year. My rationale is that if something happens (it's happening but so many in TX won't believe it) and schools have to close, then they are already enrolled in something online or home school or a combo of both and there would be minimal disruption to their schooling. I did say that I had no clue what home school/online for a Kinder is or looks like. Since I taught middle school, I can get a feel for the 5th grader. If the numbers drop, then look into sending them second semester or quarter or whenever they feel better. Our neighborhood just built a brand new elementary school and it is set to open in a couple of weeks. I think many parents want to send their kids because of the newness of it all. Plus, I am seeing that many are doing backyard bible school (no mention of social distancing or masks) and our neighborhood pool had to be closed because there is a 100 person limit (state mandate) and people were complaining that they can't count to 100. TX will be battling Covid for many months to come. It isn't a health issue here; it is a rights issue - sadly.
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Post by SockMonkey on Jul 23, 2020 13:10:59 GMT
Let me share a little about what in-person looks like for us in a hybrid:
- Desks 6ft apart, all facing front, 70 min period - teacher 6ft from first row, minimal to no movement - students not allowed to move about room - assigned seats to monitor locations of students at all times for contact tracing purposes - half class watching remotely from home video stream - no snacks - masks entire time - no shared materials - no collaborative/cooperative tables/small groups
Does this sound like a good learning experience? All to say your physical body is in a classroom? This is what's required in order to be SAFE under CDC guidelines.
Now ask if your child would do well in this circumstance.
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Post by candygurl on Jul 23, 2020 13:12:29 GMT
Yes we are torn and I believe many are. It’s not easy picking a solution that will be best for your child and his/her needs. We had to choose a temporary one through Labor Day and then will reassess. Whatever we choose we are trying to go through with a positive attitude for both of us. I do hope by October kids will be back in school. It’s so hard for mine and his social needs. He misses his friends and sports so much (he’s younger so doesn’t care too much about the academic part). I feel for the school staff. Hoping everyone will find a choice that will work best for their kid.
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