We both work so we are really struggling with this. They are telling us the kids will be wearing masks all day. I'm not ok with that. There is studies showing the oxygen inside a mask is lower than OSHA requirements to be safe. It's obvious it makes you tired and less motivated. We have a K and 1st grader
Parents of PCF: School Reentry Plans (No Politics) (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Payback
- Start date
We are philosophically both pretty conservative and old school anyway. So even aside from COVID we liked the idea of home schooling as our kids are not being exposed to all kinds of stuff without our knowledge. It is a long conversation about parenting but I am not really convinced that teen rebellious years of drinking and drugs need to be the norm. I have met some really smart and positive teenage kids and our hope was to raise kids like that and not self conscious kids that think they need to party and dress a certain way to be accepted. IMO most of the social dynamic of middle and high school is contrived and not beneficial to the growth and success of the kids.
In my experience school was a big waste of time where I just raised hell with friends and learned bad habits. The curiosity to learn was long gone. The biggest thing I want to do with our kids is nurture their natural curiosity. If they are still curious and interested then nothing can stop them from learning. IMO the organized school system squelches that natural curiosity and also just wastes so much time.
That is my take on home schooling vs. the public system and it has nothing to do with COVID. Not everyone can afford to live off of one income but if you can make it work then I think it is optimal.
I can't really imagine a world where 5 or 6 year olds actually keep a mask on all day. If you are worried about their oxygen availability just get them shitty cloth masks that breath well. It is pretty easy to sew a mask out of any material, find a fabric that breathes well. You can also use a "surgeon" style mask where the sides are open and they are loose fitting. I think these masks wouldn't be that bad to wear as compared to a tight fitting dusk mask.
SJFCPK18
Flush
Unfortunately that is about 2 months too late. We closed things down in Ny In March and are now just being able to get things back
OP
OP
We just got this sent out this morning for my district for the online only kids for K-5. For our 6-8 and 9-12 students they are pretty similar to this, but instead will get 1 hour of teacher led instruction each day and 2 hours of individual study on their own as reinforcement.
Plus we found out that if there is a positive case they will close for a minimum of 24 hours to up to two weeks with a staggered student attendance upon restart. Anyone with a 100+ fever will need to be 72 hours fever free and any Covid positive people will need to wait 10 days till symptoms first appeared. I would've thought this would be from last symptoms, but what do I know...
Plus we found out that if there is a positive case they will close for a minimum of 24 hours to up to two weeks with a staggered student attendance upon restart. Anyone with a 100+ fever will need to be 72 hours fever free and any Covid positive people will need to wait 10 days till symptoms first appeared. I would've thought this would be from last symptoms, but what do I know...
I just got an email from my school district stating that they will offer both in-person and online instruction for the next school year. They want us to choose by 9th August what our desired mode of instruction is. If we don't respond they will assume that we're selecting in-person instruction. They've provided no information on what the online classes will be like so the decision seems solely to be whether to expose our kids or not.
I have no idea what to do.
I have no idea what to do.
We got an email yesterday that the first three weeks will be virtual only. Starting Sept 10th, they will also offer on campus learning but will continue to have virtual learning for those who prefer that route.
There was a survey they sent out last month and have stated that from the 35,000 responses the split was about 50/50 of in class or all virtual.
There was a survey they sent out last month and have stated that from the 35,000 responses the split was about 50/50 of in class or all virtual.
Our school district is still up in the air on start date. We have both the virtual only option or the in person option. We still have not yet decided on what we want to do. The kids are mixed. Our 6th grader wants to do online - he doesn't want to wear a face-mask all day and can't imagine school without the lunch and recess breaks. My 9th grader and 11th grader are very vocal they want to be back in school, they don't care if they have to wear a spacesuit. However, I don't think they fully understand that without the clubs, extracurricular activities, and at this point possibly no sports, that it is not what they are used too. My 10th grader is torn - she wants the social aspect of school, but also wants the flexibility and less pressure of virtual.
We have to make our decision soon - but the good news is after the first 6 weeks, we will be allowed to change our minds. At this point, we are probably letting the kids decide and then go from there at the 6 week point.
Our district was split 40%/60% - with the 60% wanting in person school.
We have to make our decision soon - but the good news is after the first 6 weeks, we will be allowed to change our minds. At this point, we are probably letting the kids decide and then go from there at the 6 week point.
Our district was split 40%/60% - with the 60% wanting in person school.
Frogzilla
Straight Flush
As soon as Texas starts to settle down, Im ready to send my daughter to Montessori. It’s hard to tell if that’s 4 weeks or 4 months out. My household is all young though, so that makes the decision much easier. If the mother-in-law was living with us, I couldn’t chance it.
My free advice to all (you get what you pay for) is to go with your gut on this one, there isn’t a good answer and wont help to stress yourself out with undue pressure
My free advice to all (you get what you pay for) is to go with your gut on this one, there isn’t a good answer and wont help to stress yourself out with undue pressure
Both options are lose-lose. I feel for the teachers the most. They don't have an option. In Texas they can't even strike.
Orange County has announced the overview of their plan, and we get three options:
- Regular in-classroom as mandated by the state with TBD social distancing protocols.
- Florida Virtual School. This is a state managed online school with flexible hours and curriculum that has been available here for several years. This option requires students to transfer to FLVS, but they may transfer back to their home school between semesters.
- Innovative option. Students remain enrolled in their home school and attend M-F on the normal bell schedule, but they attend classes online via classroom webcams rather than in person. Same teachers and curriculum as they would get for option 1, and they can move back to in-person attendance at any time.
Last edited:
OP
OP
Welp my son's schooI released their plan today and they want a decision within 5 days.....unbelievable considering how many questions I have from their 20 page document. Basically, it's all in 5 days a week or all out until January. Crazy since 84% asked for hybrid. The start date has also not been adjusted which means we are now 3 weeks off from each other. The district just got a new superintendant and I'm less than impressed with his handling of things thus far.
SJFCPK18
Flush
Our district will be sending out a survey to parents to better understand the community view on school opening. Then we have to submit a plan to the state!
One Eyed Dollar
Flush
We have to complete a survey for which option we prefer for our kids (all online or all in-person, no hybrid option), but it doesn't seem to be binding at this point, more for their use for planning. And our superintendent just took a new job in the middle of this and is going to bail in September, so I'm sure he really cares about the details of the plan right now, thanks.
Eloe2000
Straight Flush
We live in Miami which is about as bad as it gets right now in the US and our school system starts earlier than most in mid-August. Miami-Dade county has given parents the option of 100% online schooling or allowing them to be partially back in school for a hybrid system with half attendance at any one time. 48% of families as of today have elected for 100% online for their kids in the county. We currently have about a 27% positivity rate in the county however. The superintendent came out today as the spike continues and said that we are not ready yet for anyone to go back to school in a couple weeks. He is looking to get below a 10% positivity rate to open up the schools to anyone. It is tough to envision Miami getting below that rate before schools are scheduled to open.
We have one daughter with acute congenital issues and immune issues that put her at very high risk if she contracts the virus. After speaking with our pediatrician and several of her specialists we decided to keep both of our kids out of school until we feel it is safe. In school education and socialization is incredibly important, but we just can't risk it. We both mostly work from home so at least that makes the decision easier.
We have one daughter with acute congenital issues and immune issues that put her at very high risk if she contracts the virus. After speaking with our pediatrician and several of her specialists we decided to keep both of our kids out of school until we feel it is safe. In school education and socialization is incredibly important, but we just can't risk it. We both mostly work from home so at least that makes the decision easier.
SJFCPK18
Flush
As a parent what do you think? In school, online, or hybrid?
DeeVee8
Flush
I'm a 6th grade teacher and our district is offering four choices ranging from full-on back to school to full online and everything in between. District moved the start date back about two weeks to Aug 24. My plan at the moment is to send my own kids back to school.
SJFCPK18
Flush
NY just pushed the start date for fall sports back to September 21, with the contingency plan to push all 3 sport seasons from Jan-June
One Eyed Dollar
Flush
It's tough. During the school year we usually have my in-laws pick up our kids after school and watch them until my wife is off work, so we're worried about the kids getting it and passing it to them (they're in their 70s). But online school was not working well for our daughter, and it was a struggle. My son is old enough and studious enough that he stayed on top of things for the most part, but it was a battle with my daughter every single day and my wife took the brunt of it.
SJFCPK18
Flush
I completely understand where you are coming from. My parents watch my kids before and after school. I am a teacher and I start before my kids and after. I am even concerned that between myself and my kids, there is a greater risk of us contracting it and passing it on to my support system! Ugg
I'm dubious about online learning. Based on what I saw my 8th grader and HS junior doing (or not doing) it seems like even the kids who have the resources and motivation to do it, don't get much done.
On the other hand, my junior just got her AP exam scores today and she got 5's on each. (humblebrag) And that was about top ten percent nationwide, so I guess SHE actually did some learning.
But even having said that, I wouldn't be excited to see online learning in the fall, unless it was supplemental to actual classroom time. And that's coming from an affluent district - I'm pretty sure in average or below average situations, most kids wouldn't have a chance. (This district hasn't made any decisions about what will actually happen, yet.)
And FWIW, if my daughter was heading to a college that was doing online only classes, I would beg her to defer for a semester or for a year.
On the other hand, my junior just got her AP exam scores today and she got 5's on each. (humblebrag) And that was about top ten percent nationwide, so I guess SHE actually did some learning.
But even having said that, I wouldn't be excited to see online learning in the fall, unless it was supplemental to actual classroom time. And that's coming from an affluent district - I'm pretty sure in average or below average situations, most kids wouldn't have a chance. (This district hasn't made any decisions about what will actually happen, yet.)
And FWIW, if my daughter was heading to a college that was doing online only classes, I would beg her to defer for a semester or for a year.
Each family decides whether their kid is 100% in class or 100% at home. Decision can not be changed until semester.
SJFCPK18
Flush
Not being able to change is ridiculous. As a parent if I wanted my kid to stay home I would just pull them!
ChipFinderSK
Full House
Just received an email today saying my kids will be 100% online for the 1st semester. Not happy about the news, but it is what it is.
TroyMan
3 of a Kind
My daughter (only child) is starting college at Mercer University in the fall and my hope is that she gets to start her college experience on campus. And with her out of the house and both my wife and I working from home, I'm hoping for some nooners. I just need to get her on board with that.
Last edited:
Eloe2000
Straight Flush
I just noticed you mentioned this and we are considering this. Our school district hasn't mentioned this but my mother-in-law just let us know that someone she had worked with for years has been working with this company/school for a couple years now. The initial online schooling at the end of last year was such a disaster that I am really hesitant of online to start this year. This FLVS option is very interesting and probably a better educational experience than whatever our district pieces together. But I would like to get my kids back into regular school as soon as we feel it is safe. I don't know how problematic or easy the transfer back would be.
That's one of the downsides of FLVS - you can only change schools between semesters. Still, agreed with everything else you said. They've been doing online education for years and will likely do it better than the county.
Honestly still not decided.
Well the decision has been made for us. Our school starts August 19th - 100% online. In person starts September 8th, assuming of course that we improve, and we won’t. So looks like it’s going to be 100% online for the foreseeable future.
DeeVee8
Flush
I would guess its a staffing issue. If a parent chooses to put their kids in school, there might not be room. At semester, they have two weeks to shuffle people around.
One Eyed Dollar
Flush
Our district did a Facebook Live presentation about the options, and my wife and I watched the recording last night. They actually had a lot of good reasons for not offering the hybrid model, so that part was useful. Then they spent a lot of time explaining how in-school learning would work and how they'd make it safe. But they said almost nothing about the online option. At the end of last year, they still had their own teachers running the online classes, but what happens when those teachers are back in the classroom? Do the online students just watch a livestream of their teacher? Are they matched up with other kids from their school but a different online teacher? Our district has an online school option normally - do they just get enrolled in that instead of their local school? Will they have a new online teacher and be paired up with kids all over the district (which is pretty huge) that they don't know? I have no idea how it will work.
Create an account or login to comment
You must be a member in order to leave a comment
Create account
Create an account and join our community. It's easy!
Log in
Already have an account? Log in here.
