redpenmama , when we were originally looking at private, we were planning on sending both our elementary schoolers. But now that we’ve realized that 3rd grade DD has done pretty well with virtual and hybrid and likes the YMCA distance learning support program where we send the kids, while 1st grade DS is really struggling, we’ve decided we’d only do private for him. That would give us more financial flexibility. Have you considered only sending 1-2 kids who need it more to private, instead of all 3?
I've toyed with it. My youngest is 3 and in a private preschool, but it's a small church preschool and very affordable, so she will stay there.
My 1st grader is handling this OK -- at this point, he's done more elementary school at home than at school, and he's more of a homebody. So, while he misses school, he's doing alright. My 4th grader is the bigger concern, so I could just have the girls in private school and keep DS at home. We're continuing to explore all options, so that is a good suggestion.
I'm not sure but like others it's been a lot of plan-making/hemming and hawing and then NOTHING. We're been virtual since March 2020.
I told DH last night that I've heard rumors the fall could be a hybrid opening. If DS is only in 2nd grade 2 days per week we may consider private school. We've already seen some of his friends excel this year private school, I don't want DS falling behind.
I’m sure this is regional but most of the schools where I am are open either 100% or hybrid. My son is in school 100%. It was really stressful at first but they do a good job at keeping classes isolated from each other and have a strict sick and quarantine policy. We get notifications of each COVID case and it’s maybe one/week now. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas it was kind of nuts though.
I’m so sorry you’re daughter is struggling. Being virtual that long and without social time and friends would be so incredibly hard. ((Hugs))
We’ve been remote since March. My first grader was supposed to go back two mornings a week this week, but numbers went way up so now it’s early February. Numbers are trending down, so I think that will happen. The safety measures in place make us feel comfortable with that. Other schools with similar models have not seen in-school spread.
My high schooler will likely not go back until fall, but I think it will happen. We have a local health nonprofit working with the county to get the go ahead to do a vaccine clinic specifically for the teachers in the three cities they serve. That’s a big sticking point for opening, so if that happens, I think we will open in some form. DS did learn yesterday that they got the go ahead for no contact sports to start practice on Feb 1. So that is sports like track, golf and tennis. He is on the golf team and is more than excited about getting to practice with the team, even if it’s only once a week. They practiced in the summer and it changed his whole mood. Playing with the team is way more fun than playing with mom.
I am sorry she is struggling so much. I to have a 4th grader. Our district is hybrid but we kept her virtual from Thanksgiving on. They also started out the year as virtual. Our virtual experience is decent. I mean, it is hard as a teacher because we are teaching hybrid and virtual kids at the same exact time. But she does get breaks. And she is learning and thriving.
What helped us is definitely doing a mental health day when it was just overwhelming. Also since the summer we have been seeing my SIL and BIL. My niece is 2 years younger than DD, but they are best friends. My nephew is about a year older than DD2, so it works. Both kids get socialization. We have allowed sleepovers with them. It has made a HUGE impact in mental health and just being in a better mood and something to look forward too. I find because she has that on the outside to look forward to, her mental health for school is better overall as well.
Post by sillygoosegirl on Jan 21, 2021 10:57:22 GMT -5
I hope not. We've ended up loving homeschooling DD. Schools are fully remote here, but we are doing our own thing.
They are looking to open elementary schools for the first time since March starting in February here. I'm nervous about it, since our numbers are barely down from their high in December. On the other hand, they are FINALLY falling after the Christmas bump. I just hope they keep everything else (restaurants, etc) closed up tight, because we couldn't possibly sustain schools opening any other way until we have a LOT more vaccine doses. I'm nervous that with the new strain, reopening schools may not be safe yet even with everything else closed. I wish instead they'd suspend online school for a few months before reopening in person and going through the summer. I don't know why that option isn't on the table. It seems a lot safer.
I hope not. We've ended up loving homeschooling DD. Schools are fully remote here, but we are doing our own thing.
They are looking to open elementary schools for the first time since March starting in February here. I'm nervous about it, since our numbers are barely down from their high in December. On the other hand, they are FINALLY falling after the Christmas bump. I just hope they keep everything else (restaurants, etc) closed up tight, because we couldn't possibly sustain schools opening any other way until we have a LOT more vaccine doses. I'm nervous that with the new strain, reopening schools may not be safe yet even with everything else closed. I wish instead they'd suspend online school for a few months before reopening in person and going through the summer. I don't know why that option isn't on the table. It seems a lot safer.
So this was actually what one district near me tried to do. The school board re-did the calendar to allow for a longer winter break and a shorter summer break. It made complete sense to me but the teacher union and parents in the district shot it down and ultimately the school board went back to the original calendar. Getting people to move on from the "but this is how we have always done it" way of thinking is very, very hard.
Post by sandandsea on Jan 21, 2021 13:24:51 GMT -5
I’m glad others are loving distance learning and have the option to home school if they’d like forever. However, my child needs to be back in person and keeping schools closed is a huge disservice to my child. He’s not a self motivated 9 yo learner and we are told to let them do their work and self manage which means I get emails from the teacher like “he is behind he hasn’t done x y and z and needs to make it up”. He needs physical oversight because he’s a normal 9 year old. So, I end up having to manage his schoolwork in the evenings and then get back online at night to finish my own work. And my child has every advantage, is smart and healthy, and has parents who love him and support him and It’s still too much and not sustainable.
Post by redpenmama on Jan 21, 2021 14:04:10 GMT -5
I totally agree, sandandsea. In our district, we've been surveyed, and 90% of parents support full-time return to school. So, a very small percentage of families here are thriving under this unsustainable model. For those who are, they can opt to stay virtual through the end of the school year (which will help with social distancing), and the homeschooling option always exists for those who like it.
My kids are struggling and have just completely checked out -- we are just going through the motions at this point.
cosmowife , we were considering Catholic school, even though we're not Catholic/religious at all, because it was about $10k-$12k per kid.
We aren't able to work and have the kids (1st and 3rd) be safe and actually log onto virtual school without childcare, so originally we were part of a pod and paying the pod teacher $10 per hour per kid for 4 hours in the morning, then driving the kids to the YMCA in the afternoon for "enrichment" sports. With that set up for the full year, since we did go back virtual at one point and now have two days a week of school, that would have cost at least $20k total for the two kids. First grader wasn't doing well in the pod though (he was disrupting the parents hosting the pod and they were having trouble working, even though the kids were in the garage with the teacher), so we switched the kids to the YMCA distance learning supervision program two days a week. That's cheaper than the other set up, but still costs about $1,000 a month for two days a week for two kids. And the kids are getting far less learning and are a lot less happy than if they had been in school in a private school everyday. We still have to juggle work and kids/school on Fridays.
So I think part of the issue is that the alternative to private school for a lot of people isn't just that the kids can stay home and do school and it's free. At least when the kids are on the younger/needier side. I read a quote in an article about pods where a parent said "we have an emergency fund, and this is an emergency." It's definitely not in our long-term budget or plan to put our kids in private school, but I can see cutting in other areas to do it during this time. And of course we're super lucky to have that ability at all.
redpenmama, I would reach out to the school counselor. My DD 4th grade fully virtual is bored out of her mind and just can't stand logging in and being bored. I reach out to the counselor and explained her history and what was going on. He has been meeting with her weekly in a private zoom since they went back after break. Tomorrow will be her 3rd meeting. She still is bored and can't stand zoom class but having the outlet to vent to someone other than mom seems to be helping. He also is starting a 4/5 book club just for DD since she loves to read and is hoping getting together with others who like to read will help her connect in general. DD's biggest issue is her teacher and her haven't connected. I've been reaching out to the teacher all year and all I've done is caused DD to be the PITA of the class. Last week DD was just over it so she put her stuffed owl Hedwig in front of the camera and spent all week pretending the owl was answering the questions. Counselor thought it was a great solution, teacher had the annoyed face going and asked for Hedwig to go away.
Post by redpenmama on Jan 21, 2021 21:44:36 GMT -5
186momx, good idea. I don't even know how to characterize what's going on with her other than just pandemic/Zoom fatigue, but I know the counselor can at least talk her through it. My daughter is fairly shy, so I don't know if she'd open up, but she really needs someone other than me to vent to. This could help.
Post by icedcoffee on Jan 21, 2021 21:49:29 GMT -5
Giving anecdotes about how much you love virtual/homeschool is odd in a thread where OP has already expressed her kid is majorly struggling and she's losing hope. Come on, guys. Read the room.
OP, I hope for your kid has an opportunity to go back soon. I'm losing hope in our district going back anytime soon as well. Thankfully, it doesn't effect me directly right now, but I really feel for everyone who has had to make this work.
ETA: If this is still a thing in school year 2022/2023 I would absolutely consider private school for my kid and I am super pro public. Alternatively, I'd consider having my mom move in with us, but....I don't want that, really. LOL
redpenmama , My DD 4th grade fully virtual is bored out of her mind and just can't stand logging in and being bored.
YES. Let me vent about this, too. My DD is in second and is so bored as well. They have live instruction but the teacher will give them breaks to do the work. So it'll be "do pages 3,4,5 in your math book. I'll give you 15 minutes." By the time the teacher has finished giving instructions and having the kids get out their books, DD is already done her work, so she will be like "I have a 15 minute break!" But then the teacher gets mad she gets up and out of the camera because it's not a break. And if she has anything to play with, the teacher gets frustrated that DD keeps putting it in front of the camera. So she just has to sit there with nothing. Now the teacher is trying to give her extra work since she finishes quickly, but that devolves into "it's not fair!" from DD and it's awful.
OP, we originally put the kids in a school camp program and it was horrible. Horrible. My kids couldn't pay attention, multiple phone calls with the teacher, struggling to get done work in the evenings. We hired a woman who comes in to our house daily to help facilitate school and make sure the kids are on task all day. It's worked out well, and most of the time things go smoothly, but it's still so draining on us as parents. What was supposed to be 9 weeks virtual was just pushed again to school reopening to April, and I haven't told our sitter yet because I know she's also ready to be done with it and I don't know what we'd do if she said she can't help us anymore. Having her is the only reason why my kids are doing well in school (grade wise, they are still struggling with lots of other issues being isolated). It would have been much cheaper and easier on us mentally to put them in a private or parochial school.
Post by fortnightlily on Jan 22, 2021 13:36:43 GMT -5
I don't have high hopes for my school district. I'm in Maryland and it feels like the BOE/County Executive aren't even trying in earnest to get even the neediest kids back into schools because there's so much spoken and unspoken pushback from the teacher's union. My first grader is doing 'fine' with virtual learning, and DH and I are under no pressure to return to working in-office, but trying to get work done with DS's constant need for attention is driving me to the brink. When things shut down in March I never thought we'd be doing this for a year or longer.
So now I find myself contemplating private/parochial school, which I never would've imagined. We have a brand new public ES down the street. I want him to benefit from knowing the neighborhood kids. And I have zero interest in the 'prestige' privates in the area. But DS needs socialization. He's lost so much sense of confidence and independence, even if he's doing alright academically.
But the cost, eek. We likely don't qualify for financial aid. DH is twelve years older than me and I was really trying to put a savings/investment plan together this year that would allow me to retire early so we could enjoy our early retirement years together. Do I now have to sacrifice that goal for the sake of DS's education?
I hope not. We've ended up loving homeschooling DD. Schools are fully remote here, but we are doing our own thing.
They are looking to open elementary schools for the first time since March starting in February here. I'm nervous about it, since our numbers are barely down from their high in December. On the other hand, they are FINALLY falling after the Christmas bump. I just hope they keep everything else (restaurants, etc) closed up tight, because we couldn't possibly sustain schools opening any other way until we have a LOT more vaccine doses. I'm nervous that with the new strain, reopening schools may not be safe yet even with everything else closed. I wish instead they'd suspend online school for a few months before reopening in person and going through the summer. I don't know why that option isn't on the table. It seems a lot safer.
So this was actually what one district near me tried to do. The school board re-did the calendar to allow for a longer winter break and a shorter summer break. It made complete sense to me but the teacher union and parents in the district shot it down and ultimately the school board went back to the original calendar. Getting people to move on from the "but this is how we have always done it" way of thinking is very, very hard.
We have deposits at camp for summer. I have no idea if we could get them back if the school suddenly went on a different schedule. We also wouldn't have any coverage outside of summer and I don't think camps can just pivot to a do a spring program. Our camps are mostly outdoors and swimming outside isn't really great in spring. I understand that this schedule would work for some folks but it would be a huge headache for a lot of families.
As a long term policy change it could be explored and might be highly beneficial but I don't think it can just be done as hoc.
Post by redpenmama on Jan 22, 2021 14:49:11 GMT -5
fortnightlily, we are in a similar position in our district. No effort whatsoever has been made to open schools. In fact, we've had constantly changing targets to make it harder and harder to reopen. I have heard rumblings about the teachers' unions wielding a lot of power here too. All of our (willing) district teachers were vaccinated this week, so I do wonder why they'd be given priority access if they are simultaneously advocating for working from home for the long term. I have a tiny glimmer of hope that maybe the vaccines will help move us toward reopening, but I am not holding my breath.
Regarding my original post, I spoke to a private school today and now feel like we have a backup plan for next year. The admissions director was confident both of my kids would get in because the school is affiliated with the university where H works, so faculty's children get priority. We can swing the tuition because it's much more affordable than other options. It's not ideal and not how I want to spend that money, but my children cannot do this for another year. The entire situation saddens me; we built our house where we did specifically for the schools, and now we are looking for alternatives because of our district's complete unwillingness to open.
Post by browneyedgirl9 on Jan 23, 2021 14:50:03 GMT -5
We surprisingly received a message from our school that DS1 (1st grade) is going back Monday 4 days a week. Wednesday will remain remote learning. We have been hybrid since September.
Post by luv2rn4fun on Jan 23, 2021 17:56:10 GMT -5
Just coming back in here to hopefully give some hope. We saw our pediatrician on Thursday for DS1’s well appointment. He commented that he expects schools to open normal next year as teachers will be vaccinated. Here’s to hoping he’s right!
Just coming back in here to hopefully give some hope. We saw our pediatrician on Thursday for DS1’s well appointment. He commented that he expects schools to open normal next year as teachers will be vaccinated. Here’s to hoping he’s right!
I’ve started hearing more and more teachers talking about how we need to have students and their spouses vaccinated before they go back (I actually think we might need to having student’s parents vaccinated, particularly in districts with high FRL rates), so I’m thinking 2022? 2023? I’m hearing the private schools around us are receiving off the charts levels of applications.
Are you exaggerating or being serious? Are you really thinking 2022 or 2023? That seems excessive. My state (MD) has been one of the most cautious (I’m not sure if any districts have gone back) and even we are now talking about going back (hybrid) in March of this year.
Just coming back in here to hopefully give some hope. We saw our pediatrician on Thursday for DS1’s well appointment. He commented that he expects schools to open normal next year as teachers will be vaccinated. Here’s to hoping he’s right!
I’ve started hearing more and more teachers talking about how we need to have students and their spouses vaccinated before they go back (I actually think we might need to having student’s parents vaccinated, particularly in districts with high FRL rates), so I’m thinking 2022? 2023? I’m hearing the private schools around us are receiving off the charts levels of applications.
In fairness, we are in one of the most strict states as far as mandates (CA). However, our district has been hybrid since Sept and even offers a full time option for families who need it (50% with teacher, 50% with paraeducator). We have had 4 cases in that time. All kids and teachers wear masks (TK and up), social distancing, more cleaning, no recess during teacher time etc. Our pediatrician isn’t concerned with the kids getting it (more kids are) but does see how it affects kids bringing it home to older family members.
Prior to the appointment I felt that we were in this at least another year, maybe even a little longer. I am bracing for that but hoping he’s right (he’s a very popular and well respected pediatrician and tends to be more right than wrong when it comes to these things).
ETA: we are doing our best to minimize getting COVID. We do school (pediatrician advised...I was leaning towards virtual but DS1 has ASD and needs the social, even if it’s limited), ABA, and essential shopping. DS2 has bad asthma and was very sick in Dec. We are trying our best to balance DS1’s needs while keeping DS2 safe. I do feel he’s very safe at school with how they are managing things.
My child's elementary school is A week/B week rotation for in-person. In November I noticed DD said that fewer kids had been coming to B week. There are 22 (or maybe a few more) kids in the class so there should be 11 kids in each group. She would say maybe 5 - 7 kids would come. So I emailed the principal and asked if DD could attend full time since the A and B groups were not at capacity. My request was approved to start on February 1. The FB debates are very heated that teachers are putting their lives on the line and why can't the teachers teach from home or why can't everyone be forced to be remote? But as a healthcare worker, I can't with the outrage. Our district has bought PPE for the teachers, shut the building down to outsiders including parents, bought special ventilation things, etc. so this isn't an effort in vain. I'm sure teachers will be on the list for vaccines very soon. Families already have the choice to keep their kids fully virtual and apparently many are. If I am comfortable sending my kid daily, she should be able to since the in-person slots are sitting there unused.
I feel like this hybrid-virtual thing is going to continue being a thing in the fall around here.
My kids just went back this week (public), but this whole year has been a joke. The hours are reduced and they cut out a lot of necessary parts of the curriculum. One of my kids is speech delayed with ADHD and it has been disastrous for him. My other kid just dislikes it. If this continues next year we’re going to suck it up and pay for private. Probably a cheaper religious school. I’m so over everything. I feel like my kids are so far behind, my work is also suffering..... it’s overwhelming and I’m sorry you’re feeling it too, OP.
I'm pretty sure that my district will be back with an in-person, full time option sometime in the next month or two for elementary levels. I am a teacher in an elementary school. We were in-person for about a month in the fall and the biggest challenge was staffing the building with all the quarantines. We did not experience a ton of community spread, but we did struggle with having enough staff to keep cohorts because so many adults had to be out for mandatory quarantine periods and/or had to be out until they got a negative test back if they had any cold symptoms/etc. This is where I think vaccinated teachers will make a huge difference (assuming that quarantine rules will change for vaccinated people, that is). Right now, they are saying that teachers in my county will be vaccinated in mid-Feb, but I'm not holding my breath with the way this rollout is going. I suspect we're going to be made to go back BEFORE getting fully vaccinated, which is infuriating, but beyond my control. I'm not sure when the bigger kids will get to come back, but I'm hopefully that vaccinated teachers and overall lower community spread will make a huge difference in that equation. I'm extremely concerned about the future of public schools if we don't start offering in-person options while private schools are. I don't blame individuals for doing what they need to, but I am so worried about how much this flood of people leaving for private is going to defund our public schools.
We’ve been back full time in person since October (we are on a military base in Georgia), and teachers were offered the covid vaccine last week. I can’t see them going back to remote learning for more than a week or two at a time to help any clusters or outbreaks.
We had the choice of virtual and are doing that, but I’m hoping to send them back in the fall. We are moving though this summer so who knows what our options will be 🤷🏻♀️
I'm extremely concerned about the future of public schools if we don't start offering in-person options while private schools are. I don't blame individuals for doing what they need to, but I am so worried about how much this flood of people leaving for private is going to defund our public schools.
Are there enough private school spots where you are? There are not in my general vicinity. For K - 8 there are 2 independent private schools and some parochial schools. The majority of kids would still have to be in public school. A small minority of parents have pulled their kids to homeschool I think, but homeschooling was always not that big here.
Post by redpenmama on Jan 24, 2021 10:17:34 GMT -5
@kar, to your point, I was watching our school board meeting last month, and they were rejoicing that teachers would soon be vaccinated. One of the school board members said "but what about the people who provide after-school care? What about the parents of the children who go to school?" No one agreed with her, but it was an indicator that some believe the entire country needs to be vaccinated before schools reopen, which is absolutely absurd since some will never get the vaccine and trials for pediatric vaccines for elementary-aged kids haven't even started. How many years of their education are we willing to sacrifice here?
magpie, I agree with your concerns about public education. Our district has lost 6,000 kids this year to private/homeschooling (the majority to private). Our kindergarten is usually around 125 kids, and it's 61 this year. I suspect those who can afford private will not return, which will affect funding in future years. I do not want to flee too, but we may have no other choice.
Post by icedcoffee on Jan 24, 2021 10:52:47 GMT -5
I think in some places perfection is the enemy of good. I think they’re under the impression that unless they can go back and have things look exactly like they did in March then it’s not worth it, but there is so much middle ground. If after school teachers can’t get vaccinated then don’t offer it initially, but don’t just sit waiting until they are to offer any in person school. I think my county is waiting for perfection and I just don’t think it’s realistic.
I think in some places perfection is the enemy of good. I think they’re under the impression that unless they can go back and have things look exactly like they did in March then it’s not worth it, but there is so much middle ground. If after school teachers can’t get vaccinated then don’t offer it initially, but don’t just sit waiting until they are to offer any in person school. I think my county is waiting for perfection and I just don’t think it’s realistic.
So true. Our district is also waiting for perfection. Our matrix for returning is completely unachievable, and we won’t meet it for years, truly. I anticipate even more outrage when we have fully vaccinated teachers in 3 weeks and remain closed.