So not sports related, but I need to bitch. Our schools are finally offering a hybrid option starting 4/19 (this is only being done because our governor made a proclamation forcing it). For grades 6-12, Wednesdays are asynchronous all day for everyone. M/T/Th/Fr all kids will be remote synchronous in the morning from 9-11:10am. Kids who choose to return will be broken into 2 cohorts. One cohort will be in-person M/T afternoons, the other cohort will be in person Th/F afternoons. (remote kids will have synchronous time M/T/Th/F)
Check-in for the afternoon session starts at 11:40. Classes start at 11:55am. High schoolers here never get yellow bus services. Middle school is not offering bus services this spring unless required by an IEP. So, my kids have essentially 30 minutes to eat lunch and get themselves to school. Which is a mile walk for DD, 2 miles for DS. DD's high school principal has sent numerous emails (including a Re-entry guidebook) and has said they're creating some sort of buffer class to allow kids more time to get to school.
Crickets from DS' principal. Except to say kids are not allowed to bring backpacks. The PTSA may issue those drawstring packs. Yet they have to bring their laptop (and of course water, notebooks, any school books they need, etc.). She claims it is a space issue but classes will be less than half full and we're the only school in the district that I've heard with this rule. I generally have a flexible work schedule, but there will be times that I can't drive them. So DS is supposed to walk 2 miles with his laptop and all other school necessities in a flimsy and uncomfortable drawstring backpack?? SO many people have emailed to ask her to reconsider and she won't budge. We have a school zoom meeting tonight so it could be very interesting. Whatever the case I'm sending DS with a small backpack on days he has to walk.
yeah....that's simply dumb. And I'm not sure what they think they're accomplishing. if each kid is 6' from the nearest kid, there's TONS of room for their backpack to be with them.
They can even put the backpack UNDER their own chair! The school normally has a "no backpack in class" policy. So kids use a backpack to get to school but have to leave it in their locker. Which is fine. But they can't use lockers right now so rather than rethinking the policy they've just decided to ban backpacks from campus.
We have backpacks that aren't much bigger than a drawstring pack. But they're more secure and more comfortable to wear (they're essentially small hydration packs for hiking but we'd take the bladder out). I sent a polite email to the principal asking her to reconsider since it's an issue for kids who need to walk/bike to school, isn't a district rule, and is not required at other schools. The email response I got from the said:
"We do not have space. Every middle school is different, and we are used to being compared to one another. That argument will not influence our plans.
We are asking for your partnership in finding a small and safe way for your student to transport their items."
Is it wrong for me to just say screw it and send him with a smaller backpack?
Post by eponinepontmercy on Apr 8, 2021 12:31:42 GMT -5
I can't imagine sending DD to school without a backpack. They all have so much stuff to carry (water bottle, chromebook/ charger, general school supplies). IF she had to walk? Absolutely not. Some parents have joked that we need to get them those big frame backpacks that people use for hiking.
I don't understand schools that make decisions like this. I try to give the benefit of the doubt that everyone is doing their best, but this just doesn't make sense.
yeah....that's simply dumb. And I'm not sure what they think they're accomplishing. if each kid is 6' from the nearest kid, there's TONS of room for their backpack to be with them.
"We do not have space. Every middle school is different, and we are used to being compared to one another. That argument will not influence our plans.
We are asking for your partnership in finding a small and safe way for your student to transport their items."
Is it wrong for me to just say screw it and send him with a smaller backpack?
I am going to call BS on this. Our schools are super dense. 30 to 32 kids in classes and there are no lockers. Kids bring backpacks in. Huge bags with tons of stuff and often afterschool items like a change of clothing or even an instrument. If you're not at full capacity kids can easily leave items on a chair or in a carton or lined up on the wall.
I get fired up about the stupid things schools do sometimes.
yeah....that's simply dumb. And I'm not sure what they think they're accomplishing. if each kid is 6' from the nearest kid, there's TONS of room for their backpack to be with them.
They can even put the backpack UNDER their own chair! The school normally has a "no backpack in class" policy. So kids use a backpack to get to school but have to leave it in their locker. Which is fine. But they can't use lockers right now so rather than rethinking the policy they've just decided to ban backpacks from campus.
We have backpacks that aren't much bigger than a drawstring pack. But they're more secure and more comfortable to wear (they're essentially small hydration packs for hiking but we'd take the bladder out). I sent a polite email to the principal asking her to reconsider since it's an issue for kids who need to walk/bike to school, isn't a district rule, and is not required at other schools. The email response I got from the said:
"We do not have space. Every middle school is different, and we are used to being compared to one another. That argument will not influence our plans.
We are asking for your partnership in finding a small and safe way for your student to transport their items."
Is it wrong for me to just say screw it and send him with a smaller backpack?
I'd be tempted to write back, "That's what I'm trying to do. This is the small and safe way I'm planning for my child to transport school stuff." With a picture of the backpack. And then if they still say no, ask what the acceptable maximum allowable dimensions are.
We need to get back into lessons, too. We didn't do them last year. Usually my two kids are with 1-2 other kids and an instructor, so its not a huge group. Drowning is one of my biggest mom fears, so I am feeling more anxious that they are getting even further behind. I want them to be able to jump in the middle of a lake in deep water and know what to do.
We are also considering starting swim lessons in June for my 2 year old. We'd pick private lessons, but the only real option close to us is indoors. I wish there was a better outdoor option.
It also seems like based on website photos that the instructors at our pool wear face shields instead of masks. Which seems completely useless to me, given airborne transmission, but...what else can they do? I understand why instructors wearing masks in a pool would be kind of useless because they would get soaked from splashing/etc.
DD2's instructor wears a shield, mask AND gloves lol. It's pretty amazing. But, DD2 is 3 and there's one other kid in the class, and they're not going underwater, so the instructor's face PPE hasn't gotten wet.
None of those places should even require you to provide insurance so not sure how your insurance could say no since you don’t even have to give it to them.
I am in the U.S. When I follow the links from that HHS page, Walmart says, "You will need a prescription request from your doctor or qualify per the CDC guidelines to get an observed self-collection COVID-19 test at one of these locations. You may also get a COVID-19 test if you have a special request from your health plan. Please contact your doctor or health plan for more information. To learn more visit www.MyQuestCOVIDTest.com. Some out of pocket fees might apply based on your insurance." And Walgreens says it's ages 3+, which doesn't work all the members of my household.
I'll call the county health department and see what they say.
Ahh ok got it, sorry I didn’t click through the link but have just seen others reference so I shared. I’m sure it could be much harder if you live in a rural area. But I’m pretty sure that the states are supposed to have free testing available per the federal government, so yes I’d definitely check with a government entity like the health department. You could also try calling your doctor for resources as well.
"We do not have space. Every middle school is different, and we are used to being compared to one another. That argument will not influence our plans.
We are asking for your partnership in finding a small and safe way for your student to transport their items."
Is it wrong for me to just say screw it and send him with a smaller backpack?
I am going to call BS on this. Our schools are super dense. 30 to 32 kids in classes and there are no lockers. Kids bring backpacks in. Huge bags with tons of stuff and often afterschool items like a change of clothing or even an instrument. If you're not at full capacity kids can easily leave items on a chair or in a carton or lined up on the wall.
I get fired up about the stupid things schools do sometimes.
In normal times our middle school do not allow back packs in class rooms because of fire codes and space issues. I am not sure what they are doing now, my older two are in HS.
omg my RAGE reading this! I want to erupt. Wtf is WRONG with them all?
My insurance doesn't cover proactive testing either. Is this unusual? I've always assumed people getting tested without close contact or symptoms were paying out of pocket. Our state has several sites that offer free testing, but they are pretty far from here and the one time I used it, it took 2 hours to get through the car line. That was the time DD1 threw up, so she was excluded from school and the nurse said she needed a negative test to come back, but apparently throwing up alone is not a covid symptom according to our insurance, so it was either pay $150 or find a free site. It was very frustrating and I had to take half a day off work to deal with it.
omg my RAGE reading this! I want to erupt. Wtf is WRONG with them all?
My insurance doesn't cover proactive testing either. Is this unusual? I've always assumed people getting tested without close contact or symptoms were paying out of pocket. Our state has several sites that offer free testing, but they are pretty far from here and the one time I used it, it took 2 hours to get through the car line. That was the time DD1 threw up, so she was excluded from school and the nurse said she needed a negative test to come back, but apparently throwing up alone is not a covid symptom according to our insurance, so it was either pay $150 or find a free site. It was very frustrating and I had to take half a day off work to deal with it.
I don’t know if it’s unusual or not but it is DISGUSTING. It’s disgusting that diagnostic tests for anything require payment. It’s disgusting how much treatment costs with or without insurance. What a failed experiment this country is.
Post by suburbanzookeeper on Apr 8, 2021 13:08:51 GMT -5
My kids (2nd + 5th) go back to five day a week, two and a half hour a day hybrid learning next week.
Our youngest is in soccer. I am thankful he's being coached by one of the league administrators this season who happens to be a friend and is very risk adverse so he holds tight on the masking guidelines from the league. The kids do not wear a mask on the field but all adults/spectators are expected to as well as socially distancing. We tried to have a fall season following those same guidelines and parents/coaches wouldn't participate so the league pulled the plug before the CA winter shut down.
My 5 year old is BEGGING for swim lessons. I know she needs them, and we want to go to the beach this summer. I keep going back and forth since a pool seems safer due to the chlorine, but it’s an inherently unmasked thing.
Am I wrong in thinking you are in Atl? If so let me know, I have a place i would recommend that has been incredibly safe for the last year.
[mention]inbetweendays [/mention] we're in the same district but elementary school. I'm already tired of the mid-day drop offs and pick-ups and it's only day 3, lol. But at least my kid can bring a backpack! Geez. Here's hoping your school relents and maybe we'll get some bus service at some point?
Our insurance is the same. It will only cover testing if you have a known exposure or symptoms. So therefore everytime we've needed a test we've selected we have been exposed. I assume we've been exposed daily and it's not a lie.
Do you have to disclose where you think you were exposed? I'm afraid of lying and then sending people on a goose chase of places we could have been exposed. Then again, maybe since our contact tracing here is shit, it won't matter.
Our insurance is the same. It will only cover testing if you have a known exposure or symptoms. So therefore everytime we've needed a test we've selected we have been exposed. I assume we've been exposed daily and it's not a lie.
Do you have to disclose where you think you were exposed? I'm afraid of lying and then sending people on a goose chase of places we could have been exposed. Then again, maybe since our contact tracing here is shit, it won't matter.
No one has ever asked where we were exposed but contract tracing in Texas is non-existent.
[mention]inbetweendays [/mention] we're in the same district but elementary school. I'm already tired of the mid-day drop offs and pick-ups and it's only day 3, lol. But at least my kid can bring a backpack! Geez. Here's hoping your school relents and maybe we'll get some bus service at some point?
Yes! I knew it was going to be messy, and we just needed to be flexible. But honestly part of me feels like the district is intentionally making the hybrid option unappealing.
My 5 year old is BEGGING for swim lessons. I know she needs them, and we want to go to the beach this summer. I keep going back and forth since a pool seems safer due to the chlorine, but it’s an inherently unmasked thing.
Am I wrong in thinking you are in Atl? If so let me know, I have a place i would recommend that has been incredibly safe for the last year.
I am! I’m in the northern suburbs. I would love a recommendation.
yeah....that's simply dumb. And I'm not sure what they think they're accomplishing. if each kid is 6' from the nearest kid, there's TONS of room for their backpack to be with them.
They can even put the backpack UNDER their own chair! The school normally has a "no backpack in class" policy. So kids use a backpack to get to school but have to leave it in their locker. Which is fine. But they can't use lockers right now so rather than rethinking the policy they've just decided to ban backpacks from campus.
We have backpacks that aren't much bigger than a drawstring pack. But they're more secure and more comfortable to wear (they're essentially small hydration packs for hiking but we'd take the bladder out). I sent a polite email to the principal asking her to reconsider since it's an issue for kids who need to walk/bike to school, isn't a district rule, and is not required at other schools. The email response I got from the said:
"We do not have space. Every middle school is different, and we are used to being compared to one another. That argument will not influence our plans.
We are asking for your partnership in finding a small and safe way for your student to transport their items."
Is it wrong for me to just say screw it and send him with a smaller backpack?
I'd send him with the small backpack. the alternative they're offering (sending a kid down the street with an armful of things including a computer) is simply unworkable and this is you doing the best you can to be responsive.
The idea that they truly don't have space, but are also somehow distancing the kids is....laughable. I'm sure this person is under stress here trying to figure this out, but make stupid decisions, get pushback. that's the gig.
My 5 year old is BEGGING for swim lessons. I know she needs them, and we want to go to the beach this summer. I keep going back and forth since a pool seems safer due to the chlorine, but it’s an inherently unmasked thing.
Anecdotal, but my kids have been in swim lessons all year and their pool has had no closures or issues with COVID. They wear masks until the last minute, instructors wear face shields, and classes are smaller than they used to be (2:1 or 3:1 instead of 4:1, and running classes in every other lane).
So not sports related, but I need to bitch. Our schools are finally offering a hybrid option starting 4/19 (this is only being done because our governor made a proclamation forcing it). For grades 6-12, Wednesdays are asynchronous all day for everyone. M/T/Th/Fr all kids will be remote synchronous in the morning from 9-11:10am. Kids who choose to return will be broken into 2 cohorts. One cohort will be in-person M/T afternoons, the other cohort will be in person Th/F afternoons. (remote kids will have synchronous time M/T/Th/F)
Check-in for the afternoon session starts at 11:40. Classes start at 11:55am. High schoolers here never get yellow bus services. Middle school is not offering bus services this spring unless required by an IEP. So, my kids have essentially 30 minutes to eat lunch and get themselves to school. Which is a mile walk for DD, 2 miles for DS. DD's high school principal has sent numerous emails (including a Re-entry guidebook) and has said they're creating some sort of buffer class to allow kids more time to get to school.
Crickets from DS' principal. Except to say kids are not allowed to bring backpacks. The PTSA may issue those drawstring packs. Yet they have to bring their laptop (and of course water, notebooks, any school books they need, etc.). She claims it is a space issue but classes will be less than half full and we're the only school in the district that I've heard with this rule. I generally have a flexible work schedule, but there will be times that I can't drive them. So DS is supposed to walk 2 miles with his laptop and all other school necessities in a flimsy and uncomfortable drawstring backpack?? SO many people have emailed to ask her to reconsider and she won't budge. We have a school zoom meeting tonight so it could be very interesting. Whatever the case I'm sending DS with a small backpack on days he has to walk.
I would push HARD against all of this.
How inconvenient for parents and guardians, how stupid for children, and rooted in no science at all, and how stressful for teachers and everyone involved.
So not sports related, but I need to bitch. Our schools are finally offering a hybrid option starting 4/19 (this is only being done because our governor made a proclamation forcing it). For grades 6-12, Wednesdays are asynchronous all day for everyone. M/T/Th/Fr all kids will be remote synchronous in the morning from 9-11:10am. Kids who choose to return will be broken into 2 cohorts. One cohort will be in-person M/T afternoons, the other cohort will be in person Th/F afternoons. (remote kids will have synchronous time M/T/Th/F)
Check-in for the afternoon session starts at 11:40. Classes start at 11:55am. High schoolers here never get yellow bus services. Middle school is not offering bus services this spring unless required by an IEP. So, my kids have essentially 30 minutes to eat lunch and get themselves to school. Which is a mile walk for DD, 2 miles for DS. DD's high school principal has sent numerous emails (including a Re-entry guidebook) and has said they're creating some sort of buffer class to allow kids more time to get to school.
Crickets from DS' principal. Except to say kids are not allowed to bring backpacks. The PTSA may issue those drawstring packs. Yet they have to bring their laptop (and of course water, notebooks, any school books they need, etc.). She claims it is a space issue but classes will be less than half full and we're the only school in the district that I've heard with this rule. I generally have a flexible work schedule, but there will be times that I can't drive them. So DS is supposed to walk 2 miles with his laptop and all other school necessities in a flimsy and uncomfortable drawstring backpack?? SO many people have emailed to ask her to reconsider and she won't budge. We have a school zoom meeting tonight so it could be very interesting. Whatever the case I'm sending DS with a small backpack on days he has to walk.
This would make me absolutely insane. First that schedule is ridiculous. They get 2 half days in person? That's clearly a we don't want to do this but someone is making us schedule. Two how is that schedule supposed to work for anyone let alone working parents? Three no backpack is also ridiculous. Seriously some of these schools are making it way harder than they need to. This is all really frustrating. I'm sorry.
So not sports related, but I need to bitch. Our schools are finally offering a hybrid option starting 4/19 (this is only being done because our governor made a proclamation forcing it). For grades 6-12, Wednesdays are asynchronous all day for everyone. M/T/Th/Fr all kids will be remote synchronous in the morning from 9-11:10am. Kids who choose to return will be broken into 2 cohorts. One cohort will be in-person M/T afternoons, the other cohort will be in person Th/F afternoons. (remote kids will have synchronous time M/T/Th/F)
Check-in for the afternoon session starts at 11:40. Classes start at 11:55am. High schoolers here never get yellow bus services. Middle school is not offering bus services this spring unless required by an IEP. So, my kids have essentially 30 minutes to eat lunch and get themselves to school. Which is a mile walk for DD, 2 miles for DS. DD's high school principal has sent numerous emails (including a Re-entry guidebook) and has said they're creating some sort of buffer class to allow kids more time to get to school.
Crickets from DS' principal. Except to say kids are not allowed to bring backpacks. The PTSA may issue those drawstring packs. Yet they have to bring their laptop (and of course water, notebooks, any school books they need, etc.). She claims it is a space issue but classes will be less than half full and we're the only school in the district that I've heard with this rule. I generally have a flexible work schedule, but there will be times that I can't drive them. So DS is supposed to walk 2 miles with his laptop and all other school necessities in a flimsy and uncomfortable drawstring backpack?? SO many people have emailed to ask her to reconsider and she won't budge. We have a school zoom meeting tonight so it could be very interesting. Whatever the case I'm sending DS with a small backpack on days he has to walk.
This would make me absolutely insane. First that schedule is ridiculous. They get 2 half days in person? That's clearly a we don't want to do this but someone is making us schedule. Two how is that schedule supposed to work for anyone let alone working parents? Three no backpack is also ridiculous. Seriously some of these schools are making it way harder than they need to. This is all really frustrating. I'm sorry.
Our schedule is similar in middle school:
Last names A-M attend in person on Monday and Tuesday from 8:30 to 11:20.
Last names N-Z attend in person Thursday and Friday from 8:30 to 11:20.
All classes are virtual on Wednesdays, same times as above.
If you decided to remain in distance learning, you attend every day online from 8:30-11:20.
So not sports related, but I need to bitch. Our schools are finally offering a hybrid option starting 4/19 (this is only being done because our governor made a proclamation forcing it). For grades 6-12, Wednesdays are asynchronous all day for everyone. M/T/Th/Fr all kids will be remote synchronous in the morning from 9-11:10am. Kids who choose to return will be broken into 2 cohorts. One cohort will be in-person M/T afternoons, the other cohort will be in person Th/F afternoons. (remote kids will have synchronous time M/T/Th/F)
Check-in for the afternoon session starts at 11:40. Classes start at 11:55am. High schoolers here never get yellow bus services. Middle school is not offering bus services this spring unless required by an IEP. So, my kids have essentially 30 minutes to eat lunch and get themselves to school. Which is a mile walk for DD, 2 miles for DS. DD's high school principal has sent numerous emails (including a Re-entry guidebook) and has said they're creating some sort of buffer class to allow kids more time to get to school.
Crickets from DS' principal. Except to say kids are not allowed to bring backpacks. The PTSA may issue those drawstring packs. Yet they have to bring their laptop (and of course water, notebooks, any school books they need, etc.). She claims it is a space issue but classes will be less than half full and we're the only school in the district that I've heard with this rule. I generally have a flexible work schedule, but there will be times that I can't drive them. So DS is supposed to walk 2 miles with his laptop and all other school necessities in a flimsy and uncomfortable drawstring backpack?? SO many people have emailed to ask her to reconsider and she won't budge. We have a school zoom meeting tonight so it could be very interesting. Whatever the case I'm sending DS with a small backpack on days he has to walk.
This would make me absolutely insane. First that schedule is ridiculous. They get 2 half days in person? That's clearly a we don't want to do this but someone is making us schedule. Two how is that schedule supposed to work for anyone let alone working parents? Three no backpack is also ridiculous. Seriously some of these schools are making it way harder than they need to. This is all really frustrating. I'm sorry.
Yeah, I could go on and on. I'll find out more at the meeting tonight. But supposedly the structure of that two afternoons per week is up to the individual school. For this same middle school they have said teachers wouldn't be teaching any new material during in-person learning. It will be 1:1 support with a lesson, Social and Emotional connections, time to work independently on their assignments, time to check in with the teacher or school staff, etc. Which to many sounds like 4 hours of glorified study hall. It most definitely seems like a "we don't want to do this but someone is making us" situation.
My oldest had a mild fever and fatigue last night. Rapid and PCR both negative. She will probably never let a nose swab near her face again. So much screaming.
They can even put the backpack UNDER their own chair! The school normally has a "no backpack in class" policy. So kids use a backpack to get to school but have to leave it in their locker. Which is fine. But they can't use lockers right now so rather than rethinking the policy they've just decided to ban backpacks from campus.
We have backpacks that aren't much bigger than a drawstring pack. But they're more secure and more comfortable to wear (they're essentially small hydration packs for hiking but we'd take the bladder out). I sent a polite email to the principal asking her to reconsider since it's an issue for kids who need to walk/bike to school, isn't a district rule, and is not required at other schools. The email response I got from the said:
"We do not have space. Every middle school is different, and we are used to being compared to one another. That argument will not influence our plans.
We are asking for your partnership in finding a small and safe way for your student to transport their items."
Is it wrong for me to just say screw it and send him with a smaller backpack?
I'd be tempted to write back, "That's what I'm trying to do. This is the small and safe way I'm planning for my child to transport school stuff." With a picture of the backpack. And then if they still say no, ask what the acceptable maximum allowable dimensions are.
I'd send it all in a tote bag/laptop bag - it's technically not a backpack.
Post by InBetweenDays on Apr 8, 2021 21:22:35 GMT -5
I know you were all waiting with bated breath to hear an update on the backpack saga. The school held a Teams Meeting tonight and she backpedaled on that! We can use a backpack as long as its small.
I know you were all waiting with bated breath to hear an update on the backpack saga. The school held a Teams Meeting tonight and she backpedaled on that! We can use a backpack as long as its small.
Good!! When we opened hybrid our school had this crazy thing about “portable desks” and gave out reusable shopping bags (seriously, they were from a local grocery store) and told the kids to haul all their stuff. we don’t bring computers but it’s a lot of stuff!! I sent my kids with backpacks. 95% of the kids had backpacks by week 2. I have NO idea why the principal wanted these bags instead! They had us pick up our supplies for the fall (we were virtual for quite a long time) in these bags; maybe she wanted to keep using them for cost reasons?