Post by Velar Fricative on Jul 26, 2021 9:32:44 GMT -5
The last thread is turning into a hot mess and it's a new week anyway lol.
I was getting nervous about school again (though we don't start until 9/13) and then it was just announced that public school teachers and staff would have to be vaccinated by September or submit to weekly covid testing. I think with the testing allowance, the UFT may not fight it too hard (but who knows). I don't know for sure, but I sense the vax rate among the teacher community in my borough is lower than the overall adult rate, so this would make me feel better. But we'll see what happens.
I'm not even super concerned about covid for my kids - one had it, but even so, I'm heartened by the data showing severe illness among kids is still exceedingly rare. I am really really concerned about the disruptions though, i.e. quarantine after quarantine. I can't withstand that too often. I don't think we're going backwards here with shutdowns, employers letting us work from home, etc. so I'm just trying to bank as much PTO as possible. I've been in such a good place mentally with being able to go to my office every day, my kids having fun going to camp every weekday, etc. The thought of going back to virtual or even hybrid school again is just too much.
Post by Velar Fricative on Jul 26, 2021 9:44:04 GMT -5
I desperately need aftercare. It has been so nice this summer having the longer days in the office. Cutting my workday in half just to do school pickup and then working with the kids at home was just not good. Their school has said they plan to offer it and are waiting for DOE approvals. I want to believe that the DOE and the city are all in about making education a priority this school year which includes offering the childcare options that weren't available last year.
I am feeling better again. I know at this point I have done everything I can to protect myself and my family and it is what it is.
Dr. Scott Gottlieb seems to think we are further into this wave than testing is picking up. As many people as I know with summer "colds" I tend to agree with him. If that is true we could peak before school starts in the majority of the country. That would be nice.
Velar Fricative, they are switching to a new company this year and it's setup more like daycare, so I think DH or I are going to the info session tomorrow night.
Before we could choose week to week what days we needed. This one is setup with you have to pick X days before/after and it's a monthly charge, so even if we don't use it, we're paying. I think it's a wash cost wise, but would love to not pay FT if I could pin down the days one of us will be home and she can ride the bus instead.
Post by penguingrrl on Jul 26, 2021 9:51:04 GMT -5
We have our son signed up for aftercare. Hs company has been great about letting him carve out time to do pick up (we were in 5 full days by May) and just making the time up but that’s going to change I’m quite certain. I would lose half a workday to leave early and deal with pickup, and my boss wouldn’t be okay with that when I just got a big promotion (and WFH isn’t usually an option due to the nature of my job).
However, our district is holding firm on masks not being required even with cases skyrocketing here, which means my son can’t be in the building at all per Hs neurologist. Virtual isn’t available at all. Our only option would be homeschooling, but that’s not happening ever. I’m truly not sure what we can do.
We went to an indoor event yday - with hundreds of people. We were so far out of our comfort zone. But I had panicked the week prior and bought those kids KN95 masks. So BB, my mom, and I all wore them (they were pink and purple so MH opted to wear a mask with a filter). They fit us all well - I only had to tie knots in BB's so it would fit better.
But bc there were so many people and MH and I were so stressed out he and BB left early. I could not believe how many people weren't wearing masks. I feel like a crazy person. But I also completely own that I am overprotective of BB bc she was a preemie and I have PTSD from her NICU days.
We have our son signed up for aftercare. Hs company has been great about letting him carve out time to do pick up (we were in 5 full days by May) and just making the time up but that’s going to change I’m quite certain. I would lose half a workday to leave early and deal with pickup, and my boss wouldn’t be okay with that when I just got a big promotion (and WFH isn’t usually an option due to the nature of my job).
However, our district is holding firm on masks not being required even with cases skyrocketing here, which means my son can’t be in the building at all per Hs neurologist. Virtual isn’t available at all. Our only option would be homeschooling, but that’s not happening ever. I’m truly not sure what we can do.
No masks and no virtual for vaccine ineligible kids is just awful.
Have you discussed serial (antigen) testing of your son or your H possibly wearing an N95 when sharing indoor spaces with your son given the neurologists’ stance on school but your limited options? I know that’s not at all a long term viable option for a parent but kinda grasping at straws here until the neurologist concedes or vaccines are eligible for children under 12.
Either way I’m really sorry about the position you’re in.
Post by karinothing on Jul 26, 2021 10:11:21 GMT -5
penguingrrl, I know you said virtual isn't available, so I apologize if this is dumb. But do you have a statewide virtual option? We had one before covid and then it was expanded under covid. It is done at the state level not by school.
We have our son signed up for aftercare. Hs company has been great about letting him carve out time to do pick up (we were in 5 full days by May) and just making the time up but that’s going to change I’m quite certain. I would lose half a workday to leave early and deal with pickup, and my boss wouldn’t be okay with that when I just got a big promotion (and WFH isn’t usually an option due to the nature of my job).
However, our district is holding firm on masks not being required even with cases skyrocketing here, which means my son can’t be in the building at all per Hs neurologist. Virtual isn’t available at all. Our only option would be homeschooling, but that’s not happening ever. I’m truly not sure what we can do.
I'm so sorry you're in this position.
Even though I knew the answer, I asked DH if he thinks we could ask for our kids to have vaccinated teachers. Obviously we know that does not mean the teacher cannot be infected, but I'd still feel better about that. He doesn't think that would happen but I mentioned immunocompromised kids or ones who live with immunocompromised family and whether an option like that can be offered. Creating a strict "bubble" for certain kids who need it would be the best way to describe it. Pipe dream perhaps?
Velar Fricative, a fellow preschool parent asked if 1 of the 3 pre-k rooms could be a mandatory masking room for parents interested in that option. She was shot down and then several of us withdrew enrollment anyways when they pulled their mask requirement. I like your plan but I do think it's probably a pipe dream - so many people just seem over it.
penguingrrl , I know you said virtual isn't available, so I apologize if this is dumb. But do you have a statewide virtual option? We had one before covid and then it was expanded under covid. It is done at the state level not by school.
I think statewide virtual is the exception. Even here with our massive school system remote was done on a case by case basis even when there was a clear case for needing it (like severe illness).
Velar Fricative, a fellow preschool parent asked if 1 of the 3 pre-k rooms could be a mandatory masking room for parents interested in that option. She was shot down and then several of us withdrew enrollment anyways when they pulled their mask requirement. I like your plan but I do think it's probably a pipe dream - so many people just seem over it.
This would be ideal and I’d think there would be demand for it.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
Post by fancynewbeesly on Jul 26, 2021 10:55:17 GMT -5
As far as I know our district also is no masks (or optional) and our state is saying no virtual option. Even if there WAS a virtual option I don’t know if we could swing it with a leave of absence for DD.
penguingrrl , I know you said virtual isn't available, so I apologize if this is dumb. But do you have a statewide virtual option? We had one before covid and then it was expanded under covid. It is done at the state level not by school.
I think statewide virtual is the exception. Even here with our massive school system remote was done on a case by case basis even when there was a clear case for needing it (like severe illness).
So we have district virtual options and then state wide. The state wide has existed LONG before covid as an option for homeschool families. I think prior to covid it was only MS and HS. I also think its a private company that partners with the state/districts. I am not really sure how it works.
penguingrrl, I know you said virtual isn't available, so I apologize if this is dumb. But do you have a statewide virtual option? We had one before covid and then it was expanded under covid. It is done at the state level not by school.
As far as I know our district also is no masks (or optional) and our state is saying no virtual option. Even if there WAS a virtual option I don’t know if we could swing it with a leave of absence for DD.
I feel like I have less choices than ever.
Sending hugs! Our governor is usually great, but right now he feels like he’s running for re-election instead of making the best choices for public health. I’m super disappointed in him right now.
We have our son signed up for aftercare. Hs company has been great about letting him carve out time to do pick up (we were in 5 full days by May) and just making the time up but that’s going to change I’m quite certain. I would lose half a workday to leave early and deal with pickup, and my boss wouldn’t be okay with that when I just got a big promotion (and WFH isn’t usually an option due to the nature of my job).
However, our district is holding firm on masks not being required even with cases skyrocketing here, which means my son can’t be in the building at all per Hs neurologist. Virtual isn’t available at all. Our only option would be homeschooling, but that’s not happening ever. I’m truly not sure what we can do.
I'm so sorry you're in this position.
Even though I knew the answer, I asked DH if he thinks we could ask for our kids to have vaccinated teachers. Obviously we know that does not mean the teacher cannot be infected, but I'd still feel better about that. He doesn't think that would happen but I mentioned immunocompromised kids or ones who live with immunocompromised family and whether an option like that can be offered. Creating a strict "bubble" for certain kids who need it would be the best way to describe it. Pipe dream perhaps?
I’m hoping they do something of the like. Classrooms in each grade for those who need or prefer a mask only environment or something of that ilk.
This is where a tiny district may be hard, though. Our entire district is K-8 and a total of two buildings, and the majority of people are anti mask (though thankfully we do have a high vax rate for those eligible). With only 4 classes of 3rd graders I don’t know that they would have enough families demanding universal masking in the classroom for that to be the solution.
When they resumed lunch in May the principal had my son sit alone in her office to eat because we said otherwise we would sign him out of school for lunch/recess every day and she didn’t want that.
We have our son signed up for aftercare. Hs company has been great about letting him carve out time to do pick up (we were in 5 full days by May) and just making the time up but that’s going to change I’m quite certain. I would lose half a workday to leave early and deal with pickup, and my boss wouldn’t be okay with that when I just got a big promotion (and WFH isn’t usually an option due to the nature of my job).
However, our district is holding firm on masks not being required even with cases skyrocketing here, which means my son can’t be in the building at all per Hs neurologist. Virtual isn’t available at all. Our only option would be homeschooling, but that’s not happening ever. I’m truly not sure what we can do.
No masks and no virtual for vaccine ineligible kids is just awful.
Have you discussed serial (antigen) testing of your son or your H possibly wearing an N95 when sharing indoor spaces with your son given the neurologists’ stance on school but your limited options? I know that’s not at all a long term viable option for a parent but kinda grasping at straws here until the neurologist concedes or vaccines are eligible for children under 12.
Either way I’m really sorry about the position you’re in.
Serial testing would get pricey, as our insurance no longer covers asymptomatic testing (we had to pay over $100 for his test the week before camp started), and H always wearing a mask around our 8 year old sounds nearly impossible. That would mean no family dinners (which we do just about daily) and basically H would be masked whenever not in bed. That would be a workable solution for a quarantine period, not ongoing until one of them can be vaccinated.
DD attended in person last year (except for a period around the holidays when cases were highest) so I'm hopeful that will remain the case this year. They've done it before and know how to do it again. I can't imagine they will relax the masking requirements while indoors until there is pediatric approval for the vaccine and kids can start getting it in meaningful numbers.
I'm really worried about illness disruptions though, and not just quarantine disruptions, but "every little symptom" disruptions. My kids are 5 and 2. They're young enough that they have little symptoms (like a runny nose) all the time, and also young enough that it's almost impossible to work while they're at home excluded from school/care. (Both cases, the 2 yo especially.) The amount of time that he has been out of care in the last year just awaiting a clear PCR covid test to return has been obscene. It has been a major challenge for my/our mental heath, balancing work with the inconsistency of care for him.
Post by Velar Fricative on Jul 26, 2021 11:41:41 GMT -5
So there was a local "Unmask the Children" protest at a nearby school. Thankfully the crowd was small and only included the same people who are always harping about masks and shit, so it's not like there is this steadily-growing group of people who are anti-masks in schools. It's just them but they're vocal. It includes a few parents from our school.
Anyway, one elected official and one candidate (both Rs) were there too. They both said they were vaccinated and this crowd should not be deemed "anti-vaccine." Then people started shouting anti-vaccine stuff and one parent said her kid was sniffing cancer whenever they were tested in schools last year. So, that's what we're battling now.
Also, public health officials are truly saints in so many ways. I'm too angry at this bullshit to try to have a respectful dialogue with people hesitant or refusing to get vaccinated and/or wear masks. And they do this so politely despite probably being just as angry internally.
penguingrrl , I know you said virtual isn't available, so I apologize if this is dumb. But do you have a statewide virtual option? We had one before covid and then it was expanded under covid. It is done at the state level not by school.
No, NJ doesn’t offer a virtual option at all.
Oh boo. It looks like they offer one but only 6th and up. www.njvs.org/domain/17 (and you need to seek permission from your school to enroll., but I think that is how virtual VA works too).
So there was a local "Unmask the Children" protest at a nearby school. Thankfully the crowd was small and only included the same people who are always harping about masks and shit, so it's not like there is this steadily-growing group of people who are anti-masks in schools. It's just them but they're vocal. It includes a few parents from our school.
Anyway, one elected official and one candidate (both Rs) were there too. They both said they were vaccinated and this crowd should not be deemed "anti-vaccine." Then people started shouting anti-vaccine stuff and one parent said her kid was sniffing cancer whenever they were tested in schools last year. So, that's what we're battling now.
Also, public health officials are truly saints in so many ways. I'm too angry at this bullshit to try to have a respectful dialogue with people hesitant or refusing to get vaccinated and/or wear masks. And they do this so politely despite probably being just as angry internally.
OMG that’s insanity. I just don’t understand the “unmask our kids” bullshit at all. The selfishness of it is astounding when we know that masks are one of the best protections we can offer for those who can’t get be vaccinated. Why is it so difficult?
I think statewide virtual is the exception. Even here with our massive school system remote was done on a case by case basis even when there was a clear case for needing it (like severe illness).
So we have district virtual options and then state wide. The state wide has existed LONG before covid as an option for homeschool families. I think prior to covid it was only MS and HS. I also think its a private company that partners with the state/districts. I am not really sure how it works.
Yes I am aware you have it. I was pointing out that is isn't the norm in all states. Even in large states like NY there is no default virtual program.
So there was a local "Unmask the Children" protest at a nearby school. Thankfully the crowd was small and only included the same people who are always harping about masks and shit, so it's not like there is this steadily-growing group of people who are anti-masks in schools. It's just them but they're vocal. It includes a few parents from our school.
Anyway, one elected official and one candidate (both Rs) were there too. They both said they were vaccinated and this crowd should not be deemed "anti-vaccine." Then people started shouting anti-vaccine stuff and one parent said her kid was sniffing cancer whenever they were tested in schools last year. So, that's what we're battling now.
Also, public health officials are truly saints in so many ways. I'm too angry at this bullshit to try to have a respectful dialogue with people hesitant or refusing to get vaccinated and/or wear masks. And they do this so politely despite probably being just as angry internally.
OMG that’s insanity. I just don’t understand the “unmask our kids” bullshit at all. The selfishness of it is astounding when we know that masks are one of the best protections we can offer for those who can’t get be vaccinated. Why is it so difficult?
It has to be just general covid denial. Not necessarily denial that the virus exists, just that it's not serious at all and "kids don't get it." Otherwise why else would these particular parents be not only anti-mask, but anti-vaccine AND anti-covid testing in schools (this same group was protesting that last year too)?
OMG that’s insanity. I just don’t understand the “unmask our kids” bullshit at all. The selfishness of it is astounding when we know that masks are one of the best protections we can offer for those who can’t get be vaccinated. Why is it so difficult?
It has to be just general covid denial. Not necessarily denial that the virus exists, just that it's not serious at all and "kids don't get it." Otherwise why else would these particular parents be not only anti-mask, but anti-vaccine AND anti-covid testing in schools (this same group was protesting that last year too)?
Yes, and I don’t understand. 650K dead and county just in our nation. And it’s ravaging every single continent.
But yes, doctors, epidemiologists, public health experts, the CDC, the WHO and every other person studying this is wrong and the idiot who failed HS science found things that all these people somehow missed.
Post by formerlyak on Jul 26, 2021 12:40:53 GMT -5
There is going to be an "unmask our kids" rally here tomorrow before the school board meeting. From what I can tell, it's getting very little traction. The thing that I don't get is how they claim they are "for choice" and "if you don't want you kids around unmasked classmates, you have the choice to keep them home." But then, if you explain that they also have the choice to keep their kid home if the don't like the mask rule, they claim that isn't a choice and it's against their freedoms.
I was happily surprised when I brought my younger DS to baseball camp this morning. It's mask optional because it is all outside. But about half the kids were wearing them. And I explained to the coach that DS wants to keep his on (DS told me this) as an extra safety measure because my dad is going to be starting cancer treatments and could they support him if any kids say anything and the coach assured me that they will not tolerate anyone being talked badly to or about because of their choice to keep their mask on outside.
Our daycare and summer camp are both shut down for two weeks now due to multiple teachers testing positive last week. We are close with one of the teachers and she told us that more than half of the teachers didn't get vaccinated. I am so frustrated and mad at their selfishness. Sure they are young and might not get that sick, but look at all the stress and difficulty this has caused for so many families. It's going to be rough trying to work from home with a 2, 4, and 8 year old.
I'm in FL and there will be no masks in schools this coming year. DeSantis has threatened to remove school board members if they try to institute a mask policy. I am so nervous for my 8 year old. We kept him home doing virtual school all last year, but he desperately needs to back in a classroom with other kids. I feel sick about it. They actually did a good job this past year proving they can have kids at school in person and limit spread, but now they are getting rid of all the tools that made that possible.
Our daycare and summer camp are both shut down for two weeks now due to multiple teachers testing positive last week. We are close with one of the teachers and she told us that more than half of the teachers didn't get vaccinated. I am so frustrated and mad at their selfishness. Sure they are young and might not get that sick, but look at all the stress and difficulty this has caused for so many families. It's going to be rough trying to work from home with a 2, 4, and 8 year old.
I'm in FL and there will be no masks in schools this coming year. DeSantis has threatened to remove school board members if they try to institute a mask policy. I am so nervous for my 8 year old. We kept him home doing virtual school all last year, but he desperately needs to back in a classroom with other kids. I feel sick about it. They actually did a good job this past year proving they can have kids at school in person and limit spread, but now they are getting rid of all the tools that made that possible.
I think this is key. What they did worked last year...before Delta. And when there were still mandates (even if just local) and people voluntarily changing their own behavior, or more "involuntary" because things weren't open as much nor were travel options as available as they are now. None of that is the case right now. These are different times.
ETA: To be clear, we also have vaccines, which does change the equation considerably. If way more adults got vaccinated, I'd be less concerned about mask-wearing honestly. But with Delta plus low vaccinations, the situation is not as good as it should be.