I thought I’d be proactive this week and start the @@ Covid.
LAUSD, the nation’s second largest school district, starts today. They’ve had some of the strictest Covid precautions this whole time. I’m really hoping they do well. We are in LA County but outside the district, but follow very similar safety protocols. I’m really hoping it all goes well.
We start school on Wednesday. I am done panicking and stressing about it. There will be lots of cases, probably a few schools shutdown, and I hope that is the worst of it. Hopefully by October things settle down and we can enjoy the school year.
Post by Velar Fricative on Aug 16, 2021 8:11:13 GMT -5
Fingers crossed it goes smoothly there!
We are still four weeks out from the first day of school. Plenty of time to continue establishing protocols but also...not that much time either. Not for a school district with a million students.
I'm so afraid I'll jinx it, but through 6 weeks of summer camp for both kids (two separate camps), zero cases despite the uptick in my area and lower vaccination rates due to it being Trumpland NYC. Two more weeks to go. I brought DD1 to a camp friend's birthday party on Saturday and I had a sense given their protocols (completely outdoors, sanitizer everywhere, masks available for people who needed to or wanted to wear them, etc.) that these were "my people" lol. I met several camp parents there and yes, it was very clear that parents in this camp are more likely to be vaccinated, following safety measures, etc. then the general population. I told my DH a while back that this is what I was hoping for, because my general sense on social media is that all the anti-mask and anti-vaccine parents didn't send their kids to camp this summer.
abs we start Wednesday as well, but I drop the 2nd grader off at the after care program today (they do full day care on non-school days). They have actually been operating since June 2020 without issues, so I have high hopes, and a few nerves.
abs we start Wednesday as well, but I drop the 2nd grader off at the after care program today (they do full day care on non-school days). They have actually been operating since June 2020 without issues, so I have high hopes, and a few nerves.
We had zero issues last year but schools took every precaution they could and then some. This year it’s mask optional, no contract tracing, and quarantine only for positive tests. Really I get the feeling they want you to lie even about that. So I have zero hope of getting out of this without Covid.
Our 1st day is tomorrow and it's looking terrible here. No mask requirement, no more plexiglass, and only 5% of students can be virtual due to state funding. The neighboring county opened a week earlier and they are already goin to virtual learning because of a huge outbreak. They can only do 5 days virtual though because of the sadistic governor's provisio (the entire year)! The schools hands are tied to implement any type of mitigation strategy. I'm so very worried.
Seeing reports of so many schools already quarantining huge numbers is not encouraging, but I don't think anyone expected a different outcome where no precautions are being taken. We are still 3 weeks out and on one hand, I am kind of resigning myself to the fact its inevitable they will get it and the other, still panicking and wanting to protect my kids at all costs.
We're a week out in Fairfax County VA and I'm optimistic. DS is in 6th grade and DD is in 3rd grade. This will be the last year they will be in the same school until high school. They're requiring masks for all students and staff regardless of vaccination status. I'm not sure what kind of distancing they will do. We will found out more on Friday when we go to open house.
My kids need to go to school so I'm hoping this school year will be more normalish and then look forward to the day in the next few months when they can get vaccinated.
Our 1st day is tomorrow and it's looking terrible here. No mask requirement, no more plexiglass, and only 5% of students can be virtual due to state funding. The neighboring county opened a week earlier and they are already goin to virtual learning because of a huge outbreak. They can only do 5 days virtual though because of the sadistic governor's provisio (the entire year)! The schools hands are tied to implement any type of mitigation strategy. I'm so very worried.
Hello fellow SC’er. Our district is holding a special board meeting today, I’m pretty sure they are going to mandate masks despite the governor and legislature’s proviso. I kind of want them to call their bluff - really you are going to withhold funding for children and schools?? I’d love to see the outcry of the anti maskers when their kids can’t go to school at all bc there’s no money.
I am crossing my fingers for everyone to have a healthy year.
We still have masks required indoors, close contacts have to quarantine, and testing through a local partner. Our superintendent sent an email yesterday reminding everyone that the one outbreak we had last year was due to outside activities (club basketball that played in a neighboring county with no indoor mask mandate - there is huge crossover between that club team and our high school team), so to be mindful of how your choices outside of school affect the school community and the ability for the schools to remain in person.
Post by Velar Fricative on Aug 16, 2021 8:43:54 GMT -5
I think Atlanta area schools started only two weeks ago today and they're usually the first to go back, so it's going to take some time to figure out what mitigation measures are working and what aren't across the country. As of now, it's reasonable to believe that infected students/teachers were infected before school began but confirmed positive after school started. Sadly I think this is going to happen everywhere because think about it - when is school attendance most important to parents? The first days/weeks. I mean, attendance is important in general, but there's a reason Disney World is less crowded at the end of August lol (besides that it probably feels like hell on Earth in Orlando in late August). So parents are going to be sending in sick kids to school on the first days and throwing a bunch of people into quarantine. The key will be comparing schools without mitigation measures versus those with some versus those with many, plus seeing how shit settles down in the coming weeks/months.
We start next week. I’m going back and forth between fretting about everything and resigning myself to the idea that the kids will both get it soon, statistically speaking, they will be just fine, and then we can move on. No masks, no social distancing, questionable close contact/quarantine…it’s a nightmare in the making. Virtual school option doesn’t actually give them a teacher or live instruction…just videos to watch from a contracted company.
However, I’m really trying to focus on the good. My kids are SO excited to be going back to in person classes. Covid aside (LOL, as if it’s a small thing), this is going to be great for them. They’ve sacrificed a lot in the last year and a half, and it’s time for them to be back with peers.
Our 1st day is tomorrow and it's looking terrible here. No mask requirement, no more plexiglass, and only 5% of students can be virtual due to state funding. The neighboring county opened a week earlier and they are already goin to virtual learning because of a huge outbreak. They can only do 5 days virtual though because of the sadistic governor's provisio (the entire year)! The schools hands are tied to implement any type of mitigation strategy. I'm so very worried.
Hello fellow SC’er. Our district is holding a special board meeting today, I’m pretty sure they are going to mandate masks despite the governor and legislature’s proviso. I kind of want them to call their bluff - really you are going to withhold funding for children and schools?? I’d love to see the outcry of the anti maskers when their kids can’t go to school at all bc there’s no money.
I am crossing my fingers for everyone to have a healthy year.
Hey there! I'm interested to see how Pickens county plays out. They are the ones who went to virtual, but they technically only have 5 days to use. I'm wondering if they will do what you are saying and call governor's bluff. Also hoping for a healthy year. DH is a teacher and DS said this morning, "I just really want to at least have 1 normal year at middle school" :-(
Ware County in Georgia has already decided to shut down and try again in 2 weeks due to the number of cases. Don’t worry, though. All sports can continue on schedule. 🤦🏼♀️
Post by eponinepontmercy on Aug 16, 2021 10:33:46 GMT -5
We have friends that moved to Florida a few years ago. The husband is one of DH's best friends. They are coming up to visit with their two little girls (around 3 and under 1) next week and we've been looking forward to seeing them. DH just told me they aren't vaccinated, because they are afraid of its effects on fertility.
FUCK. So now I'm definitely not comfortable with DD going to see them, since she's too young to be vaccinated yet.
Also, DH is supposed to fly down to Florida next month to visit them for his birthday. He booked everything months ago when things were looking okay. I don't know how much money we'll be out if he cancels, but he's seriously considering it.
DH is such a good guy. I don't know why his friends are so dumb.
Post by AdaraMarie on Aug 16, 2021 10:43:23 GMT -5
My kids started today and their district announced Friday afternoon that masks would be required for pre-k to 6th. One of mine is starting middle school (6th) so I am curious to see how it plays out with 6th required but 7th and 8th not. I am really really glad my 3rd grader isn't going to be sitting face to face all day with unmasked kids but I wish they were attempting to distance the way they did last year.
Post by suburbanzookeeper on Aug 16, 2021 10:50:41 GMT -5
We started last week. My son's 3rd grade teacher posted a photo in their class account of them sitting outside, shoulder to shoulder, eating popsicles and my heart dropped. No masks required outside but they do wear them (and wear them correctly) inside. There's no longer any distancing requirement. Both kids are SO happy to be back on campus that I'm trying to keep my anxiety to myself.
I forget how early school starts for parts of the country! Still waiting for word on a mask mandate here, but I feel pretty confident it will happen.
Is there any word at all about vaccine timeline for children younger than 5? I've ben so focused on the next round, which will include my older daughter, that I forgot my 4.5-year-old will still be waiting. Sigh.
PDQ this part: We went to a birthday party yesterday. Masks were required for kids jumping on the bounce house, so I felt ok about going, but then a bunch of kids were repeatedly blowing up and deflating balloons - often in someone's face - and it really got on my nerves. On a good day, I wouldn't enjoy that, and now?? Ugh. Most them didn't know any better, but one kid deflated a balloon right at the cake table, and when I asked her to stop, she looked me in the eye and did it again. I took the balloon from her before handing it back and telling her to throw it away. I briefly worried someone would think I was being an asshole, but then I decided I didn't care. Naturally, she is one whose parents often "forget" the masks, and those she does wear don't fit and are down around her chin more often than not.
We started this morning (Los Angeles) and other than some technical issues with the daily pass QR codes that confirm kid’s health status and recent negative Covid results, everything went smoothly. I feel very comfortable having DS in school, but hearing the recent TX Supreme Court ruling if I were in other parts of the country I imagine I might have a more difficult decision to make.
I go back next week for PD and students come in the following week and I still have no idea what our covid protocols will be. Our school had some of the strictest precautions in place and stayed virtual all year despite the district going hybrid in March, and I know they’re already talking about no “extra” furniture in the room which for kindergarten means losing my centers and library. I just don’t understand how if we’re already putting 27 five year olds in a room together for 6 hours a day, not letting them sit at a table for a center or get a book from the shelf is going to somehow reduce spread. But if I had to choose between too cautious and the Wild West of Florida/Texas I’m glad I’m on this side of it.
Is there any word at all about vaccine timeline for children younger than 5? I've ben so focused on the next round, which will include my older daughter, that I forgot my 4.5-year-old will still be waiting. Sigh.
I've seen nothing, and I've been looking for information because I have a 4 year old. Given the expected timeframe for the 5-12 group, I'm basically setting myself up for DD2 to not be able to get vaccinated until she turns 5 next June.
Post by pumpkincat on Aug 16, 2021 11:41:44 GMT -5
We're on week three here. Arizona, so no mask mandates. As of this weekend, 2000 kids in district had close contact with a positive and needed to be quarantined. For reference, that's 6% of the kids in the district.
I walked my 4th grader into school today because he had to be cleared by the nurse due to a cold last week (negative test) and even she wasn't wearing a mask. It's very disheartening.
We go back 2 weeks from today and I'm cautiously optimistic. My kids are both vaccinated and our district has mandated masks. I'm not sure what the plan is regarding social distancing, but I know there is a decent percentage of the student body that is opting for virtual learning, so hopefully that will keep the class sizes down. My exH does not believe is masks and is refusing to provide them for the kids and has threatened to take them if they come in to the house with them. We are currently brainstorming ideas to hide them as they'll be required on the bus as well and they are at his house 50% of the time. There is no reasoning with him, trust me, I've tried. It's a miracle he even agreed to let me get the kids vaccinated, though in all honesty, if he hadn't agreed I probably would've done it anyway, the whole beg forgiveness instead of asking permission thing. My kids luckily do not belief in the insanity that he is constantly spewing.
My kids go back to school tomorrow. I'm excited for them and feel relatively comfortable with the protocols in place. Austin ISD is requiring masks for everyone (against governor Asshole's orders.) It's turning into a legal showdown that should get pretty hairy in the next few weeks.
My 8th grader has his 2nd vaccine shot scheduled for this week, so that'll be 3/4 of us vaccinated in our family. My daughter is 10 and not eligible yet, but as soon as the FDA gives the go-ahead, we'll be first in line.
We start school on Wednesday. I am done panicking and stressing about it. There will be lots of cases, probably a few schools shutdown, and I hope that is the worst of it. Hopefully by October things settle down and we can enjoy the school year.
Would Abbott even let them shut down if cases spread rapidly? This is an honest question, I’m not being snarky.
They focused on 6,280 households in which the first person to catch the virus was under 18. Then they looked for secondary cases, or others in the same home who got sick in the two weeks after the first child fell ill.
In most cases, they found, the chain of transmission stopped with the infected child, but in 27.3 percent of households, children passed the virus along to at least one other resident.
Adolescents were most likely to bring the virus into the home: Children from 14 to 17 made up 38 percent of all the index cases. Children who were 3 or younger were the first to get sick in just 12 percent of households — but they were the most likely to spread the virus to others in their homes. The odds of household transmission were roughly 40 percent higher when the infected child was 3 or younger than when they were between 14 and 17.
Obviously this is due to social behaviors of teens versus children in the earlier days of the pandemic, but also, babies and toddlers can't isolate.
Only DD1 was infected back in February but she's 7, so while she couldn't exactly isolate from us for long periods of time, she was able to keep a mask on when she was around us. Babies can't do that either.
Post by formerlyak on Aug 16, 2021 11:57:20 GMT -5
Velar Fricative , my first thought was "well, duh, teens never come out of their rooms unless forced". I think my teen would stay in his "cave" all day every day if I let him.
We start school on Wednesday. I am done panicking and stressing about it. There will be lots of cases, probably a few schools shutdown, and I hope that is the worst of it. Hopefully by October things settle down and we can enjoy the school year.
This is where I am mentally at although I am in Iowa not Texas.
I have muted all the local school discussion group I am in. I am disengaging from the worrying. My kid will wear a mask. I am hoping for the best. And most importantly I am hoping after a rough couple months we can reach a place of "normalcy." I can't handle this level of anxiety another year.
And then hopefully the vaccine is approved in the next 3-4 months.
We start school on Wednesday. I am done panicking and stressing about it. There will be lots of cases, probably a few schools shutdown, and I hope that is the worst of it. Hopefully by October things settle down and we can enjoy the school year.
Would Abbott even let them shut down if cases spread rapidly? This is an honest question, I’m not being snarky.
My cousin and his family are in Texas. He and his oldest son currently have Covid. They sent their other children, who I assume tested negative, to school today. Is that how this works? I thought they should all stay home?