Daycare was closed last week so we also took the time off - spending the week indoors with a 5 year old after 1.5 years of that sounded miserable, so we headed out to be tourists in our own area.
We masked up and were pleasantly surprised that most places were less crowded or if there were people, they distanced and wore masks properly.
I can't remember which poster was planning a trip to NYC but for anyone who is with smaller unvaxxed kids, we felt safe going to the Intrepid, The Met, walking in Central Park, and taking the NY Waterway ferry.
ETA: The Intrepid asked to see proof of vaccination. The Met did not - although there was a sign that said you had to be vaccinated to enter.
We start school tomorrow. I’m so much less worried about me this year (my students are older and all vaccinated) but my 5th grader is coming to middle School and is only 10. I wish that vaccine had gotten here quicker. I’d feel so much better if she even had a date on the horizon
"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 fluffycookie on Sept 7, 2021 9:09:55 GMT -5
DS started school on Wednesday and I just got the call that he was a close contact on Friday. They are masked inside, but I know they ate lunch outside on Friday. We have to test him tomorrow and monitor for symptoms thru the 17th. ETA: He is fully vaccinated which is good. As long as he is negative and symptom free he can stay in school but I feel weird having him in school since he hasn't been tested.
Post by penguingrrl on Sept 7, 2021 9:10:40 GMT -5
School starts tomorrow here. I’m still not sure I will be able to bring myself to send my unvaccinated 8 year old in. He has some accommodations because of H being immunocompromised, but our school district isn’t following the science on mitigation the way they should, so I’m still not comfortable. Masks are only required because the state stepped in, and there’s been not a peep about ventilation and ensuring windows are open, which is the most important piece from what I’ve been reading (and Hs friend, who is the leading researcher in aerosol science at Columbia U, concurs).
The article in the NYT today about how low the prevalence of breakthrough cases actually is makes me not sick to my stomach about sending my vaccinated older two in. But I don’t feel it’s safe enough for H for my youngest to go in. And we can’t quarantine him from H, not least because our accommodations count on us picking him up for lunch and recess, and I work too far away to do that, so it has to be H. This sucks and I really wish we had a virtual option until kids could be vaccinated.
Post by picksthemusic on Sept 7, 2021 10:31:05 GMT -5
School starts tomorrow. We are prepared with supplies and KN95 masks. We did BTS night last week and noted that the kids are seated two together, facing each other. I'm kind of weirded out by that seating arrangement, but they have windows open as appropriate, doors open, and a fan going for circulation. I gave the kids packs of alcohol wipes for their desks and hands, as well as hand sanitizer.
I was annoyed that DS' teacher was wearing a mask that was too loose to cover her nose properly. Like - you're still doing that? Really? WTF.
School starts tomorrow. We are prepared with supplies and KN95 masks. We did BTS night last week and noted that the kids are seated two together, facing each other. I'm kind of weirded out by that seating arrangement, but they have windows open as appropriate, doors open, and a fan going for circulation. I gave the kids packs of alcohol wipes for their desks and hands, as well as hand sanitizer.
I was annoyed that DS' teacher was wearing a mask that was too loose to cover her nose properly. Like - you're still doing that? Really? WTF.
I'm nervous.
I've seen people doing this most recently at Target and Home Depot. I don't get it since there is no mask mandate. It was one thing when there was a mandate, but why bother if you aren't going to wear it properly?
Also, DS's teacher was doing this at their meet the teacher night. Right way she said to him you can take your mask off if you want. He then looked at me confused, as if to get my permission, and I said he's more comfortable with it on. So I am already side-eying.
Post by suburbanzookeeper on Sept 7, 2021 11:29:30 GMT -5
My son's second PCR was negative and our district nurse cleared him of quarantine yesterday. Two close cases within 6' of him in the same class, mandatory masking indoors - masks work!
Post by estrellita on Sept 7, 2021 11:52:05 GMT -5
My son started 1st today. I'm sending him with masks and I'm hoping he sticks with wearing them. They're "required" on the bus but not in class. I'm anxious but hopeful things will be OK.
supposedly a group of high schoolers (egged on by their parents) are staging a protest at our high school on friday over the mask mandate. hopefully they don't disrupt school or other students too much
This happened near me and the next day the superintendent switched the school to virtual for 2 weeks.
As a genuinely bad person, I found this delicious.
DD is in 9th grade, started back last week and reported that in both her science and civics classes they have discussed masking and vaccinations. Including the science behind them and the whole 'we're trying to live in a society here!' part of it. Her school is 85% BIPOC so they have actual things to protest instead of 'but mah freeedoms!'.
Second week in a row that we’ve gotten a close contact notice about my older kid’s bus. But since they’re not doing assigned seats (as they’re supposed to be doing per their written plan), there’s no way of knowing how close of a contact. In addition, masks are “required” on the buses, but kids are allowed to get on the bus without a mask even in hand. I get that policing it once the kids are in their seats is next to impossible, but they’re not even trying. It’s a lawsuit waiting to happen, and I’ve told the superintendent and the transportation director as much.
Why have a written plan if you’re not actually going to do anything to actually follow it? And if that isn’t being followed, what else isn’t?? (Though to be fair, there’s not much else that they’re doing.)
We’re waiting for PCR results from DS2. Rapid results were negative when he was symptomatic, so I’m pretty confident it’s just a cold. But now I don’t know if we need to keep him home until we get the official results or just send him. We dropped off the test yesterday & got the notification at noon today that it was received…so I’m not optimistic that I’m going to hear back right away.
ETA: Talked to school nurse. “Rules for return are back to 2019 guidelines.” What a nightmare. So, basically, if a kid has been exposed and has symptoms, but does not test, they can go back to school as long as they’ve been fever-free for 24 hours. What a nightmare.
I’m wondering about testing and vaccinated people. My stepkids’ mom is sick. She was the caregiver for her father who is now hospitalized with Covid. She had 3 rapid tests that were negative and was directed she didn’t need a PCR test. I question the validity of the rapid tests, but here we are.
I’m wondering about testing and vaccinated people. My stepkids’ mom is sick. She was the caregiver for her father who is now hospitalized with Covid. She had 3 rapid tests that were negative and was directed she didn’t need a PCR test. I question the validity of the rapid tests, but here we are.
Anecdotally, several people I know who knew they were exposed to COVID and had symptoms were negative on the rapid and positive on the PCR. If I were her, I’d have done the PCR just to know!
I’m wondering about testing and vaccinated people. My stepkids’ mom is sick. She was the caregiver for her father who is now hospitalized with Covid. She had 3 rapid tests that were negative and was directed she didn’t need a PCR test. I question the validity of the rapid tests, but here we are.
Anecdotally, several people I know who knew they were exposed to COVID and had symptoms were negative on the rapid and positive on the PCR. If I were her, I’d have done the PCR just to know!
We begged but she said her “doctor said she didn’t need one.” Ugh. Thankfully we made sure the kids were vaccinated.
The health department is so short staffed and overwhelmed that it took them 8 days past our exposure to call us. They had to read a 4 minute script to me including all this stuff about how being in isolation can make people suicidal so they provided the suicide hotline number. I feel so bad for the people working this job, it seems brutal, especially since you know some people are rude to them, and they are so behind it kind of feels like, what's the point?
DD (6th grade) had half the kids at her bus stop today and said many were missing last Thursday (thanks for telling me!) and many got called out today. She said in 3 classes "it just missed me". So if any of those test positive, she'll be quarantined I guess? Or maybe not if they didn't have symptoms while being close to her? Basically no one wears a mask at her school (I encouraged her, but she's new to the district and I know she probably doesn't wear it). So I'm guessing the school will be closed by next week. We're just starting our 3rd week in.
And according to a FB post, one parent sent their KNOWN positive child to school. So that's fucking awesome. I live by complete assholes it seems.
Last week DD's teacher sent a reminder about runny nose season and guidelines for staying home (suspicious...). We got notice today that there was a case in her preschool class, but no quarantine notice. She had a runny nose starting Saturday and I used our last home rapid test on her then (negative). We kept her home today because she was still congested.
Now we are trying to figure out wtf to do about our other kid re: school and his medical appointment tomorrow. We all went for PCR tests this afternoon but won't have results for a few days. Ugh. The school policies are confusing and DH and I both feel a little off but not sick sick, DS is not having any symptoms.
I am so annoyed at the other family for sending a symptomatic kid, especially to preschool where they take naps without masks. I'm also really dreading a whole year of this if this is happening on week 3. We chose remote last year and liked it and now I wish we could have done that again. Blah.
DS (6) was sent home last Tuesday morning with a stuffy nose and a sore throat. Back to school on Thursday with negative test.
DX (12) was sent home with upset stomach and nausea. Back to school today with negative test.
DS was sent home again today with a sore throat and nausea that came on immediately after lunch.
This is going to be an incredibly long school year.
Yes. It’s been 3 weeks and I’m already so tired. I can’t play cold, allergies, or plague much longer.
DD was sick over the weekend, tested negative, and back to school. I came down with her cold or whatever today. Rapid test is negative but like half of DD’s class is out sick. I assume we will play this game again and again. It’s all too much.
Today was my first day of teaching full in-person school since March 2020. I keep swaying from being so happy to not be virtual anymore, to the dread of when (not if, honestly) I’m going to catch it in my class of 25+ kinder kids who are mostly eating their masks and need me to open their lunches, tie their shoes, hold their hands, comfort them, position their pencil grips, etc. They’re honestly masking as best they can, we’re distancing as best we can, but I’m still nervous. I just don’t want them to get it, and I don’t want to bring it home to my unvaccinated kids.
My son's middle school currently has over 20 teachers out with COVID or quarantine. My son had to quarantine last week due to close contact. I feel like everything is just a ticking time bomb, yet the governor (SC) has made it impossible for schools to do anything meaningful to prevent the spread. I just hold my breath every time my phone rings from the school #.
So in Iowa we can't have mask mandates, but my community is unique as our schools are pretty much just voluntarily masked. We only have 30 confirmed covid cases with a student population of 15K. We are three weeks into our school year. I am feeling pretty good about things and I am grateful for where I live.
On the other hand, other schools in the state have 10% of their population out with covid. Masking is not the norm. I am hearing about kids catching it left and right. It truly is spreading like wildfire. The under 17 group is our highest group with confirmed cases in the state.
Just utter lack of leadership. I pray it is nothing for these poor kids and they recover quickly.
Our 12-17 population is also like 70% vaccinated. That is helping a ton.
Someone please tell me that I'm 100% making the right choice to pull my unvaccinated 11 year old from a 6th grade class trip to Washington DC happening later this month.
I'm doing it, we can apply the funds paid toward a future trip and I have two additional kids so we aren't out anything financially. So many cherrypicked variables and reports pushed by the school to try and prove that it's safe to travel with unvaccinated kids right now. Apparently only 5-6 parents have objected, everyone else is just going along with it.
Someone please tell me that I'm 100% making the right choice to pull my unvaccinated 11 year old from a 6th grade class trip to Washington DC happening later this month.
I'm doing it, we can apply the funds paid toward a future trip and I have two additional kids so we aren't out anything financially. So many cherrypicked variables and reports pushed by the school to try and prove that it's safe to travel with unvaccinated kids right now. Apparently only 5-6 parents have objected, everyone else is just going along with it.
Is it an overnight trip? If so, fuck that. I'd make the same decision.
So in Iowa we can't have mask mandates, but my community is unique as our schools are pretty much just voluntarily masked. We only have 30 confirmed covid cases with a student population of 15K. We are three weeks into our school year. I am feeling pretty good about things and I am grateful for where I live.
On the other hand, other schools in the state have 10% of their population out with covid. Masking is not the norm. I am hearing about kids catching it left and right. It truly is spreading like wildfire. The under 17 group is our highest group with confirmed cases in the state.
Just utter lack of leadership. I pray it is nothing for these poor kids and they recover quickly.
Our 12-17 population is also like 70% vaccinated. That is helping a ton.
I am so jealous. Crazy what a difference a few miles makes.
Our district just started reporting numbers today. So far, they look pretty great…BUT…I don’t think anyone is really testing. No mandatory quarantines unless you test positive, no mandatory testing to return to school. You just have to be fever free for 24 hours. So, I’m 100% certain that families aren’t testing so they don’t have to be out of school for so long. Our numbers will look good, but it won’t be a reflection of what’s actually happening. We’ve already gotten our second close contact notice from the bus. Masks are required, but kids get on daily without one even in hand…and no one says/does anything. It’s absolutely infuriating.
My son's middle school currently has over 20 teachers out with COVID or quarantine. My son had to quarantine last week due to close contact. I feel like everything is just a ticking time bomb, yet the governor (SC) has made it impossible for schools to do anything meaningful to prevent the spread. I just hold my breath every time my phone rings from the school #.
Are the teachers in quarantine (assuming they’re just contacts and not positive) unvaccinated? Here teachers and students only have to monitor for symptoms if they’re a close contact and have been vaccinated.