Back to School during the pandemic ...a discussion thread

[quandrea]

Yes, 1000x over, yes. We started homeschooling due to special needs with the intention to put them in school when issues were a little better managed. Well, that was 9 years ago, and we have 0 intention of putting them in school now (even before Covid, lol).




In this article, it was every single person who was within 6' of the person for 10 minutes or longer. So, at one school alone, one student and one teacher tested positive - and now there are over 70 people in a 2 week quarantine.



We have allowed outdoor visits with friends, which hasn't been an issue for them at all. They also have tablets, so they talk to their friends daily on that. They have also had visits where they all wore masks. There are lots of ways to make socialization work/happen! They just take some creative thinking and... the willingness to adapt one's way of thinking.

If you want to mesasge me with any questions you may have re: homeschooling, please feel free! The tips I have could fill a book, so it's probably easier for you to ask specifics, lol. Also, even if you're just considering homeschooling, or want to learn more about it - join some groups on Facebook!

Everything @mshanson3121 said! My kids have been socialising all through this pandemic. We have plans this afternoon, in fact! With homeschooling, you not only have to take responsibility for your child’s learning, but also must take responsibility to ensure they are out in the world meeting people, having fun, connecting. It’s never been a problem. I was a public and private school teacher years ago. I like that my kids don’t equate school with socialising. They equate school with work. That was always my expectation as a classroom teacher. Work now. Play later. Unfortunately most of my students didn’t agree. It was a real impediment to learning.

 

[mshanson3121]

I totally agree that kids need to play and spend time with one another to learn the social skills, to know how to get along with each other and "follow the rules". Kids are so different from one to another, and they do need to learn to all get along. I sometimes think there are a few adults I work with that could use a bit more skill in that area too

The best place to learn these skills is honestly from home. But over the last years, parents have been increasingly leaving it up to the schools and teachers to teach these things. My kids never went to school, were never in activities until they were older. They had 0 issue learning social skills. Why? Because we taught them, and because they had each other. There is nothing better than siblings from which to learn the importance of sharing, taking turns, listening, understanding, cooperating, compromise, problem solving, terrorist negotiation etc.... I will say, in the cases of an only child, exterior socialization does then become more beneficial, for sure. But seriously... think of the all the pioneers and the immigrants, who lived largely isolated from each other when they were settling in new areas. Their only source of socialization? Their family. Or the distant neighbour they saw once in awhile. Or the rare trip to town. And yet, they still learned social skills. How? Their parents. The idea that school is somehow necessary for teaching social skills is such a false construct. And it's definitely been a detriment, as it has in part led to leaving it up to the school to teach the habits and morals that parents once took upon themselves. Okay, rant over.

 

[Donald - my hero]

I haven't seen this shared (mind you I'm only following as a very interested community member who's wanting to know what's happening in our country for everyone, kids & adults alike) but this article made me very unsettled for the Quebecois members of the boards and slightly worried for the rest of us.
Seems the Quebec Education Minister has modified their back-to-school plans with regards to mask wearing (not required everywhere despite the entire province being mandated to wear one inside?!) and this bothers me because, well, it eliminates the possibility of families wanting to keep their kids home because they don't feel it's safe (something i think should be a family decision until we get a clearer view of how safe schools actually will be) sure you can keep them home but you'll need a medical exemption!

Direct quote from the article
The minister also responded to concerned parents who fear that their child or a relative is particularly vulnerable to the virus: “Your children have the right to be taught at home,” he said, but they will have to seek a doctor’s note to obtain an exemption from in-person classes.

https://montrealgazette.com/news/ma...THL5V3L-GG2U09QNjkAEUn5NTg3Ht1a7qjX74NRauQHCo

 

[wdwmom3]

I haven't seen this shared (mind you I'm only following as a very interested community member who's wanting to know what's happening in our country for everyone, kids & adults alike) but this article made me very unsettled for the Quebecois members of the boards and slightly worried for the rest of us.
Seems the Quebec Education Minister has modified their back-to-school plans with regards to mask wearing (not required everywhere despite the entire province being mandated to wear one inside?!) and this bothers me because, well, it eliminates the possibility of families wanting to keep their kids home because they don't feel it's safe (something i think should be a family decision until we get a clearer view of how safe schools actually will be) sure you can keep them home but you'll need a medical exemption!

Direct quote from the article
The minister also responded to concerned parents who fear that their child or a relative is particularly vulnerable to the virus: “Your children have the right to be taught at home,” he said, but they will have to seek a doctor’s note to obtain an exemption from in-person classes.

https://montrealgazette.com/news/ma...THL5V3L-GG2U09QNjkAEUn5NTg3Ht1a7qjX74NRauQHCo

yeah that’s wrong. Above all else families have the option to choose what’s best for them. Like I’ve said every child and every situation is different. Some kids may need to go back, for others the thought of going back could give them a lot of anxiety.

Families need to be able to make their own choice.

 

[FigmentSpark]

There's been one good thing for my DS. He was grounded in Feb for vaping. We were struggling to get a handle on it. With the quarantine (and the grounding together), he wasn't around the kids who were also vaping and he wasn't able to get it. Now, 6 months later, it's not even on his radar. And hopefully, it'll stay that way. He graduated, so that school and those kids are done for him. He's on to other, better things, now.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

@FigmentSpark nothing like a fresh start for kids and teens!

 

[hdrolfe]

And now I'm trying to get in touch with kiddo's friends parents, and so far most of them are keeping their kids home. So the benefit will be much less if he can't even play with the friends at school (if it's only girls going, since we don't keep in touch with their parents, I will never hear the end of it).

 

[bcwife76]

The start of the school year is being pushed back from September 8 in BC. No new date has been announced yet.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

We are going to be called to answer a survey about what we plan to do for school in September. (Toronto District School Board)
https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Pre-Registration-Survey

 

[Aladora]

The start of the school year is being pushed back from September 8 in BC. No new date has been announced yet.

I was just coming here to post this!

Given the fact that we were posting numbers around 10-20 new cases per day in June and are now back up in the 40-50 per day range, I am not at all surprised by the announcement today. My son is going to a private school this year so I have no idea yet what their plan is, last news we got from the school is that they are basically following the public schools so I anticipate that the next email I get from them will be that the start date is going to be pushed back.

We have an appointment at the school store on Thursday to get all of his uniforms so I guess we will carry on with the expectation that at some point this year he will need them!

 

[Disneylover99]

We are going to be called to answer a survey about what we plan to do for school in September. (Toronto District School Board)
https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Pre-Registration-Survey

I was just reading up on this. The phone number begins with 1-833. I didn’t recognize the number and totally blew them off today. Lol.

 

[DisTXMom]

I believe most of the Tennessee schools have not required masks. Curious to see what experience is for schools mandating masks to see if results are the same or different. Some of what’s driving the mandated quarantines isn’t confirmed cases- it’s that staff/students have been in close contact with people that are confirmed cases. I guess we will watch it unfold and hopefully learn some things along the way.

 

[wdwmom3]

Apparently the Ontario government will be announcing “updated” back to school plans later this afternoon. Around 3:45 I think.

Fingers crossed it’s either a modified approach for elementary, or full time with reduced class sizes.

 

[hdrolfe]

Apparently the Ontario government will be announcing “updated” back to school plans later this afternoon. Around 3:45 I think.

Fingers crossed it’s either a modified approach for elementary, or full time with reduced class sizes.

I'm doubtful, Ford has been clear he won't be changing that and it will only be "updates" to the already presented plan... which sucks. Ottawa is expecting about 10% to do online only, but from kiddo's friends it is about 50/50, including one kid whose mom is a teacher (at a different school but same board).

 

[bababear_50]

Just a guess but I think he will be announcing a delay to the timeline for back to school.
Just a guess.

Hugs
Mel

 

[Silvermist999]

After our board’s announcement on Monday of their so-called plan, there has been zero communication via Twitter let alone emails. A group of us parents have also sent one group email to the admin as well as the school trustee, with not even a reply that they received the email. None of us are happy with being ignored. Other school boards are holding webinars to address any concerns or questions, but this board is doing nothing.
I hope they will delay the start of the school year so they can figure things out and plan properly beforehand, not after an outbreak, they can’t expect parents to make an informed decision with so little information.

 

[wdwmom3]

After our board’s announcement on Monday of their so-called plan, there has been zero communication via Twitter let alone emails. A group of us parents have also sent one group email to the admin as well as the school trustee, with not even a reply that they received the email. None of us are happy with being ignored. Other school boards are holding webinars to address any concerns or questions, but this board is doing nothing.
I hope they will delay the start of the school year so they can figure things out and plan properly beforehand, not after an outbreak, they can’t expect parents to make an informed decision with so little information.

I have learnt from listening to you guys how different some school boards are. I have to say I’m actually pretty happy with how our school board has been communicating with us. Still some information we don’t have, but you can tell they are trying hard. I think our school board is more prepared then others to be back in class.

 

[hdrolfe]

I have learnt from listening to you guys have different some school boards are. I have to say I’m actually pretty happy with how our school board has been communicating with us. Still some information we don’t have, but you can tell they are trying hard. I think our school board is more prepared then others to be back in class.

My school board has been trying as well, they have a huge FAQ up now that actually has been really helpful. And I actually got an email from the new principal at the school to everyone introducing herself and saying more info will follow soon.

 

[DiaryofaDisneyKid]

Yesterday when a reporter asked Ford a question about poor ventilation in schools he mentioned Lecce would be coming out in the next couple of days with an announcement. This is just a guess but I think it has something to do with HVAC.

 

[wdwmom3]

Yesterday when a reporter asked Ford a question about poor ventilation in schools he mentioned Lecce would be coming out in the next couple of days with an announcement. This is just a guess but I think it has something to do with HVAC.

Just heard the officer of public health answer a reporters question saying they are looking at the ventilation in schools. But didn’t give any details.