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

[Madame]

I don’t know what you are reading. But this says they do recommend masks in high school students and possibly middle school. They also recommend smaller class sizes and cohorting students so they only stay with one group.

It also still recommends 2 m distance but says there would not be significant change of transmitoon at 1m. I read somewhere else 2 m was still being recommended for high school. It’s also important to note that many other counties use 1.5 M as the distance to stay apart not 2.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/sickkids-experts-recommendations-1.5667023

I read the entire actual report. Not a media synopsis. I know what you think. I’m not engaging with you. Leave. Me. Alone.

 

[bababear_50]

I can't see anywhere that it is Mandatory for staff to wear mask?
Ont GTA area.
Anyone help me out with this?

Thanks Mel

 

[Madame]

I can't see anywhere that it is Mandatory for staff to wear mask?
Ont GTA area.
Anyone help me out with this?

Thanks Mel

Well, you see bababear, you wearing a mask might interfere with your facial expression (insert major sarcasm here) - this is pulled from page 18

 

[hdrolfe]

I don’t know what you are reading. But this says they do recommend masks in high school students and possibly middle school. They also recommend smaller class sizes and cohorting students so they only stay with one group.

It also still recommends 2 m distance but says there would not be significant change of transmitoon at 1m. I read somewhere else 2 m was still being recommended for high school. It’s also important to note that many other counties use 1.5 M as the distance to stay apart not 2.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/sickkids-experts-recommendations-1.5667023

The report itself is actually quite detailed and explains all of these points, including their recommendation for young children to not wear masks because it is harder for them to maintain proper hygene while doing so. They'll be touching them, taking them off, etc, and it can be worse than not wearing one at all. As well, masks are necessary where social distancing can't be maintained, that's standard across all provinces, so if the students are all the recommended distance apart, why do they need a mask on?

They also recommend more space in classrooms and using "non traditional classrooms" which I would take to mean setting up other rooms and turning them into classrooms. Co horting in groups of 10-15 is also recommended to help with this. They note that it is easier in elemntary classes and that in high school masks and social distancing may be a better choice.

The CBC article obviously highlights the top points but is a good summary of the report. I am impressed that so many doctors across the province wrote it and they do cite where there is disagreement on something.

@bababear_50 The section on EA's and PPE is on page 16 and specifically for working with children with development delays etc, so I think the type of work you do? http://www.sickkids.ca/PDFs/About-S...mmendations-for-School-Reopening-SickKids.pdf

 

[wdwmom3]

The report itself is actually quite detailed and explains all of these points, including their recommendation for young children to not wear masks because it is harder for them to maintain proper hygene while doing so. They'll be touching them, taking them off, etc, and it can be worse than not wearing one at all. As well, masks are necessary where social distancing can't be maintained, that's standard across all provinces, so if the students are all the recommended distance apart, why do they need a mask on?

They also recommend more space in classrooms and using "non traditional classrooms" which I would take to mean setting up other rooms and turning them into classrooms. Co horting in groups of 10-15 is also recommended to help with this. They note that it is easier in elemntary classes and that in high school masks and social distancing may be a better choice.

The CBC article obviously highlights the top points but is a good summary of the report. I am impressed that so many doctors across the province wrote it and they do cite where there is disagreement on something.

@bababear_50 The section on EA's and PPE is on page 16 and specifically for working with children with development delays etc, so I think the type of work you do? http://www.sickkids.ca/PDFs/About-S...mmendations-for-School-Reopening-SickKids.pdf

Yes and some people apparently want to pick out specific words and ignore others just to fit what they have been saying and how “terrible” opening schools is . They want to pick out parts that say “kids shouldn’t wear masks” and ignore that the comment is made in reference to certain situations and also ignore where the report “kids should wear masks” .

This is how misinformation spreads. People pick and choose things. You need to look at things in their entirety.

 

[tgropp]

I read the entire actual report. Not a media synopsis. I know what you think. I’m not engaging with you. Leave. Me. Alone.

Than you are in the wrong forum. I don’t think that anyone knows the real facts and for one to think that they are 100% right well....... There are many posters/ teachers/ concerned parents that have offered their point of view with respect for each other. Let’s all try to keep this civil. It is understandable for people to be upset though with other posters. I find a glass of wine helps. Stay healthy everyone. We will get through this

 

[bankr63]

I’m not fighting for online. I hate online. Most kids hate online.

I’m going to post 2 photos I sent to a colleague at my former school as a kind of eye roll indicating that it was the same old same old. I changed schools in Feb and my room was in the same condition that the previous classroom was in - mouse crap everywhere (my old room had a cupboard of old magazines encrusted with mouse droppings and urine as they had been nesting in it for years obviously). Desks are NEVER cleaned unless I do it (rare if my boards get cleaned and when they do it’s with the floor broom), and in my new room the chairs get put up on the desks from the filthy floors. My old school about 7 years back seniors hot a master key and flipped every desk in every room (sigh). I wish I had taken a photo - Jesus the years of gum. I almost puked. My Mom was a custodian at my high school & I KNOW for a fact they scrapped that off every summer. Apparently not anymore

The ventilation is trash. The circulation is trash. So hot in the summer sweat dripping off me onto my kids’ desks if I lean over them to help. I spend most of the winter teaching in a winter coat - no word of a lieMy last school they were renovating the foyer and the asbestos I had been screaming about because of the broken asbestos floor tile in my room (lots of old schools around here have high incidents of teacher cancers....) was fully exposed..... Custodians had to sign something saying they wouldn’t sue and the whole damn thing was hushed up.

Brand new bottle filling stations upstairs shut down due to high lead that couldn’t be flushed out at a safe enough level. Washrooms locked because of vaping (2 were left open - 1 for each sex & God were they disgusting by the end of the day). The public has no clue what our work conditions are. I do not think that my schools are outside the norm.
Do you have these conditions at your place of work..? Cause, honestly, I don’t think these things will change in Sept. and I’m scared.

I used one baby wipe per desk (just the tops) - we are not permitted to use ANY chemicals ourselves.
View attachment 514022
This one is difficult to see - I tried to get a close up and of course it blurred but this was just one of my preps spent cleaning - the little black dots are mouse droppings.
View attachment 514023
So yeah. I’m a little concerned.

Jeez, I didn't know you worked at my wife's school!

 

[Madame]

Than you are in the wrong forum. I don’t think that anyone knows the real facts and for one to think that they are 100% right well....... There are many posters/ teachers/ concerned parents that have offered their point of view with respect for each other. Let’s all try to keep this civil. It is understandable for people to be upset though with other posters. I find a glass of wine helps. Stay healthy everyone. We will get through this

I have asked that poster repeatedly not to quote me. She implied I was lazy or incompetent. I don’t need that type of shrill judgement in my life right now thx. I have been VERY civil. It didn’t work I don’t drink, but thanks.

 

[Aladora]

So, BC schools are reopening in September at Stage 2 of the resart plan.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/covid-19-return-to-school
The kids will be in "learning groups" of up to 60 for elementary and middle school and up to 120 for high school.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/covid-19-return-to-school/learning-groups

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

The document from Sick Kids about re-opening was well done and helpful but I'm really waiting for the announcement this week to see what the Ontario government announces specifically to figure things out for us. After that we'll look at how the school board plans to implement what the Province announces....

We really want to send DS back to the classroom in September --- SAFELY --- as that's where he really thrives academically. If we're not confident we'll figure that out once everything is out there and make our decision then...

 

[bcwife76]

So, BC schools are reopening in September at Stage 2 of the resart plan.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/covid-19-return-to-school
The kids will be in "learning groups" of up to 60 for elementary and middle school and up to 120 for high school.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/covid-19-return-to-school/learning-groups

Still have LOTS of questions lol Hoping for more direction from our school district soon.

 

[ottawamom]

I don’t know what you are reading. But this says they do recommend masks in high school students and possibly middle school. They also recommend smaller class sizes and cohorting students so they only stay with one group.

In an effort to keep this discussion civil, another way of phrasing this might have been to say "My interpretation of the following article is ..." This way no one is attacked and put on the defensive and you get your point across.

Covid has everyone on edge. Lets keep the discussions as pleasant as possible while discussing different points of view.

 

[hdrolfe]

Looks like Ontario should find something out tomorrow
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-...DNjGII4txbnu5bm6e9qo4nnVwPrqiaQH11dpE4uoLWHv0

 

[Aladora]

Still have LOTS of questions lol Hoping for more direction from our school district soon.

Yeah, I think most of us have a ton of questions!

Our family is in a bit of a different situation. DS just got accepted into a private school for this upcoming year and we have zero idea how they are going to do things. Guess it is a wait and see situation!

I'm of two minds about in school learning.

On one hand, he did amazingly well for March-June and his grades improved in 2 of his 4 subjects with the other 2 staying exactly the same. He ended the year with straight As so I am not concerned about his ability to learn remotely in a regular school environment.

On the other hand, the new school he is going to is an IB school so his courses are going to be more intensive and I am concerned about that. They also have a certain amount of volunteer hours they need to do in order to graduate and with so many volunteer organizations not running at full capacity, I'm not sure what he is going to do to fulfill his obligations. I was really counting on sending him to help with my mother's Rotary Club events (he has been volunteering there for almost 10 years) but all events for 2020 have been cancelled.

 

[DisLiss]

I cared more about knowing what our school would do than what they actually were going to do, because honestly, there are so many pros and cons to each choice that no matter which I thought was best, a part of me would still second guess the choice anyway.

So now they've announced we'll start virtual then ramp up to "normal". The ramping up part is still a work in progress, but we do know that students can continue to learn virtually and reenter the schools as families see fit, which I think is something that will work out well for most families. People like choices. How it will all play our remains to be seen, but at least we know where our starting point it and it's a starting point that won't change if things get worse, which could have been the case in a "start with everyone at school" or a hybrid situation. So if nothing else it's nice to have one stable thing to plan for this year. So far it's been the only stable thing to plan for.

 

[mshanson3121]

And this camp where all were masked & following distancing rules:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/boucherville-cases-day-camp-1.5666352

It has blown my mind that day camps are running this year. Locally, our huge Christian camp decided to go ahead with overnight camps. Um.... no thanks. And yes, this definitely challenges the idea that kids under 10 rarely get/transmit it.

Yes and some people apparently want to pick out specific words and ignore others just to fit what they have been saying and how “terrible” opening schools is .

Seriously, why are you even here if this topic bothers you or triggers you so badly?

 

[wdwmom3]

It has blown my mind that day camps are running this year. Locally, our huge Christian camp decided to go ahead with overnight camps. Um.... no thanks. And yes, this definitely challenges the idea that kids under 10 rarely get/transmit it.



Seriously, why are you even here if this topic bothers you or triggers you so badly?

What bothers me is the misinformation.

Bottom line is parents should have the choice to send their kids to school or not. Every parent who doesn’t feel the school is safe can keep their child hone. And teachers have the same options as every other person who works. They go to work or if they don’t feel safe or have health issues then they stay home.

Look I usually support teachers. They do a tough job. But so do lots of other people. Many other people have had to make decisions to return to work or not. To me it’s no different with teachers. I wonder do the same people arguing about keeping schools closed also think dental offices and hair salons should be closed? I doubt it.

 

[Brett Wyman]

Our school board just announced their plans and all I have to say is, put down the crack pipe. They have decide k-2 kids are somehow supposed to sit through an entire 7 hour school day of live online classes(with breaks and an hour for lunch to be fair). There’s a virtual town hall on August 5th and I hope the school board has fire extinguishers near by. It’s gonna be a hot one . How parents who have to work from home full time are supposed to make that work is beyond me.

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

Our school board just announced their plans and all I have to say is, put down the crack pipe. They have decide k-2 kids are somehow supposed to sit through an entire 7 hour school day of live online classes(with breaks and an hour for lunch to be fair). There’s a virtual town hall on August 5th and I hope the school board has fire extinguishers near by. It’s gonna be a hot one . How parents who have to work from home full time are supposed to make that work is beyond me.

Just out of curiousity what province are you in? based on news it seems like BC but this seems crazy....

 

[wdwmom3]

I have asked that poster repeatedly not to quote me. She implied I was lazy or incompetent. I don’t need that type of shrill judgement in my life right now thx. I have been VERY civil. It didn’t work I don’t drink, but thanks.

I did not imply any of those things.