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

[bcwife76]

The delay in the timeline here in BC ends up o my being two days. So instead of returning Sept 8, our kids will go back Sept 10. What's the point of that? The poor teachers in our province are just being pushed from pillar to post now, not to mention all the parents. Oh and a few hours after announcing this new start date, the province announced a huge surge in cases, our third highest daily case counts since the pandemic began

 

[DiaryofaDisneyKid]

My little Niagara town has only had 24 cases in total since the schools were shut down and most weeks we have had no cases. We will be sending our 3 kids, DS Grade 8, DD Grade 5 and DS Grade 3 back to school. They are all excellent students and did great online but missed the social aspect of school. They know school is for learning but they like learning with other children their own age. When you are in a class with 20 other kids you get 20 different views on things and learn that there are many ways to solve a problem. They may not agree with everyone in their classes but they learn to work together. Every expert agrees that if your community has low or no community transmission the chances are lower for it to spread in schools. If we start to see a jump up in community transmission to a point we feel uncomfortable, we will pull them out. All classrooms at our school have sinks and windows that open with most classes having a lower numbers of students per class. If all of the grade 3's go back there will be 2 classes of 20. If all the Grade 5's go back there will be 2 classes of 21. My oldest is the only one where the class size makes me nervous as there would be 2 Grade 8 classes of 27. Last year when he was in Grade 7 they had a 6/7 split so they spread them out and the largest class size was 24. The largest class sizes at our school was the kindergarten classes. They had 3 classes with 30 students each and I do feel this is to many. It's a tough for parents, teachers and students right now as there really is no perfect solution. I recently read something a local teacher posted online and I am going to share it here as I think it really deserves to be shared.

LET'S BEGIN PRACTICING THIS NOW:
When a friend says she is sending her kids back to school:
OUR RESPONSE: "Man! I am so proud of you! I know that wasn't an easy choice to make."
When a friend says she is doing virtual learning with her kids:
OUR RESPONSE: "Man! I am so proud of you! I know that wasn't an easy choice to make."
When a friend says she is home schooling her kids:
OUR RESPONSE: "Man! I am so proud of you! I know that wasn't an easy choice to make."

 

[Aladora]

Oh and a few hours after announcing this new start date, the province announced a huge surge in cases, our third highest daily case counts since the pandemic began

Yesterday Canada had 423 new cases and of those, 85 were in BC. Ugh ugh ugh, we HAVE to get our...poop...together again or we are going to be forced to go back to Stage 2 or even 1.

 

[wdwmom3]

My little Niagara town has only had 24 cases in total since the schools were shut down and most weeks we have had no cases. We will be sending our 3 kids, DS Grade 8, DD Grade 5 and DS Grade 3 back to school. They are all excellent students and did great online but missed the social aspect of school. They know school is for learning but they like learning with other children their own age. When you are in a class with 20 other kids you get 20 different views on things and learn that there are many ways to solve a problem. They may not agree with everyone in their classes but they learn to work together. Every expert agrees that if your community has low or no community transmission the chances are lower for it to spread in schools. If we start to see a jump up in community transmission to a point we feel uncomfortable, we will pull them out. All classrooms at our school have sinks and windows that open with most classes having a lower numbers of students per class. If all of the grade 3's go back there will be 2 classes of 20. If all the Grade 5's go back there will be 2 classes of 21. My oldest is the only one where the class size makes me nervous as there would be 2 Grade 8 classes of 27. Last year when he was in Grade 7 they had a 6/7 split so they spread them out and the largest class size was 24. The largest class sizes at our school was the kindergarten classes. They had 3 classes with 30 students each and I do feel this is to many. It's a tough for parents, teachers and students right now as there really is no perfect solution. I recently read something a local teacher posted online and I am going to share it here as I think it really deserves to be shared.

LET'S BEGIN PRACTICING THIS NOW:
When a friend says she is sending her kids back to school:
OUR RESPONSE: "Man! I am so proud of you! I know that wasn't an easy choice to make."
When a friend says she is doing virtual learning with her kids:
OUR RESPONSE: "Man! I am so proud of you! I know that wasn't an easy choice to make."
When a friend says she is home schooling her kids:
OUR RESPONSE: "Man! I am so proud of you! I know that wasn't an easy choice to make."

I agree with you! We really need to respect and not question other parents choices. Everyone has different reasons for their choices and we need to support that.

 

[Donald - my hero]

I agree with you! We really need to respect and not question other parents choices. Everyone has different reasons for their choices and we need to support that.

Agreed and can i add one other thing to that? We need to find a way to treat all of the adults who will need to be in the buildings as well with the same grace. It's not any easier for them to be walking this tightrope and when you add in that they can't as easily just decide to stay home it has to be very difficult.

 

[mshanson3121]

Day 1 of our back to school meetings for New Brunswick. So far details released:

- No masks required at all for grades K-5 (though they are encouraged)
- Masks required for grades 6-12, but not in the classroom. Only when outside of the classroom (hallways etc...).
- Caveat to ^^^, masks will be required in classroom for grades 9-12, if a 1m distance cannot be maintained.
- Students in grades 6-12 will be required to sanitize their own desk and chair every time they leave the classroom for another class or at the end of the day.... because yeah, this won't cause issues Here's a genius idea... keep the students in the same room all day, and just have the teacher's change classes. But anywho.... LOL.
- They have not finalized directives for phys. ed. yet, but there will be absolutely no singing or any wind instruments allowed. So essentially - no choir, no musicals and no band.

 

[DiaryofaDisneyKid]

Agreed and can i add one other thing to that? We need to find a way to treat all of the adults who will need to be in the buildings as well with the same grace. It's not any easier for them to be walking this tightrope and when you add in that they can't as easily just decide to stay home it has to be very difficult.

I definitely agree it is tough for the staff at the schools too! The teachers I have talked to in my area are excited to go back and they said they will find a way to make it work and be as safe as possible. I also know that there are staff and parents who may have health concerns and are just genuinely scared to go back or send their children back and I feel really bad for them! I will be making my DS 7 who is going into Grade 3 wear a mask even if he doesn't have to as this might help protect the staff and students. I have been practicing with all 3 at home with mask wearing and how to wear it correctly. All 3 of my kids are great at following rules and directions and know school will be different this year. If any teachers have any ideas of things that would make you feel better if your students did them feel free to share, I am willing to listen!

 

[DiaryofaDisneyKid]

Day 1 of our back to school meetings for New Brunswick. So far details released:

- No masks required at all for grades K-5 (though they are encouraged)
- Masks required for grades 6-12, but not in the classroom. Only when outside of the classroom (hallways etc...).
- Caveat to ^^^, masks will be required in classroom for grades 9-12, if a 1m distance cannot be maintained.
- Students in grades 6-12 will be required to sanitize their own desk and chair every time they leave the classroom for another class or at the end of the day.... because yeah, this won't cause issues Here's a genius idea... keep the students in the same room all day, and just have the teacher's change classes. But anywho.... LOL.
- They have not finalized directives for phys. ed. yet, but there will be absolutely no singing or any wind instruments allowed. So essentially - no choir, no musicals and no band.

I agree with keeping the kids in the same classroom all day that makes more sense. I also really think classes should all be outside my kids would love that!

 

[mshanson3121]

Whoops, there's more, sorry:

For busing:

- Only one child per seat for grades K-5, no masks required.
- Two per seat for grades 6-12, masks required.

In the event of a positive case:

- the student/teacher/staff member and all potential contacts (which could be the class, the class bubble or potentially entire school depending) to isolate for 14 days.

In the event of distance education being necessary during an outbreak:

- For grades K-2, their distance learning will be paper based with a daily check in with the teacher. For grades 3-5 it will be part paper, part on line with "routine" teacher engagement (could they be any more obscure?), for grades 6-12 it will be all online with regular teaching.

Class Size & Bubbles:

- Can only interact with students in the same grade. So students in grade 3 will have to keep 2m apart from any student in any other grade, at all times.
- K-2 will be limited to "as close to 15 students as possible"
- 3-5 will be limited to "as close to 22 students as possible"
- No change in class sizes for grades 6-12

High School:

- High schools that can maintain distancing at all times will not have a rotating schedule. Those that can't, will have rotating schedules, which means one day students will be in school, the next they'll be home.

General:

- No water fountains. Bottle filling stations are being installed.
- Shareable materials must be sterilized immediately after use. Things that can't be sterilized can only be used by one child.
- Parents not allowed in school at all, with the exception of picking up their child. Masks required for adults entering the building.

 

[mshanson3121]

I agree with keeping the kids in the same classroom all day that makes more sense. I also really think classes should all be outside my kids would love that!

As soon as I read that to my husband (re: kids sanitizing their own equipment), he said.... "So, how long until the first student is injured because another student sprayed him in the face with disinfectant? Because I guarantee someone is going to get sprayed."

 

[DiaryofaDisneyKid]

As soon as I read that to my husband (re: kids sanitizing their own equipment), he said.... "So, how long until the first student is injured because another student sprayed him in the face with disinfectant? Because I guarantee someone is going to get sprayed."

HAHA! My DD would be great at doing this herself, my boys not so much.

 

[wdwmom3]

So in Ontario they will be allowing access to more funding so school boards can do things like lease space, hire more staff etc in order to have more spacing. Also to use to improve ventilation and cleaning.

So not mandating smaller classes. But allowing use of more funds so school boards can make classes smaller if they feel they need to.

 

[wdwmom3]

Apparently they have already been working at getting air filtration systems, including stand alone systems.

 

[DiaryofaDisneyKid]

Apparently they have already been working at getting air filtration systems, including stand alone systems.

I think the stand alone option is great for portables. My children's school has 2 portables. One is a grade 8 portable and the other is the french portable, although I think they will probably use that as a classroom this year and have the french teacher rotate between classes.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

I also thought the teachers should be the one changing classes versus all of the students! Teachers might not like having to lug all of their different teaching materials around though and not having their own dedicated desk.

It's a lot easier to disinfect one desk and a whiteboard/markers then 20-30 desks.

 

[bababear_50]

Hmmmm
Things parents can do to help their child prepare for school.
Here are a few.............................

1) spring laces


https://www.amazon.ca/No-Tie-Elasti...ocphy=9000821&hvtargid=pla-451164554860&psc=1
2) pack utensils if the food requires it,,schools don't supply spoons,forks,straws.

3) wash lunch and backpacks regularly,,not seasonally or yearly

4) add ski tags to coats to help little finger do up zippers

5) have child assist in lunch decisions(1/2 to 3/4 of food sent gets thrown out...really!

6) buy water bottles and test that they don't leak before sending them in a backpack.

7) buy a proper size backpack (this year is going to be important to have that extra room).

8) pop a note or two into their lunch bag occasionally,,,makes their day.

9) pack an extra snack in the backpack side pouch,,,you never know when hunger will strike

10) YES NUTELLA has nuts in it and it can cause life threatening anaphylaxis shock/death.

11) throw a napkin /paper towels in the lunch container,,yes kids will wipe their mouths after eating.

12) Puddle jumping is a favorite Fall activity,,,pack an extra pair of socks in the bottom of the bag.

13) Glass jars & bottles are a accident waiting to happen.

14) Feed them breakfast

15) support regular bedtime routines

16) Read everyday with your child.

17 turn off the phone/computer and talk with them about their day,,(what kids see is what kids do).
take time to talk about school.

18) Hold adult conversations for adults.

19) Support homework policies

20) Teach organizational skills starting with their personal belongings / bedroom.



Hugs
Mel

 

[bababear_50]

https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/factsheet/back-to-school-guide-for-parents-of-young-kids
Show your children empathy ,caring and compassion,,by doing so you are teaching them how to be empathic ,caring and compassionate.

Hugs
Mel

 

[hdrolfe]

The French Catholic board here says "no backpacks" and I am glad my kiddo doesn't go to that school, how are kids supposed to get everything back and forth? Including lunch and a water bottle! Crazy

 

[bababear_50]

The French Catholic board here says "no backpacks" and I am glad my kiddo doesn't go to that school, how are kids supposed to get everything back and forth? Including lunch and a water bottle! Crazy

Is this for the high school group or elementary group ?
I know some high schools are not full days and they are not eating lunch at school.

Hugs
Mel

 

[hdrolfe]

Is this for the high school group or elementary group ?
I know some high schools are not full days and they are not eating lunch at school.

Hugs
Mel

Both, all grades from K thru 12. Crazy, right? Kinders will be allowed to bring a plastic bag with a change of clothes.