@Altras I actually prefer that they realized they were not ready and called it now. To me most telling was the last paragraph about watching what is happening in the college world and realizing they have not done a good job communicating clear expectations to the kids. I think the fundamental problem is that BS as well as college are the opposite of social distancing, a huge part of being on campus is to socialize with others. And all the things the kids normally do on weekends as well as in the evenings are off limits now. So what is the plan, and how could they ensure kids comply, particularly with reluctant faculty not jumping up to police the required behavior. And even the two week quarantine, those rooms are entirely too small and too hot for 2 kids to spend 2 weeks basically shut in to take online classes, with maybe an hour or two out to exercise? To be followed up by classes six feet apart, masked, watching masked teacher separated by plexiglass or face shield. Or continue online, depending on class.
Just read a couple more articles about college parties followed by outraged administration shocked that teens cannot comply with strict social distancing orders. Considering half of the adults in this country can’t or won’t comply either, expecting all teenagers to do so and then blaming them for not living up to expectations is very disingenuous in my opinion. The only thing that annoys me about the email is that they are suggesting potential October move-in, knowing full well that CT numbers are already inching up and with colleges as well as local schools slated to open there is virtually no chance they will be in better position to open in October.
I am very empathetic to all esp @buuzn03 . I would feel more comfortable if every school had the same goal ( # of cases per 100K, R number and positivity rate). In MA, which was hit really hard in #of deaths as a % of population, I will say this. When the numbers dropped they dropped really quickly. Likewise, when they rose, it went crazy in a number of days. So get ready.
I’m not a fan of shutting everything down due to fear until 2021. I think we need to think long term. But I know that in MA, there is a huge drive by teachers and about 20-30% of parents who don’t want to return. ( This is based on parental feedback reported locally) I think this drive is pushing things online. I’m not sure where it will go but the BS’s are feeling this current. The BS were originally leaning to in person learning but have hit some bumps.
I was with 10 parents yesterday on the beach socially distant before quarantine starts for many. Eight have kids in private school and two in public. No kid is going back full time in person. No BS/ private school has been able to de-densify and have the original plan in place. No schools have testing fully in place and guaranteed. The goalposts have moved for all.
Things are quite good in the number of cases in MA( very low, decreasing numbers and decreasing R). Yet, BS/private schools can’t get the testing or machines that were promised. Schools have had some kids who can’t get back and kids have moved to day student status and yet they still can’t go f2f.
Personally, I think there will be a demand by parents for f2f learning (public and private), around Jan. Right now, people are just nervous to see what happens, they want promises and safety and that’s not possible during a pandemic.
I just want to say GOOD LUCK to those who are in the process of or are preparing to go back. I hope it is the best situation possible for your kids and that everyone is able to stay safe and healthy!!
Now its getting really real…we are in the final 48 hour countdown before we drive DS to BS. The guest room has become the staging area for packing. Negative Covid test obtained by mom, dad and son. 10 masks ready to be packed…Keeping fingers crossed that the 10 week sprint to Thanksgiving break goes off without any positive cases at school. He then will learn remotely until Christmas break and hopefully we repeat the process in returning him in January (Quarantine at least 7 days, Negative test, Tested again when arrives back on campus, whole school tested 7 days later).
I have to thank this board for helping this non-BS family in our decision process. Wishing everyone health, safety and most importantly happiness during this “not normal” time!!
Good luck @D1swim2kidshoop ! We are 13 days out, and have begun our pre-arrival quarantine. Pre-arrival COVID test happens monday. Our school is watching those who’ve gone before us very carefully for lessons learned. We learned today all MAPL sports are cancelled; it will be a very different year indeed. But I am hopeful that the kids want to be back so badly, even in the face of these dramatic changes. I wish all success and good health.
So excited for those of you about to embark on a new year on campus!
Update for us - we received an email late last night and just got off of a parent Town Hall meeting. After an outcry from families, the plan has now changed to allow boarders to move in at the end of September. School will start online the 14th, giving distant boarders a chance to quarantine in Massachusetts and then two weeks later, day and boarding students will start on-campus classes.
We are SO happy. This morning DS had a spring to his step I haven’t seen in quite a while!
Great news @buuzn03 , so happy for all of you! Goes to show how much parental backlash can invoke change!
^Gosh, I hope it wasn’t simply parental backlash but the ability to prepare better, a lower infection rate in the community, etc. If a school didn’t think it could do a good job of providing a safe environment for its students and faculty and opened only because parents made a fuss, they probably still can’t provide a safe environment. I DO worry that this is happening in a number of environments.
I have spent a lot of the summer thinking about all the businesses and institutions trying to “master” public health when it’s not in their wheelhouse.
I am happy, though, that all the kids are heading back and wish them the best. BS are all about an immersive experience, not simply the delivery of academic content.
@gardenstategal i will remain silent regarding the reasons because we will truly never know.
What I will say is that we received no specific scientific data/Informationally sound basis to suddenly not open, which raised parent concerns. When the hard data was requested, the school again changed their plan.
There were several epidemiologists, public health officials and numerous MDs among the parents who voiced concerns. All of our data showed this was the safest time to open and that boarding was the safest environment to protect students and faculty. So, I wouldn’t call it “backlash”. I would rather say many professionals in the medical/ scientific fields challenged the lack of scientific data used to support what appeared to be a random, fear-filled, without basis decision which affected a large number of people.
@buuzn03 So happy for your family.
We just have to get on with our lives as much as possible, as long as the proper safety protocols are in place.
We move in tomorrow. DD and I got negative test results this week. We are in north Florida and rapid testing is widely available but at a cost. Our school Is in southern Virginia and has moved in in waves. All faculty and staff first tested negative. Returning students moved in last weekend and, thankfully, all tested negative. New students move in tomorrow. All day students are required to board or go virtual and campus will be closed for at least 5 weeks. So thankful DD has the chance to go and we feel optimistic about the plans. It will be hard to drop her off in such a short window but it’s for the best. Hoping as many kids as possible get a shot at school.
Something else to worry about now!
Has anyone’s school mentioned this in their facilities plans?
its been crazy to say the least
yay!!!
So happy for you and your DS @buuzn03 !!!
SPS seniors moved in yesterday. Everyone was required to quarantine 14 days, have a neg test from the last 5-7 days, then be tested again yesterday. Health Ctr just reported that everyone’s tests came back negative.
Juniors arrived today, same procedure. One class per day.
So far, so good…
Congrats on Back-To-School @HMom16! Happy to hear that good news about the negative tests! Can you tell us if that 14 day quarantine provides time for kids to go outdoors? Will they have all their meals delivered to their door?
@Golfgr8 The quarantine was done prior to arriving at school. Kids were allowed to go out, exercise, etc. but were supposed to avoid groups, shopping, etc. People arriving via public transportation (air, bus, etc.) had to travel 14 days in advance and then quarantine locally. The school “reserved” a newly built hotel in the area where kids could quarantine. Meals were provided and students were allowed in the common areas. Some families quarantined locally with friends or at other hotels, airbnbs, etc. Also, some kids from out of town, quarantined with SPS friends that lived locally.
Note - the quarantine rules are in place for the entire state of NH, not just the school.
Ok - as of today I think this is how it’s going to roll out - We have different grades/dorms arriving on different days next week. Request for students to isolate prior to arrival. Testing done 72 hours before arrival via a provided test kit and video monitoring of spitting into the tube. Then testing again upon arrival with quarantine for @ 3 days until those tests come back. Parents are allowed a 15 minute time slot for drop off. Not sure yet if they are allowed out of their rooms during those initial 3 days. Then testing again later that week. Online classes until those tests come back with classes probably starting in person @ Sept 21st. So the students will be having a week of online classes to start.
We just got our daughters first negative test result back. The school sent a saliva kit that arrived Monday, and then she spit on zoom, mailed it back, and results were emailed this morning. She’s on day 5 of pre drop off quarantine, and arrives at school next Saturday. This test seems sort of useless since it’s so many days in advance of her arrival, but I think it’s good to get the kids into the habit of being extra cautious to ensure all their test results remain negative. They’ll be tested again upon arrival and again every few days after that.
We still don’t have drop-off details other than a time to arrive and that only one parent may help move in. I’m hoping we don’t have a strict time limit as we will also have to collect boxes that we had shipped up…and I’m not going to lie, we did NOT manage to pack lightly. (Fortunately, we have family that live nearby so if there is a quick shutdown, they would be able to move out all of her stuff).
She will also have a 14 day quarantine on campus, along with all other kids who have to fly. Again, we don’t have a ton of details on that either, other than masks are required at all times except when in one’s dorm room (all singles), and meals will be delivered to the dorms and may be eaten in one’s room or outside spread out. There will be supervised outdoor time and once the students have 3 consecutive negative test results, the are allowed more freedom.