When do you think the border will reopen?

[wdwmom3]

Ugh. That’s what I was afraid of. How can they possibly stick a bunch of teenagers indoors and try to convince us that masks aren‘t necessary ? They don’t want to police it, and they don’t want to provide the masks. That’s all it is.

I think that would be up to the school boards? I haven’t heard what they are doing in high schools in my area yet. But considering they have already said masks are needed on school busses I think they may make them mandatory for the teens to wear in the hallways etc.

I’ve only heard they are thinking of no mask for elementary school kids when in their classroom. Hopefully next week we will get more info.

 

[quandrea]

One thing I don’t understand about high school is that an Ontario e-learning consortium exists (dd takes courses with them) and the Independent Learning Centre exists. These groups have the full complement of high school courses written and ready to deploy. Why are these not being used by every board in Ontario? Seems like it would save money and work very well for virtual learning. The courses through the consortium are excellent. Can’t speak to the ILC. Why does each board have to reinvent the wheel.

My daughter will be home for her last year of high school. My younger two homeschool.

 

[wdwmom3]

One thing I don’t understand about high school is that an Ontario e-learning consortium exists (dd takes courses with them) and the Independent Learning Centre exists. These groups have the full complement of high school courses written and ready to deploy. Why are these not being used by every board in Ontario? Seems like it would save money and work very well for virtual learning. The courses through the consortium are excellent. Can’t speak to the ILC. Why does each board have to reinvent the wheel.

My daughter will be home for her last year of high school. My younger two homeschool.

They weren’t used in March to replace in class. But that’s because classes were already in progress. But I do know people who have kids doing courses this summer using those courses. For high schools I think they should teach the courses in a way in September so that if they have to switch online they can do it easily by using those courses.

And for me to be honest I’m hoping for elementary they go to a modified approach for elementary. My son needs to be back around his friends, but it also reduces the risk a bit. I know it’s not ideal for many but it’s a good compromise

 

[bababear_50]

As an employee I am anxiously awaiting the government's direction and safe plans on reopening schools.
BUT
I am questioning my own actions for even thinking about returning to school in Sept.

"Health Minister Patty Hajdu urged Canadians to choose less and safer contact with others, and to avoid smaller spaces."

"Ask yourself before you go out this weekend, is what I'm about to do worth the risk? Is the worth the risk that I might end up very sick or someone within my circle will?"

My scenario
16 -17 kids in a very small classroom (from the photos I've seen the desks are 2 feet apart,,not enough space to do 2 metres ). Floor carpet removed,,,window air conditioner for medically fragile child. (no special hepa filtre on air conditioning). One girl/one boy washroom for 4-5 classrooms.(80-100 kids).
No masks for kids indicated so far.
Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

So yeah government please wheel out those plans because we are a tad anxious/nervous here.


Hugs
Mel

 

[wdwmom3]

As an employee I am anxiously awaiting the government's direction and safe plans on reopening schools.
BUT
I am questioning my own actions for even thinking about returning to school in Sept.

"Health Minister Patty Hajdu urged Canadians to choose less and safer contact with others, and to avoid smaller spaces."

"Ask yourself before you go out this weekend, is what I'm about to do worth the risk? Is the worth the risk that I might end up very sick or someone within my circle will?"

My scenario
16 -17 kids in a very small classroom (from the photos I've seen the desks are 2 feet apart,,not enough space to do 2 metres ). Floor carpet removed,,,window air conditioner for medically fragile child. (no special hepa filtre on air conditioning). One girl/one boy washroom for 4-5 classrooms.(80-100 kids).
No masks for kids indicated so far.
Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

So yeah government please wheel out those plans because we are a tad anxious/nervous here.


Hugs
Mel

See this is why I hope for a modified approach. I feel a lot of kids needs to go back at least part time. For their mental health and development. I’ve noticed a change in my son, he’s gotten a bit better since his sports teams have started practice. But he’s begging to go back to school, which he never has before.

A modified approach would allow for more spacing. They normally have 20-25 kids in the class, so that would mean 10-13 kids at a time in the same size classrooms. And if they are only spending time with those kids and only have one teacher it cuts down the risk a lot. I do think teachers should be given PPE to wear though. And couldn’t they put those air purifiers in each room?

 

[CanadaDisney05]

See this is why I hope for a modified approach. I feel a lot of kids needs to go back at least part time. For their mental health and development. I’ve noticed a change in my son, he’s gotten a bit better since his sports teams have started practice. But he’s begging to go back to school, which he never has before.

A modified approach would allow for more spacing. They normally have 20-25 kids in the class, so that would mean 10-13 kids at a time in the same size classrooms. And if they are only spending time with those kids and only have one teacher it cuts down the risk a lot. I do think teachers should be given PPE to wear though. And couldn’t they put those air purifiers in each room?

How do parents go to work if kids are only in school 2 days a week?

 

[Jrb1979]

How do parents go to work if kids are only in school 2 days a week?

Parents will have to work opposite shifts if possible. That's what my wife and I do. She works mornings and I work afternoons. We have been doing for a few years and it works fine for us.

 

[wdwmom3]

How do parents go to work if kids are only in school 2 days a week?

I said it’s not ideal for everyone. I get that. I’m talking strictly from a health and well being of children. It’s a middle ground. Much better then no school.

 

[Kaadk]

How do parents go to work if kids are only in school 2 days a week?

Same way they have been all along during summer vacations, march breaks, and basically the past several months. Personally, my job has me working out of the house, unless I need to go onsite to a client site, which has been less and less over the years even before the pandemic put a stop to all travel. But I'm a fringe case.

Based on what I see other families use, you're looking at:

1) Split shift when possible (for those that work shift work)
2) Babysitters
3) Daycare (if available with all the other closures out there, and yeah, these aren't going to be any better, possibly even worse, for preventing exposure than the schools will be).
4) Letting kids watch themselves (if old enough)

Or they might be using a hybrid of the various above options. Like, one family I know works split shifts, but their shifts aren't aligned. Their kids are old enough (11-12) to be by themselves for the slightly less than an hour that the two parent's shifts overlap, but not old enough to be by themselves for a full workday. I've also seen parents drop kids off at grandparents (babysitter model) for a few hours each day. A single mother I know has her neighbour watch her daughter on days she's working and not in school. Etc...

Schools only run like 2/3rds of the year, the other 1/3 of the time, parents are already accommodating.

 

[CanadaDisney05]

Parents will have to work opposite shifts if possible. That's what my wife and I do. She works mornings and I work afternoons. We have been doing for a few years and it works fine for us.

That's nice that your employer's offer that kind of flexibility.

I said it’s not ideal for everyone. I get that. I’m talking strictly from a health and well being of children. It’s a middle ground. Much better then no school.

While I generally agree with the sentiment, I don't think this is something that doesn't just work for some. I think it doesn't work for most. I don't have any statistics, but my assumption is that most families with school aged children are dual income households. The vast majority of the work force works during "business hours" and doesn't have the flexibility of shifts.

I don't know what the solution is. It's a really hard one. But the 2 days in, 3 days at home won't work for most families as any sort of semi-long term solution.

 

[wdwmom3]

Same way they have been all along during summer vacations, march breaks, and basically the past several months. Personally, my job has me working out of the house, unless I need to go onsite to a client site, which has been less and less over the years even before the pandemic put a stop to all travel. But I'm a fringe case.

Based on what I see other families use, you're looking at:

1) Split shift when possible (for those that work shift work)
2) Babysitters
3) Daycare (if available with all the other closures out there, and yeah, these aren't going to be any better, possibly even worse, for preventing exposure than the schools will be).
4) Letting kids watch themselves (if old enough)

Or they might be using a hybrid of the various above options. Like, one family I know works split shifts, but their shifts aren't aligned. Their kids are old enough (11-12) to be by themselves for the slightly less than an hour that the two parent's shifts overlap, but not old enough to be by themselves for a full workday. I've also seen parents drop kids off at grandparents (babysitter model) for a few hours each day. A single mother I know has her neighbour watch her daughter on days she's working and not in school. Etc...

Schools only run like 2/3rds of the year, the other 1/3 of the time, parents are already accommodating.

Agree! Like I said a reduced school schedule isn’t ideal. But as parents we can figure it out. We always have. And we need to remember that teaches aren’t babysitters. They are there to teach our kids not take care of them while we work.

I know our school board has said they have been discussing their model with the extended daycare providers (in school before and after and pd day care) and they are working out a model that works for them as well. So parents will have options.

 

[wdwmom3]

That's nice that your employer's offer that kind of flexibility.



While I generally agree with the sentiment, I don't think this is something that doesn't just work for some. I think it doesn't work for most. I don't have any statistics, but my assumption is that most families with school aged children are dual income households. The vast majority of the work force works during "business hours" and doesn't have the flexibility of shifts.

I don't know what the solution is. It's a really hard one. But the 2 days in, 3 days at home won't work for most families as any sort of semi-long term solution.

And right now a lot people are working from home and probably will continue to do so.

Oh and our school isn’t just proposing 2 days. One week 2 days, next week 3. So out of a 2 week period it’s only 5 weekdays kids aren’t in school. So in a 2 parent family it would mean that each parent would only need to take 1 - 2 days off. And like I said they are working on care options for parents who need it.

 

[CanadaDisney05]

Same way they have been all along during summer vacations, march breaks, and basically the past several months. Personally, my job has me working out of the house, unless I need to go onsite to a client site, which has been less and less over the years even before the pandemic put a stop to all travel. But I'm a fringe case.

Based on what I see other families use, you're looking at:

1) Split shift when possible (for those that work shift work)
2) Babysitters
3) Daycare (if available with all the other closures out there, and yeah, these aren't going to be any better, possibly even worse, for preventing exposure than the schools will be).
4) Letting kids watch themselves (if old enough)

Or they might be using a hybrid of the various above options. Like, one family I know works split shifts, but their shifts aren't aligned. Their kids are old enough (11-12) to be by themselves for the slightly less than an hour that the two parent's shifts overlap, but not old enough to be by themselves for a full workday. I've also seen parents drop kids off at grandparents (babysitter model) for a few hours each day. A single mother I know has her neighbour watch her daughter on days she's working and not in school. Etc...

Schools only run like 2/3rds of the year, the other 1/3 of the time, parents are already accommodating.

Generally, society has accommodated those breaks by having things like daycare, camps, etc.... Like you mentioned, those accommodations don't work for this situation. It was one thing when this thing just popped up in March and there was no time to plan. Most people were working from home and while it was less than ideal, people made it work as we were in midst of an emergency. By the time September comes around, it will have been nearly 6 months since the original lock downs occurred. I don't think if this is going to go on for a year or so that we are going to just be able to tell anyone with kids under the age of 13 that one of the parents has to exit the workforce.

 

[CanadaDisney05]

And right now a lot people are working from home and probably will continue to do so.

a lot are working from home. But a much larger percentage of the workforce is no longer working at home.

 

[wdwmom3]

a lot are working from home. But a much larger percentage of the workforce is no longer working at home.

What do parents do on March break, Christmas break, pd days, the summer, when their kids are sick ? They figure stuff out. Parents will figure this out too. It may mean their kids are in a program on the other days. But it’s important to keep everyone including our teachers safe.

 

[bababear_50]

True we are not babysitters and it is ultimately up to parents how to schedule and work out their own best plans.

It concerns me that sometimes parents have a lack of current knowledge regarding schools:

Did you ever wonder how many kids are housed in Portables with no air conditioning/washrooms/sinks ?

Did you know there are many, many schools with no air conditioning in them?

Did you know we do not have sick rooms/ health rooms in schools?

Did you know we do not have Nurses in our schools.?

Did you Know staff can NOT give your child OTC medications
And putting advil/tylenol,,gummy vitamins in their lunch bag is dangerous.
(kids do like to share).

Did you know that if you have a prescription medication for your child that a doctor's form with dosage / times and their signature needs to be submitted to the school.

Did you know that as a parent you are responsible for picking your child up or having an emergency child care provider authorized to do so immediately.?

Did you know that even though we now have 3/4 year olds attending schools the number of toilets and sinks never increased to a standard ratio that the government guidelines require in licensed Daycares?

Do you know how much time a custodian is given to clean your child's class each day or maybe every other day or two?

Did you know as staff we have never been allowed anything stronger than water and vinegar to wipe an area down? (Per health and safety regulations).

Did you know that many parents forget to notify the school when they change jobs or get a new telephone number. It's the parents responsibility to update the school.
"Oh I haven't had that number in 2 years"



I do think more parents should be asking these and more questions.

So much to take into consideration here.

Hugs
Mel

 

[wdwmom3]

True we are not babysitters and it is ultimately up to parents how to schedule and work out their own best plans.

It concerns me that sometimes parents have a lack of current knowledge regarding schools:

Did you ever wonder how many kids are housed in Portables with no air conditioning/washrooms/sinks ?

Did you know there are many, many schools with no air conditioning in them?

Did you know we do not have sick rooms/ health rooms in schools?

Did you know we do not have Nurses in our schools.?

Did you know that as a parent you are responsible for picking your child up or having an emergency child care provider authorized to do so immediately.?

Did you know that even though we now have 3/4 year olds attending schools the number of toilets and sinks never increased to a standard ratio that the government guidelines require in licensed Daycares?

So much to take into consideration here.

Hugs
Mel

I only know about my kids schools. Some have AC here, some don’t. And some only have AC in some areas. There has been a push here (before covid) to get AC in all schools. Some schools here have portables, but they are usually for older kids (none at my sons school). His school does have a room off the office where they can go if they don’t feel well. And I hope parents would know they need to come pick up their kids in case of an emergency or if they are sick. And I don’t know about the washroom ratios. But I do know in the schools my kids went to the classrooms with 3 & 4 year olds had their own washrooms and sinks right in the classroom.

Teachers do have a hard job especially now. That’s why I think reducing the number of the kids to half at a time would make some of those things easier. I think as parents we should be trying to help teachers out this way.

 

[bababear_50]

I only know about my kids schools. Some have AC here, some don’t. And some only have AC in some areas. There has been a push here (before covid) to get AC in all schools. Some schools here have portables, but they are usually for older kids (none at my sons school). His school does have a room off the office where they can go if they don’t feel well. And I hope parents would know they need to come pick up their kids in case of an emergency or if they are sick. And I don’t know about the washroom ratios. But I do know in the schools my kids went to the classrooms with 3 & 4 year olds had their own washrooms and sinks right in the classroom.

Teachers do have a hard job especially now. That’s why I think reducing the number of the kids to half at a time would make some of those things easier. I think as parents we should be trying to help teachers out this way.

Hi
Yes most schools have those little extra rooms off the office,,,they are now being used as photocopying /paper/storage areas.
Health & Safety requires that an adult monitor a child (falls concussion ,fever/vomiting etc) so now kids just sit on a chair in the office area where the Office managers work.

All kids now carry on themselves their Epipens. (Per health & Safety). We do all know how to administers them per training. Some students carry their own inhalers and some are stored in their classroom.,again we have all received training on how to administer these.
Named “Sabrina's Law,” it was signed into effect on January 1, 2006. Sabrina's Law requires that every school board in Ontario establish and maintain an anaphylaxis policy to help students with serious allergies. It also requires that schools create individual plans for each student at risk of anaphylaxis.
Ryan's Law is an Ontario, Canada law that forces schools to allow children to have their inhalers with them. It is named after Ryan Gibbons of Straffordville, Ontario who died on 9 October 2012 aged 12, because his school would not let him carry his inhaler with him.



Covid 19 present a problem in that the child who is sick must be isolated until the parent/guardian picks them up. This can not be done in the office area now,,and who will supervise them until a parent arrives is still unknown. Will the custodian have the time and resources to clean the area?

I am going to be honest with you,,,NO not all parents come and pick their child up when they are sick,,yes I try to empathize with parents today but I think during this Pandemic parents will not be given 2-4 hours to come and get their child.

Hugs
Mel

 

[hdrolfe]

I'm a single parent, I am lucky that I can work from home currently, and my employer should be flexible to allow this going forward. In the past my son was in before/after care for school because I couldn't do drop off and pick up at school and work a full day. However that shut down at March break. I would also put him in camps during the summer, which isn't happening this year either and won't be during the school year. I do not see how a part time in school schedule will work for the daycares, his was in the school and shared space with the library and a couple classrooms. I am assuming they will need that space for classrooms to accommodate smaller class sizes.

My son, who hates school, was asking when he can go back. He wants to see friends and be able to play. He will not do online learning, if he doesn't go to school, he won't do any of the work. He has ADHD, ODD, Anxiety... he needs to be active and he needs to be structured. I have read the school boards plans and they seem comprehensive to me, if teachers go back then I hope they have 5 days a week, or at least the 2/3 split. The plans they have for doing some in class and some online do seem good, it's just a question of getting my son to actually do it. Perhaps having to keep up with the rest of his cohort the days he is in class will encourage that. I realize my son is not average, but every parent friend I have and have spoken to had problems getting at least one of their children to do the work. Some families has to have one parent stop working, or do part time in off hours, which is not always possible for all families. I wish I could homeschool, I would love to do it, but there is no way my son will go for it. I also looked at some of the private schools but they are way too expensive for us.

I understood Ford was suggesting that perhaps outdoor classes would be an idea for September, Canadian weather is unpredictable though so that may not happen very many days a week. It is an interesting idea, I think if the climate allowed it would be a great idea.

 

[pigletto]

Generally, society has accommodated those breaks by having things like daycare, camps, etc.... Like you mentioned, those accommodations don't work for this situation. It was one thing when this thing just popped up in March and there was no time to plan. Most people were working from home and while it was less than ideal, people made it work as we were in midst of an emergency. By the time September comes around, it will have been nearly 6 months since the original lock downs occurred. I don't think if this is going to go on for a year or so that we are going to just be able to tell anyone with kids under the age of 13 that one of the parents has to exit the workforce.

Which is a great argument to petition our government with ... we need a different solution . However, it is not an argument just to throw everyone back in school full time and hope it works out.