5AF Parenting Thread

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 10:49 am

The biggest issue on our side of the district is internet access.

The Middle School/High School teachers are most worried about how to grade, and the Elementary ones I talk to are most worried about the home life of the kids.

Our daily meal give out is going well.

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 10:54 am

Yeah, I think I mentioned in another thread that our district has about 40-60% of the homes with internet access. So while they were able to load iPads with materials for two weeks or so, the issue is getting new materials pushed out to kids without internet. Hence, the wifi buses and mobile hotspots.

And my wife is concerned with several students that have bad home lives prior to this - bouncing around foster and real parents etc. - that would only get worse under home quarantine. It's going to get ugly for a lot of kids everywhere, even if they stay healthy.

Postby **NTP66** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 10:56 am

I'm worried about what happens when self-isolation eventually ends, with kids all going back to school. I'm a mess now, and I think it would only get worse if I'm continually worrying about my daughter getting sick from this.

Postby **mac5155** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 10:58 am

The school district I am close to (but don't live in) stopped their free lunch program as of Friday... Huge outrage.. Then they released a statement that an employee tested positive. The statement said that employee hadn't been at a function since 3/13 but did work in the building they are serving the free lunches out of.

Scary stuff

Postby **NTP66** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 11:02 am

The first teacher (HS) in our school district tested positive this weekend

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 11:07 am

Yeah, I think I mentioned in another thread that our district has about 40-60% of the homes with internet access. So while they were able to load iPads with materials for two weeks or so, the issue is getting new materials pushed out to kids without internet. Hence, the wifi buses and mobile hotspots.

And my wife is concerned with several students that have bad home lives prior to this - bouncing around foster and real parents etc. - that would only get worse under home quarantine. It's going to get ugly for a lot of kids everywhere, even if they stay healthy.

Yeah, we are doing what we can (we can't actually coordinate with the school officially) to help out with kids the school knows are in serious need.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 11:38 am

My son was doing his kindergarten math online today, and he had to "write" the answer. Using a laptop mouse pad. I think he can type it in for now and work on handwriting in other ways.

Postby **mac5155** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 12:21 pm

That's ridiculous.. Lol

Postby **mac5155** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 9:33 am

So what are yinz guys daycares doing?

I paid for last week and this week but didn't go... Another payment will be debited on Thursday... And I'm presuming he won't go next week either... So I don't know when to call and ask whats the deal.

Postby **count2infinity** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 9:37 am

We got an e-mail this morning that they are open for any essential employees that have to work and can provide that documentation. To keep the daycare operational and the staff paid, they're charging everyone part time (unless your kid is going full time, then you'll be charged full time). I was planning on just paying the normal full time amount since I'm still getting paid and I don't want to see any staff laid off.

Postby **mac5155** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 9:40 am

Ours has been closed since last Tuesday, though they do have a waiver.

I don't mind paying a little bit but their costs are also at zero, not to mention everyone's probabky on unemployment, so it would be nice to have a little give and take.

I know, I'm a tightwad.

Postby **count2infinity** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 9:41 am

Based on your post history... yeah, that doesn't surprise me.

Postby **meow** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 9:43 am

Ours is still open, but we've pulled baby-meow.

I will continue to pay full-price without a second thought.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 9:46 am

When my wife goes back to work I'll probably still be WFH. Most likely I'll have to play Mr. Mom on those days and my job will have to be OK with it. Other coworkers are in a similar situation, and so far they've been able to do just that.

Postby **mac5155** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 9:53 am

Ours is still open, but we've pulled baby-meow.

I will continue to pay full-price without a second thought.

If they were open and I wasn't going, yes.

Postby **count2infinity** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 9:55 am

They have a waiver to be open but they are closed? Why did they waste the time to get the waiver?

Postby **NTP66** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 9:59 am

I'm wondering what we're going to do about summer camp right now. Assuming things get back to normal (the new normal), I think I'm going to just request an extra WFH day throughout summer if we aren't still full time WFH so that I can keep my daughter home.

Postby **Beveridge** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 10:05 am

I'm waiting to hear if our daycare will be open up next week or not. I like the idea of open to people who are still having to go to work. The plus side is they aren't charging us for the time they are closed.

Postby **Morkle** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 10:32 am

I'm hoping it stays closed - I just don't trust the situation, at all.

Postby **count2infinity** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 10:34 am

I've got a kiddo who has had pneumonia twice before the age of two. I'm not risking putting her in that kind of situation. I've got at least two more weeks after this from home if everything keeps up. We'll just keep her home and pay daycare to keep them running.

Postby **mac5155** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 10:48 am

Yeah, if I'm WFH, he's staying home.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 10:49 am

I'm wondering what we're going to do about summer camp right now. Assuming things get back to normal (the new normal), I think I'm going to just request an extra WFH day throughout summer if we aren't still full time WFH so that I can keep my daughter home.

Same. This is our first year of summer camp, and we did some thorough searching right before this COVID hit. We chose one knowing they would fill right away, but it wasn't our first choice. It was only a $25 down payment so not a big risk. Our first choice we were waiting to hear if they were going to offer before/after care before making the final decision.

There is a huge discount on the one we chose if we pay in full by April 1st. Haven't heard anything from them in the 2 weeks since we signed up. Don't know what to do now.

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 11:16 am

We have a ton of summer programs that I help organize, etc... everything from local on-site stuff to foreign missions.

We have told everyone that to act like they are going to happen, and be ready for everything to be canceled.

May 1st is the day given out for a final decision.

Postby **NTP66** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 12:03 pm

Source of the post There is a huge discount on the one we chose if we pay in full by April 1st. Haven't heard anything from them in the 2 weeks since we signed up. Don't know what to do now.

Same boat - 5% discount if paid by April 4th, bringing it down to something like $2100. They do field trips every other day, but with what's going on, I don't know that a) this will remain or b) I would even want my daughter to participate. May just keep her home all summer just to ease my own worries.

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 5:02 pm

How’s “homeschooling” (not you, Freddy lol) going?

Our district superintendent, when planning the eLearning lessons prior to closing, wanted rigorous content, using a rigid template and take up to four hours a day. My wife complied with this and made her lessons appropriately.

Not surprisingly, parents complained right up to the superintendent and school board about how tough and tedious they were, so the superintendent completely relented and wants to halve the time and not make it as grueling. Part of this detente is because all federal and state standardized tests were canceled here in SC.

Unfortunately, my wife the overachiever, was weeks ahead...and now has to cut a bunch of stuff out/down in all of her lessons. Needless to say, she’s pretty disgusted.