mapleme
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Post by mapleme on Jul 26, 2020 8:59:19 GMT -6
Let’s start a thread specifically for how we’re handing school craziness this year. What is your school system doing? What are you doing? How much booze will you be consuming to make this happen?
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mapleme
Amethyst
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Post by mapleme on Jul 26, 2020 9:07:30 GMT -6
I’m finally feeling hopeful. While our district actually seems to have the best plan around, it still looks like it will be a disaster. I reached out to a neighbor who’s daughter was M’s BFF in kindergarten and mentioned that I was thinking about a homeschooling pod. She’s all in about that and has offered up her house as a location (her house would be great for it). She also knows another neighbor who might be interested and they have a 3 yo and 6 yo. If C was in this program it would mean a 3 yo a 4 yo and 3 6 yo kids. That would be pretty fantastic really. I hope that this is something that we can pull off.
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Post by ovenrack on Jul 26, 2020 12:27:26 GMT -6
I’m finally feeling hopeful. While our district actually seems to have the best plan around, it still looks like it will be a disaster. I reached out to a neighbor who’s daughter was M’s BFF in kindergarten and mentioned that I was thinking about a homeschooling pod. She’s all in about that and has offered up her house as a location (her house would be great for it). She also knows another neighbor who might be interested and they have a 3 yo and 6 yo. If C was in this program it would mean a 3 yo a 4 yo and 3 6 yo kids. That would be pretty fantastic really. I hope that this is something that we can pull off. Homeschooling, or helping with the distance learning for 1st graders? Strict scheduled distance learning for my 6yo on a laptop... with my 2- and 4-yo's around... is what terrifies me.
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milano
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Post by milano on Jul 26, 2020 12:59:26 GMT -6
We have the option of full time in person, hybrid, or virtual. The hybrid you somehow choose your own schedule and do a couple days at school and a couple days at home? It was confusing to me.
We are going to do virtual. Or actual homeschooling if the district has unrealistic K expectations. I don't *think* they will based on what I have seen and heard so far but who knows. J is fine with being home, apparently his previous life of 3 half days of preschool and soccer was too heavy of a schedule for him and he appreciates having more time to "relax" 🙄😆. I anticipate about 2 hours of structured learning a day and some extra stuff like music, art, Spanish, etc, that I will direct.
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Post by charlotte on Jul 26, 2020 13:56:36 GMT -6
We don’t have a hybrid option for DS1. Our district is doing something like: K-4: in-person 5-8: hybrid 9-12: virtual
Obviously any parent also has the option to pull their kid out & homeschool if they have the means.
We are planning on sending DS1 to K. It’s ok if you are judging me because I am judging myself! I feel guilty entertaining either option. But MH’s work doesn’t allow the flexibility to assist with homeschooling at all; I would need to quit my job to juggle homeschooling + both kids. I finally got back to work a few months ago, and going yet another year on one income would be tough.
It all just sucks.
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rugger
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Post by rugger on Jul 26, 2020 13:58:44 GMT -6
After really digging in and looking at research case studies, our area's data, and our district's plan, we decided on going with the hybrid model. They will go in person T/Th/e-o-F, and have semi-interactive online work the rest of the week. They'll wear masks during the day and stay with their class pod throughout the day. We've opted not to sign up for the bus. We have the flexibility to do drop off and pick ups, and would rather give up their spots on the bus for those that really need that transportation.
A neighbor friend mentioned talking about sharing the days when they are at home... But honestly, I'm overwhelmed with keeping my own kids on track, let alone 2 others. And S works remotely every day, and our house isn't huge (and open concept), so he needs it to not be loud. So now I have to figure out how to politely decline that idea.
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mapleme
Amethyst
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Post by mapleme on Jul 26, 2020 14:02:49 GMT -6
I’m finally feeling hopeful. While our district actually seems to have the best plan around, it still looks like it will be a disaster. I reached out to a neighbor who’s daughter was M’s BFF in kindergarten and mentioned that I was thinking about a homeschooling pod. She’s all in about that and has offered up her house as a location (her house would be great for it). She also knows another neighbor who might be interested and they have a 3 yo and 6 yo. If C was in this program it would mean a 3 yo a 4 yo and 3 6 yo kids. That would be pretty fantastic really. I hope that this is something that we can pull off. Homeschooling, or helping with the distance learning for 1st graders? Strict scheduled distance learning for my 6yo on a laptop... with my 2- and 4-yo's around... is what terrifies me. We still have to figure that out. I like the idea of the pre-provided curriculum and not having to file all the homeschooling paperwork. But yeah, distance learning while little ones play seems less than ideal. At least with more traditional homeschooling there could be more overlap with both groups. I like that there is another little one, so that everyone has a teammate doing something similar. We'd have to have to have some sort of schedule for both age groups.
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mapleme
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Post by mapleme on Jul 26, 2020 14:08:36 GMT -6
We don’t have a hybrid option for DS1. Our district is doing something like: K-4: in-person 5-8: hybrid 9-12: virtual Obviously any parent also has the option to pull their kid out & homeschool if they have the means. We are planning on sending DS1 to K. It’s ok if you are judging me because I am judging myself! I feel guilty entertaining either option. But MH’s work doesn’t allow the flexibility to assist with homeschooling at all; I would need to quit my job to juggle homeschooling + both kids. I finally got back to work a few months ago, and going yet another year on one income would be tough. It all just sucks. No one should be judging any of the choices. Every single choice is some kind of shit sandwich and we're all making choices based on our kids and our family needs. I would still totally send M if I felt like it would be anything like a normal school year (normal meaning a normal schedule - I know nothing is going to be normal inside the school walls). I can't handle the inevitable disruptions that will happen during the year. I'd rather plan ahead to mitigate what, for my family, would be stressful disruptions.
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mapleme
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Post by mapleme on Jul 26, 2020 14:52:17 GMT -6
I just came across this resource for choosing a homeschooling curriculum. I'm liking a lot of these options. The ones that I've looked at so far have a child involvement of about 2 hours and parental involvement of 1-1.5 hours per day. That seems manageable with little siblings around. Last year C could more or less self entertain for about 1 hour of M's classwork before she started making havoc for attention. www.steamsational.com/secular-homeschool-curriculum/
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mapleme
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Post by mapleme on Jul 26, 2020 15:03:51 GMT -6
Well crap. I was asking M to find out if she knew the neighbor kid who might be in our pod that I don't know. He was on the same bus as her, so I thought that they might know each other. She wasn't sure and then she was all, "Oh yeah, I think that he was the one who said, "You can do it you stupid baby" at summer camp." Oh goody.
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sarenu
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Post by sarenu on Jul 26, 2020 15:52:17 GMT -6
We will be opting for in school 5 days a week. We both have full time jobs that are demanding. Plus my husband is at work on and off as needed. My schedule requires longer hours depending on the work load.
As much as I want to keep the older 2 home, we cant divide our time. And C needs a lot of hand holding.
We will social distance, avoid the bus, and probably not have any avtivities.
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mc13
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Post by mc13 on Jul 26, 2020 18:27:30 GMT -6
Our districts tentative plan is hybrid with masks - classes split in two groups. 1 going M/TH and the other T/F, Wednesday’s everyone is home with teachers offering virtual office hours.
We do have to option to do all online learning and R would probably be perfectly happy to do that, but I’m comfortable with the hybrid plan and I think her going to actual school, even for only 2 days each week, will be good to help her build confidence in herself. I’ll drive her and pick up to avoid the bus and I think we’ll only do horse back riding for activities this Fall.
Preschool is 3 days for 2.5 hours. Classes are limited to 10 kids. E and A will be going and in the same class.
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Post by ovenrack on Jul 26, 2020 19:23:51 GMT -6
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stringy
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Post by stringy on Jul 26, 2020 19:32:17 GMT -6
I’m surprised to hear anyone is offering 5 days in person. Without lower numbers?
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rugger
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Post by rugger on Jul 26, 2020 19:37:54 GMT -6
I’m surprised to hear anyone is offering 5 days in person. Without lower numbers? There are a few areas here that are doing that for Elementary school. I'm glad our district did a split group hybrid
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mapleme
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Post by mapleme on Jul 26, 2020 20:15:51 GMT -6
I'm a big fan of public schools and the equality that public schools bring. I believe in bringing systemic power to a place that that power can be shared. I am against using public funds to fund private schools (which was a big thing during my childhood). But I also don't believe that that is what is going on with pods. Yes, children of privilege have access to educational opportunities that children without that privilege do not have. That is a tale as old as time that isn't going to be solved by the beginning of the 20-21 school year. This pandemic has laid bare millions of shortcomings in our country. But the pandemic is also unique that the *fewer* children who show up on day one, the safer and better the children who are there are. For the same reason that "leaving space on the bus for those who need it" is important, so is leaving space in the classroom. The only way that poorer students are disadvantaged by classmates going off to a pod is if their state *chooses* to defund the school for fewer students. The same number of tax dollars are available to the public schools regardless if parents are homeschooling, private schooling or public schooling. No one is pulling that money into another system (the problem with voucher systems and charter schools). Parents pulling their kids for a year would make *more* room for those kids who don't have other options. And more room is literally what we need in this pandemic.
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Post by ovenrack on Jul 26, 2020 20:59:46 GMT -6
I'm a big fan of public schools and the equality that public schools bring. I believe in bringing systemic power to a place that that power can be shared. I am against using public funds to fund private schools (which was a big thing during my childhood). But I also don't believe that that is what is going on with pods. Yes, children of privilege have access to educational opportunities that children without that privilege do not have. That is a tale as old as time that isn't going to be solved by the beginning of the 20-21 school year. This pandemic has laid bare millions of shortcomings in our country. But the pandemic is also unique that the *fewer* children who show up on day one, the safer and better the children who are there are. For the same reason that "leaving space on the bus for those who need it" is important, so is leaving space in the classroom. The only way that poorer students are disadvantaged by classmates going off to a pod is if their state *chooses* to defund the school for fewer students. The same number of tax dollars are available to the public schools regardless if parents are homeschooling, private schooling or public schooling. No one is pulling that money into another system (the problem with voucher systems and charter schools). Parents pulling their kids for a year would make *more* room for those kids who don't have other options. And more room is literally what we need in this pandemic. I get what you're saying. But I'm still not okay with it. Especially because true homeschooling DOES effect the per-student funding and staff resources based on numbers of students, at least in my state. We need more room. But it isn't fair that some kids opting out of that risk will result in EVEN LARGER gaps between students. Yes, it's always been a problem. This will make it bigger. I don't have a better solution, but THIS isn't my solution.
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milano
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Post by milano on Jul 26, 2020 21:15:49 GMT -6
I'm not judging anyone who sends their kids in person. I actually feel guilty not sending my kids- for reasons I can't quite explain.
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Post by ovenrack on Jul 26, 2020 21:29:24 GMT -6
To be clear, I'm not judging anyone, either. I'm just trying to look at this carefully, not just from a "what's best for my kids" standpoint. I have no idea what H will do in the fall. I'm still trying to figure it out.
It all sucks.
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rugger
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Post by rugger on Jul 26, 2020 21:43:20 GMT -6
I'm not judging anyone who sends their kids in person. I actually feel guilty not sending my kids- for reasons I can't quite explain. And I feel guilty for not choosing 100% virtual, for the same inexplicable reasons. #momguilt
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sarenu
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Post by sarenu on Jul 26, 2020 21:56:40 GMT -6
Just a reminder that switching over to online learning is not easy or cheap. Our board laid out the additional costs for the first half of the year. It's not pretty. We are a middle to low income area. Funding is going to get tight quick if nothing is done this year.
So yes, people that can opt for online should. It allows for space in the classrooms. But it doesnt fix our school funding problems. It may make it harder.
I cant imaging what this is like in the low income districts of Chicago or other hard hit areas.
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sarenu
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Post by sarenu on Jul 26, 2020 21:58:03 GMT -6
I'm not judging anyone who sends their kids in person. I actually feel guilty not sending my kids- for reasons I can't quite explain. And I feel guilty for not choosing 100% virtual, for the same inexplicable reasons. #momguilt No choice is right, they all have downfalls.
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mapleme
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Post by mapleme on Jul 27, 2020 3:51:18 GMT -6
I'm a big fan of public schools and the equality that public schools bring. I believe in bringing systemic power to a place that that power can be shared. I am against using public funds to fund private schools (which was a big thing during my childhood). But I also don't believe that that is what is going on with pods. Yes, children of privilege have access to educational opportunities that children without that privilege do not have. That is a tale as old as time that isn't going to be solved by the beginning of the 20-21 school year. This pandemic has laid bare millions of shortcomings in our country. But the pandemic is also unique that the *fewer* children who show up on day one, the safer and better the children who are there are. For the same reason that "leaving space on the bus for those who need it" is important, so is leaving space in the classroom. The only way that poorer students are disadvantaged by classmates going off to a pod is if their state *chooses* to defund the school for fewer students. The same number of tax dollars are available to the public schools regardless if parents are homeschooling, private schooling or public schooling. No one is pulling that money into another system (the problem with voucher systems and charter schools). Parents pulling their kids for a year would make *more* room for those kids who don't have other options. And more room is literally what we need in this pandemic. I get what you're saying. But I'm still not okay with it. Especially because true homeschooling DOES effect the per-student funding and staff resources based on numbers of students, at least in my state. We need more room. But it isn't fair that some kids opting out of that risk will result in EVEN LARGER gaps between students. Yes, it's always been a problem. This will make it bigger. I don't have a better solution, but THIS isn't my solution. And if states continue to tie the funding to the number of students enrolled in this insane year, that is states balancing budgets on the backs of children and that is on them. Schools need more money this year, not less. This doesn’t need to be your solution, everyone’s solution will have to be different. I literally would have to quit my job (sell my company?) to participate in our school’s virtual option without a hired tutor. So that is not an option for my family. And a school day that ends at 1 is barely better. What other options besides a hired tutor/nanny do I have as a working parent? Why is quitting my job a less privileged option than hiring someone? If you want to lay the blame somewhere put it on the people who so completely lacked empathy that they literally had to personally feel the pain of this virus themselves before they would alter their behavior one iota. That is why we are all making these shitty decisions.
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jnu76
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Post by jnu76 on Jul 27, 2020 4:29:00 GMT -6
If you’re doing a virtual option, just be aware that some schools, especially ones with a faculty too small to assign specific teachers to provide entirely virtual instruction while students are also in person full time, are using outside vendors for their “virtual academies.” I’m sending my own kids in for a hybrid model. I don’t have a plan for child care yet on their remote days. (We don’t have enough space to offer fully open with distancing.) Last spring the best we could do was crisis learning, because of the lack of warning, training, none of us ever imagined having to teach remotely, etc. This summer every teacher I know has been busting their ass to prepare for whatever next year throws at us. Coursework, trainings, reimagining how to do things in a socially distanced classroom and remotely, rethinking safety, planning for changing situations. I trust that my colleagues know more about their specialties than I do, as I know more about mine. I’ve been planning how to teach band and chorus safely- it’s going to look different, but I’m actually excited about some of the things we’ll be able to do since we won’t have performance pressure. My students will actually be stronger musicians when we’re finally able to play in big groups again. I don’t know what kindergarten or PE or 3rd grade will look like, but I trust that my colleagues are professionals who are figuring out creative ways to make it work safely in ways that are enjoyable for the kids.
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stringy
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Post by stringy on Jul 27, 2020 4:54:19 GMT -6
We're doing hybrid - which means somehow 3 days a week we need to manage virtual school and work from home. We aren't hiring help because it makes no sense...we have a small house and it would just add one more person to the crowdedness. Pods are all the rage in my town, except no one knows who is in what classroom and then cohort so you can't do much. And it is glaringly obvious, even in my relatively well-off town...which kids are going to receive a full curriculum this year and which won't. If you just do what the school offers, virtual or hybrid - you get 13 hours of instruction/week. So no way they are finishing all of the topics for the year (fine by me). The people with one parent who doesn't work, AND additional money to hire a tutor/teacher are going to be running neighborhood schools out of their streets. Even those with one parent who doesn't work and is invested - that kid's experience is gonna look a lot different than mine. I'm hoping I can stagger my work, thankfully it is flexible, and work some weekends so I can spend some week days managing virtual school. Though my school(work) is right now requiring all employees back full time in August, no exceptions without FMLA or ADA. I predict that its going to essentially be one big super spreading location at work - so I refuse to go. I can also do my job remotely without issue, but they don't care. So, maybe I'll get laid off. But no one else there can do MY work, so maybe I'll just start taking my contracts as an independent person.
No stress. Bah.
You know what I hate? Capitalism. All these college students at huge risk bc the college needs their tuition money.
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jnu76
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Post by jnu76 on Jul 27, 2020 5:38:19 GMT -6
We're doing hybrid - which means somehow 3 days a week we need to manage virtual school and work from home. We aren't hiring help because it makes no sense...we have a small house and it would just add one more person to the crowdedness. Pods are all the rage in my town, except no one knows who is in what classroom and then cohort so you can't do much. And it is glaringly obvious, even in my relatively well-off town...which kids are going to receive a full curriculum this year and which won't. If you just do what the school offers, virtual or hybrid - you get 13 hours of instruction/week. So no way they are finishing all of the topics for the year (fine by me). The people with one parent who doesn't work, AND additional money to hire a tutor/teacher are going to be running neighborhood schools out of their streets. Even those with one parent who doesn't work and is invested - that kid's experience is gonna look a lot different than mine. I'm hoping I can stagger my work, thankfully it is flexible, and work some weekends so I can spend some week days managing virtual school. Though my school(work) is right now requiring all employees back full time in August, no exceptions without FMLA or ADA. I predict that its going to essentially be one big super spreading location at work - so I refuse to go. I can also do my job remotely without issue, but they don't care. So, maybe I'll get laid off. But no one else there can do MY work, so maybe I'll just start taking my contracts as an independent person. No stress. Bah. You know what I hate? Capitalism. All these college students at huge risk bc the college needs their tuition money. And politicizing science and safety. A neighbor asked me the other day if the real reason teachers didn’t want to go back is politics. Um, no. Student safety is a bigger motivation for teachers than hurting the president’s feelings.
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Post by charlotte on Jul 27, 2020 6:27:14 GMT -6
It would be insanity for the 21-22 school year’s funding to be based off of this year’s enrollments. I hope that doesn’t happen.
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mapleme
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Post by mapleme on Jul 27, 2020 7:45:27 GMT -6
It would be insanity for the 21-22 school year’s funding to be based off of this year’s enrollments. I hope that doesn’t happen. Right? My business advisor is tied in with all the COVID related things at the state level and he said that Vermont's working plan to consider all new homeschool enrollees to be enrolled in the local district for funding purposes. Besides the schools not being able to throw their budgets into the wind on a dime, and needing extra funding to make this year happen at all, he also said that they're also assuming that this year's homeschoolers are going to need extra support compared to regular years and the state homeschool department isn't equipped to help all of the new homeschoolers. But, I wouldn't be surprised if some states are going to slash school budgets. Nothing surprises me anymore.
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stringy
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Post by stringy on Jul 27, 2020 8:08:03 GMT -6
It would be insanity for the 21-22 school year’s funding to be based off of this year’s enrollments. I hope that doesn’t happen. Right? My business advisor is tied in with all the COVID related things at the state level and he said that Vermont's working plan to consider all new homeschool enrollees to be enrolled in the local district for funding purposes. Besides the schools not being able to throw their budgets into the wind on a dime, and needing extra funding to make this year happen at all, he also said that they're also assuming that this year's homeschoolers are going to need extra support compared to regular years and the state homeschool department isn't equipped to help all of the new homeschoolers. But, I wouldn't be surprised if some states are going to slash school budgets. Nothing surprises me anymore. And then for K...I know most anyone around here with a summer bday incoming K, they are holding them back for next year. So I anticipate that class being overly large. And that is people who weren't considering it prior to this.
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snowmoon
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Post by snowmoon on Jul 27, 2020 8:13:42 GMT -6
B will not be going back this year. We will either do virtual if it offered or withdraw him completely and do our own homeschool curriculum.
Our school board has not announced anything yet but the province is not doing anything to increase funding to allow for any of the recommendations that would make in person school remotely safe.
There are other things that happened last year that make me confident that he’s just not ready to be in such a huge social setting.
ETA: I am stressed the f out about childcare and schedules and the possibility of taking a pay cut but it is very figureoutable for our family right now.
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