Kristin’s COVID update 3/16

Hi all,

I wanted to send another email to give updates on APS and VA school choices, Linder billing policies, and suggestions for families. If you would like to be removed from these emails, kindly let me know in a reply.

1. APS and VA schools:

• The governor has waived the instructional day requirements through March 27, which means these days will not be required to be made up this school year (but this means that currently Arlington will have days to make up).

• The CDC is now recommending schools close for 8 weeks, and some states are announcing an end to the school year entirely. I hope Arlington does not end the school year, as this will cause a tremendous loss of instruction needed for children to advance next year, and it will mean final transcript grades are calculated off of an effective 2.5 quarters, instead of four quarters and a final exam. While VA feels they cannot make online learning requirements due to an inability to guarantee wireless internet access, I would encourage all in our community to communicate to the schools about following a model like DC, where wireless cards and computers are being supplied to any children in need so that they can continue a virtual program.

• Please find attached a screenshot of an announcement posted to APS Canvas accounts. Upon my first virtual sessions this morning with high schoolers, there is a variety of courses of action each student should take immediately:

  • Some teachers have posted a daily calendar of assignments and instruction, as well as upcoming dates and time for live virtual classes. I see this mainly in sciences and math, where the coverage of new content is required to complete the school year. Other teachers have given a packet to be worked on for the duration of the closure. Review each course with your child, and if you cannot find information, email the teacher.

  • Make sure you (or we) have accessed the grading system for each class (Studentvue or Canvas) and contacted teachers about any missing work, as this week could be the last week to raise grades for the school year. At a minimum, it is the last week to raise grades for the quarter.

2. Linder billing policies

• We have been open for twelve years and have never been faced with the challenges currently presented. They are not unique to our small business, and we already see bankruptcies and permanent closures of restaurants and other service based businesses. We are trying to find the best path to balance fairness to the customers that prepaid for March with the ability for Linder to stay open in the weeks and months to come. There is so much we do not know yet about when and if school will return this year, which makes planning especially hard.

• For any clients that prepaid for sessions (Hub or private) for March, we will offer a credit for any sessions canceled due to COVID closures. These credits will expire April 30. We strongly encourage all clients to use at least one session immediately, so that we can make sure all is in order for your child for the quarter closing Friday. Virtual sessions have gone really well thus far, so let us help!

• We will not be doing any automatic billing in April (for subscriptions). Instead, we will bill April 1 for any newly confirmed sessions. Consequently, without further request, March will be your last statement.

3. Suggestions for families

• Keep a schedule. See these parenting tips from the Washington Post.

• Use this time for things that often get relegated to summer planning:

  • College application support

  • Test prep

  • Skill set building (writing workshops, reading interventions, math remediation, etc.)

• Prioritize academics by subject. If my child had teachers that were all going on break with no virtual instruction, I would prioritize my concern around the skills needed for my child to succeed next year. While missing certain classes might not cause issues next year (history, some sciences, PE, etc.), I would be concerned about the following classes:

  • Elementary:

    • Math: continued support needed to maintain gains

    • Reading: continued support needed to maintain gains

    • For children with disabilities: continued interventions targeting deficits

  • Middle School:

    • Math: continued support needed to maintain gains and coverage of material to prepare for next math level August 2020. This is especially true if in Algebra I or above.

    • Foreign language if for high school credit and planning to progress to the next level in August 2020.

    • For children with disabilities: continued interventions targeting deficits

  • High School

    • Math: coverage of material to complete current course in preparation for next math level August 2020. 

    • Foreign language if planning to progress to the next level in August 2020.

    • Science: if it is a science that builds into the following year (Physics this year and AP Physics next year, etc.) then this material must be covered to succeed next year.

    • AP classes: while the date the AP tests are given might be adjusted, students will take the AP tests at some point. It is challenging enough to cover all AP curriculum by the May test dates, but now will be nearly impossible to do so in the remaining school year. 

    • For children with disabilities: continued interventions targeting deficits

• Have topic led investigations. Instead of just printing worksheets, ask your child about an interest (a career they might like, a favorite topic) and have them collect information, make a presentation, and teach you about some new information.

• Encourage new hobbies. Perhaps your child wants to learn to cook, to knit, photography, graphic design, or painting. All such hobbies can be done while on quarantine and can offer a lot of reading and activities to master. Most small companies are still mailing purchases, so supplies could be delivered to your door.

• Encourage community engagement, even if it isn't direct social interaction. If your neighborhood has a listserv, join it and see if there are high risk neighbors that are uncomfortable doing needed things like grocery shopping or prescription pickups. Have your child help coordinate a delivery service, where perhaps he or she organizes orders for curbside pickup and delivers them to porches, etc. Quarantine can be especially isolating for those that live alone, so teaching children to check on neighbors (maybe they write letters, maybe they call) can teach life lessons about community.

• As a community, I would also suggest supporting small businesses when possible. For many, this might mean buying a gift card to use later, so that their cash flows can cover overhead despite the sudden loss of income.

I am working to redo the website, and to put together virtual workshops and discussions that might appeal to you all. Let me know if you have any ideas!

I hope you all stay healthy, and let me know if there is anything we can do to help your family. Working with your family is a privilege we do not take lightly, and I hope we can continue working with Arlington families for another twelve years.

Best,

Kristin