Re-Open Arlington Catholic Schools This Fall

Open the schools or we will have to find an alternative.

Open school100%

Dear Bishop Burbidge, My husband and I would like to see the children back in school, full-time, in the fall. We appreciate everything the office of Catholic schools is doing to ensure that this is a possibility. In Christ, Kelly Rush

Parents should have the option for in classroom instruction. Our kids are being negatively impacted by the lack of spiritual, academic and social interaction provided in a Catholic school. While this was ok for a few months, it can not go on for a year (are you really going to open schools in flu season if you don't open them in Sept??). Of course, the school system will have to develop protocols for shutting down classes or an entire school if a student or teacher were to test positive. But, this is more desirable than just closing all classroom instruction. Perhaps you'll need parent volunteers to take temperatures for a period of time or parents will have to commit to policing this at home. There is a reasonable way to do this that lessons the risk, but allows for classroom instruction. And, please don't follow Arlington County. Transportation issues will be a large driver of their decision on whether or not to reopen. This does not impact Catholic schools on the whole. Sara Fagen

Data is showing more and more we can safely reopen our country and therefore our schools. Please ensure our Catholic schools reopen!

Please let our kids resume their education in school. They miss being there.

I have 3 children enrolled in St. Agnes. Distance Learning should be deemed a success only when comparing it to the abysmal performance of the Arlington Public Schools essentially punting the last 3 months of the school year and the short time frame St. Agnes's staff had to implement the program. The staff should be commended in putting together a DL plan in days that at least provided some level of educational experiences and structure. DL is not a replacement for in class teaching, especially at the lower levels of school. You can't teach fine motor skills or teach social interaction between 7 year olds via a Zoom call. DL is not a replacement for the social learning and interaction students get by being with other students their age. The impact of a continual DL program will continue erode the mental health of our children. This will greatly outweigh other issues with students in class. Right now, if schools opened on time, our children will have missed 6 months of schools, summer camps, youth sports, youth activities, etc. These lost moments will also induce physical/mental tolls that might not be apparent today like a virus but can have long term impacts that won't appear until years down the road that could leave people similarly harmed. As Mr. Tumminio stated below, the wait for vaccine is misplaced. A vaccine may never come. To wait for a "cure" is similarly misplaced because the "cure" is simply recovery. In Virginia, pursuant to the Virginia Dept. of Health own website, 100% of all people under the age of 20 that have been infected with COVID have recovered. As others have stated, there is also a financial toll on the school as some parents will weigh other options than pay tuition for DL. Some may go to public school, some may home school but regardless there will be a financial hit to the school if DL is instituted. While safety is an important aspect of any equation the educational requirements and mental and physical needs of our c

St. Agnes Parish

There are 62 million children in the US in the age group 0 - 14 years. The CDC states that there have been a total of 20 deaths in the US in the age group 0 - 14 years. The CDC also states that there have been a total of 4.9 hospitalizations per 100,000 children in the age group 0- 4 years and 2.4 hospitalizations per 100,000 children in the age group 5 - 17 years. We need to focus on the actual data, not talking points.

Do not sign this petition. COVID19 is a CONTAGIOUS and DEADLY disease. This virus has killed children...and continues to kill children. This virus sickens children...and continues to sicken children. The idea that children either don’t get Covid-19 or have really mild disease is an oversimplification. For example, children with immunodeficiencies or children who have had chemotherapy are at higher risk for serious illness, HOWEVER, we have seen kids without prior medical problems at all who’ve needed admission, who’ve needed intensive care. New research continues to be published describing the ways that the virus can behave in children, which is not always how it behaves in adults. There have also been some cases of newborns becoming sick, and at least one reported stillbirth. The above petition mentions that a recent study that concludes that children are at greater risk of critical illness from influenza than from COVID-19. The petitions author did not mention that of the sick children 25% had mild symptoms, 70% had moderate to critical symptoms with with 4% of all sick kids dying. New studies add to evidence that children may transmit the coronavirus to older siblings, parents and grandparents who subsequently are at higher risk of getting sick or dying. Again, COVID19 is a CONTAGIOUS and DEADLY disease. As an epidemiologist, I will prepare a more detailed and scientific response letter and submit it to Bishop Burbidge.

I have two children enrolled at St. Agnes Catholic school, and I am writing to express my support for the Diocese opening schools this fall, with children in desks full time. While all are conscious of the impact that Covid-19 has had, the data that has steadily accumulated has shown that risks to children are quite low. Attendance in school poses a reasonable risk, certainly in line with the flu and other illnesses that children contract in far higher numbers. Meanwhile, little has been reported about the other risks to children from extended lockdowns and distance learning. Children are unfairly bearing the brunt of this predicament. Importantly, the track record of other countries in Europe that have opened schools has shown that school may be safely conducted in person. In sum, I strongly advocate for the Diocese to open school on time and in-person. I intend to make sure my children are in their seats in school if they are open. I know there are other parents who feel the same way. My opinion does not change if Arlington chooses not to open public schools. We cannot wait to provide education until a vaccine or cure arrives—that day may never come, but our children deserve to be in school now. Thank you for your consideration. Best regards,

We need to give the parents a choice of in - person or an online elearning.

Please do not follow APS for fall classes.

Although I reside in Fairfax, I urge you to consider the same for schools inFairfax as well.

Our kids need to be in school!

Yes for full time in school for the fall. Face masks and proper hand wash. If kids have a runny nose send them home. But kids should stay at school.

Our kids need to be in school.

God bless you and thank you for your prayerful leadership during this difficult time. We are hopeful.

Open up our schools!

My boys desperately need their education. Arlington has some extreme opinions that we don't need to follow. Let's follow the science!