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Fri, Oct 23, 12:21
PM (6 days ago)
Valerie Andrychowski
<vandrychowski@gmail.co
m>
to jburt, covid19,
boardquestions,
jomeara, chewes,
ebutson,
cbennett
I was pleased to read in the latest update CPS will consider opening again on November 2nd.
Please consider moving this date forward. A four week revisit is too long a time frame. I also
wanted to give some reasons as to why CPS should open full time.
#1: The majority of families in town want a reopening. The majority of parents are not being
given their choice. The option to keep kids home is there and will be there no matter what model
CPS is in. The population that wants hybrid or full distant learning are getting their voice heard.
They are getting classes taught by the specialists, again taking away from the majority.
Teachers and resources should be in the classroom, and to the majority. It’s time to let the
majority have their preferred option, full in person, available.
#2: Half an education is not acceptable. On a Zoom meeting the superintendent himself said
students are getting 10 months of education out of 20 months of learning. This is a failure to our
children. A failure to our town. Our youth have the right to a proper education. And I am
standing up for them. Nothing can replace face to face time with their teacher. This is not
acceptable.
#3: School is so much more than just an education. Our youth’s social and emotional needs
are not being met. School is a place for growth emotionally, physically, socially, and mentally.
Our children’s lives have been turned upside down. Kids know family, friends, school, and their
activities. Three of the four are no longer. And they sense and see the stress and changes in
their family. This is affecting them in ways beyond learning. My children have become
depressed and have expressed this to me. They miss school, their friends, their routines.
Children’s mental well beings are on the line.
#4: Now is the time to open. The end of October has a day off, and in November and
December there are few full weeks. Let’s set ourselves up for success. This decision cannot be
pushed back any more.
#5: Hybrid is not limiting exposure, but increasing it. It has been said schools are one of the
safest places for children. But instead Colchester’s students are being shuffled around to
daycares, relatives in different towns, and to families in other other cohorts increasing exposure
and trace contact. My children have on average 6 kids in their class on in person days.
Bringing them back full time would only make a class of 12 students. There is more than
enough space in a classroom to maintain three feet of distance with these numbers.
#6: Hybrid is giving our youth an overload of screen time. Three full days on the computer is
having a negative developmental impact on children. In the elementary grades these platforms
are not even developmental appropriate. They need to actually, physically, hold a pencil and
use scissors to learn fine motor skills, not learn how to swipe and use a mute button for zoom
calls. This is not acceptable or appropriate learning.
#7: Children have the desire and curiosity to learn and be in the classroom. Wednesday nights
are the best time in our home. The kids are so excited to go to school the following two days.
Contrary, Sunday nights are the least favorite time. The kids do not look forward to three days of
distant learning. They are disengaged on distant days. They are losing their desire to learn,
when we should be building it up and creating lifelong learners.
#8: Most neighboring towns were at a full opening from the start or have started reentry over
the past month. We need to follow this example. The stats related to Norwich or the nursing
home are not relevant to our schools, and skew our towns numbers. The recommendation is for
as much in person time as possible. And it is possible. I work in a kindergarten classroom in a
neighboring town that is full time. And yes, it is possible! And the kids and teachers are so so
happy. Please give this opportunity to Colchester’s children.
Thank you for your time,
Valerie Parekh