Pinpointe Wants To Know: Back To School

P I N P O I N T E M A G A Z I N E W A N T S T O K N O W : Back To School By Patricia Hudson

CFISD Schools will begin the 2020 - 2021 School year on September 8, 2020. As a result of Covid-19, Cy-Fair families have the option to (A), send their children back to the classroom, or (B), select online learning. Of the 41 families that responded, 71% are opting to return to their designated campuses. One family will be homeschooling this year. Here are a few of the responses.

Samantha S pencer A - Both my husband and I have to work. If one of us doesn’t work, we cannot provide for our children, or won’t have a place to live. We don’t use the schools as daycare, we use it for enrichment, and the ability to stay above the poverty line.

Lorraine Skipper B - I'm fortunate to have grown children who can do things for themselves. Plus, I only work part time, so I can monitor. We'll se e what happens over the first grading period, then make a decision based on that info.

Christine Nguyen A - I asked my kids what they wanted to do and they both said that they wanted to go back to school.

Kelley Ennis Mauk A - my boys are soooooooo missing the social i nteraction! They will both be wearing masks ALL DAY and washing their hands often, as we have been discussing it daily. I will also be sendi ng t heir lunches daily to reduce trash and unnecessary contact with others! I will say, as a mom of a second and a third grader, it is so hard to homeschool both!

Renee Matso Gray A - My girls miss their friends and are excited to be going back to school even though they have to wear masks.

Treasure West A - high schooler (her choice) B - Elementary schoolers (parents’ choice)

Sallee Saltzman Riegler A - I g et the feeling CFISD has grossly underestimated how many kids are coming back. I personally do not know of a single family that is signing up for virtual.

Meka Brown B - My child will not be a Guinea pig.

K asi Land B - I feel if they are keeping the bars shutdown and I can't work, then I can stay home and take care of my son and not have to worry so much.

Valerie Rodriguez Arnold A - It was my high-schooler’ s decision. Anna Johnson Cordova A - 7th & 8th grade.

Ashley Martin Dunham A - Freshman at Woods

Kathleen Smith Seaver A - Junior at Bridgeland. During the first phase from home when grades were not recorded, there was no i ncentive to participate or penalty for not, so my son took no action. During the second phase when attendance and grades were recorded, there wasn ’t any challenging instruction in order to teach the masses, so he participated as needed, but no real g ains in learning. My son is in the STEM program, gets good grades and plays football. He needs the in-person instruction to remain engaged and invested.

Melissa Durham A - my only child will be starting kindergarten in person this year. As a widow who works outside the home and has a limited income, I a m g rateful for the choice to send her to school.

Kellye Engelbracht Slatton A - my daughter is a senior, and the isolation in the spring really got to her. Having another child who was diagnosed with severe depression last year during his freshman year at college, the mental health repercussions are of great concern to me.

Donnell Walker A - my son transferred after his sophomore year to Brautigam (Center) in efforts to graduate early. Guess this will be his senior year but I would rather die than have most of his high school memories spent at home.

Erin Kamery Medina A - I am a teacher and will be required to be on campus, so I don't get the "luxury " of keeping my children home where they are safe.

A my Pepples Klafka C - After 6 years in CFISD, we are homeschooling with our own curriculum. Neither mode of l earning was acceptable.