Thread 25 - Covid Cohort - Christmas Trees, No Omicron Please!

That's brilliant about the bursary @Alsoplayspiccolo

DS has re-read his references one last time and agreed for the send button to be pressed.

I am still waiting for my PCR. DD's came back negative about an hour ago so she's gone out. She's a huge Marvel fan and so is DH so they've got Spiderman booked for Sunday.

DS will be devastated if schools close again

Any news from @DoggerelBank? How did we do with the power of positive thinking?!

But the kids should be told if assessments may count - I definitely read that in the guidelines.

No I think the gov specifically asked them to do one lot of mocks each term in year 13 so there’s enough evidence - but some schools are saying they won’t use pre Christmas mocks. I think it’s for the schools to decide how many mocks they set and how they weight them.

Great news @Alsoplayspiccolo, just in time for Christmas!

@Alsoplayspiccolo fantastic news on the bursary!

@Monkey2001 yes it was lovely to see them walk off together into the cinema and both come back buzzing about it, normally DS1 wouldn't be seen anywhere near little brother!!

No pre xmas grades? erk thats a bugger. DS last mocks were much better than normal. Its all on the Jan ones then.

@Alsoplayspiccolo Hurray - well done!!

@Monkey2001 That's good news about no pre xmas grades being used. I hadn't twigged that in my stress induced worry.

@crazycrofter - If the kids get told, then that would be good. Agree its not the same as the terrible algorithm year but I still rather worry.

Great news alsoplayspiccolo - in your face, bursar .

The thought of schools remaining closed in January terrifies me as lockdown was the main driver in dd2's eating disorder last year. She is so much better now, but I'm worried that she might relapse without the many goals and distractions offered by school/hobbies/social life.

Now that's a great Christmas present Piccolo. And so deserved after the bursar behaving like such an arse. What a relief for you all.

@Alsoplayspiccolo that’s is fantastic news, what a relief for you!
And great re ucas as well 👍

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn my 2 DSs became friends during the first lock down after years of DS1 tolerating DS2. It is lovely when it happens!

@DoggerelBank I concur with the ops who said winging it was a vital life skill. It is often also a crowd pleaser. Fingers crossed for him!

DS has got a zoom interview for Southampton and the email says they may make a verbal offer at the end of the interview. He is going to schedule it in the next few days

@ealingwestmum fingers crossed for your mum coming.

Seems everyone is coming down with covid at the moment, I just waiting for it to hit here again

The news on Jan school shut down makes me rage and cry at the same time. I am so done with this. DS hasn't sat any mocks yet, due to start in Jan (of course). Last school closure his Biology went to pot because he found it difficult to engage without being in the classroom. I'm hoping they at least keep exam years in.

In nice news DS1 bought DS2 a ticket to see Spiderman for last night. They went together (unheard of!) and loved it but came home around 11pm so were a bit tired getting up for school this morning.

Waiting for PCR test results here too.
Still testing negative on LFTs, so fingers crossed.
Everything crossed for your mum still being able to come, ealing, and for negative results for you, Exquisitely.

We had some more good news, following on from DD’s CTF draw win, which is that our chat with the head, regarding whether DS can stay for 6th form because of our financial situation has resulted in a very generous bursary offer (and a complete change of tone from the bursar!).
Such a relief, especially given that it looks very likely that the arts are going to be hit by the latest Covid news again.

To top things off, DD’s UCAS form has finally been submitted.

🤞for EPQ winging it!

Thanks everyone for the well wishes.

Big, big fan of winging it. 🤞 DoggerelBank

Fingers crossed @DoggerelBank.

@Oblomov21 - I love going to the football too. I go with friends from my 6th form college, so that's 35+ years going together. I haven't been since Covid, DS and I only go occasionally and aren't season ticket holders, we weren't in the booking bubbles that were set up initially and have been too busy with open days in any case this term. Hoping to to go and see DS's team for his birthday in Feb, someone else is getting tickets with any luck.

@Monkey2001 - I also have the cuddle cushions courtesy of shopping suggestions on this thread a few weeks ago. They have been stashed in my office at work, was planning to keep them there till the last day as they are pretty bulky to hide but brought them home on Tuesday having wrapped them up on the conference room table and put them back in their Dunelm bags. I left them in the car overnight and sneaked them through the house to the garden shed while the DCs were still in bed yesterday morning.

@ealingwestmum sorry to hear about + result, but glad DD got home.

DS had a teams meeting with the UCAS coordinator this morning, I was on a break from working myself so had time to sit in. His predicted grades are as expected and his references were amazing, I felt very proud. He has been so lucky with his subject teachers, they have built really close relationships (he had them all for GCSE as well and two have been his year head/form tutor). She has emailed them over for one last check then the form can go, finally, it's been a long haul.

No PCR results yet, local SM is saying 48-72 hours for results now. I feel fine in myself, just a bit of a sniffle and as DH tested negative on Tues with the same cold I have a glimmer of hope. I may have to WFH till Christmas now, my work isn't really cut out for it on an ongoing basis but I can bring enough home to muddle on with short term.

I also agree that winging it is a useful skill. I always noticed at PwC that the more senior people were very adept at it!

@DoggerelBank hope he surprises you and pulls it out of the bag! He sounds like my year 11 ds! He really can’t summon any motivation until it’s really urgent. I’ve driven him to school every day for the last 2 weeks so he can revise in comfort in the car! In the rush hour traffic it’s over an hour there and back for me - I’m shattered! Glad he’s done now.

@DoggerelBank positive vibes coming his way! I think I said before that "winging it" is a great life skill!

Need some Mumsnet positive thinking for DS's EPQ presentation today, please. You won't be surprised to hear that he's not well prepared! On Tuesday he was 'too tired' to think about it (after going to a gig in London on Monday night). Last night, also 'very tired'. At 7 this morning, he suggested I drive him into school so he had an extra half hour to prepare. At that point, he had a few bullets. By the time he reached school he had two or three designed Powerpoint slides. The presentation's last thing this afternoon and should last about 10 mins. He's quite good at winging things, but honestly, I despair.

I've been paranoid all week that dd2's carol service will be cancelled - but today's the day and she's at rehearsal now so I think I can reasonably assume we're home and dry...

Lunchtime music concert at church next Wednesday has been cancelled though - unsurprising, but sigh.

Gah, ealingwestmum, awful timing on the part of your dd! Hope it passes quickly with no onward infection.

Monkey, I hope your ds is having the most festive day imaginable! Love the photo.

@Wheresthebeach I agree with@crazycrofter that schools would not have to play the algorithm game this time, the thing which will make the real difference is how and when different schools do tests. Somebody I know at a grammar school said they were given mini tests on each area of the curriculum, but knew when each test was coming and what it would cover, which seems very generous. We know no pre-Christmas assessments would be used. Some people have talked of Y12 assessments being used. Our school is likely to be mean with grade boundaries though - like @Heifer's school, PE historic results have been low, and as boundaries were set to be pinned between 2019 and last year some subjects, like Music and PE will have very high grade inflation if they go ahead.