The Eighteenth Republic - More U Turns On The Horizon? - INSET Days and travel problems

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff only – a sort of room of requirement. Baiters, haters, goaders and bashers can jog on somewhere else.

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Other requirements for staff room entry include the ability to find the staff room, the ability to find a clean mug in the staff room, knowledge of the photocopier codes, and the ability to sniff out where the toffee vodka is hidden.

If you are fed up with cakes and biscuits there is now a cheeseboard on offer

If you come with a stick to goad us then that is not allowed in the staffroom. Close the door quietly on your way out

What would happen, Honeybadger, if you spat the timetable straight back with a "no can do, where's my opportunity for a "comfort break?" message?

We have no break time now. We raised this as an issue and were told to suck it up, basically. I'm not sure that's really acceptable.

@Frlrlrubert

I've just seen a CLEAPS assessment that states that alcohol based hand gel should not be used in science labs as it is a significant fire risk.

That'll be a fun discussion in the departmental time. They've already placed giant dispensers in all classrooms.

Surely that’s only going to be an issue of practical is going to take place? I doubt there’s going to be much practical work able to take place with cleaning requirements although I guess that it makes demonstrations in-doable too

I thought we were only doing demos too CarrieBlue but the doc my HoD sent me seems to suggest we could do more.

Whether we will and what to do about Demos involving fire and hand sanitiser I guess we will have to discuss on Tuesday.

@Frlrlrubert

I thought we were only doing demos too CarrieBlue but the doc my HoD sent me seems to suggest we could do more.

Whether we will and what to do about Demos involving fire and hand sanitiser I guess we will have to discuss on Tuesday.

This reminds me of a lesson I once observed. The previous lesson I had had to tell the trainee off for not wearing safety goggles while demoing, and then nearly died when the thing he was doing went kaboom in the fume cupboard. In the next lesson, I was just typing that he'd got the safety stuff right this time when he yelled "oh shit" as flames started leaping about. I try to avoid danger subjects these days, but we have 2 new science staff this year, plus one in DT and one in PE. I'm going to get maimed.

I think I'm going to wear a mask in class, come what may. I can't see that they'll want to make a massive issue of it.

@SaltyAndFresh

I think I'm going to wear a mask in class, come what may. I can't see that they'll want to make a massive issue of it.

Snap. I've told DH too as well.

Neuro - stairgates!!! I might just suggest it on inset.
And Honey - you are right, the noise will be awful. Our walls are thin as it is, and I am known for my massive voice. My fellow teachers will hate me! I have an external door so i might have to alternate for input times. The runner can do one through the bramble hedge.

My latest email asks me to consider whether I would prefer a year 6 class of over 30 or a mixed year 5/6 of 26. It will be a poisoned chalice because then i'll be expected to make the 6s make accelerated progress because they can get 5 and 6 input. Plus its a pain in the arse with tons of different inputs. But I might get a few desks gone. Hmmm.

So these 30 18 year olds all tested positive with little or no symptoms, doesn’t fill me with hope for teaching Yr 13.

Begs the question, why were they tested in the first place?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-53923999

@Hercwasonaroll I think because they’re using the government wording of ‘such as corridors and communal areas’, they’re buying into the assumption that distancing will be happening in classrooms, and it won’t.

TBF we have all our goggles to the NHS, so will definitely NOT be doing full practicals for a little while unless it's a tiny bit of Physics.

The CLEAPPS doc seems to suggest that we can quarantine equipment between bubbles or some such, I'll do a more in depth read before we go back.

I doubt much of it will be possible, the techs will be spending all their time photocopying textbooks I imagine.

I've just seen a CLEAPS assessment that states that alcohol based hand gel should not be used in science labs as it is a significant fire risk.

Yep I've also been told the same re glue guns, though they should wear gloves anyway. I imagine there's a few random other things. Sewing machines?! They shouldn't spark though! No Christingle this year either. We have an anti viral one. Possibly on some classes too? Incase kids like to eat it.

You can get extra tall stair gates designed for dogs

Genius

Begs the question, why were they tested in the first place?

Good question.

The noise with open classrooms..... yup. Especially when we have a child who is very distressed.

N*euro
*
We sent a Y7 home (with the advice to seek medical attention) before lockdown after they ingested hand sanitiser and started to feel unwell.

[quote motherrunner]So these 30 18 year olds all tested positive with little or no symptoms, doesn’t fill me with hope for teaching Yr 13.

Begs the question, why were they tested in the first place?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-53923999[/quote]
My daughters sister lives in Plymouth she is 17 had a test yesterday as she said her throat is extremely sore.

8 pages since yesterday evening. We need to go back in to school just so I have a chance of keeping up.

Three of my TAs resigned before the summer holidays. Today we interviewed replacements. I didn’t appoint any. I have a headache for the whole of the first week already.

Begs the question, why were they tested in the first place?

It sounds like a few or a couple had mild symptoms and were tested and positive, but as contact tracing showed so many of the same contacts more were tested?

Which begs the next question.... classes of 30...

I have really enjoyed the work of this librarian - unable to have his say in person, he selected the books he felt best represent our government and stacked them on the bookshelves behind Johnson. A passive aggressive masterpiece.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/aug/26/books-seen-behind-boris-johnson-tell-their-own-story

Or her!

Frlrlrubert, we had hand sanitizers installed last year in classes (they've been elsewhere before) due to too many sick bugs; one class I was covering had to have it uninstalled as a child kept eating it. Iirc it was always non alcoholic but still...! There's often a child with pica bless em. (Sen school.)

@cheesecurdsandgravy

8 pages since yesterday evening. We need to go back in to school just so I have a chance of keeping up.

Three of my TAs resigned before the summer holidays. Today we interviewed replacements. I didn’t appoint any. I have a headache for the whole of the first week already.

I can't keep up much at the moment. Hope you appoint soon and your head eases.

That librarian needs a knighthood.

@Nellodee That’s brilliant!

[quote Nellodee]I have really enjoyed the work of this librarian - unable to have his say in person, he selected the books he felt best represent our government and stacked them on the bookshelves behind Johnson. A passive aggressive masterpiece.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/aug/26/books-seen-behind-boris-johnson-tell-their-own-story[/quote]
That's fantastic!! It's really cheered me up. I can just imagine how enjoyable it was to choose them.