The Forty Sixth Republic - online learning has killed the 'snow day'

[Staffdontblowitnow]

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.

If you are NOT staff and just have a general education query please start your own thread.

You can play here if you are a member of one the following groups-

-ABBA - anti bashers and baiting association
-SWAB - school workers against bashers
-SWOT - school workers opposing teacherbashers
-STARS - schoolworkers together against ranting + slurs

Do not give the staffroom password just in case it attracts the wrong sort

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 booze is stashed - Thirsty Tuesdays, Fizz Fridays now in operation.

If you come with a stick to goad us then that is not allowed in the staffroom and you will receive a detention

I've worked in a PRU.

They vary as much as any other educational setting but the one I was in was just amazing. So positive and pupil-centred; absolutely passionate about each child; really amazing pupil:adult ratios.

In short, a really important intervention for some children who really need it.

It's actually quite insulting to think of that PRU as some kind of catastrophe, to be avoided at all costs, rather than an intervention some children might really benefit from.

There was a parent on MN years ago whose child had been in two PRUs after a shocking family tragedy led to a change in school behaviour.

He said the first PRU wasn't great but the second radically changed their lives for the better.

Sometimes, exclusion is necessary because mainstream just isn't working fir that child, at that time.

Agree with you completely thecatfromjapan

I think the words ‘exclusion’ and ‘expulsion’ have a lot to answer for in some people’s perceptions of a PRU. A lot of the time, it’s providing a brilliant, smaller and often more specialised environment for those students.

Well, I definitely need this so raising a glass to everyone in the Staffroom. Happy Half Term everyone!

It's over! The longest week in the history of teaching is finally over!

I'm just so, so tired and so very cold (as I have maintained fully open windows in my classroom for the full half term). Now just the small matter of making it to Monday without the dreaded Covid notification phone call from a member of SLT.

Congratulations Piggy - I hope it goes really well.

GuyFawkesDay I hope you do take the tablets- they will make a difference but until they do my sympathies for how you're feeling

@GuyFawkesDay

Another saying give the ADs a go. I restarted mine at Christmas. They help me focus and to fixate less on the stuff I can’t deal with.
did trip out on sertraline tho 😂

I had my first jab today the O/AZ one. Soreness has gone from arm, wonder if I’ll have any other symptoms.

Took my first half a tablet.

I suppose in a few weeks it'll make me see if my 'normal' is the same as everyone else?! Maybe I've been functioning with this for so long o don't see that it's not normal. Who knows. Hot to try though.

Cheers everyone. We made it. Here's to pyjama days, novels, long mornings with never ending pot of tea and hopefully some good news soon.

💐 @GuyFakes

And a 'Yay' @Born.

Pizza on its way. Laptop zipped up in case

There was a book which really helped to convince me was "Depressive Illness, the curse of the strong" by Dr Tim Cantopher. I highly recommend reading it - very accessible and helps to take away a lot of the stigma around MH problems / taking ADs (at least, it did for me).

Definitely do buy this book, it’s a brilliant book. I’d take the ADs too. Most side effects should wear off within the first couple of weeks. But if they don’t you might be able to try something else that suits you better.

 @GuyFawkesDay Another vote for the ADs. I spent quite a few years battling anxiety and depression and I found they helped me. They didn't cure it, but they helped me to stay on a more even keel while I was taking them. Give them a go but be prepared to give them time - it's not an overnight fix and the first couple of weeks might be a bit bumpy.

Well done all!!!

And good luck, Piggy.

Pizza on the way. Gin going down nicely.
I had a lovely email from a year 11 earlier thanking me for working so hard. It fair made a tear come to my eye.

[quote MrsHerculePoirot]@chocolateisavegetable that was the bit that stood out for me!

In other news I had my first jab of the vaccine this morning![/quote]
Yay! So pleased for you MrsHP

@borntobequiet

I had my first jab today the O/AZ one. Soreness has gone from arm, wonder if I’ll have any other symptoms.

More fabulous news! So pleased

well done, we made it.

@GuyFawkesDay

Took my first half a tablet.

I suppose in a few weeks it'll make me see if my 'normal' is the same as everyone else?! Maybe I've been functioning with this for so long o don't see that it's not normal. Who knows. Hot to try though.

Cheers everyone. We made it. Here's to pyjama days, novels, long mornings with never ending pot of tea and hopefully some good news soon.

Proud of you

I had three of the nicest pieces of year 3 writing I've ever had handed in today. Nearly made me cry with relief. Remote learning isnt bad at all! Beer....

Well done @GuyFawkesDay hope they start to make a difference soon!

💪 @borntobequiet

And also @RuleWithAWoodenFoot

Sounds like celebration drinks all round... I’m on the water and will be in bed soon though 🤣

Yay piggy. And well done all of you teacher people for the whole half term.

Cleared my brother's room this morning, which was OK. My children are delighted to have acquired an Echo dot, a bigger TV plus loads of uneaten Christmas chocolate. I'm delighted to have some family photos I'd forgotten existed.

But another load of stress and responsibility has just landed on my lap - frequent feature of my life - can't really say more here, but wow. Am seeking advice from an acquaintance who used to be a relevant professional.

@JanFebAnyMonth 💐💐

We've had a bit of good news tonight. We can see DS again from next week (haven't seen him since Christmas). We all have to take tests but so pleased- we all need to see each other.

Fantastic monkey ! I really am over the moon for you x

Hope they help Guy. I'm in the middle of switching ads at the minute because the old ones weren't really doing it for me. They can really be a godsend - yes it's sad that we live and work in such stressful ways (or maybe just unnatural ways) that so many of us need them but it is what it is and we're all doing what we can to get by.

I had a really sweet email today, from a girl who has been over stressing and I gave a little bit of support to, thanking me for making her love history again I was also really touched that a couple of kids unmuted and said thanks and goodbye today.

Oh and apparently I'm fully booked for parents evening when I didn't even know my appointments had opened for booking and I don't even know what platform we're using but all will be revealed on Monday after half term I'm told. We've been told to put a polite piss off out of office response on our email and to have a break.

I'm stuffed on end of term fish and chips and would fall into a vat of gin with you but I'm actually just shattered. Going to watch some Deutschland and try for an early night.

Well done everyone. It's been a hell of a term/year

@Monkeytennis97 🎉🎉🎉 so very pleased for you.

@JanFebAnyMonth glad you’ve got professional support for whatever it may be!