The Fifty-first republic - twice weekly tests and wear masks at all time till Easter

[StaffRepFeistyClub]

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.

Do not give the staffroom password to others 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. Do not sit on the chairs and wear a mask.

Wow Chloe!

Wow Chloe that's quite something. At least it shows the LFT tests do pick up some positives, assuming it was a school year that picked them up?

Jan that article about ventilation is super cheery. My classroom (all of maths block) has a ventilation system that should be great. The fan broke about 14 years ago and has never been fixed. The building was only built 15 years ago. So this expensive building (remember when schools were given money to build?) that looks impressive and has all the ventilation set up, isn't actually well ventilated because school couldn't afford the upkeep of the system. It's a good job I've got plenty of windows in good positions for a through draft (not so good for the poor kids shivering in the path of the draft)

[quote RuleWithAWoodenFoot]@WarriorN - Louise Newson is ace - she'll tell you exactly how to go about getting what you need. I found her via Liz Earle (who I find massively annoying).[/quote]
Good to hear!

I've just got my copy of XX brain by Dr Lisa Mosconi, re perimenopause and brain health.

Dipping in and I'm already going to quit butter! Only started eating it when I had kids...

I've been a bit of a rubbish home schooler. He's done maths and either topic or literacy every day but spellings and reading rather went by the wayside. Toddler days have been hard. I read with him a lot though as he likes NF books at bedtime.

At least it shows the LFT tests do pick up some positives, assuming it was a school year that picked them up?
Not actually from LFT tests as we haven’t started that yet. Just from parents phoning up to let the school know.
Puts me on edge really!

I think maths and either topic or literacy everyday is fine tbh. Even most days is likely ok.

Perfection is probably a lot to expect, particularly in primary, where more support is often needed.

Exactly msawesome , although the report says that you can't rely on natural ventilation as it's reliant on wind direction etc.......

@ChloeDecker

At least it shows the LFT tests do pick up some positives, assuming it was a school year that picked them up? Not actually from LFT tests as we haven’t started that yet. Just from parents phoning up to let the school know. Puts me on edge really!

Yes, I can see that would put you on edge. I am living in dread of having one of my front row getting it and me catching it or having to isolate.

Oh no, I just started watching Bridgerton thinking I'd hate it, but appear to be in the mood for utter tripe. That's the weekend sorted.

I've been a bit of a rubbish home schooler. He's done maths and either topic or literacy every day there was me thinking I'd done a decent job because we'd managed maths and English every day . I still think we've done better than a lot of families, so definitely don't beat yourself up about it!! Dd's teacher always seems very positive about what she's done when we send our photos in.

So, the REACT study has been reported by Sky and some other news outlet which I now can't find. A scientist has said it shows teachers are "a little bit more at risk" than other people. Sky quotes this in its first para then in its last para, reports that the risk compared to others was 43% by the end of the study.

Yeah, just "a little bit more"......

I picked up a couple of boxes of tests today for primary school households and there was just me and 15 masked and high vis staff in the building. I’m not sure it’s been particularly well publicised.

Just looking at the Texas thread (not a great idea...) but someone from Florida piped up to explain what actually is going on there factually.

They said everything is open. But it isn't @ they are home schooling.

A lot of the US is keeping life going as usual but homeschooling. There just doesn't seem to be the same anxiety about it.

BBC talking about isolation now...

CO2 monitors and shorter lessons are advised. LOL.

And now they are showing a primary teacher going on a bear hunt. Which is lovely. Doesn't exactly translate to secondary!

Sorry, that should say ventilation not isolation!!

I'm definitely taking Bob on a bear hunt now...

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/just-0-14-of-secondary-school-covid-tests-are-positive-but-concerns-over-accuracy/?fbclid=IwAR2IhjAcPCEhOBmDRiLvt2oz-TFSBQZflHCHvOhi6MBXZZVEtIWgrdzEI

Rates detected in secondary and primary (latter staff only of course) by LFTs up to last week. Commented on by John Deeks, raising the issue of false positives and false negatives......

Years ago, a Dep Head told me off for taking an A level class outside to sit under a tree and enact a bit from The Prime of Miss jean Brodie.

I shall now reenact every text outside : Birnam Wood (tree chopping), some light pickpocketing for Oliver Twist, fountain plunging for Atonement , maybe even the odd firing squad or Dunkirk re enactment.

All safer than my classroom.

Bob might enjoy a bear hunt. It’s an excuse for not being in the classroom catching up on all the work he didn’t do.

I'm definitely taking Bob on a bear hunt now...

Bob will shoot the bear.

I’m a bit worried about who Bob will shoot if he goes with Piggy though.

Nieces in NY have been at home for months. Secondary age.

@noblegiraffe

I picked up a couple of boxes of tests today for primary school households and there was just me and 15 masked and high vis staff in the building. I’m not sure it’s been particularly well publicised.

No I don't think it has. Turns lot o cpoms have picked some up when I had my test this morning.

I had an email about Bob today asking what he has missed.
My reply was:
Poetry
Macbeth
Paper 1
Paper 2

You could have just written 'English'.

Dd started well but tapered off. She was going in as a keyworker but was the only girl and hated it. She's stuck with maths and science and reads tons but she has essentially given up. She's tearful and super fragile, I have to coax her out of her room. She can go from ok to end of the world in 50 seconds. She's in year 8 and very bright so she'll be fine.

Phleb my dd is the same age. Went in one day as a key worker and hated it. Rarely leabes her room and is grumpy. She has the live lessons on but think her listening and enagment are zero. I am in school every day so its left to my parents and they don't really know how much she listens. Mine doesn't even read anymore unless its her phone. It's a worry.