The Fifty-third Republic - Ides of March Part 2

[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 non-staff as it attracts the wrong sort of crowd.

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 do wear a mask

Well done name, it’s a bloody rollercoaster this teaching lark isn’t it! Good luck for your interview - you sound passionate and like you truly care, and those are things any school will value. When is your interview (don’t feel you have to say, of course)

Sorry to those struggling with bad news, sending love.

I had a grim afternoon today. The worst lesson so far with my v tough year 9 group. 6 detentions issued. I was v close to tears of frustration. And I’ve just felt so down about it all evening, I find it so hard to shake off a bad lesson

Name - your proudest moment is absolutely the right thing to choose to talk about. Everything stems from your relationship with the children. Your being able to build a rapport quickly is massively important for all children , but especially for the vulnerable ones.

Do you have any ideas for texts for your reading task? I'm in Y3 if you need any help.

I’ve skim read. But just wanted to say I’m so pleased for name fabulous feedback and an interview. Best of luck.

Sorry to hear about your friend Mrs H, if ever there was a time to take to the gin it's this year. 💐

This is hard because my proudest moment isn't about progress or any of those things but building relationships quickly with vulnerable chn (which allow them to feel safe in school) and then an interview.

Namechanged, I think that response would make me really warm to a teacher.

Sorry MrsH - shitty day all round there for you it sounds.

Name see how quickly it changes? This is kind of why after time you develop resilience and don't get too high on your highs and don't get too down about your lows - it is very up and down and eventually you sort of have to be steady whichever way it blows. This year I haven't cried at or about school at all which is amazing - cried in my old department at least once a term. My awful lesson the other day just inspired me to ask the teacher I share the group with if I can come and observe her with them to see what the hell she does to get them to sit down and shut up because I find starting a lesson with them to be like feeding time at the zoo but I know their form tutor and he agrees that they're an absolute nightmare so that reassures me.

Spoke to a colleague who I respect a lot who has a tlr role that the one I was thinking of applying for is very connected to and found out why the role that I thought had been filled is now open again. Turns out the guy who got it and has done bugger all towards it is now actually leaving so who knows why he applied when they were clear they wanted someone who could genuinely commit themselves. Apparently he is one of those who are very good at interview but lazy as fuck and awful to work with and has been an absolute arse to his female head of dept. I will definitely be playing up my commitment to the school and the role in the hopes they've learnt their lesson in that respect. Hate putting myself out there - colleague was encouraging me to go for it but totally understood how risky it is emotionally because you can feel like you're not valued etc.

Day off tomorrow but need to do the application for this role, plus a load more marking and really plan a couple of lessons I haven't taught before. Need to find some confidence and energy.

@namechangedyetagain totally the right thing to mention as proudest moment. You can link it to progress as a consequence of better relationships. Teaching is all about relationships.

Excellent news there name. And that is exactly the right thing to say for your proudest moment.

Sorry about your friend, MrsH. We’ve just had an immediate family member diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.

I have a job application nearly ready to go. Don’t know why I’m delaying sending it really apart from not wanting to email HoD and line manager to say I’m applying elsewhere.

A primary in Manchester apparently closed because of only case found, for a "deep clean" and has requested that all pupils get a PCR test...?

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/primary-school-closes-deep-clean-20067992?utmsource=facebook.com&utmmmedium=social&utmcampaign=sharebar&fbclid=IwAR0Ax19WYGhU3pbkAFKNQt7aIXNo56ViuoYFqdRKKf130hqYgYsTzrasz9U

Morning. Super tired from only 5 hours sleep and too much to do for a nap to be an option.

Hope everyone has a good day

Morning everyone. I’m done for the week and got. Most of my planning for next week done thanks to two cancelled meetings. Just means I can get loads of the other stuff done I need to for once!

Cases in my area now starting to creep back up - think we got down to 37/100k or something and going back up now.... we’ve had one confirmed positive at school, and another couple of students with confirmed household members. Very glad we’ve got Easter to perhaps break the chains but who knows.

For some reason our school is saying optional masks in classrooms but not corridors so that’s fun....

Yr 10 Parent’s Evening tonight and still not feeling 100%. May have to fake a ‘broken’ camera.

I'm unexpectedly home today - childcare issues. Luckily I knew yesterday so I could sort out my cover work before I left school. And it's sunny! ☀ What a bonus. Hang on a mo - I need to rescue Peppa and George from the dishwasher...

No cases yet in our school of students but back to several children SI because parents are +ve.

And five staff off awaiting test results...

I was wondering, if any of you are wearing visors as well as masks? I know a visor alone isn't much use but does adding a visor to your mask help reduce transmission via your eyes? Hmm. Trying to plan for our full return and would like to feel as safe as possible before the vaccine comes. Only had 50% in yesterday (SD) and it felt so crowded.

I suppose it depends how much of a threat someone spitting/coughing/sneezing very close to you is, mistress?

Have other schools issued new guidance to students re home testing in the hols? It's now changed from "just one on the last day and therefore you need one box of 3 tests to cover that and next week", to "keep testing twice a week through the holidays and therefore we need to issue you with a further two boxes of three LFTs".

Cue further confusion and potential disengagement by families, IMO.

No changed staff advice yet.

Pleb you may need to register as carer with gp even to use the central site. If your mum lives with you makes sense. I know a 30/40yo living with a partner same age cev but with something that doesnt need care who has booked. And someone else on oarents united who said they were to protect the cev person they live with

Well, we have had an interesting one!

Year 12 student went home ill earlier in the week. Feeling a bit tired.

Felt fine the next morning; came in . Tested positive on a LFT.

20 students now SI.

Well that's exactly what the LFTs are for (in this scheme) isn't it? Given that fatigue isn't officially a symptom in this beloved country....

A solicitor has just made me cry (well after I put the phone down). Phoned for advice about my brother's tiny estate, complicated though as no will and we wanted to know if any way of avoiding another relative on benefits receiving money which she doesn't remotely need or want, and it would cause her other problems. The solicitor, who I know round here will be used to dealing with large agricultural estates and lots of money, dismisses me with "Well if they're the rules, they're the rules, aren't they?" Felt like had been told off. At least I don't spend over £100 for him to tell me that....

Hey ho. At least I managed to record my test result on the NHS site for the first time (although it still won't let me log in)! Go me.

Off to school now.

Surely the person could reject it
But i think benefit wise you cant do that necessarily i think some things say if you could have claimed say job seekers etc

Wills are such a pain even without all the emotions that go with them. Have dealt with too many of late. (And have written a long overdue one myself). I hope your solicitor remembers there are other solicitors out there.

Right I may have sworn at someone this morning (I did) but have had an email from HQ talking about my aggressive posting style - the example used were all replies to TBs from a while back as far as I can see, so sick of being pushed to the edge by unpleasant posts and then getting told off when you snap.
My posts are overwhelmingly supportive (ok, mostly they are just mundane crap, but I am often supportive, in a whole variety of topics!) and I feel rather upset by it all.
Needing a wee break for a while - might speak to my kids or something
Am aware this is a bit of a "you ok, hun?" post but I know there are posters on here who will understand!

Your aggressive posting style Mistress?! What? That’s not you.

Being sharp with trolls when they are poorly moderated and getting told off for it must rankle.

Had a Zoom interview for an NQT post today. Not hearing until next Thursday due to.Zoom scheduling?!! Argh. Went really well, except I said "failure" in relation to allowing children the chance to work and make their own mistakes and now I am really stressing it will have ruined the interview. Ah well, at three applications and one interview so it's going ok.

Sorry for all who are struggling or having bad news at the moment.

Wow mistress : that seems very harsh. You are definitely not someone who stands out to me as potentially being accused of aggression.