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

I'm still tired but that's because mine have never slept well 5 is a usual time, 430 not unheard of.

So major interview panic is now setting in. Went through my folder of doom last night and I cannot think of any examples to talk about.

Also what would I do if they ask about hobbies? I really don't have anything extra to bring. This year i barely have time for a wee never mind anything for me!

What else might they ask (I've read the article up thread thank you) and what answers would they be looking for?

Still have all my planning to do this weekend but my brain is a bit overloaded!

You know your ta experience is a bonus and counts too don't you name? You have longer experience in schools and supporting learning than just September.

Getting up to take the dog out, make coffee and haul a set of books upstairs in a minute.

I have an only so can't comment on multiple children and work. But yes it gets easier as they get older and more independent. Possibly more worrying but definitely less work

I have had three year 12s (why always year 12?? Most socially responsible? Most networked? ) contact me separately about SI this weekend. All will miss last week of term and bugger up the first week of their holidays.

This is a joke. I now have 10 students in SI across different classes.

My child is an awful sleeper, I've been tired for 6 years. She's had a few months here and there when she has slept through the night, but as soon as we catch up and get into a rhythm, she starts waking again.

Her natural sleep hours are 9.30pm - 9am though, and have always been that, no matter how hard to try to shift them. Means at least we get a lie in, even if we never get a proper evening. I'd rather it this way - we split the evenings to have alternate nights off from her after 7.30.

Luckily she's all about her dad at the moment, so he gets woken in the night.

Oh no, as you were. Apparently it is another in schol case (not sure why I hear it first form students, although it was the same last week!)

So that is two in one year group = outbreak...?

It definitely gets easier as they get older sleep wise but having a teenager brings new challenges and worries! They do understand though if you say you've got work to do and they can help by putting the tea on etc

The absence rate in my school has been shocking this week but it mostly seems to be bugs that have been picked up as they are interacting again. Covid tests are coming back negative. There us also a lot of confusion between the LFT and PCR tests and what result we need if they have symptoms.

I seem to have slept all day yesterday, so busily planning lessons for tomorrow now, with two sets of A-level marking which should really be done by tomorrow too . A shame as it's beautiful outside and it was grey and damp yesterday!

Bought some litter pickers at the request of my youngest so will definitely try to get out and do a litter pick with him later. Have recently joined a local Wombles group, so we can get green litter bags and leave them by public bins for the council to collect. Might be doing quite a bit of this over the Easter holidays, just to get the dc off Minecraft!

Sorry to hear about the dog @CallmeHendricks

The news is all about half of adults have had one dose of the vaccine...BUT NOT ME! Stopped at the vaccine centre that I drive past of the way in to town to ask about these mythical end of day doses. The person manning the door and a doctor wandering out were very sympathetic when I said I was a teacher but it is against the rules they have been given. Hey ho.

Sorry to hear about your dog callme.

That’s a pain in the arse squashed. But at least every vaccine should be contributing to reducing the spread, even if it’s not in your arm. Although I realise that’s easy for me to say.

It’s all just so haphazard, isn’t it Squashed. Some schools are contacted by local centres for spares, some have a ‘contact’ who has agreed to alert schools about any end of session spares. It really pisses me off that in some areas control of stocks means the distribution of vaccines don’t get where they are now most needed.

CallMeHendricks I am so sorry. Been there, and it is just horrendous

I've seen the list for or school 2 hour slot today, and it will mean everyone is done. Lunchtime staff, after school club staff, cleaners - the lot.

@CallmeHendricks so sorry about your dog.

I’ve got the fear about rates going up already. Hope Easter is a natural break. We’ve spent weekend trying to put stuff in boxes in storage as about to live in the smallest weirdest holiday home place for 7 months whilst we renovate... and get a puppy and everywhere about from about one square foot has carpet 😱😂😂 the day after we move there. Hopefully we’ll be back between Oct half term and Christmas.... been waiting fir this for year and a half and it’s all suddenly come together!

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot such good news!

I remember the lack of sleep when my son was smaller. He's 7 now and thankfully, sleeps very well.

I am exhausted today -woke up around 5am with TAGs going round and round in my head.

There are also ither priorities I am working on that need embedding and it is all just feeling too much this week

Yesterday was nice as I took DS to the park and we had takeaway from a cafe so he was very happy. Not up to much today. Currently trying to do some planning.

The coming week is our school science week plus the usual meetings and a parents evening

I honestly don't think I have ever felt so tired in all my life!

We had a vaccination centre contact and it was offered to us and our 'covid guy on SLT' said no!!!

Actual covid tests jj or LFTs?

WTF piggy. Who the hell does he think he is? Oh I'd have probably resigned over that. Bloody hellm

I've just been reading instead of cracking on with the marking I need to do. Rather tempted to leave it. I don't see the group till Wednesday but I have two groups that day that I need to have marked the assessments for and more assessments coming in on Monday and Wednesday so I really should get it done rather than have 5 sets that need marking all at once.

Really, really don't want to work though. I have some planning to do that is essential so of course I'll do that but can't seem to find the energy for the non essential. I usually like to be ahead of myself but...

This really made me laugh: mobile.twitter.com/ygbjammy/status/1373376075225518080?s=08

We’ve spent weekend trying to put stuff in boxes in storage as about to live in the smallest weirdest holiday home place for 7 months whilst we renovate

Ha - we're just about to start too! Container for the front garden storage arriving next weekend, will spend Easter loading the house into it, then we get to live in 3 rooms for 4 months while the work happens. Will only move out if we absolutely have to. At least it's the right time of year for it.

our 'covid guy on SLT' said no

I've heard several situations with this. Usually in cases where the SLT themselves have been done already. Concern about days missed due to side effects of a vaccine - are you having an absolute laugh?!

Presumably our entire staff is going to be ill tomorrow! Depending on what vaccine they get, obv. I wonder if anyone will dare phone in sick.

Am absolutely gobsmacked to think of school managers/leaders denying earlier vaccination to their staff!!

@Piggywaspushed

We had a vaccination centre contact and it was offered to us and our 'covid guy on SLT' said no!!!

That’s shameful.

Piggy