The Fifty-Sixth Republic - Who is up for a game of TAG?

[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've not slept for three nights so am exhausted - but today was fine. Behaviour good. Everything felt normal except, you know, masks, hand gel and facing forward still. But kids happy and responsive.

Sorry, Ms Awesome. My post seemed inappropriately cheerful to follow yours .

Interesting article in The Times which reported that the highest level of stress is in women aged 20to 39. I mean obvious why this is but it does also make me realise the venom, angst and spite in MN includes a lot of very anxious women projecting and venting . Some who claim their children are majorly anxious are clearly projecting Anxiety in young people is about tge same as normal, even a little lower at points.

Sorry MrsA marking workload is going to be insane this half term.

The decent weather is not helping behaviour.

That's rubbish MrsA -at least mt school have had the good sense to move Y8-10 and 12 assessments to Summer 2! Though that doesn't make for a relaxing summer 2!

Today has been ok -nice lessons and got all the assessment papers in for printing plus checked final tiers of entry. Y13 papers good to go as well.

It's the anxiety around my Y11s that's getting to me. I have done revision with them prior to Easter and will do more this week. I have provided resources for them to revise independently but I doubt they have done much, if anything

Then there's making sure all assessments are quality assured, standardised etc.

The responsibility feels huge

Not long been back from work and feel completely whacked. Body aching (from jab?) and have so much planning to do this week. And zero energy to do that and sort my own kids homework out. And my childcare has fallen through and my car needs to go to the garage. It's not been a great day.

Any ideas where I can find ks1 relationships stuff for a day on Friday? There needs to be some making / display involved somewhere. Have never taught pshe so this will be interesting...

How were others first days back?

Heard about the “irate pub landlord” who stopped Kier Starmer entering his pub for a campaigning shot (altho his biz partner had given permission in the first place)?

Claimed KS had derelicted his duties but not changing the govt narrative (reasonable), he should have been talking about Sweden, Texas, and the fact that the government has forced masks on our children without scientific evidence 💤

Am now unstuck thanks. Don’t think am near you rafa, no. East Mids.
My ex’s alternative route worked, luckily for the DC. Makes my dire warnings of all roads being snarled up for miles around make me sound like Beverley Goldberg - The Goldbergs are our latest family watch. Hilarious, and much less tragedy than Ackley Bridge!

Name, for friendship activities we've done a variety of things. "Find someone else who.... " is good for getting to know you type stuff. We've also done friendship sorting activities; sort cards for good or bad friends eg helping, name calling. We've made basic friendship bracelets from plaited wool (you have to prime people to make sure everyone gets one obviously). We've made recipes for a good friend. If you're feeling brave, you could do some role play around different scenarios. The teacher and I often modelled one first to give them ideas.

Also, look at the ELSA website. There's some good resources on there; some of which are free.

How many weeks till the next holiday?

Too many 😬

I'm clinging on to the fact that we finish a week early because we started back a week early in August.

First day back and it was awful. Didn't help that I woke up about 4.

Ah no, it's awful when you wake so much earlier than you need to.

The kids were fine but I'm so tired of no one giving a shit about me. Loads of "how is sick friend?" but literally no one cares about whether I'm okay.
Feeling very self pitying today.

How are you MrsH?

We do, MrsH

Reminds me of when my friend’s 7 week old died: when her lovely DH returned to work, she said he found it a bit hard that everyone was asking after her and no one thought to ask how he was.

(Obvs not quite the same but basically)

Thank you all 🥰
It doesn't help that I've been with mum - reminds me that I'm really lonely. Need to get my big girl pants on and do some marking to take my mind off it.

It is easier though, in a way, to ask about a third person. To say "how is your mum coping" to someone whose dad has died, for instance. It is a rare person ime who actually asks after someone's state of mind after a bereavement, or any trauma.
I am better at it now but struggled when younger as I never saw it "modelled" to me.

Sorry you're feeling glum, MrsH.
I can offer a variety of gins? Hendricks with ice and cucumber?

Thanks, Hendricks. I'll skip the cucumber on the grounds of indigestion though.
I'm such a sap!

MrsHamlet
Sorry your day has been rubbish. I hope you’re okay too. Don’t do too much marking - if it’s like the books I’m marking, it will make you feel angry as well as sad. Put something good on TV or read a book.