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

@MrsHamlet writing for 10 minutes about a couple of teaching standards after school every day is a great idea (annoyed that I didn't that of that before). Folder feedback for last term wasn't great so need to improve that a lot. As well as planning, teaching, assessing and the outstanding assignment to do.

So near yet so far 😭

I'm full of great ideas, name
Like the time I decided I could do a chapter of a book a month in the 6 months I had to write it....
... I ended up bashing it out in about 3 weeks of very long days :(

Eek, I've just spent the day pulling the garden apart ready for building work to start, and doing exciting things like moving our entire life into one downstairs room and a container on the front lawn. Then looked at my watch and realised that I should probably do some work for tomorrow. I've been utterly shit this holiday. Ha. The fear is here now though, and I have crisps - hopefully that will lead to great efficiency she says reading twitter and mn

What was the book MrsH?

Productive day Rule.

I did my bit of planning and some laundry and then seemed to call it quits. I only have 2 lessons and no meetings tomorrow and I've somehow ended up teaching the same lesson 3 times in a week so that's handy for planning.

A few lessons I can't plan for because the lead teacher hasn't let me know where they're up to despite requests or in one case the lesson I'm meant to teach according to the overview doesn't seem to actually exist anywhere on the system so I'm waiting for someone to point me in the right direction.

The essays still aren't marked but aren't actually needed till Wednesday.

I promised myself I was going to do some yoga and then have a bath several hours ago

I am so looking forward to the summer break and being totally away from work, laptops, ps4s etc. It'll either do ds the world of good or he'll be massively bored and miserable.

My DS is unhappy because both his close friends are having to isolate and he apparently can’t find anyone else to hang out with at break and lunchtime! He keeps asking if I’ve had an email from school telling him to isolate, which isn’t entirely unlikely seeing as there were two cases in his year last week, one in his form.

It was a study guide for Jane Eyre. Got there in the end but I really should know better. I am a HUGE procrastinator and consequently nag all my students to try to make them not like me!

I’ve had a lovely lazy weekend, pottering about. DH had his jab yesterday (Pfizer, so at least the kids have a chance of one parent surviving when we find out the deadly side effects of the vaccinations in a few years time ) and I’ve been to B&Q for watering cans for school. Not done any work, I think I’m sorted for tomorrow as long as I do the ironing. So glad I’m not in mainstream any more!

Ready for tomorrow. Lunches til Wednesday done, ironing done and outfits sorted. No work done whatsoever.

Feeling of total dread also back in place. Urgh. 🙄🙄🙄

I've got the burbly fear feeling. I love my job but the people I work with are not my favourite.

AZ vaccination here. So I'll probably keel over at any minute.

Already feeling stressed about this term. Need to keep on top of things and not get home and flop on the sofa after dinner.

Bag packed ready for the morning so now on the hunt for snacks in time for LoD at 9.

47. Fat. Asthmatic and still no jab here. AND the health board are now vaccinating by vaccine supply not clinical vulnerability. So as the under 30s cant have astray zeneca, if they have pfizer jab appointments they are offering them to under 30s now and making the over 40s wait for the supply of the AZ!

Beyond fucked off with it.

Same health board has pre decided on the reserve list. To include police officers and 'front line workers'. This doesnt say if it includes teachers. We were asked to submit details. But I've heard of no other teachers unknown who have been called up for last minute availability. It is who you know not what you know here as they are calling friends and acquaintances at the rainbow hospital when they know they have spares, not consulting the pre submitted lists!

I'm back on Monday, too. Today now.

While my circumstances are not those of my UK colleagues, I'm feeling the heart sink. Lots of procrastination, so only prepped clothes and lunch for Monday, as I don't work on Tuesdays so can cook and iron then.

Not helped by this term's work/resources only going up Sunday evening, so much apprehension relieved, but seriously? I could have done without the seat of the pants Plan B going through my head.
At least we don't have to lesson prep in the detail that's become the norm in the UK. No-one's ever looked at my planner in the 14 years I've been working here. :o

Good luck everyone.

I "do" the planner. If the SLT continue to ignore my emails about it, it might have completely blank pages.

@DrMadelineMaxwell that's infuriating. I only had mine because I was lucky on the website the morning it opened for over 45s. Was kind of in two minds as I've already had covid, but the rest of my family somehow managed to escape.

I'm in Wales, so no online booking portal either. Grrr...

Evening all! Feeling the dread. Had a lovely holiday though but still haven't got to the bottom of some health issues. Must prioritize them over next few weeks. LFTs all done for DH and I. Here we go...

The dread is starting to kick in here too. I have most of my lessons prepped for this week and did go in last week to sort out some display changes so in theory I'm ready to go. It's just that I've really enjoyed my time off!

I've really appreciated having time to just breathe, to sort out the kitchen cupboards, sew on buttons, spend a couple of hours pottering in the garden, clean the house properly, order things online and be in to take delivery of them - mundane stuff that just gets pushed into the back burner in term time. Teaching is just so all-consuming.

Also got the fear. Am going to get to work early and hope that I did plan prior to leaving before the holidays.... and I’ve not dreamt it 🤣🤣🤦‍♀️

Moving, trying to prep old house for renovating and a new puppy has not made for an easy holidays 😱🤦‍♀️

Had my second jab today though! Half hoping I’ll wake up unwell tomorrow 🤣🤣🤣

piggy you do make me laugh.

I’ve spend loads of time this weekend prepping for this week. I have a horrible feeling this half term is going to be a killer workload wise.

Our Year 11s are clearly picking up on the lack of clarity. A significant number are responding to the situation by being absolute dickheads
At least my school has told then when they are leaving. I’ll miss most of them. Can’t wait to see the back of a handful though.

DD’s first round (1/3) of what we’re calling “formative assessments” starts tomorrow....

I spent 4 hours half working half faffing. Going to wing tomorrow a bit though. I've covered what I need to for my phase buds, so they can get on while I piss about doing PE first thing (worst timetable ever).

Oh god, it's going to be 17 degrees here tomorrow, the clothes I've laid out will make me swelter in my greenhouse classroom. All change.

Hmm insomnia probably isn't going to help with the Monday feeling.

Good luck Jan's dd tomorrow.

Good luck to everyone going back today.

I am up and getting ready-been awake a while - thinking about everything that needs to be done this term!

Not feeling it today but need to plaster a smile on and be positive for the kids and my team.

I gave up trying to sleep at 4.15 after DS woke me at 2.45 saying he couldn't sleep. He's never done that before.
Oh well, I've got lots of work done (more than I managed in the rest of the holidays!)
Thanks for your words of support Brie.I don't feel brave, I just feel that it's my best option. It makes me a little sad because I love my colleagues (but most of them are planning to move on in the next year so ....)