The Fifty Ninth Republic - May Half Term beckons

[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 for school staff to let off steam.

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. Finally, upload your covid test results twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays.

[quote HercwasanEnemyofEducation]www.tes.com/news/exclusive-extended-school-day-plan-hit-lack-cash[/quote]
What a surprise! Who would have guessed?

We all said there was no way they'd pay for it so it wouldn't happen.

Is there a hotel nearby Born? I've never really liked camping.

Good point, Honey. I've never been a camper. I went once, under great protest) with 4 other families and hoards of kids and we women spent the entire weekend pissed whilst the men did outdoorsy things with the kids. I was just thinking it was bearable, but then the rain came.
I never thought I'd be envious of people in caravans.

Is it really only 6 weeks? Blimey.
I don't camp if I can avoid it. I camped in South Africa and Alaska and a couple of nights in a yurt in Tajikistan and one night in a tent at the Darvaza crater... I could camp for a staff night out if you promise no massive spiders.

@SarahLou67

Sorry to jump in. I’ve not been on for a while. Bit of a rollercoaster time with both school and home life. My son is Y10 and was already struggling with his MH post lockdown but to make matters worse he was assaulted by a fellow pupil (a bit of a set-up outside of school including someone filming it but not put on SM). We reported it to the police and school. The trouble is he’s still dealing with repercussions of reporting it. The lad who punched him in the face (splitting his lip) has been warned by the police but his cronies are still making comments and sending unpleasant messages on SM. The school are trying to be their best but can’t control the stuff on social media. He is so miserable. Does have a small group of kind friends but a lot of damage has been done.

My dilemma is whether or not to move him to another school for Y11. I’m getting conflicting opinions on this. Some saying do it others saying it could be disastrous. I welcome any opinions from anyone one on here with experience or knowledge of having moved a kid mid GCSE.

I'm so sorry @SarahLou67, your poor ds.

Mine is younger and has also been a victim of targeted violence by a group of boys this term, it has destroyed his confidence. My dh has had to really persist with the school to get them to take it seriously. We are still not happy with how the school has handled it but will see how the next half term goes for ds.

Re. social media, I would take screen shots before deleting, keep a record in case you need to take it further with school/police. Would your ds be OK without social media for a while? Maybe he could try it and see how he gets on? I'm glad he has a group of good friends who help him to get through the days. Hopefully he can hang in there until the end of the year. I would make a note of any incidents from now on and inform the school every time - this is what the deputy head has asked us to do for ds.

All of this talk of camping has put me in mind of this...

hurrahforgin.com/collections/mugs/products/i-hate-camping-enamel-mug

Ah, thanks for that, Dreamingofbrie. SnapChat deletes messages within seconds but evidence gathering is something he’s so reluctant to do now for fear of making things worse,

Just me camping then?

Not Lakes, West Midlands. Plenty of hotels, B&Bs, pubs with rooms. Neighbours a mixed bunch - half would happily join in with Kumbaya, the other half might threaten to shoot you. The offer’s there!

I love camping. I can never get my family to join me though I've had to rejoin guides (as a leader) to be able to go camping. So I'm up for a 🏕️ trip, especially if I would get to meet you lovely lot

Sorry I've only dipped into chat a few times but like many other lurkers I find these threads amazing, so friendly and helpful for keeping my sanity. @MrsHamlet I left my phone out on your comment about aphids.. DH saw and recommends Rose Clear as a possible solution between ladybird larvae and flame thrower he said you can use it on plants other than roses but not on things you want to eat.. so guess it may depend where the aphids are..!

@MsAwesomeDragon

I love camping. I can never get my family to join me though I've had to rejoin guides (as a leader) to be able to go camping. So I'm up for a 🏕️ trip, especially if I would get to meet you lovely lot

I liked camping when I was in a pod with a small radiator at Wastwater and also in a van fancy safari tent at Skelwith Fold , not sure that really counts though! I don't think I'd cope very well in a tent in the rain. Have also camped with 180 x Y7 girls (surprisingly fun) and 100 x Y9 children (fun at the time but never again, that involved climbing a mountain and they were lovely but it was sooooo tough).

So I don't hate it, but it does have to be warm and dry!

@SarahLou67

Ah, thanks for that, Dreamingofbrie. SnapChat deletes messages within seconds but evidence gathering is something he’s so reluctant to do now for fear of making things worse,

My ds is reluctant to talk about what happened to him, I think he feels ashamed . Any chance you could evidence gather for him? My friend is having problem with kids leaving awful messages on her son's social media but she has access to it so screenshot, deletes and forwards the screenshot to the school.

I've never had Snapchat and my dc don't, as far as I know. We've had terrible trouble with it at school re. bullying though. I hope your ds has some respite at half term .

We progress through various camping stages when I was a teen and in my 20s. We had a small tent, larger tent, trajker tent, folding caravan then a proper caravan.
Then we sacked it off and swapped to staying in cottages and going abroad.

Loving staying in Devon at the moment. It's the perfect tonic and gets me away from the temptation of spending all half term writing my reports.

Not a camping fan here, could do it but DH and I are more of a city breaks couple. Used to run youth camps so did my fair share of camping back then.

Had a lovely day full of normal things yesterday. Family visiting so a meal out. Then drinks in the garden and dh and I went to the a theatre to see a comedian in the evening. We had to keep our masks on the the theatre and there were 5 empty seats between every group of people, so felt very spaced out, more so than my classroom!

Happy Bank Holiday everyone.

I'm seeing my parents today for the first time since last summer, which was the last time it was really possible. V much looking forward to it.

Oh, that's nice, Noble. Enjoy it!

Have a fab time @noblegiraffe!

Enjoy seeing your parents noble. Mine are coming to see us on Friday, which will be nice.

Have a fab time noble.

Shit hit the fan on holiday with dh, my parents are here and we're all pretending it's fine it isnt.

Maybe a sea swim is required.

@borntobequiet I suspect you're somewhere near me, on that basis!

@SarahLou67 I'm sorry to hear that DS is going through all this. I hope things improve for you soon.

I am so envious of everyone away on holiday! However, I am looking forward to seeing my mum later in the week. No real plans for today. Pottering in the garden, maybe another walk (hopefully a less hilly one!). I do have work to do but I'm ignoring it until tomorrow as I need a break.

@noblegiraffe

I'm seeing my parents today for the first time since last summer, which was the last time it was really possible. V much looking forward to it.

Have a wonderful time, noble!

@Clockspanner I have approximately 2567 bazillion aphids - 4/5 roses are infested and they're on one of my viburnum. I've tried being nice but roseclear may be the next step.

I'm chucking partner in the sea today. It always gives him a massive buzz when he gets in, but puts it off and off and off. Where his head is at right now really needs a cold water buzz.

We're also getting out for lunch on our own. My parents are here, so we need to use the childcare option. First time since Feb 2020.