The Sixtieth Republic - One half term to go - just need to survive Sports Day and Activities Week!

[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.

Just tried to do a LFT and threw up... timeturner did you find testing hard with morning sickness too?

We’re the same as Mrs AD. We shortened the school day by 10 mins a couple of years ago by abolishing afternoon registration.

What manufacturer is it Hobnobs? If it's Innova, I'd just avoid the throat swab bit if it's an issue.

I think short lunch is a con as a classroom teacher. It just means hyper behaviour is shoved in classrooms for us to deal with rather than slt and whoever they can get to do paid duties.

Ironically since also taking our other break they can’t get teachers to sign up for paid lunch duties. Not surprisingly as we have to pee sometime!

Rafa I can't find the manufacturer name anywhere. I'll just do nose swabs and hope for the best.

Better than nothing. And if it’s fine for us I’m the NHS I can’t see it would be an issue.

Just seen that many large websites (eg Amazon, Government!) all down at present, technical problem apparently.....

Off to my lovely library now, have good days Republicans!

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jun/08/teaching-unions-call-for-return-of-masks-to-classrooms-in-england-covid?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Well after a difficult day yesterday, today has been much better. Not looking forward to it getting much hotter though, our classroom is a greenhouse (not literally).

Out of interest when do other primary staff find out where they are?

[quote Its90minutestonight]www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jun/08/teaching-unions-call-for-return-of-masks-to-classrooms-in-england-covid?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other[/quote]
Good-I hope they do. No doubt the Them4Covid twats will object, but it’s clear that teachers wearing masks but kids not isn’t enough (no shit, Sherlock!). They’ll never implement it in primary but this might stem the spread a bit more.

Out of interest when do other primary staff find out where they are?

Yesterday, where I am!

Child in my class missed the week before half term to go abroad to an amber country (not Portugal). Still not back. Will need 10 days quarantine on top of what has already been missed (including several 1:1 catch up tuitions) and parents now asking for me to set work!
Think HT is even crosser than I am about it.

Our school is still in masks in classrooms.

Most kids are fine, some kids are really struggling with them in the heat.

Also is it normal for teenagers to complain about the heat (to be fair it is hot) but not take their blazers off? Seems really odd, none of them will remove a blazer even though they are clearly boiling.

@HobnobbingAboutHobnobs Yes I did - couldn’t do them ‘orally’ for a while actually for risk of vomming. I didn’t realise we had another preggo on here! Is it a congratulations kind of situation….?

Out of interest when do other primary staff find out where they are?

We’ve got to wait until our one vacancy is filled this week (one form entry). I take comfort in the fact that my maternity cover has been advertised as KS2. Hoping that keeps me away from the little ones for another year…

when I think that's very normal. They don't want to take blazers/jumpers off because they're worried about sweat patches on their shirts. Girls are generally more worried about it than boys ime.

Time when will you start your mat leave? Will you be off most of next year?

@WhenSheWasBad

Our school is still in masks in classrooms.

Most kids are fine, some kids are really struggling with them in the heat.

Also is it normal for teenagers to complain about the heat (to be fair it is hot) but not take their blazers off? Seems really odd, none of them will remove a blazer even though they are clearly boiling.

Totally normal to complain about heat but remove no layers at all - “wouldn’t dare miss” - nuts, and I have little sympathy! Wait til they constantly ask to have their lesson outside because it’s too hot, still wearing jumper and blazer and tights

@MsAwesomeDragon Baby due 10th August, so working till the end of term and will probably come back after Easter….appreciate that that doesn’t make it a terribly attractive job opportunity though! We’ve been inundated with applications for the permanent post, but none for the mat cover 😬

Popping in with some random good news - DS (20, university student) has a 1st vaccine appointment this weekend.

Not a hotspot area, but a v. v. efficient GP-led hub that has been ahead throughout as long as they have been given supplies.

Time yes, I had a positive preggers test last week and checked again this morning (now I'm officially late) and have a line so dark I'm wondering about twins 🤯 Very much a congratulations situation, it was planned (but rather quick!)

Manchester secondary schools to revert to supervised testing in schools - wonder what the take up rates will be?

Oh that’s awesome @HobnobbingAboutHobnobs. Don’t panic too much about twins - our toddler caused a mega line like that. I kid you not, DP started to go grey over that few weeks of twins worry 😂

Although, there are a LOT of twins at our school, and weirdly they are all the younger siblings….sorry!

Congrats again hobnob now it’s definite and you’re definitely seeing it as cause for celebration 🎉

It’s weird at school with zones and masks scrapped but not having a department because of building work. Every hour I’m in crowded corridors with kids not wearing masks. Too much all at once IMO. Hadn’t realised we were scrapping masks even outside classrooms till I was wading through massless kids to get to classes yesterday.

So pleased for you, Hobnob.

Congratulations again, Hobnob!

Still no news re: year group changes for us. I'm hoping no news is good news!