The Sixty-First Republic - Covid the gift that keeps giving even in the last half term!

[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.

Oh yes - Speech Day moved to being a virtual event. I am leaping for joy!

Thanks Staff.

Thanks Staff. Hi all! Gutted about the 4 week delay as my orchestras will all be cancelled but glad also as it is the sensible thing to do.

And prom is cancelled! I am so relieved about that as it was going to be in a marquee at school on a bloody SATURDAY.

Speech day is always December. Sigh.

Thank you for the new thread, Staff!

DD1's speech day was always going to be virtual (thankfully - it's in the afternoon on a school day so I wouldn't be able to go if it weren't; at least this way I can watch on catch up).

Still waiting to hear about DD2's leavers' disco (it's an evening do at school). Her dress only cost me £20 so I won't be too annoyed if it's cancelled!

@piggywaspushed I've just seen your comment in one of the broom cupboards about children off with 'bad hay fever' - we've had loads off with that today! And of course nobody will ask them to get tested.

We are still having our 300 strong year 12 induction week...

Thanks, staff. That’s also reminded me I need to do an LF test tonight.

have avoided the ‘bad cold’ from the person I share an office with. Just a case of trying to avoid the hayfever from landing me with isolation and a PCR test.

Cheers Staff!!

My DC now isolating for 10 days as a close contact... but can go back to school on 21st June. Does that mean the last contact was Friday? I presume so.

Ha! I've got an interview tomorrow, better not get too close and personal with anyone, had I? Oh silly me, of course Covid doesn't transmit in schools because of the magic filter.

@Piggywaspushed

We are still having our 300 strong year 12 induction week...

Dear God!

I've suffered dreadfully with hay fever for over 50 years (so much for it fading with age! ). I was hospitalised with it the first time (in 1969) and, according to my mother, in those days NONE of the doctors knew what it was! Eventually they surmised that it might be some kind of allergy and then worked out it was grass pollen.
But I've never EVER had a day off from school because of it. There have been times when I sat in exam halls with tissues stuffed up both nostrils and cold compresses for my weeping eyes, but if I took Piriton, which was pretty much the only thing available then, I would be asleep on the desk.
So, when kids whinge complain about hay fever these days, I'm torn between sympathising hugely and wanting to tell them to take their (much more effective) meds and get on with it!

Of course you are, piggy. Wouldn't expect any less of your school.

Hayfever was really bad today to be fair. We had freshly cut grass too. I guess if it goes away when you take an antihistamine it's not covid?

I get v bad hayfever too. Today a boy in year 9 was literally weeping form eyes , nose mouth. Everyone was 2 m away from him at least.

I guess if it goes away when you take an antihistamine it's not covid?"

To a degree. DH has been stuffing pills all day and is still suffering.

Also, when I have a cold, anti histamine helps...

Hayfever was really bad today to be fair. We had freshly cut grass too. I guess if it goes away when you take an antihistamine it's not covid?
Wait? Antihistamines are meant to reduce hay-fever? Someone needs to tell mine that. I ought to be asking the doctor for something stronger but it's too much hassle at the moment waiting for a phone call on my half days that may or may not happen during lessons.

Thanks @StaffRepFeistyClub

8 days to go and the moving has commenced!

We also had a tartan day for the Scotland match. It was so lovely to see how happy they all were. (Until we lost, as usual )

Our GP stopped prescribing hay fever meds a few years ago - they just direct you to the pharmacy and tell you it's cheaper to buy it over-the-counter. There was a really effective one for me (Telfast - fexofenadine) but they are really reluctant to let you have it on prescription for some reason.

CallmeHendricks
Is that part of the drive to reduce people wanting OTC ear drops and paracetamol on prescription instead of spending a couple of pounds?

My friend gets it like me and their GP prescribes for it, but only after they spent months proving OTC ones didn't work. One year I was given an excellent nasal spray but I can't remember what it was.

Flixonase, Lola?

I think way back last year the advice in Sweden was to take an anti histamine and stay at home for 24hrs to see if improved.

@DollyMixtureLulus

8 days to go and the moving has commenced!

We also had a tartan day for the Scotland match. It was so lovely to see how happy they all were. (Until we lost, as usual )

I’m reliably informed that you are just lulling England into a false sense of security.

The hayfever is definitely bad this year. It's the first time I've had it since moving to the UK! And I know it's hayfever because it gave me an asthma attack so I had to get a PCR.