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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Original poster

The Sixty-Fifth Republic - The Covid School Phoney War under way so who will the gold medal and who will get the wooden spoon?

999 replies

Staffholidayclubrep · 18/07/2021 12:13

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.

You can sit on chairs but keep the windows open. You don’t have to upload LFT results during the holidays. You do not have to wear mask - free choice

OP posts:
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HarveySchlumpfenburger · 21/07/2021 22:09

direct result of lockdown and schools being closed

I don't think it was our lockdown though. RSV season starts in Oct and peaks in December. And I think we all know that our schools weren't closed and our borders were quite open last autumn and winter.

It was the southern hemisphere lockdown at the start of their winter combined with big reductions in international travel that will have been responsible if anything was. It's the same thing that killed off flu for a year.

echt · 21/07/2021 22:32

As for lockdowns later on the year, there may well be a need, but whether they will happen is another matter. Hmm

JanFebAnyMonth · 21/07/2021 22:40

Oh absolutely @echt

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 21/07/2021 23:24

Primary schools won't close again, which I'm mostly happy about.

Crawled over the line today, told a joke about being careful not to skate on thin ice (because I always give them the safety talk, to which they start parroting me - it's meant to be a bit funny), and at least 8 of my class were confused about why I'd have talked about ice when it's so hot. Looking forward to a more neuro typical class next year.

I've been to the pub, where most staff were, but didn't drink and left when the Head bought a bottle of tequila.

Original poster
Staffholidayclubrep · 22/07/2021 00:17

Well done all those who finished today. Hopefully, by Friday we will be feet up and chilling to some extent

As for Sage/DfE etc there will be lots of decisions during August and we will get them at the end of INSET day ...

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Original poster
Staffholidayclubrep · 22/07/2021 00:25

Now MN will be full of why are the summer holidays so long? who is going to care for my child whilst I work? why are holiday clubs fully booked/so expensive?

Or one of my personal faves - A teacher(staff) lives next door to me and refuses to provide childcare during any of the holidays. I had a tricky couple of years with a cf neighbour when my kids were young but I never gave in, not even in a not-really an emergency situation.

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TheHoneyBadger · 22/07/2021 03:21

Oh I'd love a head who bought a bottle of tequila. It may be a little extreme but it's at least a clear indication of not having a stick up your arse and judging everyone by some very clinical far removed perspective.

Struggled tonight with my mother going on about how teachers and nurses should stop complaining because tehy're just doing the job they're paid for. Proper deliberate fuck you badger provocations in my mind. Did try to point out how much extra work, risk and responsibility we've faced this year but brick wall.

Struggling to feel like I can even say I like her currently and annoyingly have let it bother me enough to be awake past 3am.

Increasingly I feel like it's the retired (having barely worked anyway) and the sahms who are the most judgemental of those who've actually been out in the thick of this crisis. Easy to judge from the comfort of your armchair.

eitak22 · 22/07/2021 06:36

Honey sorry the comments from you mum got to you so much. I agree about the retired, lots got the vaccine quick and now aren't seeing there's still risk.

I have had about 4 hours interrupted sleep due to the heat so today is going to be fun Hmm

Piggywaspushed · 22/07/2021 07:02

I get that a bit form my DM too honey. She doesn't say negative things about teachers per se but thinks it is horrific that schools are closed anywhere and doesn't acknowledge what I am saying when I point out that this puts me at risk. I think she has no idea what is going on in reality though just hears bits and bobs on the news. She is in the US where schools really have been closed. My DSiss doesn't seem at all bothered and her DS hasn't been at school all year!

DSis is police in the US. America is very militaristic in outlook still so she gets all thanks for 'doing service for her country' stuff and lots of adulation.

WarriorN · 22/07/2021 07:32

It's certainly been a grim virus, the Rsv one. My kids and I all had it at half term and it really affected my son's and my own asthma. I'm pretty sure it was that as then there was an outbreak at the nursery (😬) and some had had swabs.

WarriorN · 22/07/2021 07:36

I can see that mitigation measures taken against CV would unwittingly make other viruses evolve to be more transmissible too. They've been warning of a bounce back with flu etc for a while. The sicky bug is definitely in full flow here, (colleague and neighbours tested negative for CV) but I do remember summer sick bugs going round in the past so I don't know how unusual that is.

MrsHamlet · 22/07/2021 07:56

DSis is police in the US. America is very militaristic in outlook still so she gets all thanks for 'doing service for her country' stuff and lots of adulation
I was on a tour of a state capitol building somewhere and we met the state treasurer (as you do!). He chatted to everyone and asked where we were from, then asked us what we did. When I said I was a teacher, I got thanked for my service... very unexpected!

SquashedFlyBiscuits · 22/07/2021 08:35

Finished. Still in one piece...just. Got some lovely, lovely messages in cards from parents and children. Was handed a note from a very shy Y6 leaver who I taught a couple of years ago and it made me cry. Then my dh cried too when he read it. A bit cheesy but our work really does change lives and I am so proud to be a teacher. Thank you so much for these threads since this whole crazy business started. I might not post much but you lot have definitely been part of my support network this year. Listening to you chat about all the craziness has really helped and I am sure there are a lot of lurkers out there who agree. Thank you!

Mistressiggi · 22/07/2021 09:46

I hope that's everyone off, or very nearly there at least. Can't believe you are working on in this heat. I am a sweaty mess.

TheHoneyBadger · 22/07/2021 09:51

Well done Squashed and I agree about the thread. It's probably done a better job of keeping me sane this year than I acknowledge.

BustopherPonsonbyJones · 22/07/2021 10:28

Yes, thanks to all of you and particularly Staff for keeping the threads going. I haven’t posted a lot but reading the threads has given me a lot of support (like a good bra 🙂) and helped get me through this ‘challenging’ year.

MrsHamlet · 22/07/2021 10:53

Agreed - this has been a sane place in a fraught world!

echt · 22/07/2021 11:32

I had the first sweet taste of the future after handing in my notice of retirement: a staff meeting on re-structuring where I had no fucks to give.

Outstanding.:o

Piggywaspushed · 22/07/2021 11:46

@Mistressiggi

I hope that's everyone off, or very nearly there at least. Can't believe you are working on in this heat. I am a sweaty mess.
I am still here! Still got broken speakers!
Monkeytennis97 · 22/07/2021 12:08

Nice one @echt Grin

Agree with everyone- these threads have been brilliant.

DreamingofBrie · 22/07/2021 12:42

@echt

I had the first sweet taste of the future after handing in my notice of retirement: a staff meeting on re-structuring where I had no fucks to give.

Outstanding.:o

Cheers to you, echt! That is so great to read.
DreamingofBrie · 22/07/2021 12:49

Congratulations to everyone who's finished now, and hope for a smooth few days for those still in school.

I'm loving the holidays - it's a bit hot for me but it's been so nice seeing friends, doing fun stuff with the kids and generally just slobbing about. Next year's timetable means not too much to prep, just brush up on Year 13.

Thanks to Staff and all if you for helping to keep my head up and my feet on the ground so many times this year Wine.

Hercisback · 22/07/2021 13:50

Brilliant echt. That must have felt so good!

I'm enjoying the holidays too. It doesn't feel like a rest going from FT work to two under 5 but it's nice to be out seeing people and doing family stuff. I'll get the odd childfree day to recharge and not having to work/housework in the evenings is a bonus.

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CarrieBlue · 22/07/2021 17:31

Made it! School is still open tomorrow but I asont work Fridays so I’m done for this year. It’s been unbearably hot today, so glad the only thing I have to do tomorrow is meet my colleagues for a lot of beer - we’ve booked an entire pub!