Sixty Seventh Republic - under temporary guardianship

[Hercisback]

In the absence of staff and her fabulous thread titles and witty openers here is a 67th thread. The broom cupboard is overflowing so time for another Republic. Hopefully we hear from staff soon.

Stolen from thread 66.
'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.'

Definitely the hardest Autumn term ever.

Far more children and staff sick than last year. And everything else is a grind too.

www.tes.com/news/teachers-leader-slams-ofsted-reign-terror?fbclid=IwAR3xOduaAf0VVztxrKzkB7Zuuz2GJ9YaR1GA8bKm9FxVbggwsoT19kparPY

“ "And, from my point of view, we need teachers to be inspired, we need them to be joyful, we need them to love working with children, we need them to feel that the reason they come to work every day is because they can make a difference and that they can contribute to society. You know, we saw that at the beginning of the pandemic.”

Yes!

Morning all.

Did you see Doreset have “temporarily suspended” 12-15 yo vaccinations due to staff shortages?!

On the day the MoH says get jabbed…..

Ours were all cancelled weeks ago due to staff shortages. No idea when they'll be rearranged.

I hope no one is sitting on chairs in the staffroom.

Well usual bollocks over my way. Pupil comes in on Monday even though mum tested positive at the weekend. I draw short straw and work with him all day, try to keep my distance. Fortunately doesn't need loads of support unlike some of our others so I can step back. Pupil has PCR Monday night. Off Tuesday waiting for results. Results back yesterday to say positive. All staff in my bit don't want to be anywhere near me, through mixture of vulnerable themselves, vulnerable family members or buggering off on holiday for half-term.

I am awaiting PCR results and to find out if my own half-term is ruined. Again.

I'm trying to leave teaching but nothing to go to so can't quit yet. Will have to stay until Easter which is depressing. Where can I find a job for similar pay that doesn't require me to have "extensive knowledge/experience" of something that isn't teaching?!

@KatherineofGaunt oh no sorry to hear that. Fingers crossed for you.

We have suddenly got a bit of a flurry of positives. Still sitting with loads of sniffers and coughers though.

Hello, everyone. We had a dreadful half term. At one point 1/4 of the children were off with Covid and the cover for sick colleagues has been…not fun. On the safety of this board and for GENUINE interest, can I ask if you have noticed a growing number of second or even third reinfections (children and adults)? Not all reinfections have been ‘bad’ or even symptomatic but some (including cases in children )have been very unpleasant, with extended periods of fever and lethargy. I know this is anecdotal.

I hope you get your half term, katherine.

I'm trying to leave teaching but nothing to go to so can't quit yet. Will have to stay until Easter which is depressing. Where can I find a job for similar pay that doesn't require me to have "extensive knowledge/experience" of something that isn't teaching?!

I have been asking the same question for years. Sadly, I can’t find an answer and I’m still teaching. My resignation letter remains composed but only inside my head!

Hope you test negative and get a half term x

Education Uncovered - left wing journo, anyone heard of it/him?
Sub needed but the headline is enough
www.educationuncovered.co.uk/news/152116/public-interest-means-government-advice-on-maskwearing-in-schools-must-be-kept-secret-says-department-for-education.thtml

Warwick Mansell, used to write for TES then set out on his own venture. Usually busy tracking down MAT corruption and that sort of thing. Generally reliable.

Can I join you lovely folks? Secondary teacher here hit by Covid nearly two weeks ago. So much covid related absence at my school from kids and staff. We seem, in the words of the vice principal, to be coming out the other side of staff absence most staff are now returning after isolating but some are definitely going to have to isolate for half term.

Smallest dc waiting for a PCR result from this morning.
Definitely feeling like half term is in danger 😟

Hi, Stravagente

@BustopherPonsonbyJones

Hello, everyone. We had a dreadful half term. At one point 1/4 of the children were off with Covid and the cover for sick colleagues has been…not fun. On the safety of this board and for GENUINE interest, can I ask if you have noticed a growing number of second or even third reinfections (children and adults)? Not all reinfections have been ‘bad’ or even symptomatic but some (including cases in children )have been very unpleasant, with extended periods of fever and lethargy. I know this is anecdotal.

I hope you get your half term, katherine.

One colleague had her whole family infected last May, during half term so no contact isolation. Her two sons have just had it again aged 8 and 14. She said the 14 yr old had it worse this time. Not so much in severity, but time to get over it.

Hi @stravagante, you’re very welcome here.

Do you want to say roughly where in the country you are? Not obligatory though!

Can I join too? Primary teacher in London. I haven't had Covid but I've had that horrible cold this week.
Lots of children in our school our off with Covid, KS2 seem particularly bad.

Hi @proudplantowner, welcome to you too!

Welcome newbies. Unlimited photocopying, help yourself to biscuits.

I think being so rural we had managed to avoid it mostly, but it really seems to be taking hold now the isolation of family members has stopped.

I assume that was what Boris et al wanted.

Hello to those newer than me. 👋

@stravagante

Can I join you lovely folks? Secondary teacher here hit by Covid nearly two weeks ago. So much covid related absence at my school from kids and staff. We seem, in the words of the vice principal, to be coming out the other side of staff absence most staff are now returning after isolating but some are definitely going to have to isolate for half term.

Hello and welcome. Similar stories all round sadly.

Hi stravagante and proudplantowner

That cold is an absolute swine. So many staff have had it and did their best to struggle on.

So glad it’s nearly half term. I was doing ok but am properly on my knees now.

twinkle that is the worst timing. Hoping it’s negative for you.

Hi @stravagante and @Proudplantowner, welcome! We've got communal milk back in the staffroom, provided by school, which has always been welcome.