Sixty-Eighth Republic - still under temporary guardianship…

[MrsHerculePoirot]

In the absence of staff and her fabulous thread titles and witty openers here is a 68th thread. The broom cupboard is overflowing so time for another Republic. Hopefully we hear from staff soon.

Stolen from previous threads…
'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.'

Insanity.

@Appuskidu

Just seen this on Twitter.

Teachers in Scotland can ‘volunteer’ to break isolation and pitch up to work if they’d like!

WHAT THE ... !!

And this is one of the reasons for me leaving education. We're just expendable

It's a nifty way around shortages, isn't it. That and my 1% payrise makes me feel like such a valued member of society.

Have not posted here for an age but wanted to drop in to say good luck (and stay safe) to anyone still working until the end of the week!

Wanted to drop this here, because it warned my heart ❤.

Oof I've been trying to get my head down this term but I'm on my knees. Booster has floored me this week. And I can't help but feel that more "measures" are inevitable in the new year. Have absolutely nothing left to give after nearly 2vyears of this.

@rainingcats

Have not posted here for an age but wanted to drop in to say good luck (and stay safe) to anyone still working until the end of the week!

Though some of us have another 3 days next week too …

Can't believe Scotland are doing that?! How is it OK? Do they have to at least do LFTs everyday?

1 and a half more days to go here..... I'm done especially as I thought yesterday was thurs for the whole day!

Oh god three days next week? That's really going some. I'm sure I will be terribly envious when we are back in early Jan but oof, that's hard.

Our kids have mentally exited the building. They're so tired, the year 7 are hyped up and the staff are all exhausted.

Can't believe Scotland are doing that?! How is it OK? Do they have to at least do LFTs everyday?

We always go on late. Even last year we went on until the 22nd. We go back on the 5th so not much rest for the wicked.

I don’t think LFTs are required…. I do think we’ll be way down in numbers next week though.

So tired.

I’m England and won’t finish til Tuesday lunchtime (but we have two weeks in October).

Anyone else catch covid at school and ruin a family Christmas? Perfect way to end the last few days

Haven’t posted here for ages but read regularly. I tested positive on Monday and now the rest of my family are also stricken. Getting sick of the emails from work praising the rest of the staff for ‘pulling together’ … I hate being off but stayed home as soon as I got symptoms. Getting texts from colleagues saying they have headaches and coughs and then ‘err’ responses when I gently suggest they are symptomatic! I had my booster booked for today too.

Yes, there needs to be a LOT more insistence on testing tbh.

Hope you are OK jimmy.

I’ve been lurking too but as usual, enjoyed all the posts on the Republic. I’ve made it through without Covid so far, so I feel my luck is probably about to run out just in time to miss Christmas. Does anyone else just want to say ‘we TOLD you so!’ over and over on the Covid schools thread? Some posters should be hanging their heads in shame. I

We don't finish til next Wednesday. Staff are feeling pretty angry that it seems almost certain that several of us will be isolating over Christmas.

I’ve finished today, thank goodness for a Friday as non-work day! Exhausted doesn’t quite cover it. DH and DCs finish tomorrow. Now to see which of us is infected first for Christmas…..

16 members of staff either positive or awaiting test results at our place. We’re released on the 23rd but my heart goes out to anyone pinged now.

@BustopherPonsonbyJones

I’ve been lurking too but as usual, enjoyed all the posts on the Republic. I’ve made it through without Covid so far, so I feel my luck is probably about to run out just in time to miss Christmas. Does anyone else just want to say ‘we TOLD you so!’ over and over on the Covid schools thread? Some posters should be hanging their heads in shame. I

It's inFURIating!

Getting deja vu. we finish wed next week but they are now blended learning days.
Our training days are now directed by the welsh gov to be prep days for back to school.
Back to bubbles. Back to Stafford starts and finishes. And back to being told to plan for the possibility of blended learning in Jan too.

Sorry to everyone worried about having their Christmas impacted by testing positive 😔 Working from home this past couple of weeks has (a) made me feel guilty about everyone still at the chalk face and (b) made me realise how much teachers are putting themselves at risk in the classroom and corridors.

Sorry you are positive Jimmy

So retired teachers are going to be asked to “step in” to cover staff possible staff shortages next year.
I know quite a few retired teachers (thanks to parents). They are all around 70, I don’t think any of them would consider it.

It would take them till March to get their DBS back, though I can’t actually imagine anyone applying so I shouldn’t think it will be much of a barrier.

I'm so sorry people are testing positive. It's gutting.

I'm so sorry Jimmy and Beach - that absolutely sucks
I hope at least you don't feel too ill with it