Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) **Mod warning in OP 22/01**

jrosen

I can’t see schools being back open in feb. Numbers are too high.

Went well here this morning, both just hit the ground running. There was a lot of text to get through as an overview and plans but that’s just a once off. Lots of support and explanations on google classroom for my primary son. However he was done and dusted in an hour?! I’m gonna run back over and make sure he hasn’t missed anything.

Have given both the freedom to choose dinner and cook a meal each this week too so that can be another lesson of sorts to keep them busy.

the corpo

Just want to give kudos to the teachers in our school anyway. It's been a long day, but they've been really quick and receptive to parent emails, and taking on board requests. Has been about as positive as possible really

Stateofyou

Lillyfae wrote: »

The poster said:



Even if the schools had been open, those children wouldn't have been in school so how would they cause a risk for his child? The teacher isn't "in" school. All of the children are absent. I'm asking for clarification on why this is relevant here, you can't answer that because you aren't the OP. I just don't understand the whole comment, there is no context.

So, let me rephrase my response to you- attack the post, not the poster. Everyone is stressed, be mindful of that rather than having a go at me for asking someone else a question.

Look here, you nitpicked, your explanation makes no sense, I am calling out your post not you personally but nice try. I know its more difficult for you to sense what's going here since you don't live in this country but trust that we are all more than aware that no one is "in" school. Be mindful of that.

Lillyfae

Great to see that it's going well for most people, well done to the schools and teachers, but also to the parents and the children. Hope that for those parents working aswell that you're not under too much pressure.

wirelessdude01

Bananaleaf wrote: »

We are being prepared for a longer closure and rather than be at the mercy of a very indecisive government, we are preparing for a predicted grades scenario

Leo was doing the rounds of the radio shows this morning. Two parents actually rang me asking had I heard him as he is very much laying the scene for a much longer closure.

combat14

Covid 19: Ireland records highest infection rate in the world over past seven days

https://m.independent.ie/news/covid-19-ireland-records-highest-infection-rate-in-the-world-over-past-seven-days-39954862.html

hard to believe the government were still thinking of opening schools incredible


they are still adamant they want to open schools ina couple of weeks as usual come what may

Lillyfae

combat14 wrote: »

Covid 19: Ireland records highest infection rate in the world over past seven days

https://m.independent.ie/news/covid-19-ireland-records-highest-infection-rate-in-the-world-over-past-seven-days-39954862.html

hard to believe the government were still thinking of opening schools incredible


they are still adamant they want to open schools ina couple of weeks as usual come what may

I think opening the hospitality sector in December was the incredible part. What were they thinking? They literally threw education under the bus so that people could pretend to have a slice of pizza or a few chicken nuggets and chips with a pint. In my opinion it is scandalous and if there's ever a mention of opening pubs again before a significant portion of the population has been vaccinated it will be a joke.

JimmyVik

Lillyfae wrote: »

But the schools are closed and have been since the 22nd of December?

My point is that im glad they are not open now because a lot of kids with the virus would be in them.



Oh sorry, I forgot, the virus wouldnt be allowed in anyway, so all good

NIMAN

combat14 wrote: »

Covid 19: Ireland records highest infection rate in the world over past seven days

https://m.independent.ie/news/covid-19-ireland-records-highest-infection-rate-in-the-world-over-past-seven-days-39954862.html


they are still adamant they want to open schools ina couple of weeks as usual come what may

That's just talk.

There is not a chance schools will open at the start of Feb.

Every news report has experts saying we are going to see huge pressure on the health service and loads more positives and deaths over the next fortnight, so come the end of January the country will still be in a critical condition, even if L5 restrictions start to ease the numbers.

Schools ain't opening anytime soon.

average_runner

combat14 wrote: »

Covid 19: Ireland records highest infection rate in the world over past seven days

https://m.independent.ie/news/covid-19-ireland-records-highest-infection-rate-in-the-world-over-past-seven-days-39954862.html

hard to believe the government were still thinking of opening schools incredible


they are still adamant they want to open schools ina couple of weeks as usual come what may

End of Feb schools will open and level 3 after paddys day.


Should see numbers go down in next 7 days if all going well!!

Lillyfae

JimmyVik wrote: »

My point is that im glad they are not open now because a lot of kids with the virus would be in them.

Thanks for clarifying, but you pointed out that the parents had called the teacher to let them know they were sick- surely they would have done that even if the schools were open? Also, by the timeline they would have contracted Covid outside of school.

Lillyfae

NIMAN wrote: »

That's just talk.

There is not a chance schools will open at the start of Feb.

Every news report has experts saying we are going to see huge pressure on the health service and loads more positives and deaths over the next fortnight, so come the end of January the country will still be in a critical condition, even if L5 restrictions start to ease the numbers.

Schools ain't opening anytime soon.

It's terribly worrying. I really feel like there will be no hope whatsoever of flattening the curve again now, until the vaccine (and booster) kick in. Godspeed the rollout, and I truly wish strength and good health to all healthcare workers. They're facing an unmerciful few months.

JimmyVik

Lillyfae wrote: »

Thanks for clarifying, but you pointed out that the parents had called the teacher to let them know they were sick- surely they would have done that even if the schools were open? Also, by the timeline they would have contracted Covid outside of school.

Do you think perhaps you are being a bit nit picky and dramatic in your responses to people?
You might need to find a hobby

sekond

jrosen wrote: »

I can’t see schools being back open in feb. Numbers are too high.

Went well here this morning, both just hit the ground running. There was a lot of text to get through as an overview and plans but that’s just a once off. Lots of support and explanations on google classroom for my primary son. However he was done and dusted in an hour?! I’m gonna run back over and make sure he hasn’t missed anything.

Have given both the freedom to choose dinner and cook a meal each this week too so that can be another lesson of sorts to keep them busy.

My primary child would likely have been finished in an hour too - English, maths and Irish, just a small exercise in each. Because we're both trying to work and our older child is on frequent zoom calls, we needed to spread the work out. So she did English first, then some online games - then I sent her off to play for a bit while I did video calls. Then we did Irish before lunch, and now she has just done her maths (took all of 10 minutes), and I'm about to torture her with an online typing tutor for a while before sending her off again and hoping my OH can do some lego with her in a while.

It's so quick I think compared to a full day in school, because the same piece of work probably takes much longer in class - classroom management issues, questions from kids etc, interruptions. In this format it's watch a video, do the questions, so some kids will fly through it.

SAMTALK

Mrsmum wrote: »

I think something will have to be done for special needs kids. The rest of us will cope, perfectly well or badly, but we'll cope. I just caugh a bit there on Newstalk where a mother was talking about her son. He's awake night and day and spends the day lying on the floor kicking it. I only caught a small bit but that would break your heart. And there's far worse than that. Clearly those families need support somehow. I'm worried about my son in LC but I know I couldn't cope at all if I were a mother like that lady. They are the ones that need help first.

This is heartbreaking, and It's so hard on the children

They have had such changes to deal with since last March. My daughter is an SNA and she says the mask wearing is the hardest part because the children cannot see you smile at them, and then when some of them want to hug you it's so hard to say no

All this talk about teachers safety and fear of going back to classroom and yet people calling for SNA;s to go back to special needs unit

It's a no win situation as far as i can see. On one hand it's not safe for teachers to go back and yet SNA's and teachers in units are being called on to return. They have to deal very closely with these students and it's not safe.
On the other hand the children are missing so much of a routine and learning

wirelessdude01

sekond wrote: »

My primary child would likely have been finished in an hour too - English, maths and Irish, just a small exercise in each. Because we're both trying to work and our older child is on frequent zoom calls, we needed to spread the work out. So she did English first, then some online games - then I sent her off to play for a bit while I did video calls. Then we did Irish before lunch, and now she has just done her maths (took all of 10 minutes), and I'm about to torture her with an online typing tutor for a while before sending her off again and hoping my OH can do some lego with her in a while.

It's so quick I think compared to a full day in school, because the same piece of work probably takes much longer in class - classroom management issues, questions from kids etc, interruptions. In this format it's watch a video, do the questions, so some kids will fly through it.

There is a lot of repetition in school, organic discussion. None of this can be replicated at home via online/remote.

I have a load of mindfulness stuff along with a pile of additional/optional maths work up for them. Essentially busy work that I do not want returned to me but I've answers scheduled to go up every day for it so that the children can self correct.

wirelessdude01

SAMTALK wrote: »

This is heartbreaking, and It's so hard on the children

They have had such changes to deal with since last March. My daughter is an SNA and she says the mask wearing is the hardest part because the children cannot see you smile at them, and then when some of them want to hug you it's so hard to say no

All this talk about teachers safety and fear of going back to classroom and yet people calling for SNA;s to go back to special needs unit

It's a no win situation as far as i can see. On one hand it's not safe for teachers to go back and yet SNA's and teachers in units are being called on to return. They have to deal very closely with these students and it's not safe.
On the other hand the children are missing so much of a routine and learning

Ironic thing is all these politicians who are calling for this and that are the very same ones who have been a party to all the cuts to vital support services which have either been discontinued or severely curtailed over the past number of years due to a reduction in allocated funding.

micks_address

What’s the implications of the main mock exam producer not fulfilling any orders? Seems more likely we are headed toward a predicted grading system for this years leaving?

average_runner

micks_address wrote: »

What’s the implications of the main mock exam producer not fulfilling any orders? Seems more likely we are headed toward a predicted grading system for this years leaving?

We never did mock exams in school, was always seen as a waste of time.
School saw them as a burnout, kids breaking their ass to do well in mocks and then burnt out for the real exam. Not sure if they were right or wrong but i did ok.


Now we did do xmas and summer exams in the halls where out LC would be



We would get mock paper questions for homework instead!!

penny piper

SAMTALK wrote: »

This is heartbreaking, and It's so hard on the children

They have had such changes to deal with since last March. My daughter is an SNA and she says the mask wearing is the hardest part because the children cannot see you smile at them, and then when some of them want to hug you it's so hard to say no

All this talk about teachers safety and fear of going back to classroom and yet people calling for SNA;s to go back to special needs unit

It's a no win situation as far as i can see. On one hand it's not safe for teachers to go back and yet SNA's and teachers in units are being called on to return. They have to deal very closely with these students and it's not safe.
On the other hand the children are missing so much of a routine and learning

I'm a mother of two secondary teachers....and yes like everyone I have full sympathy regarding special needs students.....however.....Facts are health and safety of the people working in a special needs school must come first...everybody can surely see this.....

average_runner

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

There is a lot of repetition in school, organic discussion. None of this can be replicated at home via online/remote.

I have a load of mindfulness stuff along with a pile of additional/optional maths work up for them. Essentially busy work that I do not want returned to me but I've answers scheduled to go up every day for it so that the children can self correct.

Optional maths worked a treat last spring. Kids got bored gave them some maths. Between that and coding, they loved it

SAMTALK

penny piper wrote: »

I'm a mother of two secondary teachers....and yes like everyone I have full sympathy regarding special needs students.....however.....Facts are health and safety of the people working in a special needs school must come first...everybody can surely see this.....

For all the calls for something to be done there are very few calling for the protection of teachers / SNA's .

Again I'll say there are no winners in this

Wombatman

The new mutant UK strain of COVID-19 is 43% more infectious in children, a top American epidemiologist has warned.

Schools are safe don't you know.

SSeanSS

penny piper wrote: »

I'm a mother of two secondary teachers....and yes like everyone I have full sympathy regarding special needs students.....however.....Facts are health and safety of the people working in a special needs school must come first...everybody can surely see this.....

100% agree

Treppen

penny piper wrote: »

I'm a mother of two secondary teachers....and yes like everyone I have full sympathy regarding special needs students.....however.....Facts are health and safety of the people working in a special needs school must come first...everybody can surely see this.....

With special schools it kind of goes towards the medical need (like hospitals), as in , the kids loss of time can have real long term physical, psychological, developmental effects, and once those kids hit 18 and finished school then the state removes a lot of supports. So it's kind of like saying hospital workers' health comes first, if you adopt the medical model.

Whereas, leaving cert students etc, the vast majority will all be in the same boat and can pick up on stuff after the leaving cert. Also, specialisations in college don't necessarily depend on every leaving cert subject they might be currently missing.

But... If I were working in a special school I'd be looking for a lot more supports and planning. Rather than Normal declaring... 'Schools closed, 6th years in 3 days.... And oh yeah ( as an afterthought ), special schools must open too in a few days. Sort it out yerselves folks, goodnight and thanks'.

khalessi

Wombatman wrote: »

Schools are safe don't you know.

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”

Joseph Goebbels

Treppen

khalessi wrote: »

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”

Joseph Goebbels

These days it's the Imelda Marcos approach.

"Perception is real, and the truth is not." - Imelda Marcos.

rob316

I think special needs schools will open by the 1st of Feb, mainstream the following month.

khalessi

Treppen wrote: »

These days it's the Imelda Marcos approach.

"Perception is real, and the truth is not." - Imelda Marcos.

Definitely in US at the moment.

I think until they are honest about school numbers it is problem. We all know teachers who were sticking rigidly to routine of home then work then home again, who were then told when asked when do you think you got this and they replied school, for the tracer to reply we will put it down as community.

We keep being told on here by experts, there is no big explosion in numbers so not school driven, why insist then it is written as community as not schools? Yup the person can sometimes be wrong but there are a growing number of people coming forward saying that happened to them, parent and staff. I know for me if I got it, it could only be from school.

khalessi

https://twitter.com/newschambers/status/1348631336383340544

This isn't good, I know we want to be world leaders but not on this chart. eeeek

C__MC

Can you do a live teams lesson with a kahoot on teams ?

jimmytwotimes 2013

C__MC wrote: »

Can you do a live teams lesson with a kahoot on teams ?

U cud share the screen and they cud do Kahoot on their fones but some might struggle hopping from teams to Kahoot on their fone.

I find it easiest to assign the Kahoot so they can do it themselves to a deadline.

mirrorwall14

My head hurts.... looooong day. It will get better right? Between teaching and homeschooling.....


I need a drink lol

hesaidshesaid

Have to say, today went so much better than expected. Almost full attendance on the zoom calls with the class teachers of 6th class, I had full attendance with my learning support maths group. They seemed shell shocked when I got straight into decimals but they rallied! We all seem to have mastered Seesaw over the weekend so I feel much more optimistic about remote learning this time around.

It's a lot easier with 6th class though, many of them have their own devices and are quite independent online. Although a decent amount of work was allotted, you can see on Seesaw how quickly they complete it. So different to school where time is spent working in pairs and groups and the teacher can circulate. Parents who are wfh, much respect to you trying to keep them busy for the rest of day while getting your own work done. It can't be easy.

Smacruairi

Full timetable on secondary today.Full attendance for the most part, but it's just a lecture online. Already one or 2 dropping in and out of the call with issues. It went well, but let's see how everyone reacts if the WiFi issues persist and I don't do the prerecorded like last time.

Real sense though of "this is it now for the next few months". I'd imagine back after Easter. Dunno how you primary school teachers can do anything live to be honest.

little bit of help

Why can't they vaccinate the teachers and SNA staff of special schools and units? I know healthcare staff are 1st in the queue and rightly so but I would argue that staff in direct contact with special needs including bus drivers/escorts should be much higher up the list it would make a massive difference in these children's lives to get back to school.

SusanC10

Day 1 down.
Primary School will have a Live Class 3 times a week. 1 hour each time. Daily work provided for each day.
Secondary School has a Remote Timetable which is different to the normal one. At least 1 Live Class per Subject per week. Some more than others.
Few glitches this am but overall happy here. Kids are happy. We got everything done today.
Teachers available by email to help. Reasonable response times outlined.

wirelessdude01

SusanC10 wrote: »

Day 1 down.
Primary School will have a Live Class 3 times a week. 1 hour each time. Daily work provided for each day.
Secondary School has a Remote Timetable which is different to the normal one. At least 1 Live Class per Subject per week. Some more than others.
Few glitches this am but overall happy here. Kids are happy. We got everything done today.
Teachers available by email to help. Reasonable response times outlined.

What are they using for the live lessons?

KrustyUCC

Day 1 down

My sister got a phone call from the two teachers of her boys to say they would be forwarding on a plan

As of this minute no email arrived so that's 0 work today for the two boys with special needs

I fear this is a sign of things to come going on the lack of support the first lockdown

lulublue22

KrustyUCC wrote: »

Day 1 down

My sister got a phone call from the two teachers of her boys to say they would be forwarding on a plan

As of this minute no email arrived so that's 0 work today for the two boys with special needs

I fear this is a sign of things to come going on the lack of support the first lockdown

I presume if it’s special ed then the input of other professionals is necessary - teacher could be waiting on s& l / ot input etc. No point sending on a half baked plan.

mirrorwall14

KrustyUCC wrote: »

Day 1 down

My sister got a phone call from the two teachers of her boys to say they would be forwarding on a plan

As of this minute no email arrived so that's 0 work today for the two boys with special needs

I fear this is a sign of things to come going on the lack of support the first lockdown

A couple of very detailed documents came out only today from the department for SEN so that may have caused a delay

KrustyUCC

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

A couple of very detailed documents came out only today from the department for SEN so that may have caused a delay

maybe but going on past experience I doubt that's the reason

will see if things improve tomorrow

SusanC10

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

What are they using for the live lessons?

Google Meet and Teams.

Talisman

Mrsmum wrote: »

Is anyone else's school not starting back like ours till Tuesday ? Teacher planning day tomorrow.

Our primary school kids don't start until Wednesday - email received this morning to explain that there's a teacher day on Tuesday. Also our 8 year old's teacher is down with the virus so they need a sub to step in. He is dreading that his class will be assigned the young lady that took them for a day in October and apparently conducted everything through Irish - "That would be Wile E Coyote level of genius" to quote the child.

khalessi

Am almost in tears here long stressful day. One of the kids has a zoom meeting tomorrow at the same time I have one and I cant load Zoom onto their computer. Microsoft edge head melted. Had massive headache after today and this is not helping.

Hold My Hand

Parents called to the school at designated times to collect packs. Some had my pupils with them and I have to say it’s given me a big lift seeing them from afar. Glad I put a few nice surprises in their packs. Parents happy with Seesaw. Don’t know how parents are working & homeschooling at the same time. My dog was monopolising my attention while video teaching remotely today but, at least I could let her out in the garden!

wirelessdude01

SusanC10 wrote: »

Google Meet and Teams.

Strange that a teacher would mix two different ecosystems.

lulublue22

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Strange that a teacher would mix two different ecosystems.

2 different children at different levels I’d say ?

mirrorwall14

khalessi wrote: »

Am almost in tears here long stressful day. One of the kids has a zoom meeting tomorrow at the same time I have one and I cant load Zoom onto their computer. Microsoft edge head melted. Had massive headache after today and this is not helping.

Khalessi it will get better. You are only one person. Can you put them on your phone on zoom?

khalessi

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Khalessi it will get better. You are only one person. Can you put them on your phone on zoom?

Sorry was just ranting, got it sorted enough to get through tomorrow. But thank you:) Had been at it ages and just settling in to upload stuff for tomorrow at least it will be finished soon. Lazy teachers me arse lol