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

Lillyfae

Locotastic wrote: »

Plan and prepare what though? Basically as you were before Xmas holidays.

No need to delay things once cases are lower and everything else is back in order such as testing non symptomatic close contacts (all of which should be within the next week).

At the very least special needs, exam classes, vulnerable children and children of frontline/ essential workers.

Theboinkmaster

Stateofyou wrote: »

Things as they were before Christmas holidays are not the same as what we're facing into now. Isn't that obvious?

Just an excuse - not obvious to me at all.

Stateofyou

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

Global pandemic 11 months on? That's not an excuse.

Most other EU countries have their special needs classes open.

Exactly. So what is Norma Foley and her department's excuse for having absolutely nothing planned for the eventuality we find ourselves in now.

Stateofyou

billy_beckham wrote: »

Please enlighten me, exactly what is being requested over and above what was already in place before Christmas??

Mad the way this place is full of teachers during the day:pac:

Seriously? The issues being highlighted by unions and parents have been posted all over this thread and in the media. I suggest you google unless someone here has more patience than I.

I'm a Parent, as I've now said numerous times. And even teachers get 3 breaks a day like any other worker, as well as certain down times in the day as many work into the evening and take them as they come. MYOB is a good rule of thumb.

Stateofyou

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

Just an excuse - not obvious to me at all.

Obviously not :pac:

Icyseanfitz

Locotastic wrote: »

Plan and prepare what though? Basically as you were before Xmas holidays.

No need to delay things once cases are lower and everything else is back in order such as testing non symptomatic close contacts (all of which should be within the next week).

Things are vastly different than they where at any point before Christmas, we have new variants that spread far more easily, numbers are still huge, our hospitals are still on the verge and daily deaths are through the roof. Everything is different.

Theboinkmaster

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

Things are vastly different than they where at any point before Christmas, we have new variants that spread far more easily, numbers are still huge, our hospitals are still on the verge and daily deaths are through the roof. Everything is different.

Nope.

The variants are suspected to spread quicker.

Numbers are not huge we are less than 1,000 daily cases now and will be below 500 in 10 days time.

Hospitals lag that but already declining.

ICU will decline over coming weeks.

Deaths will reduce in line with ICU reduction.

So the only real thing that's changed since Xmas is:

- new variants but vaccines have already been confirmed to deal with them
- vaccination

So this means we will be more cautious opening up hence phased re-opening of schools.

It does not mean special needs children do not go back, they should be back already.

redmgar

Does anyone have an idea of the current plan?
Is it leaving cert group first, then after midterm, Primary school followed by the rest at the start of March?

Icyseanfitz

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

Nope.

The variants are suspected to spread quicker.

Numbers are not huge we are less than 1,000 daily cases now and will be below 500 in 10 days time.

Hospitals lag that but already declining.

ICU will decline over coming weeks.

Deaths will reduce in line with ICU reduction.

So the only real thing that's changed since Xmas is:

- new variants but vaccines have already been confirmed to deal with them
- vaccination

So this means we will be more cautious opening up hence phased re-opening of schools.

It does not mean special needs children do not go back, they should be back already.

You seem to be the boards.ie authority on the new variants, have you a scientific/viral education to back up claims of them being essentially a complete non issue?

As per vaccines working on these new variants, any article ive read has suggested the effectiveness of said vaccines could be reduced by a large margin.... but why would we even be discussing vaccines when they will have zero effect on any of us going back to school safely as we are still bottom of the list for vaccinations.

As an aside, if numbers where at 1000 before Christmas, we would have considered that huge at the time

billy_beckham

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

Things are vastly different than they where at any point before Christmas, we have new variants that spread far more easily, numbers are still huge, our hospitals are still on the verge and daily deaths are through the roof. Everything is different.

By Fergal Bowers
Health Correspondent

The number of patients in hospital with confirmed Covid-19 has further reduced, according to latest figures from the Health Service Executive.

There are 1,689 patients with the disease in hospitals, down 134 compared to yesterday.

Not all doom and gloom, hospital situation improving, case rates improving, positivity rate improving!!

There may be more variants but how to protect from them hasn't changed, the fundamentals of hands/face/space etc apply to all variants..

Still don't know what more is needed for a return now, than was needed for a return in Sep??

History Queen

Is there any timeline for an announcement on the schools?

Icyseanfitz

billy_beckham wrote: »

By Fergal Bowers
Health Correspondent

The number of patients in hospital with confirmed Covid-19 has further reduced, according to latest figures from the Health Service Executive.

There are 1,689 patients with the disease in hospitals, down 134 compared to yesterday.

Not all doom and gloom, hospital situation improving, case rates improving, positivity rate improving!!

There may be more variants but how to protect from them hasn't changed, the fundamentals of hands/face/space etc apply to all variants..

Still don't know what more is needed for a return now, than was needed for a return in Sep??

Other eu countries are now mandating ffp2 as a minimum in near all situations btw, these variants are a huge factor that no one can afford to gamble with

Cerveza

History Queen wrote: »

Is there any timeline for an announcement on the schools?

Norma has gone for the bunker. Disgrace carry on, she should be engaging with various people and putting a plan together. Worst minister ever.

deiseindublin

It seems to me that NF and JM have been put on mute after the absolute balls they've made on everything so far. I presume MM and LV will sort it out and let the pair back out of their cage then.

If there was ever a PR101 lesson in what NOT to do, you'd use DES, NF and JM as the perfect case study.

History Queen

Cerveza wrote: »

Norma has gone for the bunker. Disgrace carry on, she should be engaging with various people and putting a plan together. Worst minister ever.

I actually don't mind her saying nothing publically until there is a plan. Herself and Josepha have proven themselves incapable of conducting themselves in a professional manner in public. But surely they are engaging with "stakeholders" as they put it.

TheValeyard

History Queen wrote: »

Is there any timeline for an announcement on the schools?

Probably putting together a timeline for a timeline

khalessi

As an aside, does anyone know if I can get clothes still in Tesco. Have a funeral and need to get black leggings for kids

History Queen

khalessi wrote: »

As an aside, does anyone know if I can get clothes still in Tesco. Have a funeral and need to get black leggings for kids

Yes some limited clothes but if what you need isn't out on display ask a member of staff. I had to do this in dunnes last time as my son outgrew his shoes. It wasn't a problem.

Cerveza

History Queen wrote: »

Yes some limited clothes but if what you need isn't out on display ask a member of staff. I had to do this in dunnes last time as my son outgrew his shoes. It wasn't a problem.

Didn’t his feet grow fast in level 5 restrictions.

khalessi

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

Nope.



So the only real thing that's changed since Xmas is:

- new variants but vaccines have already been confirmed to deal with them
- vaccination

So this means we will be more cautious opening up hence phased re-opening of schools.

It does not mean special needs children do not go back, they should be back already.

Are children with additional needs not part of schooL?

As you say we have to be more cautious the roll out for reopening is more the children with AEN, in some schools it will mean 75% attendance of pupils.

Also there is a delay to the vaccines so we will more then likely finish school year without it, so being cautious is not a bad thing as It just takes one person to pass it on to someone else.

khalessi

History Queen wrote: »

Yes some limited clothes but if what you need isn't out on display ask a member of staff. I had to do this in dunnes last time as my son outgrew his shoes. It wasn't a problem.

THanks

History Queen

Cerveza wrote: »

Didn’t his feet grow fast in level 5 restrictions.

I don't know what you mean?

History Queen

Just spotted this on twitter... it seems the timeline for an announcement is "soon"

https://twitter.com/MichealLehane/status/1354404853460701187?s=19

downthemiddle

deiseindublin wrote: »

It seems to me that NF and JM have been put on mute after the absolute balls they've made on everything so far. I presume MM and LV will sort it out and let the pair back out of their cage then.

If there was ever a PR101 lesson in what NOT to do, you'd use DES, NF and JM as the perfect case study.

They have been muzzled as have the rest of the cabinet on this issue. All negotiations are now being kept confidential until a planned reopening is agreed. MM clipped a number of cabinet wings over the leaking of information to the media.
We can expect an announcement in the next week, all going well. A phased reopening should begin around the February midterm with special school and outreach classes being the first to reopen. If that is successful we will move onto the gradual reopening of mainstream primary, again starting with children with additional needs. Somewhere along the line LC students will also be phased in.

History Queen

downthemiddle wrote: »

They have been muzzled as have the rest of the cabinet on this issue. All negotiations are now being kept confidential until a planned reopening is agreed. MM clipped a number of cabinet wings over the leaking of information to the media.
We can expect an announcement in the next week, all going well. A phased reopening should begin around the February midterm with special school and outreach classes being the first to reopen. If that is successful we will move onto the gradual reopening of mainstream primary, again starting with children with additional needs. Somewhere along the line LC students will also be phased in.

No harm. It is better to say nothing until decisions are made and agreed upon.

khalessi

downthemiddle wrote: »

They have been muzzled as have the rest of the cabinet on this issue. All negotiations are now being kept confidential until a planned reopening is agreed. MM clipped a number of cabinet wings over the leaking of information to the media.
We can expect an announcement in the next week, all going well. A phased reopening should begin around the February midterm with special school and outreach classes being the first to reopen. If that is successful we will move onto the gradual reopening of mainstream primary, again starting with children with additional needs. Somewhere along the line LC students will also be phased in.

Yeah I was thinking midterm for children with AEN too

hesaidshesaid

khalessi wrote: »

Yeah I was thinking midterm for children with AEN too

I know it's impossible to say but do people think AEN kids will be the week before midterm or that gov will wait until afterwards?

If numbers in hospitals are down and close contacts being tested I'd be happy enough to go back Feb 8th but with midterm on the 12th, the kids would only be back 5 days and then the routine would be interrupted again. That doesn't seem appropriate for kids with AEN. But maybe parents would be happy just to get them back.

jimmytwotimes 2013

billy_beckham wrote: »

By Fergal Bowers
Health Correspondent

The number of patients in hospital with confirmed Covid-19 has further reduced, according to latest figures from the Health Service Executive.

There are 1,689 patients with the disease in hospitals, down 134 compared to yesterday.

Not all doom and gloom, hospital situation improving, case rates improving, positivity rate improving!!

There may be more variants but how to protect from them hasn't changed, the fundamentals of hands/face/space etc apply to all variants..

Still don't know what more is needed for a return now, than was needed for a return in Sep??

Dr. Billy on editorial duty now. Jesus Wept.

wirelessdude01

History Queen wrote: »

Is there any timeline for an announcement on the schools?

A timeline of the announcement of a timeline would indeed be progress.

Don't think anything will be announced until they have all their ducks in a row.

Only exception to that might be some announcement late this week around some clarity and certainty around whether orals and practical projects and the like are going ahead/progressing.

wirelessdude01

khalessi wrote: »

As an aside, does anyone know if I can get clothes still in Tesco. Have a funeral and need to get black leggings for kids

Ask the assistant and they should get it for you as it is for a child.

Having said that we asked for something in Marks the other day and were told no.