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

wirelessdude01

The return to school declaration thing, we had when we returned back in September. The not congregating on school grounds we also had but instead it just happened outside the school gate or in the church grounds where some parents park. Whole thing is a fcuking farce.

SusanC10

Hopontop wrote: »

Weren’t both of these in place already? I know they were in my school

There were lots of chats going on at pick up and drop off at our Primary School. Most Parents were masked but some weren't. I waited in the car for our daughter and she came to me.

Lots of playmates going on. We also said No to 2 Birthday parties.

Stateofyou

Yep, we had the form in our rural school, and the anti congregation guidelines, and ventilation measures too. Not new at all.

We've also turned down 1 "small" party (!!!!) invitation and a handful of playdates at the home invites. It's a shít enough situation without the feelings that come from turning this down for your children when it goes against every instinct as a parent, on top of it.

I feel like I've hit my wall this morning.

PeterPan92

Deleted User wrote: »

The advice from NPHET not to return to school after Christmas did not come until January 5th. Before this there was no recommendation from NPHET not to reopen schools. The DES just proceeded with the original plan until told otherwise. The unions might believe they changed the direction, but they are deluded.

Well, Norma was certainly very happy to blame the unions for being the one's that refused to go along with her plan to open schools at all costs.

Sammy2012

Stateofyou wrote: »

Yep, we had the form in our rural school, and the ventilation measures too. Not new at all.

We've also turned down 1 "small" party (!!!!) invitation and a handful of playdates at the home invites. It's a shít enough situation without the feelings that come from turning this down for your children when it goes against every instinct as a parent, on top of it.

I feel like I've hit my wall this morning.

I'm sure the weather today is not helping either. It's mental people having birthday parties. I know in my oldest daughters class there are no birthdays now until the summer but in my youngest childs class there is at least one in March. But my daughter will not be going. I have no problem saying no. But in saying that my kids fully understand why they can't mix with others outside school just now.

But everyone is now doing what is best for themselves. And I know when I go back to school I will be even more l diligent about following the rules than I was last Sept. Plus there will be lots of Irish, English and Maths to keep them going and go over the stuff we covered at home.

SusanC10

https://www.newstalk.com/news/parents-advised-not-to-give-children-false-hope-over-school-return-1153487

Parents advised not to give children false hope on return to school.
All this kite-flying is just ridiculous.

khalessi

Stateofyou wrote: »

Well, the first mention about new "safety measures" for the schools reopen. What a f-g bunch of tossers. So they're going to do shít about shít. Knew it.
https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/schools-reopening-ireland-rules-dates-19859623?fbclid=IwAR2fk-I5qiqMe8_qxBbHAPzOHCEOp0HlOZYtWrWVWjFRcIz9Js8CYQzXvMk

Parents of children returning to school will be asked to sign a coronavirus declaration form stating that they have no reason to believe their child has an infectious disease.

There will also be new guidance surrounding congregation outside schools as parents are being urged to avoid having their children meet with others in situations such as playdates or birthday parties.

These are some of the new safety measures which are a part of a drafted framework for reopening schools in light of the greater infection threat posed by the new UK variant.


Where's the f-g clown emoji, honest to god.

No masks. No staggered learning plans to reduce class sizes. Nothing about increased ventilation, or increased heating budgets for schools. No mention of increased test/trace system, etc.

They're going to make a video for parents to learn how to be cautious if their kids have symptoms, and to keep them home. Never mind many/most are asymptomatic and there are NO additional measures I can see to mitigate for that and the more virulent spread.

I'm already seeing SO many comments on social media, and from people I know in real life making comments such as "at least when the kids were/are in school I can look forward to having a chat with other parents." This was rife at my kids' school, though the new guidelines sent out staggered the drop off/collection times, called for a one way system, no parents congregating, and leaving school grounds immediately. Did that happen? Yeah right. And they can't wait to be back at it. Loads of people seem to be back to the playdates, meeting up, and planning to meet at the supermarket now. Feels to me like we are the only ones keeping to. And it makes me angry because we are all still sacrificing and doing our best while others gave up and did so a while ago.

This isn't working and this government isn't leading.

None of thatis new, parents hav been filling that form out during last term, but was a form on Aladdin and the congregation ban was already in force so as you say nothing new.

Msbookeeper

combat14 wrote: »

god this is really depressing from indo today.. really hope reopening of schools in march doesnt mean we wont be able to staycation in ireland this year...


No meeting outdoors or travel further than 5km until May under new plan

https://m.independent.ie/world-news/coronavirus/no-meeting-outdoors-or-travel-further-than-5km-until-may-under-new-plan-40111982.html

So people cannot meet in groups outside but schools are preparing to go back, in the classroom, sorry that's not making sense.

If it's not safe to have a chat outside, clearly not safe to teach a class in doors. I 100% understand the political motivation, parents point of view, children's isolation but how do those two government policies match up?

Obviously any resistance to this will get the "teachers don't want to work, evil ASTI etc."

I feel sorry for those in retail, medical sectors etc. who cannot work remotely.

lulublue22

SusanC10 wrote: »

https://www.newstalk.com/news/parents-advised-not-to-give-children-false-hope-over-school-return-1153487

Parents advised not to give children false hope on return to school.
All this kite-flying is just ridiculous.

But suits the gov agenda - when the blame is laid at the door of the unions and the lazy teachers despite the gov / dep having over 9 months to formulate a plan B. I take my hat off to them - they have very nicely framed the issue as a lack of co operation buy in from unions and staff and have very nicely avoided any criticism re lack of planning. After last years LC debacle a contingency plan should have been put in place for this years cohort. Even yesterday 3 different ministers gave 3 different dates as to the return to school. 🀪

km79

SusanC10 wrote: »

https://www.newstalk.com/news/parents-advised-not-to-give-children-false-hope-over-school-return-1153487

Parents advised not to give children false hope on return to school.
All this kite-flying is just ridiculous.

In fairness that’s a random doctor giving an opinion in a newspaper . Not coming from the Govt. We can take it as a given Juniors to 2nd and LCerts will be back Monday week. Anything beyond those few weeks is not nailed on

SusanC10

km79 wrote: »

In fairness that’s a random doctor giving an opinion in a newspaper . Not coming from the Govt. We can take it as a given Juniors to 2nd and LCerts will be back Monday week. Anything beyond those few weeks is not nailed on

I don't think that we can take anything as given until there is a formal announcement from either Norma or MM.

wirelessdude01

km79 wrote: »

In fairness that’s a random doctor giving an opinion in a newspaper . Not coming from the Govt. We can take it as a given Juniors to 2nd and LCerts will be back Monday week. Anything beyond those few weeks is not nailed on

She isn't a doctor doctor, she is a primary teacher who also lectures part-time in UCD. Her opinion is very prominent in primary teaching circles.

km79

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

She isn't a doctor doctor, she is a primary teacher who also lectures part-time in UCD. Her opinion is very prominent in primary teaching circles.

Ah right
But she isn’t affiliated with the Govt?
I don’t think she is kite flying. Just giving an opinion

Mrsmum

Msbookeeper wrote: »

So people cannot meet in groups outside but schools are preparing to go back, in the classroom, sorry that's not making sense.

If it's not safe to have a chat outside, clearly not safe to teach a class in doors. I 100% understand the political motivation, parents point of view, children's isolation but how do those two government policies match up?

Obviously any resistance to this will get the "teachers don't want to work, evil ASTI etc."

I feel sorry for those in retail, medical sectors etc. who cannot work remotely.

On the one hand those very measures, people not being allowed to meet up outdoors and no travel etc are what makes schools safer. When my child goes back to school, I am happy to see the toughest of measures outside of school as that keeps him safer inside school also. What isn't in the community can't get into the classroom.
But on the other hand that assumes people obey the rules and they are clearly not doing that so therefore that blows my previous argument out of the water. And around and around we go getting nowhere.

wirelessdude01

km79 wrote: »

Ah right
But she isn’t affiliated with the Govt?
I don’t think she is kite flying. Just giving an opinion

No connection to the government. I heard her on the radio. She was on to talk about mental health and wellbeing and not to be making promises to children about returning to school that you aren't certain about.

Szero

Interesting thread on the risks ahead for our unvaccinated teachers and children ...

https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1362725213264297984

combat14

Hospitality sector unlikely to reopen until the middle of summer – Taoiseach

There is serious concern about how fast the new variant can spread indoors which might further delay the reopening of non-essential retail outlets.

https://m.independent.ie/world-news/coronavirus/hospitality-sector-unlikely-to-reopen-until-the-middle-of-summer-taoiseach-40111982.html


but schools are magical places

lulublue22

I actually think a phased reopening of schools is the way to go provided that1. it’s closely monitored - done slowly and 2. entire class considered close contacts with testing and isolation extending to whole school testing if more than one year group affected. It’s time to start at least attempting to get children back to education.

Stargazer7

The level of head in the sand / wishful thinking by the government is just bizarre. If they did nothing else apart from invest in decent ventilation in schools in so far as possible...and where not possible high end masks for staff / SNAs at the bare minimum, it would be progress.

Instead there is this acrimonious back and forth between the dept and the unions which serves nobody, least of all the parents and children who are just trying to get through the next few months. It is now almost March, so the likelihood is whatever phased opening happens will drift into April. Just 3 months before the summer. As an SNA I am dying to get back to school, to see the kids and to facilitate their learning, need for routine and their socialization with their peers. However, as with the past 10 months, I do not want to be responsible for behaving as a vector for the virus for any of the children, their families or those I live with. I will double mask, keep opening windows, keep sanitising etc. but the government also needs to protect the children, staff and families involved rather than "hoping for the best". It is extremely disheartening.

wirelessdude01

lulublue22 wrote: »

I actually think a phased reopening of schools is the way to go provided that1. it’s closely monitored - done slowly and 2. entire class considered close contacts with testing and isolation extending to whole school testing if more than one year group affected. It’s time to start at least attempting to get children back to education.

The definition of a close contact in a school setting needs to change. Pure rubbish as it currently stands. My information is that it won't be changing.

Warbeastrior

Stateofyou wrote:

I'm already seeing SO many comments on social media, and from people I know in real life making comments such as "at least when the kids were/are in school I can look forward to having a chat with other parents." This was rife at my kids' school, though the new guidelines sent out staggered the drop off/collection times, called for a one way system, no parents congregating, and leaving school grounds immediately. Did that happen? Yeah right. And they can't wait to be back at it. Loads of people seem to be back to the playdates, meeting up, and planning to meet at the supermarket now. Feels to me like we are the only ones keeping to. And it makes me angry because we are all still sacrificing and doing our best while others gave up and did so a while ago.

I drove past a massive group of 3rd years from our secondary school all mixing in the town last week.

lulublue22

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

The definition of a close contact in a school setting needs to change. Pure rubbish as it currently stands. My information is that it won't be changing.

I haven’t heard other than schools will receive more support from dedicated ph teams. It is time for the dep to start thinking outside of the box and put a coherent plan in place to facilitate a return to school. A start would be to change the definition of a close contact in the school setting.

Locotastic

lulublue22 wrote: »

I actually think a phased reopening of schools is the way to go provided that1. it’s closely monitored - done slowly and 2. entire class considered close contacts with testing and isolation extending to whole school testing if more than one year group affected. It’s time to start at least attempting to get children back to education.

The rate of COVID cases and deaths are declining Worldwide, very much appears to be a seasonal virus.

Agree phased is the way to go, that way things won't have a chance to spiral out of control unchecked.

KerryConnor

I hope they start mass testing random schools too. That is the only way we will know what's going on.

Icyseanfitz

Warbeastrior wrote: »

I drove past a massive group of 3rd years from our secondary school all mixing in the town last week.

The parents of those kids need to do their job and keep them home.

Icyseanfitz

lulublue22 wrote: »

I haven’t heard other than schools will receive more support from dedicated ph teams. It is time for the dep to start thinking outside of the box and put a coherent plan in place to facilitate a return to school. A start would be to change the definition of a close contact in the school setting.

Unfortunately they arnt going to change anything, they might reword and window dress to make it look like they've added new measures but we all know it will be pure optics at the end of the day.

Only hope really is that they don't rush the phased part of reopening, but even on that, will they make use of it by reducing class sizes in the building, or will there be loads of empty classes and the same class sizes as normal which would defeat the point anyway.

penny piper

Does anyone not really think most students in LC classes will choose Predicted grades when they do go back to school?...in one of my children's school (where they teach) only 8 students sat the leaving cert exam last year.....

Locotastic

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

The parents of those kids need to do their job and keep them home.

There nothing to say kids and teens can't go outside, get a grip. They don't have to be 'kept' at home.

Lockdown might not be officially over but a lot of people are done with it now. Can't expect children to stay locked in their homes with no interaction.

BTownB

Locotastic wrote: »

There nothing to say kids and teens can't go outside, get a grip. They don't have to be 'kept' at home.

Lockdown might not be officially over but a lot of people are done with it now. Can't expect children to stay locked in their homes with no interaction.

Thank you. You can't keep teenagers at home in doors for months on end.

They are outside and risk of contracting covid is minimal.

People have lost all perspective.

Icyseanfitz

Locotastic wrote: »

There nothing to say kids and teens can't go outside, get a grip. They don't have to be 'kept' at home.

Lockdown might not be officially over but a lot of people are done with it now. Can't expect children to stay locked in their homes with no interaction.

Everyone, teenager's included haven been asked to stay within 5km, and not to meet other household's, unless this has changed then yes those kids should be home.