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Covid in Schools

TheValeyard

Since we're all back, maybe it's time for a thread about dealing with Covid in schools as it's now beginning to become a reality.

Coming to a school near you!

Be interesting to hear about schools responses to outbreaks, procedures put in place, what works and does not work and the Dept response.

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Moody_mona

SligoBrewer wrote: »

Think staff should be adhering to it too.

I don't know what I think to be honest!

Rationale is to get us to unsupervised groups as quickly as possible.

r93kaey5p2izun

SligoBrewer wrote: »

Think staff should be adhering to it too.

I think it's beyond unacceptable to expect students to wear masks but have teachers exempt. I would actively oppose such a policy.

Moody_mona

Camryn Gigantic Toothpaste wrote: »

I think it's beyond unacceptable to expect students to wear masks but have teachers exempt. I would actively oppose such a policy.

Just to clarify, the post I quoted was referring to a one way system. Our staff are not exempt from wearing masks, I never claimed that this was a suitable or acceptable policy.

I will edit my post to include the entire quoted post as this has obviously caused confusion.

r93kaey5p2izun

Moody_mona wrote: »

Just to clarify, the post I quoted was referring to a one way system. Our staff are not exempt from wearing masks, I never claimed that this was a suitable or acceptable policy.

I will edit my post to include the entire quoted post as this has obviously caused confusion.

Ah, ok. I can absolutely see the merit in a different system for teachers for movement around the building alright.

TheValeyard

Anyone think those messages about school infections are pretty accurate?

From what I've seen so far on a couple of compiled lists, they are not far off the mark.

kippy

TheValeyard wrote: »

Anyone think those messages about school infections are pretty accurate?

From what I've seen so far on a couple of compiled lists, they are not far off the mark.

It's as obvious as the nose on one's head that there will be cases in schools. What we need to keep an eye on and I am sure the powers that be are, is the transmission of the disease within the school environment.

sidcon

The latest schools

babybuilder

Hi
I have a child in first year in a local post primary school. From the information provided by the school a lot of work went into preparing the school for the return. Students and teachers wear masks, desks in classrooms are 1m apart. There is a one way system and sanitizing posts outside every classroom. As class periods are doubles or trebles the students care allowed regular breaks outside to remove the masks. Break times are also staggered. However the school canteen is open at break times and the children are seated together cheek by jowl in a small area well within 1 m with no face masks as they are eating. The other year groups are allowed up the town for their lunch. I'm concerned about this as I assumed that the children would be eating their lunches in class where the 1 m distance could be maintained. In the school emails there hasn't been much mention of ventilation in classrooms and in some classes my child has mentioned that the windows were closed. I've a background in microbiology and I'm concerned about the lack of consistency in applying social distancing rules in the school during lunch time. Advice would be greatly appreciated.

doc_17

Send Norma Foley an email asking for her plans for canteens. The. Take it from there. You. Can blame schools for the fact there’s no spacing. They’ve done what they can by the sounds of it by staggering breaks etc. Children might be getting their only hot meal of the day at school.

Separately, I don’t think staff need to or should follow a one-way system. Rules at school are for students, not for us. Having to follow a one-way system could lead to all sorts of problems for teachers, for example, if I need to get 20 metres back quickly to deal with an issue but have to walk 200 metres instead.

gaiscioch

In the event of a teacher having a much smaller room - under 30sqm - than the recommended 49sqm room do people think the teacher has a right to refuse to move classes peripatetically within the school for the duration of the Covid guidelines? (there is no larger room permanently available) What is happening in other schools? Are principals just avoiding conflict and letting the teachers stay in their rooms?

mirrorwall14

gaiscioch wrote: »

In the event of a teacher having a much smaller room - under 30sqm - than the recommended 49sqm room do people think the teacher has a right to refuse to move classes peripatetically within the school for the duration of the Covid guidelines? (there is no larger room permanently available) What is happening in other schools? Are principals just avoiding conflict and letting the teachers stay in their rooms?

Our class sizes have been adjusted to fit the max per room with 1m social distancing for staff and students be that more or less than 24. It barely gives you room to move at the board. Essentially you stand in one spot right in front of the whiteboard to teach. Even at that second and third years don’t fit in the rooms and there is an overflow room in use for both

shesty

To follow up on my earlier post.....none of the class that were sent home in my child's school last week tested positive.They must stay out for 14 days from last contact anyway.Tests were done the afternoon/evening of being sent home, results received in under 48 hours (at a weekend).
The school is on that confirmed cases list.Will schools be removed as classes return I wonder.....otherwise the data doesn't mean much.

TheValeyard

shesty wrote: »

To follow up on my earlier post.....none of the class that were sent home in my child's school last week tested positive.They must stay out for 14 days from last contact anyway.Tests were done the afternoon/evening of being sent home, results received in under 48 hours (at a weekend).
The school is on that confirmed cases list.Will schools be removed as classes return I wonder.....otherwise the data doesn't mean much.

Data would need to indicate situation resolved or ongoing for it to be useful. Otherwise it might just frighten people.

Treppen

shesty wrote: »

To follow up on my earlier post.....none of the class that were sent home in my child's school last week tested positive.They must stay out for 14 days from last contact anyway.Tests were done the afternoon/evening of being sent home, results received in under 48 hours (at a weekend).
The school is on that confirmed cases list.Will schools be removed as classes return I wonder.....otherwise the data doesn't mean much.

Tests aren't 100%

r93kaey5p2izun

I thought close contacts were to be tested twice at days 0 and 7?

babybuilder

doc_17 wrote: »

Send Norma Foley an email asking for her plans for canteens. The. Take it from there. You. Can blame schools for the fact there’s no spacing. They’ve done what they can by the sounds of it by staggering breaks etc. Children might be getting their only hot meal of the day at school.

Separately, I don’t think staff need to or should follow a one-way system. Rules at school are for students, not for us. Having to follow a one-way system could lead to all sorts of problems for teachers, for example, if I need to get 20 metres back quickly to deal with an issue but have to walk 200 metres instead.

Thanks.

The point I am trying to make is that infection control is meant to be a priority but cramming lots of students tightly in a canteen undoes all of this. Students are kept in their classes as per guidelines then unleashed and mix with whoever in close. Not very scientific and counter intuitive. Not blaming teachers but.

shesty

Camryn Gigantic Toothpaste wrote: »

I thought close contacts were to be tested twice at days 0 and 7?

Not in these cases it would appear....they have no mention of another test.

shesty

Treppen wrote: »

Tests aren't 100%

No test is 100%.They still have to stay home for the period required, and watch for symptoms anyway.

What else can they use as a metric, if not that?If the child is healthy, the test is negative, they complete the isolation period - that is 3 boxes ticked essentially.On a practical level, you can't ask anymore.Life has to go on.

[Deleted User]

All hell going to break loose once the pubs open on 21st. I thought they were keeping them closed to offer some window of protection for the kids but even the increasing cases in schools has not deterred them. People need their pint, publicans need their money and to hell with the kids. What a criminal decision.

km79

http://twitter.com/amongey/status/1303424546683473925

http://twitter.com/amongey/status/1303424548445057024

Dept demanding Principals mobile numbers so that they can be contacted in evenings and weekends

If they had one iota of what was happening on the ground they would know they could probably ring the school and they would be there working anyway

TheValeyard

The response is all over the shop, particularly a certain school out west, where the caretaker tested positive, but the son was told to remain in school as he was tested. Which made no sense??

gaiscioch

In small classes, with 2 metres (plus) between the teacher and the nearest student, are you all still wearing visors or masks? A couple of parents made a complaint about the non-use of a visor by a teacher in that context so just wondering what’s happening elsewhere.

khalessi

gaiscioch wrote: »

In small classes, with 2 metres (plus) between the teacher and the nearest student, are you all still wearing visors or masks? A couple of parents made a complaint about the non-use of a visor by a teacher in that context so just wondering what’s happening elsewhere.

I would wear visor and mask as it is airborne.

Treppen

TheValeyard wrote: »

The response is all over the shop, particularly a certain school out west, where the caretaker tested positive, but the son was told to remain in school as he was tested. Which made no sense??

Yup know a school in Dublin where the kid tested positive and told to stay at home aswell as the rest of the class.... But his siblings were told to go to school!

mirrorwall14

Visor if we can maintain 2m. No situation where we can be without mask or visor

JJayoo

Balagan1 wrote: »

All hell going to break loose once the pubs open on 21st. I thought they were keeping them closed to offer some window of protection for the kids but even the increasing cases in schools has not deterred them. People need their pint, publicans need their money and to hell with the kids. What a criminal decision.

I don't think they will be opening on the 21st.

Student house parties in college tho....the urge to ride is too powerful

jrosen

Balagan1 wrote: »

All hell going to break loose once the pubs open on 21st. I thought they were keeping them closed to offer some window of protection for the kids but even the increasing cases in schools has not deterred them. People need their pint, publicans need their money and to hell with the kids. What a criminal decision.

Those pubs have a business to run, families to feed. The industry has been crippled.
Some will never open again. Its peoples livelihoods at risk.

solerina

gaiscioch wrote: »

In small classes, with 2 metres (plus) between the teacher and the nearest student, are you all still wearing visors or masks? A couple of parents made a complaint about the non-use of a visor by a teacher in that context so just wondering what’s happening elsewhere.

Wearing a mask, visors don’t protect us from anything according to most available research

Bobtheman

Let's all face facts. 24 kids in an ordinary size room with masks is a pretty unique workplace. Kids over 16. It's going to spread. Teachers are being thrown out there.
However the evidence is generally that teenagers don't pass it to adults or so I'm told ? Who knows.
But going on about cafeterias or one teacher taking off their mask is splitting hairs
We as a society have decided to take this risk. As a teacher I ain't happy but no realistic alternative has been provided.

Bobtheman

jrosen wrote: »

Those pubs have a business to run, families to feed. The industry has been crippled.
Some will never open again. Its peoples livelihoods at risk.

I agree with you. It's being ignored in many places as it is .