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

Locotastic · 17-01-2021 11:07AM

Acosta wrote: »

Christ. That's wrong at the best of times, but this school year it shouldn't have been on the curriculum since September to free up time for other subjects.

It can be an exam subject, World religions, history of religions and morality rather than just Catholicism.

jimmytwotimes 2013 · 17-01-2021 11:09AM

Acosta wrote: »

Christ. That's wrong at the best of times, but this school year it shouldn't have been on the curriculum since September to free up time for other subjects.

Yeah, a total waste of everybody's time but no sign of a minister/gov showing any desire to get rid of it

the corpo · 17-01-2021 11:41AM

You know, I hope people in NPHET and Government outside the Department of Education get to see evidence of how home schooling is working this time.

Last time was a firefighting mess, but this time, and I know it's subjective to my experience and those of my friends and family, but home schooling is going about as well it could. The engagement the school is providing is giving my wife and I time to breath and facilitate our own work.

The Department have an itch to score points for themselves and get the kids back in regardless, but my kids are doing a whole lot better, both mentally and with their education, than last March. Keeping them at home is a weapon in the fight against this virus. If it can be further utilised, I hope it is.

I fully understand that there are many families who aren't finding it easier, but rather than ram them all back in, maybe they could look at broader, more inventive solutions...

mirrorwall14 · 17-01-2021 11:44AM

Hold My Hand wrote: »

I’m using Record it Pro (I was so happy with the 3 minute free version that I upgraded). I wouldn’t be tech savvy so, if I can use it, anyone can!

Just for any teachers reading you are entitled to free loom pro as an educator. You fill in the form here https://support.loom.com/hc/en-us/articles/360006579637-Loom-for-Education-Free-for-Students-and-Teachers

Everyone teaching in our school who’ve applied has been approved

The Wordress · 17-01-2021 11:48AM

Another hole I see in their plan...

I work in an ASD class which is attached to a mainstream school. My class will return at full capacity on Thursday with all pupils pesent and 2 SNAs, along with the other special classes in my school.

If I was working in a special school, my same ASD class pupils would be attending on alternate days only.

We still have a large staff attending school but because we don't have the differentiation of being called a Special School, we have to attend at full whack!

That doesn't seem fair to me.

The Wordress · 17-01-2021 11:52AM

the corpo wrote: »

You know, I hope people in NPHET and Government outside the Department of Education get to see evidence of how home schooling is working this time.

Last time was a firefighting mess, but this time, and I know it's subjective to my experience and those of my friends and family, but home schooling is going about as well it could. The engagement the school is providing is giving my wife and I time to breath and facilitate our own work.

The Department have an itch to score points for themselves and get the kids back in regardless, but my kids are doing a whole lot better, both mentally and with their education, than last March. Keeping them at home is a weapon in the fight against this virus. If it can be further utilised, I hope it is.

I fully understand that there are many families who aren't finding it easier, but rather than ram them all back in, maybe they could look at broader, more inventive solutions...

One solution to give SEN parents respite is to extend July Provision- school and home based from 4 weeks to 8 weeks, as an example.

mvl · 17-01-2021 11:56AM

the corpo wrote: »

You know, I hope people in NPHET and Government outside the Department of Education get to see evidence of how home schooling is working this time.

Last time was a firefighting mess, but this time, and I know it's subjective to my experience and those of my friends and family, but home schooling is going about as well it could. The engagement the school is providing is giving my wife and I time to breath and facilitate our own work.

The Department have an itch to score points for themselves and get the kids back in regardless, but my kids are doing a whole lot better, both mentally and with their education, than last March. Keeping them at home is a weapon in the fight against this virus. If it can be further utilised, I hope it is.

I fully understand that there are many families who aren't finding it easier, but rather than ram them all back in, maybe they could look at broader, more inventive solutions...

same for us (student and parent find it works well, I am pretty happy about it overall). so online would be the preferred option for us for a bit longer than till end of January...

Stateofyou · 17-01-2021 12:03PM

Locotastic wrote: »

We also weren't testing 25,000+ people a day.

If close contacts are isolating for 14 days as they should be then it's all relative.

Doesn't matter if they have a test result or not, contacts are required to isolate whether positive or negative anyway.

Contact tracing is still happening they just aren't being tested but they'll still be notified to isolate.

I've read on boards and social media many times now, stories of friends and relatives who don't get tests or notify close contacts due to a mixture of shame and a stupid belief that if you don't test, you don't have it and don't have to isolate. People being selfish is one reason we're all in this mess.

lulublue22 · 17-01-2021 12:04PM

The Wordress wrote: »

Another hole I see in their plan...

I work in an ASD class which is attached to a mainstream school. My class will return at full capacity on Thursday with all pupils pesent and 2 SNAs, along with the other special classes in my school.

If I was working in a special school, my same ASD class pupils would be attending on alternate days only.

We still have a large staff attending school but because we don't have the differentiation of being called a Special School, we have to attend at full whack!

That doesn't seem fair to me.

This is to accommodate sd on school transport and to increase safety for bus escorts and bus drivers - who often have full school transport for over an hour. I wouldn’t begrudge them to be honest. There are also indications that while staff are in school full time with less numbers some form of accommodation will need to be made for those at home.

The Wordress · 17-01-2021 12:12PM

lulublue22 wrote: »

This is to accommodate sd on school transport and to increase safety for bus escorts and bus drivers - who often have full school transport for over an hour. I wouldn’t begrudge them to be honest. There are also indications that while staff are in school full time with less numbers some form of accommodation will need to be made for those at home.

I am not begrudging them at all. It still doesn't help my school, because they made a differentiation between Special Class and Special School. We still have 2 buses running at full capacity with all pupils and staff present.

km79 · 17-01-2021 12:13PM

From the Sunday independent
Senior govt figures say that a decision on whether full school and construction reopening at the start of February will depend on 3 critical factors
1. Reducing case numbers to significantly low numbers
2. Cutting ICU numbers to around 50 at any one time
3. Vaccinating as many of the 700,000 of the most vulnerable and frontline healthcare workers

1. Not sure what number is significantly low but I assume under 1000. Won’t happen by Feb 1st.
2 - definitely will not happen by Feb 1st . There are currently almost 200 and rising
3. Not a hope

Stateofyou · 17-01-2021 12:14PM

the corpo wrote: »

You know, I hope people in NPHET and Government outside the Department of Education get to see evidence of how home schooling is working this time.

Last time was a firefighting mess, but this time, and I know it's subjective to my experience and those of my friends and family, but home schooling is going about as well it could. The engagement the school is providing is giving my wife and I time to breath and facilitate our own work.

The Department have an itch to score points for themselves and get the kids back in regardless, but my kids are doing a whole lot better, both mentally and with their education, than last March. Keeping them at home is a weapon in the fight against this virus. If it can be further utilised, I hope it is.

I fully understand that there are many families who aren't finding it easier, but rather than ram them all back in, maybe they could look at broader, more inventive solutions...

Like.... a hybrid remote learning plan?

Discussed here for the guts of a year now. The DES apparently can't be doing with that much of a challenge. As a parent I would like to see that they at least considered it, and give us the reasons why it won't work in the end. High risk students, staff, and families always needed that option anyway.

lulublue22 · 17-01-2021 12:17PM

The Wordress wrote: »

I am not begrudging them at all. It still doesn't help my school, because they made a differentiation between Special Class and Special School. We still have 2 buses running at full capacity with all pupils and staff present.

email your cec rep with your concerns - they are meeting tomorrow.

khalessi · 17-01-2021 12:25PM

the corpo wrote: »

You know, I hope people in NPHET and Government outside the Department of Education get to see evidence of how home schooling is working this time.

Last time was a firefighting mess, but this time, and I know it's subjective to my experience and those of my friends and family, but home schooling is going about as well it could. The engagement the school is providing is giving my wife and I time to breath and facilitate our own work.

The Department have an itch to score points for themselves and get the kids back in regardless, but my kids are doing a whole lot better, both mentally and with their education, than last March. Keeping them at home is a weapon in the fight against this virus. If it can be further utilised, I hope it is.

I fully understand that there are many families who aren't finding it easier, but rather than ram them all back in, maybe they could look at broader, more inventive solutions...

One thing that upsets me, is that I am a learning support teacher with 28 children on my books, Maths English Dylsexia and Dyspraxia. Last lockdown I worked my ass off, some of those children in school last year had access to me 2 or 3 times a week for 40 minutes.

On lockdown they had access to me all day 5 days a week and it was brilliant for them. I got slagged off on here for how hard I worked but I had 6th class kids and wanted to make a difference for them heading into secondary school, let learning support be what it should be no interruptions to cover meetings or class etc.

Now with the decision to have all SET in mainstream back to school Thursday, these children will be returned to their class teachers, who are overburdened already and they will not have access to learning support and some might not get the differentiation they get from me to compliment what is happening in class.

Locotastic · 17-01-2021 12:29PM

km79 wrote: »

From the Sunday independent
Senior govt figures say that a decision on whether full school and construction reopening at the start of February will depend on 3 critical factors
1. Reducing case numbers to significantly low numbers
2. Cutting ICU numbers to around 50 at any one time
3. Vaccinating as many of the 700,000 of the most vulnerable and frontline healthcare workers

1. Not sure what number is significantly low but I assume under 1000. Won’t happen by Feb 1st.
2 - definitely will not happen by Feb 1st . There are currently almost 200 and rising
3. Not a hope

Based on current projections we are probably about 35 days away from the first two factors.

Vaccination of frontline and vulnerable groups obviously will depend on supply and roll out but at least its happening. Close to 80,000 vaccinated so far over a 3 week period. Hopefully this increases with teething problems sorted and more vaccines becoming available.

All going well we should be able to reopen following February mid term.

Natterjack from Kerry · 17-01-2021 12:52PM

km79 wrote: »

From the Sunday independent
Senior govt figures say that a decision on whether full school and construction reopening at the start of February will depend on 3 critical factors
1. Reducing case numbers to significantly low numbers
2. Cutting ICU numbers to around 50 at any one time
3. Vaccinating as many of the 700,000 of the most vulnerable and frontline healthcare workers

3. Not a hope

Item 3 has already, and always will be, met.

Wombatman · 17-01-2021 12:54PM

km79 wrote: »

From the Sunday independent
Senior govt figures say that a decision on whether full school and construction reopening at the start of February will depend on 3 critical factors
1. Reducing case numbers to significantly low numbers
2. Cutting ICU numbers to around 50 at any one time
3. Vaccinating as many of the 700,000 of the most vulnerable and frontline healthcare workers

1. Not sure what number is significantly low but I assume under 1000. Won’t happen by Feb 1st.
2 - definitely will not happen by Feb 1st . There are currently almost 200 and rising
3. Not a hope

Are you sure there are even 700,000 venerable and HCWs out there? I don't think 15% of our population is made up of this group. Seems like a very high number. 70,000 maybe?

Loafing Oaf · 17-01-2021 12:55PM

Locotastic wrote: »

All going well we should be able to reopen following February mid term.

I wonder will a conventional Leaving Cert be feasible if it's left that late

downthemiddle · 17-01-2021 12:59PM

Natterjack from Kerry wrote: »

Item 3 has already, and always will be, met.

Am I the only one who doesn't understand this post? It is quite existenialist.

Locotastic · 17-01-2021 01:11PM

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

I wonder will a conventional Leaving Cert be feasible if it's left that late

Not sure, it 8 weeks gone from 2021 alone on top of 11 weeks missed last year for these students. I think even the leaving cert in 2022 will still be impacted.

Concessions will need to be planned for now.

wirelessdude01 · 17-01-2021 01:17PM

Natterjack from Kerry wrote: »

Item 3 has already, and always will be, met.

Ahh, by the current return to school date of February the 1st. Stop being so obtuse.

zeebre12 · 17-01-2021 01:21PM

Why do they not just bring back Special schools and ASD units? They can't really do online learning where as those who attend mainstream have a better chance.

zeebre12 · 17-01-2021 01:23PM

Locotastic wrote: »

Not sure, it 8 weeks gone from 2021 alone on top of 11 weeks missed last year for these students. I think even the leaving cert in 2022 will still be impacted.

Concessions will need to be planned for now.

Aren't secondary schools doing online classes? My cousin has a full timetable all day with live classes. I don't see how much difference this really is than being in school?

km79 · 17-01-2021 01:36PM

Wombatman wrote: »

Are you sure there are even 700,000 venerable and HCWs out there? I don't think 15% of our population is made up of this group. Seems like a very high number. 70,000 maybe?

The article says 700000
There have already been over 70000 vaccinated so it is more than that anyways

Screenshot attached

km79 · 17-01-2021 01:36PM

Natterjack from Kerry wrote: »

Item 3 has already, and always will be, met.

What ?

Natterjack from Kerry · 17-01-2021 01:46PM

km79 wrote: »

What ?

Many.
Many of them have already been vaccinated. Many more will be. By 1st Feb many more will be. Probably not all 700,000, or quite certainly not all 700,00. But that is not what is stipulated. But the criteria that many of them have been vaccinated will have been met. Its a non criteria.

downthemiddle · 17-01-2021 01:57PM

Natterjack from Kerry wrote: »

Many.
Many of them have already been vaccinated. Many more will be. By 1st Feb many more will be. Probably not all 700,000, or quite certainly not all 700,00. But that is not what is stipulated. But the criteria that many of them have been vaccinated will have been met. Its a non criteria.

What authority and qualifications do you have to decide what the criteria are?

Natterjack from Kerry · 17-01-2021 02:08PM

downthemiddle wrote: »

What authority and qualifications do you have to decide what the criteria are?

What ?

The criteria are those quoted by km79.

Locotastic · 17-01-2021 02:23PM

Natterjack from Kerry wrote: »

Many.
Many of them have already been vaccinated. Many more will be. By 1st Feb many more will be. Probably not all 700,000, or quite certainly not all 700,00. But that is not what is stipulated. But the criteria that many of them have been vaccinated will have been met. Its a non criteria.

I think you're right, there's no way to determine what 'many' means so that box will be ticked regardless.

Again the same with low numbers, what suffices as low?

The ICU number will be the one to watch since they've actually given a determining figure for that. The other two criteria are open to interpretation.

Ted_YNWA · 17-01-2021 02:35PM

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

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