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

C__MC · 19-02-2021 11:36AM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

I didn't make any mention of TYS. They weren't even mentioned on the piece on CB.

1st
2nd
3rd
TY
Won’t see a classroom until after Easter

km79 · 19-02-2021 11:37AM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

I didn't make any mention of TYS. They weren't even mentioned on the piece on CB.

3rd to 6th I assumed meant TYS .
I don’t think they will be back at all this year now tbh

SusanC10 · 19-02-2021 11:37AM

If 2nd Year in Secondary are not back in-person before Easter, then we won't be sending our daughter (5th Primary) back in-person either.

Acosta · 19-02-2021 11:39AM

SusanC10 wrote: »

If he is able to go on CB today and say all that, then why not announce that today properly then ?

He might be in trouble for that. The Irish Independent were probably due to announce all that later.

wirelessdude01 · 19-02-2021 11:46AM

km79 wrote: »

3rd to 6th I assumed meant TYS .
I don’t think they will be back at all this year now tbh

Primary level!!!!!!

km79 · 19-02-2021 11:53AM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Primary level!!!!!!

Ah right LOL my bad

combat14 · 19-02-2021 12:11PM

Glynn urges caution as Covid levels remain high

Dr Glynn warned that people need to remain very cautious over the coming weeks

https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2021/0219/1198040-coronavirus-ireland/

significant differences in messaging between nphet and govt still remain...

looks like govt want to do a norma and open up all the schools .. nphet still far from sure on the matter ..

Stateofyou · 19-02-2021 12:16PM

Locotastic wrote: »

Around 18,000 children under 15 have been confirmed with Covid since the start. Approx 300 of those required hospitalisation.

With the increase in community transmission over the past couple of months there has been increase in cases (and resulting hospitalisations) across every age group.

The risk that the disease poses has not changed dramatically, just the sheer levels of transmission, which thankfully is improving all of the time.

That's not exactly bearing out with what's happening. It seems it is also causing more severe illness. Even the RTE article posted here this morning states it:
https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2021/0219/1198040-coronavirus-ireland/

"Health Service Executive Chief Executive Paul Reid said hospitalised Covid-19 patients are becoming sicker and are having to stay longer in hospital because of the variant."

So we don't really know what the full impact is going to be yet on children and the community when the school sector goes back. Especially considering we're not very far on vaccinations. It's not the sick volume of children here that matters-it's the fact that we're sending them into a known problematic situation in which case levels are still too high and the new variant is causing more severe sickness. Children being the least likely to be the most sick out of all the age groups is no comfort to parents with children in the hospital now, and without a doubt the increased numbers that will be in hospital afterward.

So I think that's a problem for our kids, with community transmission still so high. And it's a problem for our battered health care system too.

I for one am sick of all this "when are they going back" and "who is going back first" debate / leaks. What about the additional safety measures that need to be in place, especially if they stubbornly push ahead with March 1 and cases are no lower?

Sammy2012 · 19-02-2021 12:24PM

Stateofyou wrote: »

That's not exactly bearing out with what's happening. It seems it is also causing more severe illness. Even the RTE article posted here this morning states it:
https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2021/0219/1198040-coronavirus-ireland/

"Health Service Executive Chief Executive Paul Reid said hospitalised Covid-19 patients are becoming sicker and are having to stay longer in hospital because of the variant."

So we don't really know what the full impact is going to be yet on children and the community when the school sector goes back. Especially considering we're not very far on vaccinations. It's not the sick volume of children here that matters-it's the fact that we're sending them into a known problematic situation in which case levels are still too high and the new variant is causing more severe sickness. Children being the least likely to be the most sick out of all the age groups is no comfort to parents with children in the hospital now, and without a doubt the increased numbers that will be in hospital afterward.

So I think that's a problem for our kids, with community transmission still so high. And it's a problem for our battered health care system too.

I for one am sick of all this "when are they going back" and "who is going back first" debate / leaks. What about the additional safety measures that need to be in place, especially if they stubbornly push ahead with March 1 and cases are no lower?

There wont be any additional safety measures put in place. If they are announcing reopen next Tuesday it gives schools 3 days notice. What additional safety measures are in place for special classes in primary opening on Monday? AFAIK in my school there are none.

jrosen · 19-02-2021 12:25PM

These blubbering idiots infuriate me. Either make an announcement or SHUT THE FU*K UP.

All this back and forth and worrying people is unnecessary. I’d get more sense out of a bunch of pre school children.

Also March has easter holidays for 2 weeks. Are we really going to stop remote teaching to go back to school for a short period to then be off again and risk a repeat of December?

PeterPan92 · 19-02-2021 12:27PM

March 1st for half of the school seems unlikely at this point. One of the core things the INTO are looking for is enough time for schools to put in place any new necessary measures and make any necessary changes to their COVID response plan. Next Tuesday for an official decision gives schools 5 days to prepare for JI-2nd to come back. In my school, this is over 300 child (3 of each class, roughly 28 per class - some more, some less). This is despite the fact that only 12 children in our special classes are permitted to return next Monday. 12 to 300+ is 7 days seems like a big decision.

I would see 2 ways that this could happen.

Possibility 1:

March 1st - Infant classes only.
March 15th - 1st-3rd
After Easter - 4th-6th

Possibility 2:

March 8th - Infants - 2nd
March 22nd - 3rd - 6th (Giving them one week before Easter)

With the complete farce that this government have made of every school decision and situation so far, anything is possible. The above two just seem most logical for everyone to get on board with.

km79 · 19-02-2021 12:27PM

“ Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman has said he understands all primary school students will return to the classroom by March 15.
But he said that secondary school students who are not sitting the Leaving Cert are likely to be waiting until after Easter to return to school under the Government’s most recent plans to reopen the education sector.

Third to sixth class pupils in primary school may return on March 15 while Leaving Cert students and primary school pupils up to second class are slated to return to classrooms on March 1.”

So just leaving certs then .......round and round in circles we go with one minister contradicting the one before them

Theboinkmaster · 19-02-2021 12:28PM

jrosen wrote: »

Also March has easter holidays for 2 weeks. Are we really going to stop remote teaching to go back to school for a short period to then be off again and risk a repeat of December?

There won't be a repeat of December - December was caused by indoor socialising not schools.

wirelessdude01 · 19-02-2021 12:29PM

jrosen wrote: »

These blubbering idiots infuriate me. Either make an announcement or SHUT THE FU*K UP.

All this back and forth and worrying people is unnecessary. I’d get more sense out of a bunch of pre school children.

Also March has easter holidays for 2 weeks. Are we really going to stop remote teaching to go back to school for a short period to then be off again and risk a repeat of December?

Technically only 3 days of the Easter break are in March!!

Nothing will be open for Easter anyway, restaurants and pubs will be shut. We do run the risk of families totally letting their guards down though.

Sammy2012 · 19-02-2021 12:34PM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Technically only 3 days of the Easter break are in March!!

Nothing will be open for Easter anyway, restaurants and pubs will be shut. We do run the risk of families totally letting their guards down though.

Well can you blame them really? Like I totally understand the line they are peddling about keeping other things closed so schools can reopen but if its safe for my kids to go back into the classroom why is it not safe for them to have playdates and all that?

Now we haven't been doing that and we won't be in the coming weeks but I can see why people would think this.

wirelessdude01 · 19-02-2021 12:42PM

Sammy2012 wrote: »

Well can you blame them really? Like I totally understand the line they are peddling about keeping other things closed so schools can reopen but if its safe for my kids to go back into the classroom why is it not safe for them to have playdates and all that?

Now we haven't been doing that and we won't be in the coming weeks but I can see why people would think this.

Lots of people do think this. Playgrounds in my area have been packed the past two days.

downthemiddle · 19-02-2021 12:47PM

At the moment what is being proposed at primary level is JI-2nd return on March 1st along with children with additional needs from 3rd-6th. Full reopening two weeks later. Most of the discussions today are around second level.

Sammy2012 · 19-02-2021 12:50PM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Lots of people do think this. Playgrounds in my area have been packed the past two days.

Yea any I drive by in town are the same. We live rurally and my own kids are happy at home. We have lots of outdoor toys and space for them and they get on great so are very happy at home. They do miss their friends but all grand other than that...

But I can understand the logic behind the thinking. And to be honest I would think my kids would be safer playing in the playground than in school. It's outdoors and once they sanitize when they are finished I highly doubt they would be at much of a risk.

All the above is my opinion as a parent. I'm happy enough to go back to school as luckily in the area I teach in the virus is at low levels and I totally get that there are lots of children who are struggling for one reason or another. It's hard for the government to please everyone, actually it's impossible but they have to do something. I suppose it'll be up to parents if they want to keep their children out for another few weeks but we do have to try do something.

Sammy2012 · 19-02-2021 12:51PM

downthemiddle wrote: »

At the moment what is being proposed at primary level is JI-2nd return on March 1st along with children with additional needs from 3rd-6th. Full reopening two weeks later. Most of the discussions today are around second level.

There was no mention of children with additional needs in the discussion on CB this morning.

jrosen · 19-02-2021 12:53PM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Technically only 3 days of the Easter break are in March!!

Nothing will be open for Easter anyway, restaurants and pubs will be shut. We do run the risk of families totally letting their guards down though.

Which I think it’s quite likely

SusanC10 · 19-02-2021 12:58PM

downthemiddle wrote: »

At the moment what is being proposed at primary level is JI-2nd return on March 1st along with children with additional needs from 3rd-6th. Full reopening two weeks later. Most of the discussions today are around second level.

Where are you seeing this?

downthemiddle · 19-02-2021 01:00PM

Sammy2012 wrote: »

There was no mention of children with additional needs in the discussion on CB this morning.

I was talking to someone involved in the process this morning. They are examining the practicalities of a full return of children with additional needs.

19-02-2021 01:15PM

JP100 wrote: »

Going by the dismissive tone of your post, I can take it you are not a parent of one of the 37 children under 12 hospitalised with Covid in the past fortnight. As long as you're ok, you're grand so, go you!!!

As a parent who had a child in hospital with a respiratory virus I know full well what the risks are.

Still not a place for reasoned debate I see

Sammy2012 · 19-02-2021 01:17PM

downthemiddle wrote: »

I was talking to someone involved in the process this morning. They are examining the practicalities of a full return of children with additional needs.

Ah. Well it would make sense. But how would that work in reality? Would the SEN teacher be taking those kids and their class teachers keep teaching online?

19-02-2021 01:24PM

combat14 wrote: »

Glynn urges caution as Covid levels remain high

Dr Glynn warned that people need to remain very cautious over the coming weeks

https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2021/0219/1198040-coronavirus-ireland/

significant differences in messaging between nphet and govt still remain...

looks like govt want to do a norma and open up all the schools .. nphet still far from sure on the matter ..

https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2021/0218/1197991-cabinet-schools/

NPHET is understood to have advised that phased reopening of schools was possible from early March.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn also attended the meeting.

.

khalessi · 19-02-2021 01:25PM

Sammy2012 wrote: »

Ah. Well it would make sense. But how would that work in reality? Would the SEN teacher be taking those kids and their class teachers keep teaching online?

What was suggested to us was all SET in school to share teaching of resource children. We have 2 resource teachers and rest learning support and learning support students go back to classes for "extra" online teaching. But in reality the learning support students would receive no support.

combat14 · 19-02-2021 01:26PM

https://m.independent.ie/news/all-primary-school-students-to-return-by-march-15-minister-for-children-40109315.html

All primary school students to return by March 15 - Minister for Children

Sammy2012 · 19-02-2021 01:29PM

khalessi wrote: »

What was suggested to us was all SET in school to share teaching of resource children. We have 2 resource teachers and rest learning support and learning support students go back to classes for "extra" online teaching. But in reality the learning support students would receive no support.

We only have one SET and a resource teacher that comes in 1 day a week. So not sure how it would work in our school but not for me to worry about!

JP100 · 19-02-2021 02:11PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

As a parent who had a child in hospital with a respiratory virus I know full well what the risks are.

Still not a place for reasoned debate I see

So that's a no to the question then, you're not a parent of a child with Covid in hospital. It's very easy for you to be so dismissive on here when you are not the parent of one of the 37 children under the age of 12 who have been hospitalised with Covid in the past fortnight. Whataboutery doesn't cut it and saying 'ah well, less children will get sick from this than other groups' is no comfort to parents with children hospitalised with Covid presently or indeed unfortunately in the future.

daretodream · 19-02-2021 02:30PM

When will 5th years be back, anyone any idea?

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