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

wirelessdude01 · 24-02-2021 09:24AM

Midnight Sundance wrote: »

I was on maternity leave before Christmas so I haven't been in the classroom yet with all the new covid rules and restrictions.

Ahh. Ask your principal what the routine is in your school. I know in my room they sanitise when they arrive in the morning, each time they go to the toilet, before they eat, when they come in from each break. Most of them also opt to sanitise after they have eaten as well.

As regards copies and books I hadn't been taking them up this year, sign and date as you move around. I didn't notice any of my staff changing clothes before they went home, I didn't either. Most of us now have school shoes. Shoes stay at school. Thinking being that the floors are the dirtiest part of the school with spittle etc.

As regards wiping down, tables get a wipe down every day at the end of the day., not practical to be doing it during the day. All commonly touched surfaces such as ha does, towel dispensers get done during each break.

My windows get opened when I get in and they remain so until I go home. Cold or not those windows remain open. Children and parents have been advised to wear appropriate layers.

Myself I seemed to sanitise my hands maybe 4/5 times an hour at school.

iamwhoiam · 24-02-2021 09:26AM

Just a tip for teachers who might need to wear coats in the classroom those long padded sleeveless jackets would be ideal . Then bulky sleeves might hinder movement

Midnight Sundance · 24-02-2021 09:30AM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Ahh. Ask your principal what the routine is in your school. I know in my room they sanitise when they arrive in the morning, each time they go to the toilet, before they eat, when they come in from each break. Most of them also opt to sanitise after they have eaten as well.

As regards copies and books I hadn't been taking them up this year, sign and date as you move around. I didn't notice any of my staff changing clothes before they went home, I didn't either. Most of us now have school shoes. Shoes stay at school. Thinking being that the floors are the dirtiest part of the school with spittle etc.

As regards wiping down, tables get a wipe down every day at the end of the day., not practical to be doing it during the day. All commonly touched surfaces such as ha does, towel dispensers get done during each break.

My windows get opened when I get in and they remain so until I go home. Cold or not those windows remain open. Children and parents have been advised to wear appropriate layers.

Myself I seemed to sanitise my hands maybe 4/5 times an hour at school.

Thank you.

SusanC10 · 24-02-2021 09:34AM

Can anyone recommend where to buy Surgical Masks online ?
Both our kids wore Masks from end-August to Christmas but they were cloth only. Looking for better quality ones for their return after Easter.

zeebre12 · 24-02-2021 09:38AM

So an SET and an SNA assigned to 5th/6th class must work remotely from the school building but the class teacher will work remotely from home. Beggars belief!

wirelessdude01 · 24-02-2021 09:45AM

zeebre12 wrote: »

So an SET and an SNA assigned to 5th/6th class must work remotely from the school building but the class teacher will work remotely from home. Beggars belief!

I don't understand the logic in this at all. Bringing in staff that only deal with kids fro 3rd up when those kids aren't in the school is absolutely stupid.

Locotastic · 24-02-2021 09:46AM

SusanC10 wrote: »

Can anyone recommend where to buy Surgical Masks online ?
Both our kids wore Masks from end-August to Christmas but they were cloth only. Looking for better quality ones for their return after Easter.

I got decent ones in 5 pack from M&S, they are cloth but 100% cotton and double layered. Nice and comfortable for all day use.

For surgical masks, I got mine from eirmed. They also do the respirator masks.

penny piper · 24-02-2021 11:01AM

I really don't understand what Dept.of Education/Norma Foley/THE UNIONS have been doing during these so called talks....No teachers seem to have a clear idea of what is to happen next week....It's absolutely disgraceful on this Government .....
I feel very sorry for teachers/6th years/under who have to go back to this shambles....and to be honest is it worth paying subscriptions to a union....

Zaney · 24-02-2021 11:51AM

Last day of current spell of homeschooling for my 7 year old. Children have two extra days off while teachers prepare for return.

Doesn’t really matter as there was next to no daily teacher interaction and my 7 year old was finished all assigned tasks by 10 every day.

Really looking forward to the return. We’ve been given some advice from the school on what to do. Books have to be brought in on Friday so that they can be left untouched for a few days. And we’ve been asked to limit contacts as much as possible - not an issue for us as we’ve been following guidance. No change to pick up or drop off arrangements. No requirement for masks. First few days back will be mainly play and art to let the children settle in.

Stateofyou · 24-02-2021 12:05PM

No masks. It's insanity.

Stateofyou · 24-02-2021 12:20PM

How the schools are reopened in Abu Dhabi:

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2021/02/23/schools-abu-dhabi-reopening-coronavirus-anderson-ctw-pkg-intl-ldn-vpx.cnn

-Masks
-Temp check on arrival
-Monitored sanitiser on arrival
-Single desks far apart in larger rooms
-How/where they walk is controlled
-Rigorous contact tracing
-Option to study at home
-80% of school staff vaccinated
-Staff required to test every 2 weeks

Ireland
Good f@cking luck to ye

wirelessdude01 · 24-02-2021 12:22PM

Stateofyou wrote: »

How the schools are reopened in Abu Dhabi:

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2021/02/23/schools-abu-dhabi-reopening-coronavirus-anderson-ctw-pkg-intl-ldn-vpx.cnn

-Masks
-Temp check on arrival
-Monitored sanitiser on arrival
-Single desks far apart in larger rooms
-How/where they walk is controlled
-Rigorous contact tracing
-Option to study at home
-80% of school staff vaccinated
-Staff required to test every 2 weeks

Ireland
Good f@cking luck to ye

Secondary students in England have to test twice a week at home using rapid antigen tests.

Locotastic · 24-02-2021 12:28PM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Secondary students in England have to test twice a week at home using rapid antigen tests.

Why aren't we utilising these type of test as part of our plan. I understand the accuracy is in question but surely catching some cases is better than not trying at all.

wirelessdude01 · 24-02-2021 12:32PM

Locotastic wrote: »

Why aren't we utilising these type of test as part of our plan. I understand the accuracy is in question but surely catching some cases is better than not trying at all.

Unions suggested it and were told NO.

is_that_so · 24-02-2021 12:33PM

Locotastic wrote: »

Why aren't we utilising these type of test as part of our plan. I understand the accuracy is in question but surely catching some cases is better than not trying at all.

They don't like them and are PCR fans only. Yes, it's mostly down to the accuracy of them which you address by using PCR on negatives so...

penny piper · 24-02-2021 12:45PM

Deleted User wrote: »

It’s not. Estimates are closer to 30%. 70% was from when they started blaming all the pre Christmas surge in the uk on the variant. The other 40% was people taking the piss

I understood Michael Martin started his addresss to the nation last night saying that the virus was now 70% more transmissible ....

Stateofyou · 24-02-2021 12:53PM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Secondary students in England have to test twice a week at home using rapid antigen tests.

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Unions suggested it and were told NO.

Are there any large protests planned yet? FÛCKING HELL.

Letter from the school today advising of reopening of certain classes. No new measures, only a reminder to keep to the same standards we had before Christmas. The same guidelines and school policy that were regularly ignored (masks for parents on school property, no congregating for a chat with other parents at drop off/collection, don't try have a face to face chat with your child's teacher, etc).

There was also an ask to not socialise outside of school. Easily more than half will ignore this as they already do.

And that's it. Nothing else. Just sporadically adhered to old measures for the parents, nothing for the kids in the school or about classroom mitigation measures. NOTHING.

24-02-2021 12:59PM

SusanC10 wrote: »

Can anyone recommend where to buy Surgical Masks online ?
Both our kids wore Masks from end-August to Christmas but they were cloth only. Looking for better quality ones for their return after Easter.

I find the Lidl and Aldi ones, which are CE marked, are just as good as those supplied in work which are certified for use in Cleanroom environments

wirelessdude01 · 24-02-2021 01:01PM

Stateofyou wrote: »

Are there any large protests planned yet? FÛCKING HELL.

Letter from the school today advising of reopening of certain classes. No new measures, only a reminder to keep to the same standards we had before Christmas. The same guidelines and school policy that were regularly ignored (masks for parents on school property, no congregating for a chat with other parents at drop off/collection, don't try have a face to face chat with your child's teacher, etc).

There was also an ask to not socialise outside of school. Easily more than half will ignore this as they already do.

And that's it. Nothing else. Just sporadically adhered to old measures for the parents, nothing for the kids in the school or about classroom mitigation measures. NOTHING.

There are no new measures. Same as before Christmas.

zeebre12 · 24-02-2021 01:03PM

Why don't 3rd-6th class teachers have to return to school also when SNAs/SET for them classes have to? Or are they to support JI-2nd class also in school? Why not all staff back then? There doesn't seem to be any talk at all about this ridiculous decision on the news or online?

Stateofyou · 24-02-2021 01:04PM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

There are no new measures. Same as before Christmas.

I know, I honestly can't believe this is going ahead. What was the point of the unions stepping in when it wasn't safe (I believe this was the right course of action) if they're just going to shít the bed at the end of the day?

I really thought increased safety measures were going to be agreed on. Not merely when and what classes go first.

Are we the only country not enhancing our safety measures in the schools?

Icyseanfitz · 24-02-2021 01:07PM

Stateofyou wrote: »

I know, I honestly can't believe this is going ahead. What was the point of the unions stepping in when it wasn't safe (I believe this was the right course of action) if they're just going to shít the bed at the end of the day?

I really thought increased safety measures were going to be agreed on. Not merely when and what classes go first.

Are we the only country not enhancing our safety measures in the schools?

i assumed we where all remote learning so that the unions and department could get better measures into place as part of an actual plan to return to schools, turned out, as usual nothing was done.

highland212 · 24-02-2021 01:07PM

zeebre12 wrote: »

Why don't 3rd-6th class teachers have to return to school also when SNAs/SET for them classes have to? Or are they to support JI-2nd class also in school? Why not all staff back then? There doesn't seem to be any talk at all about this ridiculous decision on the news or online?

I think I read online that SET and SNA's returning is at the discretion of the principal. I'm not sure though. We were told by our principal that we may all return on Monday and work from the school if we wish or 3rd to 6th class teachers can continue working from home if we prefer. I would have thought a phased return meant only having the bare minimum needed in the school building at one time. It's a bizarre decision.

amacca · 24-02-2021 01:08PM

Deleted User wrote: »

I find the Lidl and Aldi ones, which are CE marked, are just as good as those supplied in work which are certified for use in Cleanroom environments

Is that just an opinion or are they certified to stop certain size particles do you know

Are the kn95 ffp2 ones not certified to filter down to a certain particle size in microns? .... or am I thinking of oil filters:D

I mean I could find the ones in a poundshop with the nice designs on them just as good but that doesn't mean they are...

wirelessdude01 · 24-02-2021 01:09PM

zeebre12 wrote: »

Why don't 3rd-6th class teachers have to return to school also when SNAs/SET for them classes have to? Or are they to support JI-2nd class also in school? Why not all staff back then? There doesn't seem to be any talk at all about this ridiculous decision on the news or online?

No one seems to understand the rationale behind this.

24-02-2021 01:14PM

amacca wrote: »

Is that just an opinion or are they certified to stop certain size particles do you know

Are the kn95 ffp2 ones not certified to filter down to a certain particle size in microns? .... or am I thinking of oil filters:D

I mean I could find the ones in a poundshop with the nice designs on them just as good but that doesn't mean they are...

These are not surgical masks.

FFP2 > surgical mask >>>> cotton mask with nice design

amacca · 24-02-2021 01:26PM

I wonder is that what the poster actually meant.....lots of people seem to think surgical = kn95/ffp2

Chopper Dave · 24-02-2021 01:44PM

Separately I see that the UK Government has approved a £700m fund to ensure students can catch up on lost learning. This includes summer classes/lessons for secondary schools, language development, additional funding for disadvantaged schools, tutorials, etc.

It's been described as inadequate but at least it's being considered. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-extra-cash-pledged-for-pupil-catch-up-programme-and-summer-schools-12227107

km79 · 24-02-2021 02:07PM

Chopper Dave wrote: »

Separately I see that the UK Government has approved a £700m fund to ensure students can catch up on lost learning. This includes summer classes/lessons for secondary schools, language development, additional funding for disadvantaged schools, tutorials, etc.

It's been described as inadequate but at least it's being considered. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-extra-cash-pledged-for-pupil-catch-up-programme-and-summer-schools-12227107

They also cancelled the equivalent of their LC
Ours is still running

Ray Donovan · 24-02-2021 02:30PM

is_that_so wrote: »

They don't like them and are PCR fans only. Yes, it's mostly down to the accuracy of them which you address by using PCR on negatives so...

And the fact that some members of NPHET have business dealings in the procurement of PCR tests.

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

Comments

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