Coronavirus: General discussion (see opening post for rules)

[howartp]

but a bit of gratuity and thanks sometimes would go a long, long way

Fair play to Boris* though - he specifically mentioned support staff as well as teachers.

 

*or whoever writes his speeches.

[keyboards]

Did he, have to have a listen back, more meant internally really.

[Remiel]

Fully expecting to be told teachers are off working from home, site team are in to open an empty site, office staff are nowhere to be seen and IT must be in "just in case".

[superatticman]

How do you mean?

 

I think at the moment it's 'muck in as best as possible' where reasonable.

 

So forget the headlines......... schools aren't actually closing then?? Open for a handful of pupils who parents are key workers?? I can see the logic behind this. I presume this is more or less aimed at younger children so will be more of a 'day care' facility than structured lessons. I guess you cannot teach classroom lessons to those kids because it gives them an unfair advantage over those who are taking lessons from home. So I'm presuming that some schools will open up a small part of the school and no doubt expect some support staff to be in, maybe on a part time basis?

[superatticman]

I live with two at risk parents so I do not want to catch anything from anybody.

 

Ditto. I'm 46 and moved back in with them a few years ago so I could save for a deposit. I've kept well out of their way the last two weeks or so. However its getting to the stage now where I'm going to offer work from home only. If they are expecting anyone who lives with higher risk people to go in (even if the school is apparently 'closed') to assist with key worker pupils (higher chance of carrying the virus) then they are going to be in for a disappointment.

[TheManFromIT]

I'm at a special needs school. Looks like we might not close until the summer. Yay!

Guidance on social distancing doesn't apply apparently...

 

Edited March 19, 2020 by TheManFromIT

[6Foot2]

Donald Trump, well-known the Doctor Who fan, references a classic era story:

 

 

[Danp]

Clearly lots to things that could be annoying at the moment, but for me, it's the O365 Admin, I can't load some of the settings.

 

Today's issue is trying to edit the messaging policies within Teams, it times out and says there has been a problem. (known issue in Service health)

 

Another issue, one teacher needs her files on OneDrive (I've been asking since October, she's waited until now) when I click on her account to get access to OneDrive it loads her Delve page, that's it.

[mikeprice]

My main problem with all this is that sometimes I seem to be ina vulnerable group and sometimes not

 

e.g. I am over 60 - by 2 weeks

and I have asthma - but it is well controlled and makes very little difference to me most of the time. I suspect that I could stop taking any inhalers and still be reasonably OK - just get a bit wheezy after walking up stairs etc (but not trying it!!!!)

 

so when they say 'people with asthma' I don;t know ehether this counts or not

but - OK - new guidance - you are included if you get a free flu jab every year - which includes me - butonly because of the mild asthma

 

seems like I am theoretically in the vulnerable group - but don't really need to be

 

I feel confused

[Theblacksheep]

My main problem with all this is that sometimes I seem to be ina vulnerable group and sometimes not

 

e.g. I am over 60 - by 2 weeks

and I have asthma - but it is well controlled and makes very little difference to me most of the time. I suspect that I could stop taking any inhalers and still be reasonably OK - just get a bit wheezy after walking up stairs etc (but not trying it!!!!)

 

so when they say 'people with asthma' I don;t know ehether this counts or not

but - OK - new guidance - you are included if you get a free flu jab every year - which includes me - butonly because of the mild asthma

 

seems like I am theoretically in the vulnerable group - but don't really need to be

 

I feel confused

 

If you are prescribed the flu jab (not just get it) then you are counted to be in the vulnerable group

 

Stay safe Mike

[ICTDirect_Dave]

I've just realised @mikeprice should have a dedicated documentary pulling together his anecdotes - a sort of Fred Dibnah for IT support. What does everyone think, should we look to crowd-fund this?

For those of you that might have watched the original Transformers Animated movie, Mike reminds me of Kup.

Old veteran with war story anecdotes for EVERY situation

[smurfomatic]

Now someone's come up with the brilliant idea of loaning out Chromebooks to families with more than three children while we're closed. I've made it clear that any agreement has to involve no expectation of technical support!

[6Foot2]

We have just been briefed. The current situation is that we expect to close on Friday and open again on Monday as a 'Skeleton School' with 50 students or fewer attending.

 

We were also told to expect to be in over any potential Whitsun opening. This does not work for me as I have to collect my son from Cornwall (a round trip of about six hours there, and six hours back from my starting point)

 

We had already factored this into our break.

Edited March 19, 2020 by 6Foot2
Bad estimate of trip time.

[caffrey]

We just had a brief too

 

Interesting times

[Andycat]

Yes, as predicted, open for workers/vulnerable kids. ALL staff on a rota (teaching/support/IT) with provision for our own kids if needed. Looking for volunteers to cover Easter Holidays etc as Gavin Williamson's email asked, and all staff working from home when not on site (inc support).

 

To be honest, we seem to have planned ok so far (I've been drafted on SLT for 2 weeks already planning) and staff seem to have taken everything well so far. I anticipate this going on til possibly October.

[Lonix]

Fair play to Boris* though - he specifically mentioned support staff as well as teachers.

*or whoever writes his speeches.

Probably because for the first time people realise we actually exist. Think about it.

 

For the first time, cleaners MATTER. If things are dirty, full of bacteria and with the Corona popping up.. this is one hell of a time to keep things clean. When sites are shutdown, they are being thoroughly cleaned top to bottom.

For the first time, IT staff MATTER. All those staff want to work from home and the very people that NEVER use the term "home access/remote working" are wanting it... or perhaps demanding it. They also want a reliable system where IT staff are not needed on site to babysit the system. Putting pressure on your broadband and servers that may never get this kind of traffic again. Plus... how many of us actually had home access ready for this scenario? And they want this after shrinking our teams, taking away our budgets and outsourcing us.

 

Delivery drivers are important - they provide our food at stores.

Store workers are important - they keep those stores open.

 

All those "highly skilled professionals" have treated "low" skilled workers like dirt, bums, just sit around all day doing nothing. The world now prays these people do their jobs every day.

 

*spelling mistake

Edited March 19, 2020 by Lonix

[caffrey]

Is anyone even considering that IT staff are vulnerable too ? Mentally and Physically ?

[mikeprice]

For those of you that might have watched the original Transformers Animated movie, Mike reminds me of Kup.

Old veteran with war story anecdotes for EVERY situation

 

Wut?????

 

never heard of Kup - but then I have never seen any Transformers movie

 

and why did I get dragged into this anyway???

tell a couple of 'interesting' stories and suddenly you are Belgareth

maybe I should get a pair of unsimilar boots??? (look it up)

 

 

anyway - back on topic - just come back from Tesco - or possibly the Soviet Union - difficult to tell

 

Anyway - we're British - well all pull together and work together and get through this

just like in WW2

 

On which subject I was talking about WW2 with my Dad many years ago - something about all this pulling together and being British had been on the news

 

His view was that everyone pulled together whose loved ones were off getting killed and stuff

 

but, strangely, a lot of people around Birkenhead docks came out of the war a damn sight richer than they went into it

and my Granddad was a travelling salesman during the war - sorting out critical supplies - mainly salt - and he came across a lot of rich people - who never seemed to have a problem with rationing

 

apparently common saying around the docks was 'it's a big ship' - meaning no-one will miss a few xxxxxx's

 

 

seems to match the buying techniques of some people

a shop worked in Tesco was just walking up an aisle with a load of mince and steak - her colleague looked at her and said "another one" - she said "yup he claimed that one fo you lot told him he could get 4 of them because it was 2 for £xx" - some people really need to grow up!!

[hardtailstar]

Well some good news today!

 

After the email sent yesterday saying support staff have to be in school, we were told this morning we could work from home if we wanted.

 

My plan is provide support for next few weeks until Easter on a reduced time then after Easter look at everything again and see what happens.

 

I was talking to my Explorers in our group chat yesterday evening and they are all distraught, most of them should have been sitting exams.

[superatticman]

Probably because for the first time people realise we actually exist. Think about it.

 

For the first time, cleaners MATTER. If things are dirty, full of bacteria and with the Corona popping up.. this is one hell of a time to keep things clean. When sites are shutdown, they are being thoroughly cleaned top to bottom.

For the first time, IT staff MATTER. All those staff want to work from home and the very people that NEVER use the term "home access/remote working" are wanting it... or perhaps demanding it. They also want a reliable system where IT staff are not needed on site to babysit the system. Putting pressure on your broadband and servers that may never get this kind of traffic again. Plus... how many of us actually had home access ready for this scenario? And they want this after shrinking our teams, taking away our budgets and outsourcing us.

 

Delivery drivers are important - they provide our food at stores.

Store workers are important - they keep those stores open.

 

All those "highly skilled professionals" have treated "low" skilled workers like dirt, bums, just sit around all day doing nothing. The world now preys these people do their jobs every day.

 

I agree with this. Their bubble has truly been burst. Am I supposed to feel sorry for these actors etc who suddenly find they are a luxury and not actually required for society to exist?

[mikeprice]

Really bad for those who should have been sitting exams

 

WHen I used to teacher Year 11 there were always kids (normally boys) who coasted up to mocks and were behind with coursework etc etc etc

then panicked just before coursework deadline date and just managed to work like hell and get something sorted

then worked like hell again and get the exam stuff sorted

 

those kids are now screwed

 

saw it happen to a few every year - ill on exam day etc etc etc - but they never listened

 

and also - I can imagine that quite a few teachers (especially in 'some' schools) will meet their targets regarding results - that may not otherwise have done so

still - dunno what else they can do otehr than trust the teachers to submit honest stuff

and - to be fair - the vast majority of teacher will be fair and honest

[River]

I know, we are all working hard and getting stressed about preparing school for remote teaching/learning and when we need hugs the most we can't get them as we are supposed to be avoiding physical contact!

[mikeprice]

As someone who has retired (for the moment) and hence is not working hard at all

 

 

here are some hugs for all of you that need them!!

 

:grouphug:

 

 

thank you all for your hard work (may as well say it - just on case SMT forget!!!!)

[Patrick]

Scary times for us self employed lot..

[CAM]

I've just been told by one of the exam boards that any exam papers that have been delivered must still be stored in secure conditions until told otherwise. I get the impression the boards have been somewhat blindsided by this.