Coronavirus: General discussion (see opening post for rules)

[CHiLL]

Since there's effectively no curriculum and we're just looking after the kids who remain in schools, all our staff have been put on a three week rota. IT support in week 1 will be covered by my colleague, week 2 it's covered by me and week 3 is covered by my boss. Rinse and repeat until June.

[elsiegee40]

Husband just got back from a trip to Southampton. He also came back with milk.

 

Waitrose at a service area on a motorway somewhere between Kent and Southampton was fully stocked with milk and having to reduce bottles because they’d reached their sell by date.

 

Obviously the range available in motorway supermarket branches isn’t as full as in a main store, but he said it was pretty well stocked with everything!

[sonofsanta]

Er, just to clarify on this, as it could be ambiguous:

 

Shout out to Bromcom, as well: we were meant to have an onsite training day on Wednesday and start ramping up to an April 27th launch, but they've pushed us back to June 1st. Which--as the smallest of silver linings--is actually more convenient for us, now there's no exams to worry about!

 

 

That's a compliment! We asked to be pushed back, and they've been very accommodating. We're lucky that our current MIS contract runs to the end of July so we have space to move back (especially without exams). They're not taking any action unilaterally, this is all in discussion, they're being very helpful and flexible indeed

[jmak]

Mmm so I could be asked to do "childcare" ?

 

Allready "turning" a bit here. Some staff saying not coming in monday.[/Quote]

 

Presumably, once you've had it, you'll be considered immune, so you'll then be in for the duration...

[mikeprice]

Checking up on the older generation during this time?

 

:ban::ban::ban::ban::ban:

[smurfomatic]

We had a whole staff meeting today, and were told teaching staff can access the site (but will basically be working from home) and admin/support staff can either work from home or in school depending on what suits them best.

 

This suits me, I'll be in next week pretty much as usual (expecting most of my workload to be password resets and explaining how to log into Google Mail) then will go from there. I have two weeks booked off over the "holiday" but not sure what I'll be doing, to be honest just need a break.

 

Plans for the start of next term will be made as and when we know when that will be! Head of ICT has worked for hours on a Google site that staff can edit to update parents & kids about expected work, and also set up email groups for each class to make it easier to work from home.

[superatticman]

Can anyone clarify whether school places for 'key worker' pupils is based on one parent or both parents working in a key role?????

[mikeprice]

Can anyone clarify whether school places for 'key worker' pupils is based on one parent or both parents working in a key role?????

 

My wife says that ONE parent classified as a key worked is all it needs

[mikeprice]

Dunno what is happening elsewhere but the Liverpool Echo website says that all schools are not open for Key Worker kids

 

They have set up primary 'hubs' all over the place and you have to get you kid(s) to the nearest hub

They also say all secondary schools are closed

 

 

I don't actually live in Liverpool or Mersey side - Halton seem bit short of info

and my old school has no info whatsoever on its website!! (clearly it has gone downhill since I left!)

[Edu-IT]

My wife says that ONE parent classified as a key worked is all it needs

This is correct however the advice still remains that if there is the option for children to stay at home and be cared for, they should. So if one parent is key worker and the other isn’t, it should be considered whether the non key worker has to be at work.

[6Foot2]

Link: UK pubs and restaurants told to shut in virus fight [bBC News]

 

Cafes, pubs and restaurants must close from Friday night, except for take-away food, to tackle coronavirus, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.

 

All the UK's nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres have also been asked to close "as soon as they reasonably can".

 

Mr Johnson said the situation will be reviewed each month.

 

The chancellor has said the government will pay 80% of wages for employees who are not working, up to £2,500 a month.

 

Speaking at a daily Downing Street press briefing, Mr Johnson said the measures would be enforced "strictly" and that licensing arrangements will make doing so "relatively simple".

 

He urged people not to go out on Friday night, stressing: "For now, at least physically, we need to keep people apart."

 

The prime minister added: "The more effectively we follow the advice we are given, the faster this country will stage both a medical and an economic recovery in full."

[LeMarchand]

Well that was a hectic 2 days! unfortunately it's likely to remain so through the beginning of next week, if not longer.

[6Foot2]

Well that was a hectic 2 days! unfortunately it's likely to remain so through the beginning of next week, if not longer.

Even now! This evening I am still getting requests from staff and students to reset GSuite passwords (because they have forgotten what they have chosen, or cannot use the correct username, or password!)

[LeMarchand]

Even now! This evening I am still getting requests from staff and students to reset GSuite passwords (because they have forgotten what they have chosen, or cannot use the correct username, or password!)

 

That's why I don't look at work emails after I leave!

[localzuk]

That's why I don't look at work emails after I leave!

Same. All my working stuff is happening in a different web browser on my home PC, and my work profile is turned off after work hours. Gotta make sure you have down time!

[Primus]

Same. All my working stuff is happening in a different web browser on my home PC, and my work profile is turned off after work hours. Gotta make sure you have down time!

 

Downtime is vital, but if we can give a little extra at times like these then so much the better.

 

But you do have to look out for yourself as a burnt out employee is no use to anyone

[3s-gtech]

I took my running kit to work today - I just had a feeling that SLT would still be faffing about writing documents well after my working day, expecting them to be on the website straight away. I did it, but then sent them a blunt email saying “stop sending me this stuff out of hours, or it won’t get done.” They won’t have liked that.

 

They can shovel it.

[Ketlane]

This doocument might be a useful source of accurate information for a while. The situation and the science are changing by the minute, of course.

http://sblinkedmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/RSB_COVID-19_Bulletin_20200320.pdf

[smurfomatic]

I took my running kit to work today - I just had a feeling that SLT would still be faffing about writing documents well after my working day, expecting them to be on the website straight away. I did it, but then sent them a blunt email saying “stop sending me this stuff out of hours, or it won’t get done.” They won’t have liked that.

 

They can shovel it.

 

Out of office:

 

"I'm sure you think your email is of critical importance. So is my family, downtime and mental health. Your email can wait until Monday."

[3s-gtech]

Sadly, now social distancing on my own here so that one’s a bit hollow - my mental health isn’t great though.

[smurfomatic]

Sadly, now social distancing on my own here so that one’s a bit hollow - my mental health isn’t great though.

 

I know exactly how you feel. Been struggling with my own mental health for some time, and recent events obviously don't help. Difficult I know, but find someone you can talk to, see if that helps.

[craig2562]

We have 30+ students in next week and more than enough staff to cope with that level (about 10% of our normal).

 

All those staff not teaching students will be directed by HoD's on what needs doing - mostly updating Teaching on Teams, Youtube and using Homepacks.

 

Most of the hard work for me has been done - it's been a crazy busy week and TBH I'm absolutely knackered (not as young as I used to be) and looking forward to some R&R this weekend.

 

I have to say, the LT have been great at directing staff to only disturb us if it's absolutely necessary and the majority of staff within our school have rolled up their sleeves and got on with it, despite there being some anxiety. The spirit has been excellent.

 

There are two of us in the IT Dept but I've sent my colleague home for now as he is an Asthma sufferer and is struggling at the moment - don't want to risk him catching anything.

 

Next week I will be in and I've got things to be going on with so I will lock myself away in self-isolation in the Server Room. Stay safe everyone - this is gonna be a long haul.

Edited March 20, 2020 by craig2562

[keyboards]

I'm absolutely fried, I almost need a few days off just for my own well being I think

[CHiLL]

Sadly, now social distancing on my own here so that one’s a bit hollow - my mental health isn’t great though.

Same here. Due to , work is pretty much my only social contact. I am concerned over my mental health in the coming weeks/months. It's something I don't really talk about because I am socially awkward, massively self conscious and it makes me feel worse.

[keyboards]

Same here. Due to , work is pretty much my only social contact. I am concerned over my mental health in the coming weeks/months. It's something I don't really talk about because I am socially awkward, massively self conscious and it makes me feel worse.

That's everyone in IT Seriously make sure you take care of your self