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Parent Information 11th August 2020

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11th August 2020

Dear Parent / Guardian, Staff Member,

RE: Physical Distancing and Safe School Attendance

We are currently working on upgrading our procedures and routines within the school to ensure that there is as much Physical Distancing as is possible in our building. We will apply physical distancing in a practical and sensible way, recognising that the learning environment cannot be dominated by a potentially counterproductive focus on this issue.

Physical Distancing will be achieved in two ways: –

Increasing Separation.  This will be achieved by re-configuring the classrooms to maximise physical distancing. Each class will be referred to as a bubble and we will ensure that there is as little contact as possible between children in different bubbles.  Within the bubbles, children will be organised into pods.  A pod is a group of children (normally 6) who will sit together and who will stay in their pod while in the bubble, or classroom. 

Decreasing Interaction. This will be achieved by decreasing the potential for children from different bubbles to interact.  There will be marked routes for various bubbles to enter and exit the school and to access their classrooms.  Bubbles will have different mid-morning and lunch-time access to the playground.  We will make these routines enjoyable activities for the children, emphasising safety at all times.

While all children will be welcome back to school, we would remind parents that, where children are displaying colds, coughs or flu like symptoms, they should not be sent to school.  Children who display such symptoms in school will be isolated and parents asked to collect them from the school.

Children who have travelled from countries not on the Green List should not attend school during the 14-day self-isolation period

Further information on COVID-19 symptoms in children is available at: –

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/if-your-child-has-symptoms.html

Teachers will make children aware of the proper hygiene procedures regarding hand washing and etiquette related to sneezing, coughing or spitting.  We would be grateful if you could also emphasise safe behaviour in this regard to your children at home as part of the preparation for returning to school.

Our aim remains to re-open the school in an orderly safe manner, while reassuring the children and making them feel comfortable, safe and relaxed with their friends in the new school environment.  This will be achieved by all of us working towards this common goal.

Le meas

 

__Deirdre Kerr                                                                                                     Patricia Mc Keever

  Cathaoirleach, An Bhóird Bainistíochta                                                                          Príomhoide

 

Letter from Norma Foley Minister of Education to all Parents

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27th July 2020

Dear Parents/ Guardians

Since I was appointed Minister for Education on 27 June, my first priority has been the full re-opening of schools. Today the Government approved a Roadmap for Reopening of Schools, and a funding package of €376 million to support this. I am confident that the supports and additional resources we have provided will enable our schools to open safely.

An enormous amount of work has been done to prepare detailed guidance based on the interim public health advice for schools, which we received in late June.

The plan has been developed by consulting with those who know best how schools run: representatives of students, parents, principals, teachers, SNAs, support staff and school management bodies, and. Their expertise has been crucial in putting this together and I am very grateful to all involved for their hard work over many weeks.

I know that school communities have a big job ahead of them to prepare for the return to school. We have put in place some practical supports and a significant financial package to help. This includes funding to make physical changes that schools may need, funding to employ an aide to move furniture, help re-organise rooms and get things ready before schools reopen, and funding for substitution and replacement of teachers. We will also be providing funding for hand sanitiser and for personal protective equipment, where appropriate.

Every school building and circumstance is different, and I’ve asked each school to communicate directly with parents and students about the changes that you can expect when term begins.

Before the return to school, the Department will provide schools with some communications materials that are age-appropriate, to help you to support your child’s return to school. They will also be available on Gov.ie/backtoschool. I hope you will find these useful.

I know that your children and you have experienced severe disruption as a result of Covid-19. Pupils, parents, teachers and schools have made enormous efforts to keep teaching and learning. But school is a special place, and some of the best parts of learning are being in a classroom with other children, and everyone has missed out on that.

I know some children and young people may be nervous about returning, and we will all be working to support them to settle in, to feel safe and to be happy in their school work, when schools return.

I hope you and your families have a lovely summer and get to enjoy some time together. Throughout this pandemic, we’ve all been in this together. This will be a time of change, and there will be new routines for the students and for us all to learn. We will

Norma Foley Sráid Maoilbhríde, Baile Átha Cliath 1, D01 RC96 An tAire Oideachas Marlborough St, Dublin 1, D01 RC96 Minister for Education T +353 1 889 2335 | Minister@Education.gov.ie

www.department.gov.ie

….. 2 learn this together, because we all have a role to play in keeping the whole school community safe.

With every good wish

______________________________ Norma Foley TD Minister for Education

Covid 19 Information For Parents 27th March 2020

Dear Parent’s,
I hope this post finds all our students and parents well and coping with the school closure.
As announced on Tuesday, the government has extended the school closure to 19th April.
We are all doing our best to support our pupils, parents and staff at this challenging and stressful time.
We have been asked to convey to students , the absolute need to practice social and physical distancing, and to minimise physical contact with each other, to help avoid the spread of Covid-19. This includes advice to avoid meeting up and in all circumstances to adhere to HSE guidelines. As part of our school community, parents and guardians are also urged to support their children to maintain the restrictions on congregating for the safety of all in their community.
Information notices (in 17 different languages) are available here: www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/newsfeatures/covid19-updates/partner-resources/covid-19-translated-resources/
As instructed by the Dept of Education CBS are providing continuity of learning for students in a number of ways.
Some teachers are using class dojo(Ms Sheridan, Mr Casey, Mr Dunlevy, Mr T o’Connor) and the other classes are using the school website to post suggested work for the children. (Check NEWS AND EVENTS on the website to find your class).
I want to stress that this work is suggested and not prescriptive. The work is up to Friday 3rd April. Easter holidays from 4th April to 19th April. Work will be updated if the school closure is extended beyond 19th April.
All school events due to take place during the school closure will be rearranged (eg 1st Confession).
RTE launches RTE HOME SCHOOL daily starting next Monday (weekdays from 11am) geared for children from 1st to 6th class.
David Walliams has released the audio story (free of charge)‘’The World’s Worst Children’’ at https://bit.ly/AudioElevenses.
NCSE have a list of resources for Learning Support children on https//ncse.ie/online-resources.
Check out Louth County Libraries Facebook page, where they read stories every day.
Scoilnet has a number of home usage supports for students to benefit from and Scoilnet will be updating the material available on its website regularly.
This is a very challenging time for schools, teachers, students and parents. It is critical that during these challenging times we continue to work together and that the focus of all is on the best possible outcomes for our students. The support of everyone is vital, as we all strive to ensure that this public health threat is dealt with as effectively as possible. The guidance provided by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of this Department for parents, for young people and for teachers is also being updated on an ongoing basis, and is available at www.education.ie/covid19
Happy Easter to all and we are looking forward to seeing you all back in school.
Patricia Mc Keever

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