18.08.2020
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I hope you are all keeping well and have had an enjoyable summer. We are all looking forward to welcoming your children back to school on Thursday morning August 27th. The staff and Board of Management have been working hard to ensure our school will reopen safely. School will be very different this year and a number of new procedures have been put in place:
- Drop off for children will be from 9.10am-9.20am. On arrival in school children will go straight to their classroom to their assigned seat.
-Juniors, Seniors and First class will use the infant classroom entrance.
-Second and Third class will use the main entrance.
-Fourth class will use the other front entrance near car park
-Fifth and Sixth class will use the classroom entrance near the sensory garden.
Parents are asked not to enter the school premises.
To facilitate the new infants first day in school we ask their parents to arrive at 9.30am on Thursday morning only to bring their child to the classroom.
- Social distancing will become the new normal for pupils in school. Social distancing is not required for pupils from Junior infants to Second class. All guidelines will be followed on the layout of tables. Your child will be in a group of 4/6 pupils This is known as a pod. This pod will not change until the October mid- term break.
- Break times will be staggered to keep class grouping apart on the yard.
Juniors – Third class : 11.00am-11.20am
1.00pm-1.20pm
Fourth, Fifth and Sixth class: 11.30am-11.50am
1.30pm -1.50pm
- Collection after school will be staggered as follows:
First , Second and Third class : 2.50pm-2.55pm
Fourth , Fifth and Sixth class : 2.55pm-3.00pm
Children travelling by bus will be brought to the yard by staff at the same times .Infants will continue to be collected at 2.00pm.Parents are asked to wait by the steps in the infant yard .
- The school will receive a deep clean and be sanitised before reopening. There are sanitising units in each classroom, along the hallways and at all entrances to the school. Each classroom will be assigned their own toilets. All toilets have hot water connected, soap dispensers and new paper towel dispensers .There will be extra daily cleaning of the school . Pupils and staff should perform hand hygiene:
-on arrival at school.
-before eating or drinking.
-after using the toilet.
-after playing outdoors
-when their hands are dirty.
-when they cough or sneeze.
- Scoil Chaitigheirn has appointed a lead worker representative to ensure all procedures and protocols are being followed.
- All staff will be undertaking mandatory training before the school reopens.
- A copy of the school COVID-19 policy is on our website.
- Signage will be on display throughout the school which outline the signs of COVID-19 and to encourage good hand and respiratory hygiene.
- A sign- in book for contact tracing will be used for all visitors to the school. Parents are asked to make an appointment if they need to speak to the Principal or class teacher.
- In the eventuality that a child appears unwell in school, parents/guardians will be contacted immediately. If the child in question is showing symptoms of Covid-19: High temperature, Cough, Shortness of breath or breathing difficulties, Loss of smell, of taste or distortion of taste, there will be an area in school for them to isolate, until collection. Your child should not attend school if any of the following apply
– Children who have been diagnosed with Covid-19
– Children who have been in close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with Covid-19
– Children who have a suspected case of Covid-19 and the outcome of the test is pending
– Children who have been in contact with a person who has a suspected case of Covid-19 and the outcome of the test is pending
– Children with underlying health conditions who have been directed by a medical professional not to attend school
– Children who have returned home after travelling abroad and must self-isolate for a period of 14 days
– Children who are generally unwell
It is crucially important that all parents follow these guidelines.
- There is no recommendation for children in Primary school to wear a face mask. If you want your child to wear a face covering that is ok as long as it is worn appropriately. We suggest that your child have tissues and a small bottle of sanitiser in a plastic zipper bag.
- The priority for teachers is to ensure all children will be safe and happy on their return to school. A large emphasis will be on the promotion of the children’s well-being. When you are explaining the new procedures to your child please do so in a child-friendly ,positive manner.
- The first few weeks will be about helping the children settle back to school and revision of last years work. Homework will be reintroduced on a gradual basis.
We are very fortunate to have a spacious school with a number of entrances. We also have large yard areas for the children at break time. It will take time to get used to all these new procedures . Thank you for your continued co-operation and support.Please contact me if you have any queries or concerns.
Is mise le meas
Micheál Lane & staff