Beatha agus sláinte chugaibh a chairde!

No doubt everyone is making final preparations for returning to school on Thursday. I hope that you found the ‘Going Back to School’ story useful – I suggest that you go over this again with your child over the next couple of days.

To help things run as smoothly as possible, I would like to draw your attention to the following:

1. The main priority for everyone at this point is safety and wellbeing. Please reassure your child that we have done, and will continue to do, all that we can to have the school environment as safe as possible. Continued co-operation from all will be crucial. Over the first few days in particular, all the Múinteoirí will be focusing on our new systems with the children to ensure that everyone is clear and comfortable with what is our ‘new normal’.

2. Before leaving home, please check that your child has everything they need for school – boscaí lóin, drinks, coats etc. This should avoid your having to call to the school unnecessarily with forgotten items. We are installing an Office Call Button at the main entrance to minimise contact. Any urgent items may be left outside the door and will be collected immediately as soon as we are informed.

3. If your child is displaying symptoms which you suspect may be related to COVID-19, please, please do not send them to school. Contact your GP for advice and keep us informed if appropriate.

4. If you are dropping your child to school, please remain in your car until your child’s allocated time ie 8.40 or 8.50. Remind your child to come through the gate and walk directly to their classroom and not to congregate with others. Múinteoirí will be on hand to help direct children. The same applies at going home time – no congregation of adults or children in the vicinity of the school.

5. Should your child be feeling unwell and displaying possible COVID-19 symptoms, we will contact you immediately The child will be kept in isolation but an adult will be with them at all times. Please arrange to have someone available to collect your child within 10 minutes if this is the case and contact your GP by phone immediately for advice. Again, please keep us informed.

6. As ventilation is so important in reducing the spread of the virus, classroom windows and doors will remain open at all times during the day. Your child may need an extra layer of clothing under their uniform as the weather gets colder. Children should bring a raincoat to school every day. They will need to get regular breaks in the fresh air and we live in Ireland!

7. As children have not been in school since last March, we will be focusing very much on Gaeilge as they settle back. Therefore, we will not be doing English lessons for the first two weeks. There will be no written Obair Bhaile during this time also until everyone has settled into the new routine.

8. I have attached the Agreed Report from the latest Board of Management meeting for your attention.

Finally, I want to thank everyone for the great level of co-operation which we have experienced since we were last in school. This school year will certainly be different but we will help each other through it and do what we can collectively for our lovely páistí, creating as many positive memories as possible of this unique time in our history.

Gach rath agus buíochas le gach duine.

Le meas,

An Múinteoir Aingeal