September Newsletter
Posted on Friday, September 11, 2020Dear Parent/Guardian,
I would firstly like to thank you all for your support and kindness on reopening our school. From the very first day every guideline and direction was followed and it lead to a very smooth, happy and safe reopening.
We are still getting used to all our extra procedures and protocols but overall it is going quite well. The main changes we have had include:
- Only staff and pupils on school grounds.
- All adults wearing face coverings.
- Infant parents waiting in their cars until Ms McGrath walks pupils to the gate.
- Hand sanitising on entry and exit of every room, every time.
- Every pupil washing their hands before eating (both breaks).
- Classrooms not mixing.
- No congregating at the gates after school. All pupils walking directly out to cars/bus/bikes.
Absences
We have to be over vigilant with coughs, colds and temperatures. We sent home a helpful information sheet to all parents last week. We all (staff included) have to err on the side of caution this year. You can call Patricia 090 9675362 at 9am to tell us if your child won't be in. This will suffice as a note for our records. You can leave a message on the school answering machine on a Friday.
If your child is being tested for Covid or if you have any queries or information that should be shared with the school, contact me directly at [email protected] or call the office to speak with me. All information shared relating to Covid-19 will be treated with discretion and all guidelines outlined by the HSE will be adhered to.
Appointments
Many of our pupils have appointments for hearing, sight etc as the HSE are catching up after lockdown. If an appointment is early, please hold onto your child at home until after the appointment. If you let the teacher know in advance, the child will be marked in as present. On return to school the parent can walk their child to the front door and ring the buzzer.
If the appointment is later in the day, send a note in informing the teacher. 12.20 is the most suitable time to collect your child for an afternoon appointment. The parent can wait at their car and a teacher will walk their child to the gate.
Curriculum/Catching Up
Each teacher is keeping a Google classroom alongside their physical teaching. The children will be given the code by their teacher in class. When your child is doing their homework they can log in and use the games or resources the teacher used in school to reinforce their learning. This will also benefit the children who are missing days with illness and have us ready if we do have to teach online again.
We are focusing on the core subjects of English, Irish and Maths along with Wellbeing. Progress will be slow through September but it will be time well spent to give the children a good base to build on for the rest of the year.
Work/life balance!
Wellbeing is a priority for our pupils on return to school and should also be a priority for our staff. Our teachers give their all in school each day and spend time in the evenings planning and preparing. We would ask that teachers would not be contacted after 4pm on a school day and any queries outside of classroom teaching and learning should be directed to the principal or school office.
Any questions about money, school books, uniform, forms for enrolment/insurance etc contact Patricia [email protected]
All other queries contact me at [email protected].
Confirmation 2020
Confirmation will be held on Friday 25th September at 10:30am in Eyrecourt Church.
There will be clear guidelines to follow in the coming weeks but important information for now is that each pupil can have 2 parents/guardians and 1 sponsor attend with them.
Communion 2020
Communion will be held on Saturday 10th October at 11am in Eyrecourt Church.
There are guidelines to follow in due course but for now each pupil can have their immediate family attend with them. (Parents & siblings)
The sacrament of First Confession will be held in the school in the weeks before the First Holy Communion.
All queries relating to Confirmation and Communion should be directed to Fr. McInerney.
Finally our school calendar is available to view here.
Kind regards,
Éilis Treacy
Principal
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