Dear Parents, Students, and Teachers,
I hope you are well. As per Government Advice https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/a128d-back-to-
school/ we are getting ready for a safe return to school. In summary, key measures to minimise risk of introduction of Covid 19 and the management of risk of spread in the event of introduction include:
· Regular and good hand hygiene;
· Good respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette;
· Enhanced cleaning regimes; and
· Maintaining physical distancing in the classroom and within schools
What to expect
These measures will mean different routines and practices than we are used to – it will only be possible to implement them with the support and help of all school staff, teachers, students and parents.
The DES will issue an insert for schools to include in their Codes of Behaviour. Changes are being made to the
timetable, break-times, the lay-out of classrooms, and class size in some instances, so that physicaldistancing can be maintained. Extra teachers will be recruited. Details of hygiene measures and additional protocols will be shared with you in the coming weeks. Everyone can expect to keep to the left of the corridor at all times and that students will be based in the same classroom as far as practicable to reduce contact between people. It is likely that we will be using the ICT skills(Microsoft Teams) developed by both staff and students during school closure as an accessory to learning and teaching.
September 1st
We look forward to welcoming students back on September 1st.Details on the return of specific year
groups have not been finalised yet.Depending on further advice which may issue to schools, the
progress of preparations to support a safe return to school, as well as training for teachers and students,
the date of return may change. Our priority is to get back to school efficiently and safely.
Concerns
It is very likely that many of you (especially students going into third year and sixth year) will be
concerned about catching up on the curriculum and being prepared for examinations. The DES is
looking at making changes to subject assessment that take into account the disruption to learning that
all students have experienced. Teachers will advise students about these changes which have not been
published yet. Our initial focus will be establishing safe routines and practices while easing back into
the curriculum.
If there is any parent concerned for their son/daughter on the basis of high risk category which might
mean that a return to school may not be possible please contact me at [email protected] so as we
can start to plan for supporting them.
Keep informed
Each school will publish a Covid Response Plan in the coming weeks. Our present focus is on
classrooms and ordering hygiene supplies. Questionsthat you may have about details of protocols will
very likely be answered in future updates. This letter is the firstof a series which you can expect to get
during the coming weeks via email. All information will also be on the school website and on the
school’s Facebook page.
Usual Preparations
The regular preparation in advance of a new school year is on-going ie general administration,
recruitment, curriculum planning, maintenance, book rental etc. Details about textbookswill issue when
they are ready for distribution. The school office will be open for phone calls from August 10th. The
focus of this update is to provide you with some initial details about returning to school. The
correspondence that is normally circulated will issue later this month.
Finally, many of you will know from the media that LC Results will be available on September 7th. So,
until the next update, stay well.
Yours sincerely
Mary Kelly
Principal