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Newsletter 22nd October 2020

Thank You
A big thank you to our parents for being cautious and very responsible in relation to the virus since we reopened at the end of August. Lots of you have kept us informed or rang us for advice on what you should do. We really appreciate this and while we may not always have a black and white answer or may have to point you to medical advice, by being open and honest with us you are protecting us all. Increasing virus levels in the community will inevitably feed through to schools so we must all take as much care as we can. Please continue to follow public health advice at ALL times.

Book Collection
A reminder that this was just a precaution; we are expecting to reopen on Monday, 2nd November after the break next week.

Our Support
We are very conscious that some of our parents have had their business closed or their workplace significantly affected. All we can say is that you have our support and to let you know that we will do everything we can to keep the school up and running and make life as normal as possible for your child. These times will pass and – though they may seem far away at present – there are brighter days ahead. They can’t come soon enough!

Home-School Communication
We have reached Halloween with school going reasonably smoothly considering the restrictions that are being placed upon all of us. The children are coping well and we are working as best we can given the circumstances. Naturally it is more difficult than in previous years for us to be in touch with each other. Do remember that if you need a word with your child’s teacher you can ring the school and we will get back to you. Email addresses for each teacher will be issued after mid-term and you will be free to use these also. You may continue to submit explanations for absences through the Aladdin app.

Is Your Child in 5th Class?
Please remember to contact secondary schools well in advance to ensure that your child can be enrolled in good time.

Gaeilge
Táimid ag déanamh iarracht níos mó Gaeilge a úsáid i rith an lae. We’re trying to use a little more Irish during the day. Éist le na páistí thíos. Listen to the children here. If you click on the ‘Gaeilge’ tag underneath, you can hear more. Good to see some getting the message!

Halloween
We will be dressing up for Halloween tomorrow! Remember also that Junior and Senior Infants are to be collected at 12:15 and all other children at 12:30. Thank you for your support as always.

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Newsletter 5th October 2020

Calendar

Our dates for the year are in the ‘Calendar’ menu at the top of the page. We all sincerely hope that they work out as planned!

Homework
Over the next couple of weeks we will gradually reintroduce some homework and some teachers will begin experimenting with using the Aladdin app for same.

First Communion
Well done to the boys and girls of 3rd Class who (finally!) made their Communion on Saturday last. Thanks to their teachers Ms. Cunningham and Ms. Goff for preparing them. The rain held off and we hope people had a nice family day.

Healthy Eating
We encourage the eating of healthy lunches. We ask you not send sweets, crisps (and similar snacks), chocolate, fizzy or energy drinks to school please. We also ask you to think carefully about the quantity of food as children may feel they need to finish everything; that is not always the case.

Outdoor Activities
Much to our disappointment there will be no Cumann na mBunscol football competitions this year. We are gradually reintroducing our coaching activities during the year; cycling safety for 4th and 5th Classes; rugby and football for other classes. Swimming looks unlikely at this stage but we will keep it under review.

Allergies / Epipens
If your child has an allergy and we have an epipen here in the school please contact us immediately to check that it is in date.

Anxiety Webinar
Triple P Parenting Programme are delivering a webinar which will offer parents of children 4 – 14 years of age tips and strategies to help their children manage their anxiety. Parents have a crucial role to play in mitigating the potential long-term negative impacts of the pandemic on children, particularly in relation to mental health.

Date:                     Wednesday 21st October 2020
Time:                     7.30 – 9.00pm
Booking:             Online Booking
All information is confidential and your image or any identifying details will NOT be on screen.

Facilitators:         Sinead Higgins and Deirdre Dowling

COVID-19 Matters
Though quite a few parents, pupils and staff have been tested for the virus, we have not as yet had a confirmed case in the school. It is of course possible that there will be a case at some stage and it is prudent for us to be prepared. The school is a controlled environment. There are measures in place to combat the introduction or spread of the virus. These are based on:

• Physical Distancing
• Hand Hygiene
• Respiratory and Hygiene Etiquette

• Mask Wearing, where necessary

In the case of a positive result, Public Health will, by law, be informed. This may take a matter of hours due to legal and volume of work issues. The person tested, or their parents, may well be informed before Public Health. In some cases a social media discussion ensues and anxiety levels can be raised among the school community.

The Public Health Department of the HSE is the agency responsible by law for dealing with positive cases of COVID-19.

Once notified by the HSE testing regime, Public Health Doctors assume total control of the situation and will carry out a risk assessment. Based on questioning the person with the positive result, they will ascertain if they were within the school setting when they contracted the virus. If not, there may be no need to contact the school.

If the person was within the school setting when they contracted the virus, Public Health will contact the principal to carry out a Public Health Risk Assessment. This is a set of questions to see who might have been exposed to the virus and who needs to be excluded or tested. This risk assessment will be unique to each school.

The principal and board of management have no function in the risk assessment, other than to provide whatever information is required by the Public Health Medical Officer.

The principal and board may be asked to assist Public Health by sending a message from them to the relevant families identified in the risk assessment.  Public Health will not contact other members of the school community.

The principal and board are not permitted to inform members of the school community of the identity of the person or persons who have tested positive for COVID-19 for doctor–patient confidentiality and GDPR reasons.

Thank You
Huge thanks go to everyone in the school community for their patience and goodwill in helping the school to reopen and to remain open in these challenging times. To you the parents for your cooperation with our new routines, to the pupils for putting up with reduced opportunities for play and fewer chances to do the things we normally enjoy and to our wonderful staff for their generosity and flexibility in making things work. It’s good to be open! Ní neart go cur le chéile.

Reading Scheme Missing Books
We are missing a number of our reading scheme books. Please check if you have one. They are marked with sticker that has a letter and a number on it. If you have one, just return it immediately. Thank you.