If Your Child has NOT Been Identified as a Close Contact
Re: Confirmed case of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) at your childs’ school or childcare
Dear Parent,
We have been notified that a person has tested positive for Covid-19 (coronavirus) at your child’s school or childcare facility. The Department of Public Health – Midlands has carried out an assessment. We have identified the close contacts of the person with Covid-19.
Please try not to worry. Your child has not been identified as a close contact. This means that they do not need to be tested for Covid-19. They can continue to go to school or childcare, and all their activities as normal.
We are asking you to:
- Keep an eye on your child’s health. This is to check for any symptoms of Covid-19. Symptoms of Covid-19 include a fever (temperature of 38◦C or higher), cough, shortness of breath, any loss or change to the sense of smell or taste, headache, sore throat, or a runny nose.
- Please make sure you are contactable by phone just in case we get new information and need to speak with you.
If your child gets any symptoms of Covid-19 (coronavirus) you need to:
- Isolate them if possible and try and avoid them coming into contact with other people. This includes other people at home.
- Get a Covid-19 test done for your child either by contacting your GP or attending a drop-in centre. If they seem unwell you should phone your GP or out-or-hours GP service for advice.
- Restrict the movements of everyone at home. This means other people in the house should stay home, and should not go to work or to school or childcare.
How can you protect your family from Covid-19 (coronavirus)?
- Continue to follow public health guidelines, wear your face covering, clean your hands regularly and keep your distance from others. Encourage all the family to keep doing these things.
- Encourage everyone at home who is over 18 to get a Covid-19 vaccine. There are a few ways you can arrange this:
- Register using the HSE Vaccine portal (https://vaccine.hse.ie/#register)
- OR phone the HSE at 1800 700 700
- OR book a single dose Janssen vaccine at a participating pharmacy (https://www2.hse.ie/Apps/Services/PharmaciesServiceList.aspx)
More information
- Up to date information and advice on Covid-19 is available on ie.
- If you have any queries you can call HSELive on 1850 24 1850.
We thank you for your help and support as we live with Covid-19.
Best wishes,
The Covid-19 Health Protection Team, Department of Public Health – Midlands.
Please be Cautious
We are aware of a number of cases of the virus in the school community. These have been confirmed in the past few days. Please be extra vigilant and cautious with your social contacts.
If your child has any of the common symptoms of Covid-19 (temperature, new cough, changed sense of taste or smell, shortness of breath) isolate your child and call your doctor.
If your child has any other symptoms (such as sore throat, headache, runny or stuffy nose, feeling sick, diarrhoea) call your doctor and do not send your child to school.
If you know of anyone who has yet to avail of a vaccine, please encourage them to do so immediately.
We have had exceptional cooperation from parents and we continue to rely on you. Thank you all.
Return to School (Friday, 27th August)
Céad Míle Fáilte!
A big Ballylinan welcome back to all our pupils and their families. A special welcome to all our pupils starting ‘big’ school for the first time! In this school we have an exceptionally friendly, warm and welcoming environment that we treasure. Our sincere wish is that your child learns and thrives here.
Covid Protocols
Government guidelines require us to return with the same protocols in place as before the summer. We all hope that as vaccine levels continue to increase, we will be able to return to ‘normal’ at some stage. For now, we must remain cautious.
Sanitising will be required. While we have lots of sanitiser available, it is very helpful for your child to have a little bottle to hand.
Interaction will be limited within classrooms and rooms will have little or no interaction with other rooms during the day.
Face coverings will be worn by school staff in situations where physical distancing cannot be maintained. Guidelines state that face coverings for children are not required. If you wish your child to wear one and s/he can manage successfully, they are welcome to do so.
What if my Child is Unwell?
If your child has any of the common symptoms of Covid-19 (temperature, new cough, changed sense of taste or smell, shortness of breath) isolate your child and call your doctor.
If your child has any other symptoms (such as sore throat, headache, runny or stuffy nose, feeling sick, diarrhoea) call your doctor and do not send your child to school.
We have had exceptional cooperation from parents and this contributed to the fact that we needed no intervention from Public Health last year. There is no guarantee that it will be the same this year, so we continue to rely on your cooperation. We really appreciate it. If you have any queries at all, please contact the school and we will be only too glad to help.
You will be required to complete a Return to School Declaration on the Aladdin app when your child is returning from an absence (not after a weekend).
Arriving in the Mornings
Please note that Junior Infants should arrive between 9:30 and 9:45 on Friday, 27th August only. From then on, arrival is as for others as follows:)
Pupils may arrive at any time between 9 and 9:15 and they will go straight to their classrooms through designated entrances, all at the rear of the building:
Athy End: Ms. Twomey, Mrs. Donnelly, Mrs. Sukprasert and Ms. Lacey
Ballylinan End: Ms. Goff, Ms. Cunningham, Mrs. Moriarty and Ms. Hogan
Middle Door: Ms. Murphy, Mr. Curry
It is preferable that the children can make their way without you; it will reduce the risk of adults coming into contact. While such contact would be casual and outdoors, we strongly recommend that adults use face masks if they have to leave their car. If your child is able to get out of the car with their belongings unaided, please use the drop off area. This means drop and go. Please do not delay or get out of your car for any reason. Drop and go!
Departing in the Afternoons
Your child will exit from the door by which they entered in the morning. Infants finish at 2 p.m. (except Junior Infants for first two weeks) and all other classes at 3 p.m.
Those making their way home independently will walk to the front via the Athy end.
If your child is in 4th – 6th Class, please wait at your car. Your child will exit by the same door they entered and make their way to your car. There will continue to be extra space for cars to the rear at the Athy end.
If your child is in 1st – 3rd Class, you may wait in a physically distanced manner on the courts to the rear of the school. Your child will exit and make their way to you.
It is strongly recommended that you wear a mask. Although we have a large area at the rear of the school, make sure not to congregate in close proximity to others. Please do not approach the doors, the teachers will send your child to you. We ask for your patience, particularly for the first few days while we get used to these arrangements.
We can’t change these arrangements if it is very wet, do have a coat to hand!
Schoolbags
Once your child has brought their books to school, schoolbags will not not be needed as often as usual. Details to follow.
School Reopening
Parents of All Pupils
School will reopen for all pupils on Friday, 27th August. All Covid restrictions will still be in place, with very little change from before the summer. More details will issue next week.
Parents of Junior Infants
We are looking forward to meeting you and your child on Wednesday morning (25th August) for a brief introduction to Ballylinan N.S. At the allocated time, please bring your child to the Athy end of the school (to the rear of the right hand side as you approach the building). You may drop your child at their classroom and proceed to the school hall. Please note that masks are required. Thank you.
Please remember that from Friday, 27th August – Friday 10th September inclusive, Junior Infants will finish each day at 12:15.