November 2020 Newsletter
Welcome back to school after your mid-term break and we are pleased to be reopening once more. With level 5 restrictions in place until December 1st, please remind your children of the importance of hand washing and social distancing – children will continue to practise both in school while remaining in their classroom bubbles. Bubbles will not mix at any stage during the school day. At 3.00 children will be allowed to walk down to the gate at intervals – the teacher on duty will call family names so please be patient, we know you are there but we cannot let all children away together in order to maintain social distancing. Please note all children should be in school by 9.20 each morning now, as class starts at this time. With Scoil Éanna starting and finishing earlier than our school, congestion at the gate is not as big problem as it was other years.
Resurfacing Works
Access to the school gate may be limited for the next week or so due to the County Council resurfacing the area in front of the school. We are grateful to the council for including this in their work while resurfacing the Main St. in the town.
Cash for Clobber
Please let all your family and friends know about our clothes collection taking place on November 18th. This is always very well supported and the money generated can be used to buy resources for the school. Bags of unwanted clothes and shoes may be left to school on the morning of the 18th or the evening before only.
Parents’ Association
Many thanks to the Parents’ Association for their donation of treat bags to each pupils on Friday 23rd October while pupils watched a movie. They went down great and were very much appreciated. Due to Covid restrictions the Parents’ Association will be unable to hold their AGM this term.
There are still a number of school cookery books available, if anyone is looking for a Christmas present - €10 each.
Parent Teacher Meetings
Parent teacher meetings are generally held in early December each year but due to the present restrictions these will not be taking place. It is hoped to hold them at the end of January 2021. If you wish to speak to your child/children’s class teacher you may contact them by phone. The best times to ring are 8.50-9.00 and 3.05-3.30. As teachers are on playground duty every day please don’t ring at break/lunch time as teachers cannot come to the phone.
Seesaw
It is great to see how all pupils have adapted to the use of the online learning platform, Seesaw. Teachers are continuing to receive ongoing training in the use of Seesaw. We acknowledge some parents’ concerns regarding the use of technology and we wish to reassure all parents that while Seesaw will become an integral part of teaching and learning within our school, pupils will still be completing written tasks also. This is often referred to as a blended approach and pupils will benefit from developing confidence in the use of IT while still maintaining the required standards with written work. The use of the Seesaw platform is not just for a lockdown situation where schools are closed, it will be used regardless. However, should schools close again we are in a better position to teach and learn remotely with the use of Seesaw.
Withdrawal of Hand Sanitiser and other PPE Products
Just before mid-term schools were instructed to cease the use of all ViroPro products immediately. We were unaffected by this as our hand sanitiser, San Kind comes from Univet in Tullyvin. However, last week we received an email from the Department instructing schools to discontinue the use of certain other products. It must be stated that the Department has emphasised that it does not have any evidence that the products are unsafe, “it has not been possible to satisfactorily confirm new registration status as part of the review”. The hand soap which we had purchased from the Departments recommended list of suppliers was one of the products listed to be withdrawn. All soaps have now been removed and have been replaced with a recommended alternative.
Reminder
If pupils wish to bring a small hand towel to school and keep it in a plastic bag they may do so. Paper towels can be hard on your skin. Towels must go home every day. All children must wear coats with hoods to school. We endeavour to get out every day so as the classroom windows can be opened and air circulated during break/lunch time. Children will not be allowed out if they haven’t a waterproof coat with a hood. If children wish to bring wellington boots to school to wear outside on wet days, they may do so. Boots can be left in school if you wish to do so.
Updated Advice from HSE
Please click on the link below for updated advice for the HSE on when you should/shouldn’t keep your child home from school or childcare.
If any member of a household is being tested for Covid 19 due to being identified as a close contact or has symptoms of Covid 19 you must keep you child/children home from school until a negative test result has been received. Please let the school know if your child/children are being kept off school for this reason.
Advance Notice
School closes at 12.00 on Tuesday 22nd December for Christmas holidays, and reopens on Wednesday 6th January 2021.