September Newsletter 2021
Welcome back to school for another academic year and a special warm welcome goes to Katie, Ivy, Kevin, Charlotte, Theodore and Tongai who are starting school for the very first time. It is great to see pupils returning to their classrooms and while there are many Covid restrictions still in place staff are looking forward to this year with optimism and enthusiasm.
Covid Response Plan
Please ensure that you are familiar with the school’s current Covid response plan which was emailed to all parents prior to school reopening. A copy of the plan is on the website (under Covid19 Information tab). With the rise in the number of positive Covid cases in the area please be extra vigilant of the symptoms of Covid. I appreciate many symptoms are similar to a common cold and children will pick up colds etc. especially when back at school. It may be a case that in order to rule out Covid your child will need a Covid test which you can book online or by “walking in” to the Monaghan GAA Centre, Cloghan, Monaghan A75 VE84 between 11am and 2pm every day. If any member of the family is awaiting a test result, children or staff must not attend school.
It is going to be the case that some children be deemed “close contacts of a positive Covid case” throughout this year. If you are contacted by HSE to inform you of this, your child will be tested twice and they must not return to school until after the second negative PCR test. While awaiting the results of the 1st test, all siblings remain at home. If the 1st test is negative, and siblings don’t appear to display any symptoms they may return to school. If children are at home due to being close contacts, your child’s/children’s teacher will liaise with them to provide school work. Your child’s temperature is checked each morning on arrival to school. If it is 38˚or higher they will remain in the hall (supervised) and their temperature will be checked again, 20 minutes later. If it is still 38˚or higher you will be contacted and asked to collect your child.
Arrival/Departure from School
Please do not congregate at the school gate in the morning/afternoon. A member of staff will be at the gate in the morning. Pupils enter/exit the building through the designated door – Senior Room through the hall, Middle Room through the front door, Junior Room via the playground. Pupils may arrive to school from 9.00am but should be in class by 9.20am. Junior Infants will be collected at 12.30pm until and including Wednesday 8th September. From Tuesday 9th September Junior and Senior Infants will finish at 2.00pm and all other pupils finish at 3.00pm.
Homework
Homework will be set from Monday 6th September. Please ensure your child/children completes all activities to the best of their ability. We will continue to use the online learning platform SEESAW. Homework exercises should not be returned to school on sheets or in books (unless requested by a particular assignment). All written homework should be uploaded on SEESAW.
Football
Euan Treanor, An FAI primary schools soccer coach will provide football coaching in school for all pupils starting Friday 17th September until Friday 22nd October (6 sessions). The cost per child is €6. This fee will be included on your book bill which will be issued in October.
Pupil Insurance
We have used this insurance cover for several years and we feel it is the best cover out there at the moment for school pupils. This year we will again purchase cover on a ‘compulsory’ basis whereby all pupils in school are insured for €5.30 each where cover is limited to School Related Activities only. Please do not send cash to school – this payment will also be included on your book bill in October online.
Stationery & Books
Please ensure your child has all stationery etc. necessary for their class. Each teacher sent an email in August with a list of what was required. The school provides copy books and workbooks while text books are issued under the Book Rental Scheme.
Annual Consent
The annual consent for the incoming year is being sent home today. This give consent for pupils to take part in school activities/tours/sport/visits to other schools. Please fill in the consent form and return as soon as possible.
Absences
If for any reason a pupil is absent for a day or longer period of time a written note explaining the absence should be emailed to the school. If we do not receive a reason for the absence, the absence will be recorded as unexplained. If a child misses 20+ school days in any academic year, a report is made to the Education Welfare Officer/Tusla. Please complete the Return to School declaration (text sent with link) following each period of absence. During a legitimate sickness pupils should be kept at home to avoid infection being spread to the whole school community. Good attendance at school is to be encouraged as it sets a good foundation for later life.
Uniform
Please ensure to name your child’s/children’s jumper(s). They have a habit of going missing and getting mixed up especially while the weather is still warm. Ensure that the name remains on all year as they can wash off.
All pupils to wear tracksuits and runners on Fridays.
Staff
We wish Mrs Patton well as she commences her Parental Leave on 6th September. We welcome Ms McCarney to the SET position for the duration of Mrs Patton’s leave.
School Holidays 2021/2022
Reopening Thursday 26th August 2021
Mid-Term Mon 25th-Fri 29th Oct inclusive
Christmas Closing Wed 22nd December
Reopening Thurs 6th Jan 2022
Mid-Term Thurs 24th & Fri 25th Feb
St. Patrick’s Day Thurs 17th & Fri 18th March
Easter Closing Fri 8th April
Reopening Mon 25th April
May Bank Holiday Mon 2nd May
June Bank Holiday Monday 6th June
Summer Holidays Closing Tues 21st June 2022