Dear Parents,
PARENTAL AGREEMENT TO THE RETURN TO SCHOOL PROTOCOLS
The final week before school return is upon us. We are looking forward to seeing everyone again and of course are looking forward to welcoming all of our new pupils and parents too.
The Board and staff have been working hard to bring everyone back safely and have lots of new procedures in place. The new “norm” is that we will have to apply as much physical distancing as is possible. Our procedures will be applied in a practical and sensible way recognising that the learning environment cannot be dominated by a potentially counterproductive focus on the issue.
Physical Distancing will be achieved in two ways:
Increasing Separation:
Each classroom will be referred to as a bubble and there are measures in place to ensure that there is as little contact as possible between pupils in different bubbles. Within each “bubble”, teachers will arrange their pupils within “pods”/groups who will work together but will be distanced from other pods. In the yard pupils will be allowed play with all the pupils within their class “bubble”. We have designated two different time slots for both break times and only 2 bubbles will be present in either the Junior or Senior yard at a time.
Decreasing Interaction:
This will be achieved by decreasing the potential for children from different bubbles to interact.
As you know we will have staggered entry and exit times. Pupils will have set times for yard and will eat and use toilet facilities while in the school building, before or after yard time, within their class bubble. There cannot be movement in and out of yard during the outside break times (First break will be for 10 mins outside and second break will be 30 mins outside. For pupils’ wellbeing we want to make the most of outdoor time slots – so just fun-time and not integrating eating or toilet time.)
Hygiene Etiquette:
Teachers will make their pupils very aware of their new routines. Staff will also make children aware of the proper hygiene procedures regarding hand washing and etiquette related to coughing, sneezing and spitting.
Please note that in light of the current climate and the dangerous nature of coughing and spitting breeches of these rules of etiquette will be treated most seriously. While we are very fortunate with the wonderful school community we have, we would really appreciate if you could emphasise safe behaviour in this regard to your children at home as part of the preparation for returning to school.
As mentioned previously we would advise that your child has their own bottle of hand sanitizer, this can be kept in a bum-bag for their convenience. Pupils will need to sanitize their hands before and after eating, when they enter the class in the morning and re-enter it from the yard, after they cough and sneeze etc. If pupils have their own sanitizer it will prevent congestion around school supplies and take up less class time.
Lunches:
We would be grateful if pupils bring some tissue / hand towel to keep their desk clean after eating. All leftovers/rubbish from lunches must be kept within lunchbox and dumped at home or if using zip-locked bags they must be zipped closed & placed in school bin.
PLEASE note your child must be able to handle and eat everything in their lunch box, independently. In the current climate and bacterial control etc. teachers cannot be asked to peel/ cut or open any food items, so as to prevent cross-contamination.
This is for your child’s safety, so please make sure items are packed in a way that your child can be fully independent while eating. Pupils cannot share or swop their lunches or any of their personal belongings.
Covid 19 Symptoms Awareness:
While all children will be welcome back to school, we would remind parents that where children are displaying colds, coughs, flu-like symptoms or high temperatures, they should not be sent to school. Children who display anyone of the symptoms of Covid-19 will be isolated in our school’s specific isolation area and their parents will be called to come and collect them. All schools are required to have a Covid-19 isolation area. If pupils/staff are sent home proof of a negative HAS will be required or a Dr.’s note saying the date it is considered safe to return to school. Proof of fitness to return also applies to school staff.
For further information on Covid 19 symptoms in children:
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/if-your-child-has-symptoms.html
Children who may have travelled from countries not on the Green List should not attend school during the 14-day self-isolation period.
Week 1 Procedures:
All pupils will be leaving their school bags at school and will only be bringing lunch boxes and/or zip locked bags to and from school.
Pupils will be delighted to hear that there will be no homework, as mentioned, during the first week minimally.
Please be assured that everyone is working very hard to re-open the school safely.
We want to reassure you that we will be doing all that we can to make our pupils feel safe, comfortable and relaxed in their new school environment. This will be achieved by all of us working together on this common goal.
Please e-mail dromtrasnans@gmail.com to confirm that you have read and will comply with the contents of this letter, before close of business on Friday 28th August.
Thanks in advance for your continued support and co-operation.
Enjoy the last week.
Yours Sincerely,
Vincent Sheehy Anne-Marie Downes
Chairperson, Board of Management Principal
PARENTAL AGREEMENT TO THE RETURN TO SCHOOL PROTOCOLS
The final week before school return is upon us. We are looking forward to seeing everyone again and of course are looking forward to welcoming all of our new pupils and parents too.
The Board and staff have been working hard to bring everyone back safely and have lots of new procedures in place. The new “norm” is that we will have to apply as much physical distancing as is possible. Our procedures will be applied in a practical and sensible way recognising that the learning environment cannot be dominated by a potentially counterproductive focus on the issue.
Physical Distancing will be achieved in two ways:
Increasing Separation:
Each classroom will be referred to as a bubble and there are measures in place to ensure that there is as little contact as possible between pupils in different bubbles. Within each “bubble”, teachers will arrange their pupils within “pods”/groups who will work together but will be distanced from other pods. In the yard pupils will be allowed play with all the pupils within their class “bubble”. We have designated two different time slots for both break times and only 2 bubbles will be present in either the Junior or Senior yard at a time.
Decreasing Interaction:
This will be achieved by decreasing the potential for children from different bubbles to interact.
As you know we will have staggered entry and exit times. Pupils will have set times for yard and will eat and use toilet facilities while in the school building, before or after yard time, within their class bubble. There cannot be movement in and out of yard during the outside break times (First break will be for 10 mins outside and second break will be 30 mins outside. For pupils’ wellbeing we want to make the most of outdoor time slots – so just fun-time and not integrating eating or toilet time.)
Hygiene Etiquette:
Teachers will make their pupils very aware of their new routines. Staff will also make children aware of the proper hygiene procedures regarding hand washing and etiquette related to coughing, sneezing and spitting.
Please note that in light of the current climate and the dangerous nature of coughing and spitting breeches of these rules of etiquette will be treated most seriously. While we are very fortunate with the wonderful school community we have, we would really appreciate if you could emphasise safe behaviour in this regard to your children at home as part of the preparation for returning to school.
As mentioned previously we would advise that your child has their own bottle of hand sanitizer, this can be kept in a bum-bag for their convenience. Pupils will need to sanitize their hands before and after eating, when they enter the class in the morning and re-enter it from the yard, after they cough and sneeze etc. If pupils have their own sanitizer it will prevent congestion around school supplies and take up less class time.
Lunches:
We would be grateful if pupils bring some tissue / hand towel to keep their desk clean after eating. All leftovers/rubbish from lunches must be kept within lunchbox and dumped at home or if using zip-locked bags they must be zipped closed & placed in school bin.
PLEASE note your child must be able to handle and eat everything in their lunch box, independently. In the current climate and bacterial control etc. teachers cannot be asked to peel/ cut or open any food items, so as to prevent cross-contamination.
This is for your child’s safety, so please make sure items are packed in a way that your child can be fully independent while eating. Pupils cannot share or swop their lunches or any of their personal belongings.
Covid 19 Symptoms Awareness:
While all children will be welcome back to school, we would remind parents that where children are displaying colds, coughs, flu-like symptoms or high temperatures, they should not be sent to school. Children who display anyone of the symptoms of Covid-19 will be isolated in our school’s specific isolation area and their parents will be called to come and collect them. All schools are required to have a Covid-19 isolation area. If pupils/staff are sent home proof of a negative HAS will be required or a Dr.’s note saying the date it is considered safe to return to school. Proof of fitness to return also applies to school staff.
For further information on Covid 19 symptoms in children:
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/if-your-child-has-symptoms.html
Children who may have travelled from countries not on the Green List should not attend school during the 14-day self-isolation period.
Week 1 Procedures:
All pupils will be leaving their school bags at school and will only be bringing lunch boxes and/or zip locked bags to and from school.
Pupils will be delighted to hear that there will be no homework, as mentioned, during the first week minimally.
Please be assured that everyone is working very hard to re-open the school safely.
We want to reassure you that we will be doing all that we can to make our pupils feel safe, comfortable and relaxed in their new school environment. This will be achieved by all of us working together on this common goal.
Please e-mail dromtrasnans@gmail.com to confirm that you have read and will comply with the contents of this letter, before close of business on Friday 28th August.
Thanks in advance for your continued support and co-operation.
Enjoy the last week.
Yours Sincerely,
Vincent Sheehy Anne-Marie Downes
Chairperson, Board of Management Principal
Ualach Éadrom Léann is Foghlaim
