11th September 2020

Dear parents,

I hope that you and your family are keeping safe and well.  The arrangements for morning drop-off and afternoon collection will change slightly for the week ahead.  The changes come into effect on Monday morning.  The arrangements for next week are as follows:

• School starts at 9:00am for Junior Infants.  Class teachers will meet the Juniors on their spots, as usual, at 9:00am.  
• School starts at 8:55am for all other classes.

Please note

• Children should remain in their parent’s vehicles until at least 8:45am in the morning.  There is a 10 minute window to allow children to enter the school building from this time. 

Hometime

• Junior Infant hometime is at 12 noon next week.
• Hometime for Senior Infants is at 1:40pm
• Hometime for 1st Class is at 2:35pm
• Hometime for all other classes is at 2:40pm

Parents should maintain social distance and wear a face covering in the car park.  We will continue to review the procedures during the week and advise of any changes to the protocols next weekend.

Contact Tracing

We have been informed of certain procedures that will apply if a pupil in our school tests positive for Covid-19. If that were to occur, the Public Health Department of the HSE will carry out a Public Health Risk Assessment and will decide on the appropriate actions to be taken. The school does not have a direct role in this decision-making process.

The Public Health Risk Assessment may indicate that contact tracing is necessary. To facilitate this, the school may be asked to furnish the names and contact details of pupils (and their parents/guardians) who are close contacts of a confirmed case. If this information is requested by the Public Health Department of the HSE, the school will process the information in compliance with data protection laws*. The information will be given in a secure manner, only to named individuals and only the information necessary for the contact tracing will be given. It is the HSE and not the school, who will carry out any necessary contact tracing.

*Articles 6(1)(c) (processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation) and 9(2)(i) (processing is for public interest reasons in the area of public health) of the GDPR.

HSE Quick Guide to Isolation

Please click here to view a HSE Quick Guide to Isolation for children 3months to 13 years of age. 

Lunches

Please remember that our school is a Nut Free Zone.  Some of our pupils have allergies to nut products so please check the labels of all food items in your child’s lunch box.  We also operate a healthy lunch box policy.  Teachers will indicate to classes throughout the year when they may bring in a special treat to eat.

Online Payments

Classroom Requisite fees may now be paid via the school Aladdin School App / Portal.  If families prefer to pay the amount in installments please let us know and we can guide you through the process on the Aladdin system.  If paying in cash please place the money in a sealed envelope labelled with your child’s name.

Laptops and Books

Families may return book rental books and ICT devices next week to the class teacher.

Online Learning Platforms

We will be circulating login details for learning platforms to the classes starting next week.  Your child’s teacher will share this information with you via Aladdin.  

Communion

Best wishes to the children in Ms. Mitchell’s class who will be making their 1st Holy Communion tomorrow morning at 11am. 

Finally, thank you so much for your continued support and cooperation.  Your kind words to our staff are very much appreciated and gives us all strength.  

Wishing you and your family a lovely weekend.

Take care everyone.

Le gach dea-ghuí,

Diarmaid