COVID-19 Response Plan for Primary and Special Schools
SCMJ Covid Policy Statement
We are hoping to re-open our school safely, in line with current guidance and recommendations on 31st August 2020. We have been working on our plan for the safe reopening of the school for some weeks now. Please see the DES COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe and sustainable reopening of Primary and Special Schools above. The Response Plan gives details of
- Physical preparation, signage, hand sanitiser stations,
- Advice, procedures and training for the safe return to working in the school for all school staff and pupils
- General and specific advice on how all pupils, staff, parents and visitors will prevent the spread of the virus
Please also see our COVID-19 Policy Statement above. Our Board of Management will keep you informed as to the progress of our re-opening plans and provide you with the information required by you to play your part in safely re-opening the school.
We are really looking forward to welcoming our children back to school on August 31st and will be doing all that we can to ensure that the return to school is a safe and enjoyable experience for the children.
The following websites provide further information on COVID-19 and on government advice and recommendations regarding the re-opening of schools: –
- https://www.education.ie/en/covid-19/
- https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
- https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/a128d-back-to-school/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/backtoschool/
Welcome Back
27/08/2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I am delighted to be welcoming you and your beautiful children back to Scoil Mhuire Junior next week.
I know some of you are concerned about the re-opening, but I can tell you, all of us here in Scoil Mhuire Junior are ready to gently settle your little ones back into school routine in the safest possible way.
The curriculum for all primary schools has been adapted in an effort to put a real emphasis on your child’s wellbeing; children will be given time and space to help readjust. Every teacher knows that when school closed in March, lots of learning continued at home but no one is expecting to jump in next week as we normally would any other September, so please do not worry about your child being left behind. Lots of outdoor PE will happen every week and the time given to maths and languages will increase.
We are making September a ‘Homework Free Month’, let’s get everyone out and about playing in the afternoon while the bright evenings continue.
The Department of Education and Skills have sent another ‘Back to School Advice for Parents’ document which I now attach. They have also translated some information documents into different languages, which could be useful for many of you; this information is available at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a04fc-advice-for-students-and-their-families/#information-in-your-language
Unfortunately the Parents Room will not be open to parents for the foreseeable future in line with TESS/Government Guidelines. Ms Rosarii Harty, our HSCL coordinator, will be available to meet with a parent, once the meeting has been arranged in advance.
Reminders:
- School is a safe place.
- Please phone or email me if you have a concern caitlin.oconnor@scmj.ie
- Don’t send any pencils, crayons, erasers, pairers…. We have all of these sorted and individually boxed for your child.
- Doors open at 8.45am, do not enter the school grounds until 8.45am.
- You don’t have to be here until 8.55am when school starts.
- Be safe, one adult to drop and collect, socially distancing at all times.
- Adults wear a mask.
Please read my letter below to your child.
Looking forward to seeing you next week.
Le gach dea ghuí,
Caitlin O’Connor.
Hi Boys and Girls,
Yippee! At last it’s time for you all to come back to school! All the teachers, SNAs, Margaret and Noreen had a huge online meeting this week and we are really excited and looking forward to seeing your beautiful, smiley faces next week!
Remember:
- We cannot wait to see you!
- The school is as clean as a new pin!
- You don’t need to bring any pencils or crayons, we have it all in a box with your name on it!!
Chat soon,
Ms O’Connor.
RE: Plan for the Re-Opening of Scoil Mhuire Junior
19th August 2020
Dear Parent/Guardian,
The Board of Management, the In School Management Team and the school staff have been working to ensure a safe return to school for all pupils and staff for August 31st. We have now finalised our plans for drop-off and collection of the children every day. Working together we hope to be able to progress the reopening in as safe a manner as possible for all.
Our detailed Plan for the Re-Opening of Scoil Mhuire Junior can be found on the website and by following the link: http://www.scmj.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Plan-for-Re-opening-of-Scoil-Mhuire-Junior.pdf This document gives you details of how we plan to work through the reality of Covid-19 during school time; it tells you how we will organise the day to day running of the school, from opening and closing times, to break times, to parent/teacher communication to dealing with a suspected case of Covid-19. It is essential that you take the time to study the document.
We would like to highlight the Drop Off and Collection Plan here; we appreciate that dropping off the Junior & Senior Infant pupils to their classroom door is essential, but for the older pupils a drop off at the school yard is desirable.
Drop-off Plan
- Do not arrive on the school grounds before 8.45am.
- School begins at 8.55am
- School doors will open at 8.45am – you do not need to arrive at 8.45am. The idea behind the extra 10 minutes is to give everyone a chance to enter the school without a large congregation in the yard.
- After 8.45am children may enter through their classroom doors and will be supervised before school starts in their rooms. (Special arrangements for Junior Infants for the first days in school will be sent separately to parents of Junior Infants).
- Please do not expect to chat to your child’s teacher at drop off time.
- It will be safer for everyone if only one adult per family accompanies each child to the school yard.
Collection Plan
- Parents of children in infant classes stand on the 2m spacing markers; teacher will hand over your child to you.
- Parents of children in 1st and 2nd Classes, either stand on the 2m spacing markers or wait outside the school grounds until there is space on the school grounds.
- Please do not expect to chat to your child’s teacher at collection time.
It is imperative that:
- Adults do not come within 2m of each other, stand on the yellow 2m spacing markers if you are waiting.
- Adults do not try to have meetings with members of staff in the playground at drop-off and collection times – meetings between parents and teachers can only take place by prior arrangement.
- Adults should wear face coverings
Kind regards,
Eileen Hall Caitlin O’Connor
Chairperson Board of Management Principal
RE: Physical Distancing and Safe School Attendance
12th August 2020
Dear Parent / Guardian, Staff Member,
We are currently working on upgrading our procedures and routines within the school to ensure that there is as much Physical Distancing as is possible in our building. We will apply physical distancing in a practical and sensible way, recognising that the learning environment cannot be dominated by a potentially counterproductive focus on this issue.
Physical Distancing will be achieved in two ways: –
Increasing Separation. This will be achieved by re-configuring the classrooms to maximise physical distancing, desks will be spaced as far apart as possible and unnecessary furniture will be removed from the room. Each class will be referred to as a bubble and we will ensure that there is as little contact as possible between children in different bubbles.
Decreasing Interaction. This will be achieved by decreasing the potential for children from different bubbles to interact. We are lucky that children can enter and exit the school through the individual classroom doors, as is the usual procedure. Bubbles will have different mid-morning and lunch-time access to the playground, children from different bubbles will not play together on the yard nor will they gather together for any activities. We will make these routines enjoyable activities for the children, emphasising safety at all times.
While all children will be welcome back to school, we would remind parents that If your child is in one of the following categories, they should not attend school –
- Children who have been diagnosed with Covid-19
- Children who have been in close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with Covid-19
- Children who have a suspected case of Covid-19 and the outcome of the test is pending
- Children who have been in contact with a person who has a suspected case of Covid-19 and the outcome of the test is pending
- Children with underlying health conditions who have been directed by a medical professional not to attend school
- Children who have returned home after travelling abroad and must self-isolate for a period of 14 days
- Children who are generally unwell
Further information on COVID-19 symptoms in children is available at: –
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/if-your-child-has-symptoms.html
Teachers will make children aware of the proper hygiene procedures regarding hand washing and etiquette related to sneezing, coughing or spitting. We would be grateful if you could also emphasise safe behaviour in this regard to your children at home as part of the preparation for returning to school.
Our aim remains to re-open the school in an orderly safe manner, while reassuring the children and making them feel comfortable, safe and relaxed with their friends in the new school environment. This will be achieved by all of us working towards this common goal.
Kind regards,
Eileen Hall Caitlin O’Connor
Chairperson Board of Management Principal
RE: Re-opening of Scoil Mhuire Junior
4th August 2020
Dear Parent/Guardian, Staff Member,
I hope you and your families are keeping well.
As you are aware, our school has now been closed since 12th March due to the COVID-19 situation. We are now hoping to re-open our school safely, in line with current guidance and recommendations.
Re-opening the school safely will require the co-operation of all members of our School Community – Board of Management, School Leadership, Staff, Parents and Pupils. We will all be called on to play our part in ensuring that re-opening of the school is done in a safe manner which prevents the spread of the virus and allows the vital work of Teaching and Learning to proceed with as little disruption as possible.
We have been working on our plan for the safe reopening of the school for some weeks now and have published the DES COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe and sustainable reopening of Primary and Special Schools on our school website. The Response Plan gives details of
- Physical preparation, signage, hand sanitiser stations,
- Advice, procedures and training for the safe return to working in the school for all school staff and pupils
- General and specific advice on how all pupils, staff, parents and visitors will prevent the spread of the virus
We have also published our COVID-19 Policy Statement on the school website. Our Board of Management will keep you informed as to the progress of our re-opening plans and provide you with the information required by you to play your part in safely re-opening the school.
We are really looking forward to welcoming our children back to school on August 31st and will be doing all that we can to ensure that the return to school is a safe and enjoyable experience for the children. We will be in touch with you again before school re-opens.
Kind regards,
Eileen Hall Caitlin O’Connor
Chairperson Board of Management Principal
The following websites provide further information on COVID-19 and on government advice and recommendations regarding the re-opening of schools: –
- https://www.education.ie/en/covid-19/
- https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
- https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/a128d-back-to-school/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/backtoschool/
Click on the teacher’s name to view work suggestions from your child’s teacher:
Junior Infants
Mr O’Sullivan, Room 13
Ms Dillon, Room 14
Ms Hynes, Room 15
Ms Kelly , Room 16
Senior Infants
Ms Ryan, Room 9
Ms Courtney, Room 10
Ms Swords/Ms O’Halloran, Room 11
Ms Byrne, Room 12
1st Class
Ms Purcell, Room 5
Ms Keogh, Room 6
Ms Hardiman, Room 7
Ms Prendiville, Room 8
2nd Class
Ms Elwood, Room 1
Mr Hayes, Room 2
Ms Moore, Room 3
Ms Dempsey, Room 4
Mission Statement
That the board of management, staff and parents working as a team provide support and education to all children of every class, creed or ability. That every aspect of each child’s intellectual, emotional, spiritual and social needs be nurtured and encouraged to develop to its utmost potential, in his or her own time, in a happy safe environment.
School Details
Principal: Caitlin O’Connor
Deputy Principal: Bairbre Elwood
Scoil Mhuire Sóisearach is a junior school comprised of 16 classes ranging from Junior Infants to 2nd Class.
The school is located in Newbridge, Co. Kildare and is a DEIS band 2 school. There are currently 27 teachers in the school.