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School News
Information from teachers during school closure.
Click here to view the work suggestions from your child’s individual teacher.
31/03/2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Teachers will continue to update their work suggestions on an ongoing basis. Please don’t let the work overwhelm you or your children; we are not expecting homeschooling and we know that as parents/guardians try to work from home, deal with everyday life… ‘teaching’ small children can become impossible. When things get back to normal every teacher in the country will understand that time has been missed and catch up will be done in school.
That being said it is wonderful to know that children are working away at their own pace and that lots of exciting projects, reading, colouring, writing, Maths, PE etc are being achieved at home.
Well done to you all! I have written a short letter to the children and I would appreciate you passing it on. Please remember Easter Holidays begin on Friday, I think a break from work will do you and the children the world of good.
Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Kind regards,
Caitlin O’Connor.
Hi Boys and Girls! Dia Daoibh!
I am missing you all, your smiley faces, your news and your funny stories and jokes. I was chatting to all your teachers yesterday and they said to say a big HELLO and don’t forget to wash your hands!
I am delighted to hear that you having been doing some school work at home. Please keep it up! Keep reading, write a letter to someone who is missing you and of course be extra helpful and kind to everyone at home; you could even make a funny new ‘Corona Dance’ to keep fit! I am doing a lot of baking, reading and cleaning at home! I can’t wait to get back to school to see you all.
Don’t forget to say a prayer!
Bye for now,
Ms O’Connor.
Click here to view some of the recommended free digital resources available.
Resources for Home During School Closure
Parents should view the link from their child’s individual teacher for advice, tips and learning activities. This will be the most helpful resource to you in knowing how to support your child’s learning at home but there are also lots of wonderful free online resources available to parents which may further support you. Many of these resources are used regularly in our school and we have chosen the ones we feel are particularly useful and worth a look. Please also keep an eye on our Twitter feed where we are tweeting daily with ideas, tips and online activities. (Note: you don’t have to sign up to Twitter to view our feed.)
Tips:
- Here are some useful tips on helping young children to read: Click here to view.
- Here are some great tips for keeping children busy and getting them moving: Click here to view.
- Here are some tips on how to count with young children. Click here to view..
Free online resources available:
- Twinkl has offered free access to all parents for the upcoming month. This will allow parents unlimited access to every single resource for every subject. Go to www.twinkl.ie/offer and enter the code IRLTWINKLHELPS.
- Starfall: visit the website or download the app. Lots of games and stories to support the learning of phonics and reading. Particularly useful for Junior Infants to 1st Class.
- Teach Your Monster to Read: this is a highly recommended website and app which supports your child in learning to read.
- topmarks.co.uk: this website has lots of games and activities in all subjects and for all levels.
- gonoodle.com: this is a great website full of dances, exercises and physical activities. It is used in school on a daily basis to keep the children active.
- Worldbookonline: All students in the Republic of Ireland have open and free home access to World Book Online. World Book is a trusted encyclopedia containing thousands of informational articles with stunning illustrations, videos, interactive maps, research help, and activities.
- Grow in Love online program: This program is used to teach religion in school. There are stories, songs, videos and activities for each topic. Use these details to sign up: Email: trial@growinlove.ie, Password: growinlove
- Kildare Library and Arts online services offer a wide range of services including ebooks, eccomics and the Children’s Reading Corner.
- NCSE online resources: resources for children with special educational needs.
- Folens have given free access to all of their ebooks and resources. Go to folensonline.ie and enter Prim20 as the roll number. Planet Maths and Abair Liom are both used to support teaching in the school and this site will give access to all of the games, interactive resources and ebooks.
- CJ Fallon is offering free access to all of its online textbooks. Click on the year and subject to view titles.
- The Educational Company of Ireland are offering free access to all of their ebooks and digital resources. Use the login primaryedcobooks and the password edco2020.
- Matific are offering free access for 60 days to its digital maths resources for primary schools.
- RNIB Bookshare: free online books and readers.
- Worldebook have made 3,000 ebooks and audiobooks available for children to access at home
- Kandle.ie will be regularly posting resources for key liturgical dates. View the latest resources for Mother’s Day and the 4th Sunday of Lent here.
- Scoilnet.ie: resources and activities to support students and teachers for every subject.
Emergency School Closure
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I am confirming the school is closed tomorrow 13/03/20 and will reopen on 30/03/2020. I will update you of any further developments by text, email and the school website, www.scmj.ie
Over the next number of weeks please read to your children, listen to your children reading, keep them active and minimise screen time.
The online learning resource company, Twinkl, used regularly by teachers in our school, has offered free access to all parents for the upcoming month. This will allow parents unlimited access to every single resource for every single curriculum subject from junior infants to sixth class.
Setting this up is really easy to do – go to www.twinkl.ie/offer and enter the code IRLTWINKLHELPS.
I am also attaching an advice sheet from the Department of Education and Skills, offering advice to parents on how to reassure children during this worrying time.
On behalf of the staff, Board of Management and myself, I wish you and your family well for the coming weeks.
Le gach dea ghuí,
Caitlin O’Connor
Principal
Talking to children about Covid 19.