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September 22nd Welcome back everyone, We are so delighted to have all the children back in school. It was wonderful to see all their smiley faces coming through the gates looking so smart in their uniforms. For pupils new to Scoil Naomh Eltin, or entering school for the first time, this is a very special time indeed. We welcome you! Staff We welcome new staff to the school this year. Ms O’ Shea (Third Class), Ms Cottrell (Support Teacher), Ms Sheehan( Special Needs Assistant), Ms Coghlan (Special Needs Assistant) and Ms Fehilly (Special Needs Assistant. Routines We have all settled back into school life really well and have adapted quickly to the changes. Now that we have had this time to settle into some new routines I wish to just reiterate a few points to ensure the safety of everyone.
Covid-19 Advice for Parents Each week you will receive a reminder of the Public Health Guidance re Covid-19 Advice for parents on the Aladdin App. Isolation Quick Guide Each week you will receive a reminder of the Public Health Guidance re Self-isolation/Restriction on the Aladdin App. Covid-19 Guidance for Schools The school will follow the “School’s Pathway for Covid-19, the Public Health approach” in dealing with outbreaks of Covid-19. School Curriculum We have endeavoured to ensure that, at the start of this school year (unlike any other), pupils have space, time and planned activities to re-connect with their classmates and re-form relationships with staff. We have included routines that create a safe space where pupils can openly communicate their needs, thoughts and emotions, as well as their learning, at the start of the school year and throughout the terms that follow. We have allowed time to enable pupils to develop those relationships and connections so that they will be available and ready to participate in a meaningful way with their learning; ‘Slow down to catch up’ (a key message from the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) to schools in the initial weeks of the new school year). We have been required to reprioritise certain areas of the curriculum, especially during the initial weeks of this first term, to give greater time and attention to areas such as Social, Personal and Health Education, Physical Education, Language and Mathematics. It is intended that as our school forms a comprehensive picture of where pupils are in their learning, then teachers will work towards more typical curriculum planning. As the year progresses and as our pupils readjust, we will continue to maintain our strong focus on wellbeing and on academic excellence both of which form the core purpose of our caring and compassionate school and which are reflected in the unwavering efforts of our excellent staff who will work with our students and families every day of the year. We all have an important role to play in maintaining the wellbeing and academic success of our pupils and we look forward to working closely with you throughout the 2020-2021. Digital Technology We are planning to build on the experience of using digital technologies that were used during the school closure period to support contingency arrangements in the event that some pupils need to continue their learning in a distance learning environment for a period during the 2020-2021 school year. Pupils from Junior Infants to Second Class will shortly commence work on Seesaw (a digital platform for student engagement). Pupils from Third to Sixth Class will shortly commence work on Microsoft Teams (a digital collaboration platform). Your child’s class teacher will be in touch with you in relation to this. Uniform/Tracksuit The students are looking very smart in their uniforms as the year begins. To facilitate regular washing of school clothing the schedule is as follows: Monday/Wednesday/Friday (tracksuit), Tuesday/Thursday (uniform) Attendance If your child is absent from school please notify your child’s teacher of the reason for absence using the Aladdin App on your phone. You will have access to this facility once the school roll has been called each day at 10 am. School Video We are currently working on making a video of daily life in the school for you to view. This will assist you in understanding the protocols and procedures that have been put in place in line with the school Covid-19 Response Plan. This is a very important living document which will be adapted over time to reflect the evolving COVID-19. Communication Your child’s teacher will have communicated with you at this stage via email. Please continue to communicate in this manner if you have any queries relating to your child. If you have general queries please contact the school office on 021 4774040 or via email on info@scoilnaomheltin.ie. If you wish to speak with myself then you may do so via the school office on 021 4774040 or via email on susan@scoilnoamheltin.ie. I look forward to speaking with new parents/guardians by phone in the next few weeks and to answering any questions that you may have. Final Words I am happy to welcome you to the 2020-2021 school year. I would like to thank you for your support, patience and understanding as we, as a learning community, responded to the unexpected pandemic that forced us to go through a new and innovative teaching and learning phase. I am very proud of the way our teachers, staff and students continue to meet the demands and challenges we face. I thank everyone for your support and for adapting to this new situation. Let us continue to be kind to one another during this difficult time. I leave you with some words by Seamus Heaney R.I.P. on another topic but which may have relevance today. Le buíochas Susan O’ Hanrahan Scaffolding Masons, when they start upon a building, Are careful to test out the scaffolding; Make sure that planks won’t slip at busy points, Secure all ladders, tighten bolted joints. And yet all this comes down when the job’s done Showing off walls of sure and solid stone. So if, my dear, there sometimes seem to be Old bridges breaking between you and me Never fear. We may let the scaffolds fall Confident that we have built our wall. Seamus Heaney Dear Parent/Guardian Our new school year is well underway and pupils are happy and doing very well. Junior Infants Pupils have been warmly welcomed to the school and are already settled in and are a joy. Our very welcome new pupils in other classes are doing extremely well also. We are so happy to be back where we belong. What would normally be the beginning of the school year "Welcome Back Note" has now become a note re managing the Prevention and Protection form Covid -19 with School Settings . What strange times! Please see attached a Public Health Advice document received from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre which details a pathway for school for Covid -19 Prevention and Protection within school settings. In case of a confirmed case of Covid-19 within the school, the Medical Office of Health will liaise directly with the school and a Public Health Risk Assessment will be undertaken to inform the school of actions and recommendations to be undertaken. Thank you for your continued support Susan O' Hanrahan 
Dear Parent/Guardian 1. Please see attached letter and documents which the Minister for Education has just issued this evening. These contain information for parents and pupils in preparation for the reopening of schools. 2. Please see attached also information form the HSE for parents which has just issued. 2. Please also see a visual map of the school which will guide you through the school access plan which you will find on the logistics plan. 3. Your child may bring their school bag and books to school tomorrow, Staff will collect all books and these will be kept in school for now. 4. You have been asked to provide your child with a washbag containing various items. For the moment can you keep this at home. We will be using automatic soap dispensers and disposable paper towel in school to wash and dry hands. Sanitisers have been installed all throughout the school so your child will not need to bring sanitiser with them. 5. As the induction period for the next four school days is for a short period your child will not need a snack. You may however wish to give them a drink. On behalf of all the school staff can you please let your child/children know that we are so looking forward to welcoming them back to school. I wish to thank you for your continued support and above all ask for your thoughts and prayers as we reopen our school. le meas Susan O' Hanrahan
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