| Scoil Naomh Padraig Baile Mhic Thorcaill Ath Na Sceire Co Chill Mhantáin |  | St. Patrick’s N.S. Curtlestown Enniskerry Co Wicklow Ph/Fax: 01-2861649 E-mail: curtlestownns@gmail.com |
24th August 2020
RE: Welcome Back
Dear Parent / Guardian, Staff Member,
The BoM and School Staff are looking forward to welcoming all our pupils and parents / guardians back to school for the 2020/2021 school year on Thursday, 27th August.
We are satisfied that we have control measures in place to ensure that this will be a safe re-opening. It will take some time for all of us to get used to the “new circumstances” as we become familiar with the new routines and procedures designed to keep everyone safe and to prevent the spread of the virus. There will, undoubtedly, be some unforeseen challenges and we will deal with these as they arise.
We would like to thank you for your co-operation in making preparations to date and look forward to working with you as we assist the children adapt to the necessary changes. We are also conscious of the fact that our pupils have not been in school since March and that they are looking forward to coming back to school to meet their friends again.
We will be sending a Return to School workbook shortly to help you child discuss his / her return to school with you. There is no requirement to submit this to the school. It is a resource to help your child settle back into school. Please remind your child of the correct procedure for hand washing as recommended by the HSE before they return. A copy of this is attached below.
We are aware that our new pupils are beginning a school year at a challenging time and have made plans to ensure that their arrival will be as free from stress as possible. We will be sending a Photo Tour of the school to all, showing the changes to classroom lay out, sanitising areas, ground markings to ensure distancing when lining up after break and going home.
A photograph of Miss Ambrose will be included to introduce the Junior Infants to their new teacher.
The Junior class will not be using the library this year, so we would request that pupils bring two books of their own to read daily during D.E.A.R. time. Pupils in the Middle and Senior classroom may borrow a book on Monday and return it on Thursday to ensure it is quarantined for 72 hours before being issued to another pupil the following Monday.
All pupils are required to complete a Pupil Return to School form before they recommence / start on the 27th August. Please be mindful that if your child has recently returned from a country not on the Government’s Green list, he /she is obliged to complete a quarantine period of 14 days before returning to school. The Return to School form is attached below. You will have received your morning time drop off slot in the previous letter of 18th August. If for some reason, your child arrives after class has started, please phone the office for admittance.
Finally, we have some great news! A group of our parents have spent many evenings, in all sorts of weather, creating a fantastic woodland outdoor classroom for our pupils. This classroom is above the pitch, behind the school and will be complete with benches and tables when it opens in early September. We are very excited to have the chance to bring the children outdoors for part of their learning. Apart from the recognised benefits in promoting creativity and problem solving skills, aiding socio-emotional development, gross motor skills, pupil-directed inquiry learning, our pupils will be able to remain outdoors for a larger part of their day, which is recommended by the Department of Education and Skills in their Return to School strategy. Please send your child into school in suitable footwear and a warm coat.
We look forward to welcoming you back on Thursday.
Le gach dea ghuí,
Chairperson of the Board of Management Principal teacher