Dear Parents/Guardians,
Further to a number of queries to the school office last week regarding the school reopening in August, please note the following update for your information:
- Our intention is to reopen the school for all students on Wednesday August 26th, subject to public health advice;
- Current public health advice stipulates that there should be social distancing of one metre in classrooms from 3rd to 6th classes for 2020/21 school year;
- To achieve a safe reopening for all students with one metre social distancing in place, while also trying to ensure that your child can attend school every day for a full day, school management will need to:
a. Adjust start/finish times;
b. Adjust breaktimes;
c. Control access for visitors and parents to the school other than for essential purposes;
d. Control movement of adults and students around the school grounds;
e. Control large gatherings of students on the school grounds;
f. Reduce down class sizes by creating additional classes at each stream level [3rd – 6th].
- Staff at the school will be working on a reopening plan over the coming weeks to incorporate these requirements;
- In reducing class sizes and creating additional classes, the following factors will be considered by the school:
- Gender Mix
- Behavioural Needs
- Educational Needs
- Health and Safety of Staff and Students
- Attendance
- Nominations by the students*.
*To assist us, each child [in 3rd – 5th next year] is asked to nominate five children from her/his stream whom s/he believe will be a ‘positive influence’ in terms of work ethic and behaviour. The school cannot guarantee that all five will be in the new group. It will however ensure that at least one from the list will be there. Please note that five names must be included otherwise there can be no guarantee of a name from the list. This is a big challenge for your child. I would therefore ask that you have a discussion with her/him before the names are forwarded to the school. Names should be forwarded via e-mail to officesmnathy@gmail.com on/before Friday July 10th 2020.
- Parents of children in 6th class next year are not required to submit any names as these were already submitted in June this year for a planned split of classes;
- It is our intention to confirm for you via Aladdin Noticeboard on
Wednesday August 19th the following information:
- The name of your child’s teacher; b. Room Number; c. Gate by which s/he will enter/exit the school grounds; d. Door by which s/he will enter /exit the school; e. Any revised breaktimes; f. Any revised Start/Finish Times.
- Public health advice may change in the coming weeks as the country reopens further. This may impact on our planned reopening in August. If there are any changes to our Plan, I will advise you further via Aladdin Connect.
In the meantime, I wish you and your families a happy, safe and fun break together. Looking forward to seeing all the children in August!
Le meas,
Seán Hourihane
Principal On behalf of the Board of Management.