Dear Parents/Guardians,
I trust this message finds you and your families well at this very challenging time for all of us! It has been a difficult few weeks for some members of our school community. To those who have lost loved ones in recent weeks due to COVID-19 and otherwise, we extend our sympathy to you all. For those who are currently unwell and experiencing the effects of a positive COVID-19 detection, we wish you all a speedy recovery.
You will be aware that the Department of Education & Skills has closed mainstream primary schools from Monday January 11th to Friday January 29th (inclusive) save for special classes. These classes shall remain open. All other classes will move to remote learning for the duration of the closure. You are asked therefore to note the following arrangements for Scoil Mhichíl Naofa:
SPECIAL CLASSES
These classes will operate as normal from Monday January 11th. We look forward to welcoming the children in these classes back after their break. It is imperative that parents/guardians continue to comply with COVID-19 requirements. In the event that your child is unwell and/or is presenting with COVID-19 symptoms, you should not send your child to school, seek appropriate medical advice and take all necessary precautions to protect your family and the school community. Staff working in these classes will continue to wear appropriate PPE and adhere to best practice in accord with the school's COVID RESPONSE PLAN.
MAINSTREAM CLASSES
All mainstream classes will operate on Google Classroom from Monday January 11th for the duration of the closure. The majority of the children used Google Classroom previously. You can continue to use the same username as previously. As part of registration process previously, you created your own password. You should continue to use this password. If you have any difficulty with registration/login, the school office will be open from tomorrow 09.30 - 15.00 and thereafter Monday to Friday 08.50 - 15.00 until further notice.
Parents of Junior Infant children were sent details of Google Classroom registration on 16.10.2020. If you check your Noticeboard messages, the process of registration is set out clearly for you.
Parents are expected to monitor their child’s online activity while using Google Classroom. All students are expected to use appropriate language when making submissions to their teachers. Normal school rules apply for any breaches of the school Code of Behaviour. Students will be expected to complete all work and will be required to submit one piece of designated work to their teachers daily for correction and comment. There will be a daily focus on maintaining and progressing literacy and numeracy with assignments in other subject area spread out over the course of each week. Further details will be available to you from Monday on Google Classroom.
Please ensure, where possible, to ‘turn in’ the requested assignment daily. You will see this prompt on the Google Classroom platform. We understand that this may not always be possible during the school day with varying broadband speeds etc. Where possible, please have the children complete their work during school hours. I understand that this can be difficult at times if you are trying to get your own work completed and devices etc are needed.
Please note that queries for your child’s teacher(s) should be posted between 08.30 and 15.30. In some instances, depending on the query or the volume of queries, it could be the next school day before a reply is forwarded or telephone contact is made to you.
BOOKS
Some classes will not require their books as the books are available online and will be referenced and relevant pages made available by the teacher online. Other classes will need access to workbooks. With this in mind, there is an opportunity for children to collect their workbookstomorrow at the specific times set out below. Please do not enter the school grounds before the assigned time. It is imperative that you use the assigned door, collect the relevant workbooks from the teacher and exit the school premises as quickly as possible. It is advised that contacts should be kept to a minimum. Parents attending with children are required to wear a face mask and observe physical distancing of two metres. See schedule below for collection:
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TIME
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NEW CONVENT VIEW GATE
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MAIN GATE
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MAIN GATE
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11.00
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Rang 2
Enter school via Main door
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Rang 1
Proceed to Prefab via Halla Mor door.
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12.00
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Rang 5
Proceed to Prefab. Do not enter main building.
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Rang 3
Enter school via Main door
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Senior Infants
Proceed to Prefab via Halla Mor door.
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13.00
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Junior Infants
Proceed to Prefab via Halla Mor door.
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Rang 6 & 4 do not need to collect books from the school. All materials will be provided online.
Rang 5 will require ‘Sounds in Focus 5’ and ‘Master your Maths 5’.
Please note that messages from the school will continue via Aladdin Noticeboard and the school website www.smnathy.ie
Le meas,
Sean Hourihane
Principal
On behalf of the Board of Management.