Sep 8, 2021

A Message from the Principal

All,

We were delighted to welcome all our pupils back to school last week. We welcomed 23 new infants who have settled in really well.

While classes and school business are running smoothly, we are still very mindful of adhering to all previous Covid-19 protocols. Ms Noonan and Ms Forrestal have very kindly taken up the role of Covid Officers. We have installed CO2 air monitors in classrooms to give readings of air quality, as the single greatest element to reducing the spread of covid is ventilation. We regularly empty classrooms to assist air circulation. This is good also for children's health and concentration. I have appended below some helpful HSE Covid-19 guidelines regarding when your child should not attend school.

As showery weather is promised, please ensure your children wear or bring weatherproof clothing (including footwear) to school, as it will be needed. Supervision of pupils in the morning begins at 9.10am. Equally, as school opens at 9.20am to receive pupils, those pupils dropped off earlier will be waiting outside and may have to stand in the rain.

Parents have committed to wearing an agreed uniform and there has been no change to uniform policy. Please ensure that the agreed uniform is worn.

We are approaching a very significant fixture in the Gaelic calendar on Saturday next as Mayo contest their second All Ireland in 12 months. We wish the team success this time around and look forward to welcoming the Sam Maguire cup to Mayo after an absence of 70 years.

We wish you and your family an enjoyable year at school. Remember to contact the office to arrange a meeting with your child's class teacher if you have concerns that you wish to raise in relation to school. Parent teacher meetings will be arranged later this term.

Kind regards,

Bríd

APPENDIX: CHILDREN WHO SHOULD NOT ATTEND SCHOOL

If your child is in one of the following categories, they should not attend school –

Children who have been diagnosed with Covid-19
Children who have been in close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with Covid-19
Children who have a suspected case of Covid-19 and the outcome of the test is pending
Children who have been in contact with a person who has a suspected case of Covid-19 and the outcome of the test is pending
Children with underlying health conditions who have been directed by a medical professional not to attend school
Children who are generally unwell
Any child displaying symptoms of coronavirus (which includes the DELTA variant). In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 it is important to know and recognise the symptoms of coronavirus. They are:
- a fever (high temperature – 38 degrees Celsius or above).
- a new cough – this can be any kind of cough, not just dry.
- shortness of breath or breathing difficulties.
- loss or change in sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
- fatigue
- aches and pains