10th August 2020
Dear Parents,
We are currently working on upgrading our procedures and routines within the school to ensure that there is as much Physical Distancing as is possible in our building. We will apply physical distancing in a practical and sensible way, recognising that the learning environment cannot be dominated by a potentially counterproductive focus on this issue.
Physical Distancing will be achieved in two ways: –
Increasing Separation. This will be achieved by some basic re-configuring within the middle and senior classrooms to maximise physical distancing. Each classroom will be referred to as a bubble and we will ensure that there is as little contact as possible between children in different bubbles. Within the bubbles, children will be organised into pods. A pod is a group of children who will sit together and who will stay in their pod while in the bubble, or classroom. We are lucky with our small numbers, and each class will be a pod to itself excepting our large 5th class cohort who will be separated into two pods.
Decreasing Interaction. This will be achieved by decreasing the potential for children from different bubbles to interact. There will be different routes for each classroom (bubble!) to enter and exit the school and to access their classrooms. Bubbles will have different designated yard spaces in the playground. We will make these routines commonplace and fun in the early days, to help reduce anxiety amongst the children.
While all children will be welcome back to school, we would remind parents that, where children are displaying colds, coughs or flu like symptoms, they should not be sent to school. Children who display such symptoms in school will be isolated and parents asked to collect them from the school.
Children who have travelled from countries not on the Green List should not attend school during – the 14-day self-isolation period.
Further information on COVID-19 symptoms in children is available at: –
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/if-your-child-has-symptoms.html
Teachers will make children aware of the proper hygiene procedures regarding hand washing and etiquette related to sneezing, coughing or spitting. We would be grateful if you could also emphasise safe behaviour in this regard to your children at home as part of the preparation for returning to school. We are told that an advertising campaign is in the works and that videos will be available online to help the children practice their hand hygiene and etiquette at home before we re-open. Please keep an eye on the school website for this information.
Our aim remains to re-open the school in an orderly safe manner, while reassuring the children and making them feel comfortable, safe and relaxed with their friends in the new school environment. This will be achieved by all of us working towards this common goal.
Next week, we plan to post you a document detailing the changes we must make in creating our ‘new normal’ in our daily life at school. This document will hopefully alleviate any anxiety you may have regarding your child’s return to school. It may also answer many questions you may have. Each school context is different, and we are very lucky in ours, that our small numbers will make transitioning to a ‘new normal’ as straightforward as possible for our children.
Le Meas, Evanna Charlton, Principal
Errew National School 