Letter 2 re. the re-opening of St. John the Baptist Girls' School.

12th August 2020

Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff Members,

The preparation work to get our school ready to re-open and welcome back our pupils is going well. There are many challenges to be overcome but with the goodwill and cooperation of everyone we will open successfully in September. Work on the upgrade of the Life Safety System is due to be completed next week and the building will then undergo a thorough deep clean throughout. 

RE: Physical Distancing and Safe School Attendance

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 re-configuring the classrooms to maximise physical distancing. As much as possible of loose furniture, presses, trolleys etc will be removed from classrooms to create extra space and will be put into storage. We are currently sourcing a storage area for this furniture.  Each class 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 may be organised into pods.  A pod is a group of children (normally 6) who will sit together and who will stay in their pod while in the bubble (classroom). Alternatively where space allows pupil tables may be spread out singly around the room with two pupils per table.      

Decreasing Interaction. This will be achieved by decreasing the potential for children from different bubbles to interact.  There will be marked routes for various bubbles to enter and exit the school and to access their classrooms. Bubbles will have an assigned area in the playground and mid-morning and lunch-time breaks will be staggered. We will make these routines enjoyable activities for the children, emphasising safety at all times.

While all children will be welcome back to school, we would remind parents that children are displaying any symptoms of covid 19 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.

Please be reminded that 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

On return to school 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.

RE: Uniforms and Book Lists

Uniforms. According to health advice provided by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre there is no health issue regarding the wearing of school uniforms. Therefore our existing school policy will apply.

Pupils in Infants, First Class and Second Class will wear school tracksuit on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and will wear grey uniform on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Pupils in Third Class, Fourth Class, Fifth Class and Sixth Class will wear grey uniform on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and will wear tracksuit on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Masks. Pupils in primary school are not required to wear face coverings. As of  last Thursdays announcement by the Minister of Education teachers are recommended to wear face coverings while in contact with the children and other staff where a distance of 2m cannot be maintained.  

Booklists. Pupils will require the books and stationary listed on the booklists sent out in June.   

Our aim remains to re-open the school in September 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.

We will keep you informed as our planning progresses and will issue a further letter next week with updates.

Please continue to stay safe.

Yours sincerely,

Mary Andrews                                                          Darren Ryan

Principal                                                                   Chairperson – Board of Management