Dear Parents and Pupils,

I hope you are all well and enjoying the last of the summer holidays.

We have been working on our plan for the safe re-opening of Rusheen National School and we have published our Covid-19 Response Plan and Policy Statement on our website under “Information”.  It is important that you are familiar with the procedures and expectations set out in our Response Plan.

We aim to re-open the school in an orderly safe manner while reassuring children and making them feel comfortable, safe and relaxed with their friends in the new school environment when we return on September 1st.  This will be achieved by all of us working towards this common goal.

Here are some routines and procedures you need to be aware of for the new school year.

Assembly:

If possible we request you not to come onto the school grounds or into the school building unless it is essential.  On the morning of September 1^st, pupils will proceed directly to their classrooms via the rear door at ramp.  From September 2^nd onwards pupils will line up at their assigned area of the yard.  Parents of new junior infants may accompany their child directly into the classroom for the first week but exit immediately through the brown door at the front of the school. However we strongly encourage siblings to accompany the new Junior Infants to their classroom instead of a parent.

Collection:

Pupils will go home at the normal time, i.e. Junior Infants at 12:20p.m. for the first two weeks, Senior Infants at 2.00p.m. Both classes will be collected at the middle gate.  First to Sixth Class will be collected at 3.00p.m.  5^th and 6^th Class will exit the school through the upper gate near the hall, 1^st and 2^nd Class will exit through the middle gate and 3^rd and 4^th Class will exit through the lower gate.

We are encouraging parents to stay in their cars as much as possible and maintain social distance at all times when dropping off and collecting children.

Access to School Building:

Please note for safety reasons it is the Board’s Policy to limit the number of people accessing the school.  Anybody wishing to speak to/meet any teacher must make a prior appointment by phone or e-mail and wear a mask if entering the school.  The school will be locked during the day and access can only be gained using the intercom at the ramp door at the rear of the school.  If you are collecting a child before the school day ends, the child will be brought to the exit door at the rear at the requested time.

Lunch Break:

Normal lunch break times will apply.  Each class grouping will have their own separate play area which will be rotated.

Toilets:

Each class group (Bubble) has been allocated one toilet cubicle.  Pupils will sanitise before and after using the toilet.  Pupils will be given ample time before and after lunch break to use the toilets to encourage pupils not to come into the toilets during lunch break thus avoiding pupils from different class bubbles mixing.  Parents should inform the school if their child has toileting issues.

S.E.T.:

Special Education Teacher arrangements will be 1:1 in the Learning Support Room for the foreseeable future.

Children’s Learning Spaces:

Excess furniture has been removed from classrooms to provide extra space.  One metre distancing will be adhered to where possible.   Pupils will be arranged in Pods of 5 – 7 pupils.  There will be as little interaction as possible between the various bubbles/class groupings.

Cleaning & Hygiene:

The School will be thoroughly cleaned every evening after school.  Supplementary cleaning routines and practices will be carried out by the whole school staff throughout the day.

Contact Details:

Please ensure that the school has your correct contact details (both phone and e-mail).  Parents/Guardians must be available at all times to collect students at short notice.

Covid Symptoms:

While all children will be welcomed back to school we would remind you that where children are displaying colds, coughs or flu like symptoms they should not be sent to school.

If your child displays symptoms of Covid-19 while in school:-

1. The child will be taken to a designated isolation area
2. You will be phoned to collect your child

We will be following the Department protocols as outlined in our School Response Plan (see school website).

General Information:

The staff will complete lessons on mental health and wellbeing, correct hygiene, lining up, hand sanitising, staying within their pods/bubbles, etc. with the children during the first week back to school.

There will be no homework for at least the first week back.

Children who have travelled from countries not on the green list should not attend school during the 14 day isolation period.

Parents should inform the school if their child is in a high risk group.

There will be no sharing of materials/resources so please make sure pupils have everything they need coming to school e.g. pencil case, markers, lunch, filled water bottle as outside fountain is turned off, etc.  It would be advisable for children to have a separate pencil case for school and home.

Department Documents:

Follow this link to access important information/flyers/videos from the Department and HSE with regard to returning to school.

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a04fc-advice-for-students-and-their-families/

Please feel free to get in touch if we can support or assist you in any way.  We are really looking forward to welcoming our pupils back to school and will be doing all that we can to ensure that their return is safe and enjoyable.

Le meas,

Gerard Coakley                                                                                         Fr. Joseph O’Mahony

Principal                                                                                                    Chairperson