Dear Parents/Guardians
As we prepare for the return to school on Wednesday 1st September. Please take a few minutes to review the information outlined below. Most of this information will be familiar to you from last year but it is worth refreshing your memory.
Do not to send children to school if they are:
§ close contacts of a person with COVID-19
§ are awaiting a test
§ are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19
§ if they live with someone who has symptoms of the virus
Organisation
●
All children return to
school and classes operate within a bubble system – this means each class is a
bubble.
●
The day will include 1
x 10 min break and 1x 30 min lunch for each pupil as usual.
●
From Junior Infants to
6th class the children will sit in pods (groups) of 4 to 6 pupils and hand
hygiene and cleaning measures will be followed in-class. Children can mix with
their full class once they are outdoors or in a well-ventilated space.
●
Hand sanitiser will be
available at all entry points and in all classes and support rooms
●
Ventilation is a
priority with classroom windows and doors being left open whenever possible.
Timetables
Group 1 below will start and finish school 10
minutes before Group 2. This is to stagger the pupils leaving the school
grounds at the end of the school day. Group 1 start first so the youngest do
not have to wait in line for an extended period before school.
|
Group 1
|
Group 2
|
|
9.10 – 1.50pm or 2.50pm
|
9.20 –
3.00pm
|
|
Junior Infants Ms. Donnelly} 1.50pm
Senior Infants Ms. Brennan }1.50pm
1st/ 2nd Class Ms. Canty} 2.50pm
2nd Class Ms.
Curtin} 2.50pm
3rd
Class Ms. O’Rourke} 2.50pm
6th Class Mr.O’Shea} 2.50pm
All classes
assemble in their class lines in the lower yard before school.
|
4th Class Ms. Doris
4th Class Ms. O’Dwyer
5th Class Ms. Boylan
5th/6th Class Ms. Keane
All classes
assemble in their class lines in the upper yard before school.
|
Before Arrival at school
●
Please make sure your
child’s hands are thoroughly washed each morning before leaving the house.
●
Teachers are aware for
the importance of good hand hygiene for all. They will ensure the regular
cleaning of hands or use of sanitizer.
Arrival at school
●
We operate a drop
and go arrival policy. Ideally parents
will leave their children at the school gate each morning. At the start of the
year this may not be possible for infants so parents can walk their child to
their line and then leave the school grounds immediately.
●
The school yard is
supervised from 9.00 am and we are asking that children not be in the yard
before this time.
●
Each pupil should aim
to arrive at the school as close to their start time as possible and go
straight to their dedicated class line. Pupils can no longer congregate and mix
together before school so we are asking parents to not have them in the yard
too early.
●
Siblings from Group 2
above can enter the school grounds at the same time as pupils from Group 1 but
they must go to their class line immediately.
●
Each class should line
up at their designated point with social distancing observed.
●
The class teacher will
invite the children to enter the building via their designated entrance point
at the appropriate time.
●
No adults, other than
staff members, should enter the building.
●
Messages for teachers
can be sent by email to secretaryportlawns@gmail.com, by phoning the school office 051 387545, in the journal
or in a way communicated to you by the class teacher.
Wet Mornings
●
The school will open
at 9.00am on wet mornings and
children will go directly to their classes where they will be supervised by
staff. Parents should not enter the school building.
End of School Day
●
Junior and Senior
Infants @1.50pm
✔
Parents/Guardians are
invited to line up along the avenue on the markers. Junior infants nearest the
bike sheds and senior infants nearest the school building.
●
1st to 6th
class parents wait outside the school wall and teachers will leave their
classes go at the bell. Parents are asked to use their own judgement and
discretion when it comes to social distancing at collection time and the
wearing of face masks.
@2.50pm
✔
Ms. O’Rourke’s class
will leave via their emergency entry/exit and must proceed down the main school
steps.
✔
Ms. Canty’s class will
leave via the infant gate
✔
Ms. Curtin’s will
leave via their fire escape and go out the exit at the wheelchair ramp of the
upper school.
✔
Ms. O’Shea’s will
leave via the infant gate.
@3.00pm
✔
Ms. Keane’s must leave
via their ramp, walk across the front of the main school building and out the
main school entry/exit gate.
✔
Ms. Doris’ class will
leave via the fire exit and walk around the GP hall before leaving via the
wheelchair ramp exit.
✔
Ms. Boylan’s and Ms.
O’Dwyer’s will be staggered leaving the upper building.
Any child leaving via Talbot Tce must
inform their teacher and will leave their classroom last each day.
Pedestrian Zone
The bollards
to create the pedestrian zone will now be in place from 9.00am to 9.25am and 2.45pm
to 3.10pm
Collection of Children during the School
Day
If an adult
has to collect a child during the course of the school day, the following arrangements
will apply
●
When the adult arrives
at the school, they should either phone
the office (051 387454) or use the intercom at the front door of the school
to alert the office that they have arrived. No non-member of staff may enter
the school or call to a child’s classroom directly.
●
The child will be
brought from their class to the adult by a member of staff
●
The adult who is
collecting will be asked to sign the child out
●
No adult should enter
the school building, unless invited to do so
Reminders for Parents:
o
Do not congregate at or near
school during drop off and collection times
o
Communication with the school must
take place by phone or online
o
School policy in relation to children
with symptoms of COVID-19. Do not to
send children to school if they are:
§ close contacts of a person with COVID-19
§ are awaiting a test
§ are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19
§ if they live with someone who has symptoms of the virus
§ if they have travelled outside of Ireland (see latest Govt. advice
– click here
Information for you if your child is a close contact of a confirmed case of Covid 19 Click Here
o
Video for parents of children in
Junior Infants - https://youtu.be/UomH_vakjDI
o
Video for parents of children
Senior Infants – RII - https://youtu.be/4smnni5jpGI
o
Video for parents of children RIII
– RVI - https://youtu.be/97nErW1-0YU
We look forward to welcoming everyone back on the 1st.
Regards,
Brian Barron
