Dear Parents/Guardians
I wish to thank you for the vigilance you have shown in following the guidance in relation to returning your children to school. We have all faced great challenges during this period and have had to adapt our normal routines to ensure pupils attend school.
- We have strived to dissolve points of congestion and promote the idea of social distancing.
- We have instructed pupils and encouraged them to wash hands with soap and water often, for at least 20 seconds
- To use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- To cover mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve (not hands) before a cough or sneeze
- To put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash hands afterwards
- We have sought to clean objects and surfaces touched often (such as: door handles, electrical appliances and Office phones) using regular cleaning products
- Staff wear a face covering when in shared spaces
- We have continued to promote ventilation in all areas of school keeping windows and doors open
- Social distancing between various pupil bubbles has been maintained for break and lunch times
- We have established routines and protocols that are now well established.
- Enhanced daily cleaning and maintenance procedures have been introduced.
- Visitors to the school have been prohibited except for educational support, medical and maintenance personnel.
It is very important that we continue to do all of the above as we attempt to move to a normal school day which we hope to take a step closer to from next week.
From Monday 16th November 2020 the following arrangements will prevail:
School staggered opening: 8.45 to 9.15 for all pupils, with class beginning at 9.15.
Nursery finishing at 1.30 pm
P1 to P3 finishing at 2 pm.
P4 to P7 finishing at 3 pm
The procedures for entering the school at the beginning of the day and for departing at home times will remain the same.
Points of entry and exiting being:
- The Nursery car park
- The Main Front Door entry point
- The Rear School Yard
- Ti Chulainn Car Park
We will continue with this until we are confident the traditional points of entry and exit can cope with an increased volume of pupils without congestion arising. I ask that you remind and encourage your child/children to be “traffic aware” at pick up and set down times. In particular, at the front of the school I ask that you come to the pavement to pick up pupils rather than beckoning them to you from the central reserve.
I wish to thank the management of Ti Chulainn for facilitating us during this past few months and making the management of this situation much more achievable.
Once again thank you for your vigilance and stay safe,
P Mc Donnell