Dear Parents / Guardians

 I hope you are keeping well and making the best of our so called summer. You will probably be aware that the Minister of  Education wrote to schools this afternoon outlining a revised policy for reopening schools for all children in the autumn term. We will be opening the school on 1st September for the majority of children. Primary 7 and Rang a Seacht will commence on Monday 24th August.

We all want children back in school as soon as possible and this news is welcomed but if we are to keep everyone safe there are a number of issues which remain priorities:

• Preventing virus spread- hand hygiene, mask wearing, ventilation, and cleaning routines are more important with full classes.
• Bubbles- children will stay in class bubbles throughout the school day. If a child gets Covid 19, only children and staff in that bubble will go into a fourteen day quarantine.
• School transport - if class bubbles have to be protected then it would be obvious that children should be brought to school in cars at staggered times.
• School Meals- children will have break and lunch in their classrooms.
• Social distancing- the Minister has abandoned the requirement to limit the number of children in each room based on the size of the room and one metre per child yet requires staff to maintain two metres between them and children. The Minister needs to address this dilemma. 

A copy of the Minister's letter  is available on this website / New and Events / Newsletters. He also indicated that further information will be issued next week. We will keep you updated about the implications of this information. God bless and continue to keep safe.

Yours sincerely

Mr P Cush

Principal