Letter to Parents- 24/2/21

Dear Parent/Guardian,
As you know, our Special class, Seoda, reopened this week. It was wonderful to see the girls and to
witness their excitement, as they re-entered the school again. Thankfully, all is going very smoothly so
far.

We are delighted now to be in a position to start the next phase of the school reopening next Monday,
1st March, when we will welcome back pupils from Junior Infants, Senior Infants, 1st and 2nd class. Then
in mid-March, all going to plan, we will look forward to welcoming back the rest of our pupils from 3rd
to 6th class.

We have a huge advantage in our return to school this time, in that all pupils are very familiar with the
procedures implemented last September in relation to staggered start and finish times, entrance and
exit routes, cleaning schedules etc. This will be of great assistance to them in quickly settling back into
school life again.

It is important to remember, however, that each person in the school community, has an important
role to play in the safe reopening of our school and more importantly in ensuring that it remains open.
The BOM and staff have worked very hard to ensure that all necessary safety measures are in place
but we need your full cooperation in relation to all procedures and HSE guidelines in order to ensure
that this return continues to be a safe one and that the school continues to remain open. We all have
a responsibility in this regard. The school cannot do this alone. We need your continued support and
cooperation with all measures. As the Irish proverb goes, ‘Ní neart go cur le chéile’. There is strength
in unity.

I would like therefore, to draw your attention to the following important points.

1. Completion of Return to Educational Facility Parental Declaration Form
Junior Infants, Senior Infants, 1st and 2nd classes only at this stage
It is essential that you complete the Return to Educational Facility Parental Declaration Form
before your daughter can return to school next Monday, 1st March. This can be done on Aladdin Connect from 3pm on Sunday 28th Feb. The form is in the Attendance and Notes section.

3rd to 6th classes will be required to complete this form nearer to their return date and will receive notification of same.

2. Infection Prevention Control measures
Please ensure that if your daughter is anyway unwell or is displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 that she stays at home and that you contact your doctor and follow the HSE guidance on self-isolation.
Common symptoms of coronavirus include:
➢ a fever (high temperature – 38 degrees Celsius or above).
➢ a new cough – this can be any kind of cough, not just dry.
➢ shortness of breath or breathing difficulties.
➢ loss or change in your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot
smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Pupils should not return to or attend school in the event of the following:
➢ if they are identified by the HSE as a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19
➢ if they live with someone who has symptoms of the virus
➢ If they have travelled outside of Ireland; in such instances you are advised to consult
and follow latest Government advice in relation to foreign travel.

3. Please do not congregate outside the school at any stage
This is extremely important in ensuring the safety of all. Please come to the school only at the appointed start and finish time for your daughter’s class (see below) and please ensure also that you and she keep a safe distance from other parents and children during that time. Where possible, please do not bring other siblings to the school when dropping or collecting pupils.

Start Time for classes from Junior Infants to 2nd: Between 8.40a.m. and 8.50a.m.

Finish Time for Junior & Senior Infants: 1.30p.m.

Finish Time for 1st & 2nd classes: 2.30p.m.

4. Mask Wearing
It is essential that all parents/guardians wear a face mask at all times when on or around the
school premises.

5. Contacting School/Teacher
As you are aware, we are currently not in a position to facilitate face to face meetings. If you
have a concern or query, you can contact the school by emailing the office at office@scoilbhridecailini.ie or by phoning 01-8201717.

Thank you in advance for all your help and support in implementing these measures and I look forward
to welcoming your daughters back in the first phase of reopening on March 1st
.
Yours faithfully,
Paula Dargan