Back to School - Information

Dear Parents,

It’s that time of year again – we are busy preparing for our return to school. I hope you and your family had a chance to enjoy the summer holidays.

From the outset, our primary aim is to continue to keep everyone as safe as possible and offer our children a chance to return safely to school. All of the protocols that were in place during the last school year continue for the 2021/2022 school year.

When will the children return to school?

Glounaguillagh N.S. will re-open on Wednesday, September 1st at 8:50am

Where do I go to drop off and collect my child from school?

Like last year, we will use both front access gates as well as all four external doors. The children can use the gate closest to their drop-off point for entering the school each day.

Main front door: Ms. Pigott’s Junior Infants

Ms. Tyther’s 1st & 2nd Class

Side door (pitch side): Ms. Quirke’s Senior Infants

Mrs. Fleming’s 4th & 5th Class

Side door (road side): Mrs. Galvin’s 5th & 6th Class

Back door: Ms. O’Sullivan’s 2nd & 3rd Class

To reduce congestion, the school will open to welcome pupils between 8:40am & 9:10am.

Remember that it gets very busy in the mornings and evenings so think about where you will park and walk with your child to the school gate. Please do not loiter around the school at drop off and collection times. It is strictly “drop and go”. Parents are asked to wear a face covering in the vicinity of the school.

Children will go directly to their classrooms.

All adults are asked to maintain social distancing and remember Public Health guidelines when dropping off or collecting children.

For the initial introduction period, Junior Infants can be brought to the main front door to meet their teacher.

Is there still social distancing in school?

Yes, all adults are asked to maintain social distancing, and wear masks. Any adult entering the school grounds is required to wear a face covering. To date, the advice to schools is that children in primary school are not required to wear face masks. (That’s not to say you can’t, should you wish to do so)

Children from Junior Infants – 2nd Class are not required to social distance.

From 3rd - 6th Class, social distancing of 1 metre will be applied, where possible.

How Can I contact my child’s teacher?

Phone the school office – 0669769402
E-mail the office – glounaguillaghns@gmail.com
If you have an appointment to visit the school, please wear a face covering, sign in and sanitise your hands.
Please ensure that we have a valid mobile number and email address for you.

Anything else that we need to know?

Our main aim is to minimise the risk of infection coming into the school and we cannot do this without your help. You should not, under any circumstances, send your child to school if they have:

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
fatigue
aches and pains

Other uncommon symptoms of coronavirus include:

sore throat
headaches
runny or stuffy noses
feeling sick or vomiting
diarrhoea

If you are in any doubt whether you should send your child to school or not, please err on the side of caution.

Like last year, it is vitally important that you do not send your child to school if there is any indication that your child is unwell. The school will operate an isolation and parental collection system for any pupil who displays signs of illness while in school.

Each class will be viewed as a “Bubble” with smaller groups within each bubble known as a ‘Pod’. Where possible, each class will not mix with other classes. However, we will try to ensure that 2nd Class and 5th Class can play with their friends at break times. Each class will continue to have their own space to play in at break time.

The adults coming to the room will be kept to a minimum – Class Teacher, Support Teacher and SNA. Sometimes an SNA may be shared with another classroom.

Ventilation is key and windows in classrooms will be open to allow circulation of fresh air. The Department are supplying schools with a number of carbon dioxide monitors to monitor levels of ventilation.

Children will also be out in the open more often, where possible. Children will need a good coat. Please put your child’s name on their coat.

If you need to collect your child early, please phone the school office when you arrive and your child will be brought out to you.

Hand sanitiser will again be provided in school. Each classroom has a unit. Soap and warm water are also available in each classroom/bathroom. Handwashing will continue to be a regular feature of your child’s school day.

Should you have any questions, please contact us on glounaguillaghns@gmail.com

We look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday!