Return to school

Dear Parents,
I hope you are all enjoying what is left of the holidays and I look forward to welcoming you all back next week.
The staff have reviewed the revised Covid guidelines produced by the Department of Education and as a result the arrangements for the return to school on Wednesday 1st September are as follows:
• Pupils may be left to school between 8:40am and 9am to avoid large groups gathering at the school gates. 1 parent may accompany their P1 child to the classroom for the 1st week (if needed).
• Finishing time for P1 is 12 noon from Wednesday 1st September until Friday 10th September and 2 pm from Monday 13thSeptember. P2 finish at 2pm every day.
• P3-P7 pupil should be collected promptly between 2:40 and 2:50pm. P3/4 should be collected from the top gate.
• School finishes at 2pm for everyone on Friday afternoons.
The Department guidelines say that “schools should consider how they can avoid parents congregating at school gates at the start and end of the school day”. We would therefore ask parents not to congregate at the school gates, wear a mask (unless exempt) and to practice social distancing.
Reminders:
• Pupil supervision starts from 8.40am and no pupil should be on the premises before this time unless attending breakfast club. Pupils should enter via the main gate to get their hands sanitised.
• Breakfast club costs £1.50 per day and will begin on Wednesday 1st September. Please fill in the form on the school website if you wish your child to attend. Afterschools (2-2:50pm) for P1/2 costs £2 per session and will resume on Monday 13th September. If you wish to avail of this service, please fill in the form on the website. This club is dependent on numbers.
• Parents are welcome on the school premises by appointment only and should wear a mask unless exempt.
• Pupils can bring in school bags and pencil cases. They may also use a lunchbox of their choice.
• Dinner/break money should be sent to school in a sealed labelled envelope. Dinners remain at £2.60 and should be paid on the first day of the week. The dinner menu for next week is available on the website. Fruit for P1/2 costs £1 per week or £38 per school year. Milk costs £2.95 for September or £37.00 for the year. Milk should be ordered and paid for by Monday 6th September.
• Homework will start from Monday 13th September
In school we are continuing to practice a “Bubble” system, which has served us well to date, certain adjustments and relaxations will be made as we assess the on-going Covid threat, against the need for pupil/staff wellbeing and delivering the highest level of education to our pupils as possible.
As usual our aim is to create an environment for happy, healthy children. We are sorry for the continued inconvenience that comes with all the rules and regulations of Covid.
I have no doubt that if we all work together we can enjoy a successful 1st half term.
Thank you for your continued support and co-operation.

M Kennedy