Happy new year to everyone,
We are looking forward to reopening our doors tomorrow to all the children. We thank you again as always for continuing to support the school and for ensuring the safety of all the children and staff in the school.
We would ask everyone to double down on your efforts to keep the school covid free. We have had very little covid in the school in the last number of months and that is definitely down to everyone’s increased vigilance.
The next number of weeks will be challenging in the school with regards to staffing. Please be patient as we try to react to the ever-changing situation in school.
What can you do!
Please continue to wear face masks when entering the school premises to pick up children.
Please continue to leave straight away when your child has been picked up.
Please remind your children of the importance of hygiene etiquette and hand washing.
Children from 3rd – 6th should be wearing face masks in the classroom.
Remember please don’t send your children to school if they have any symptoms of covid-19. All the updated symptoms can be found on the HSE website.
If they do have symptoms but you know they have a different aliment i.e.asthma, please inform the school and speak to me directly.
We have a number of children in the school who are immune-compromised and we must try to ensure their safety at all times.
What happens when the school is notified of Covid-19 in your child’s class.
When a school principal is notified that a child who has been in school during the infectious period has a positive (detected) COVID-19 PCR test result, school principals are asked to text the other parents in the pod to let them know how they can access free antigen tests for their children in the identified pod.
If there is more than one PCR positive case in a class then antigen tests can be arranged for the entire class.
The Antigen Freephone number is: 1800 110055 or parents may order antigen tests online via www.hse.ie/schooltest
All children in the pod/class can continue to attend school as long as they remain asymptomatic and they do not have a positive COVID-19 antigen or PCR test result. Children who have symptoms of COVID-19 should stay at home, isolate and arrange to have a PCR test, either online or through a GP.
Note – If a pupil is identified as a CLOSE CONTACT of a case in their HOUSEHOLD they will have to restrict their movement as per national guidelines for household close contact and get a PCR test as soon as possible.
Please see the attachment below on what to do if your child is a household contact.
All this information can also be found on the website.
Stay safe everyone,
Séamus
