31/03/2020 Letter from Principal
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I do hope I find you all safe and well. By now you are well aware of the extension to our school closure to April 19th. Based on well informed predictions and public health uncertainties, we are now looking at schools being closed well after the Easter Holidays.
Having finished school abruptly on March 12th, teachers did their best to plan work for classes and arranged for the necessary books to be brought home.
The school website has also been used to update this work on a regular basis,. Please keep an eye out for texts from individual teachers giving information on suggested work for their pupils.
We, as teachers and as a school are trying to learn on our feet and develop new ways to help you and in this regard, we are hoping to introduce an online platform, after the Easter Holidays, where appropriate and practical, to enhance the school work being assigned and to assess and monitor work being given.
More information on this will follow. This new proposed online platform and homework already assigned is not meant to add to pressure already in homes due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This is an unprecedented emergency and lots of us are feeling stressed and overwhelmed and under pressure.
With
this distance-type learning, all we are asking of parents and pupils, is to do
their best to complete the suggested tasks. As you know, learning is not only
to be found in textbooks. Reading opens up a whole new world for pupils to
explore new topics, compete projects, work independently as authors by
completing personal diaries and practicing their creative writing skills .Lego, cooking, playing outside, drawing and
making things are all valuable exercises that children can complete during the
school week. RTE ‘Home School’ TV and many of the suggested educational apps
are also very useful, but should be used wisely so that pupils get a varied
timetable of school work, rest, play, TV and internet use as well as being
given time to complete household chores.
Don’t worry about your child falling behind if they are unable to complete all their work. We will return to school, and when we do, the experience and expertise of our teacher’s will ensure that our pupils progress.
Children are also going to be anxious and stressed at this time, we encourage you to talk to them and explain that everything will eventually be okay. They will never forget these times, but should be comforted that the time spent together as a family is worthwhile and necessary and one that they will benefit from and pass on to the next generation.
Therefore, from Friday April 3rd we want you to take the time away from schoolwork to enjoy the Easter holidays with your families. We will be in touch after the holiday period with further updates on government directives, work for classes and plans for online teaching and learning. Most of all we look forward to the day that we will be able to welcome you all back to school to enjoy engaging with the pupils in their continued learning journey.
Many of you are continuing to go out to work and we understand the pressure that you are under. We particularly salute those of you who are working in the medical profession and in the front line. We are indebted to you for this.
Finally, we continue to wish you all good health, as we come into the Easter season, where this year more than any we have all made great sacrifices We look forward to the happier and joyous days that we hope will follow.
Stay safe and well !
Sincerely,
_____________
Denis Courtney
Principal and staff