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
