Dear Parents/Guardians,
I hope this finds you well.
The preparation work to get our school ready to re-open and welcome back our children is going well. There are many challenges to overcome, but with the goodwill and co-operation of everyone, we will open successfully and safely as planned.
Please take note of the following operational and logistical changes at Golden National School to take effect from Monday, 31st August 2020.
Physical Distancing
Physical Distancing will be achieved in two ways:
Increasing Separation:
This will be achieved by re-configuring the classrooms to maximise physical distancing. Each class will be referred to as a bubble and we will ensure that there is as little contact as possible between children in different bubbles. Within the bubbles, children will be organised into pods. A pod is a group of children (normally 4-6) who will sit together and who will stay in their pod while in the bubble, or classroom.
Decreasing Interaction:
This will be achieved by decreasing the potential for children from different bubbles to interact. There will be marked routes for various bubbles to enter and exit the school and to access their classrooms.
(Please refer to Class Routines section for further details)
Relocation of Classes to Golden/Kilfeacle GAA Complex
Schools have been asked to reconfigure classrooms and other areas as necessary to support physical distancing in line with the guidance in advance of school reopening. The current school building, and classroom spaces therein, does not allow for sufficient physical distancing as required.
With this in mind, it has been decided to relocate 3rd & 4th class (Ms. Corbett) and 1st & 2nd class (Ms. Ryan) to the multi-purpose room on the first floor of the GAA Complex which is located adjacent to the school grounds. Construction works have begun on this room to create two separate classroom spaces. (See attached GAA Complex – First Floor Plan)
5th & 6th class (Mr. McCarthy) will be located in rooms 4 & 5 in the main school building, formerly used as our SET room and Storage Room/Library. The existing partition will be removed to allow adequate space for this class group (refer to Golden NS - Site Map).
Junior & Senior Infants (Ms. O’Brien) will remain in the Infant classroom as normal.
New Assembly Area
The schools Astroturf area, or hurling wall area, will now be used as our Assembly area going forward. Children will enter this area in the morning and assemble in their marked zones (see attached Assembly Zones on Astroturf).
A supervising teacher will be present during assembly from 09:20 a.m. in the mornings and at 03:10 p.m. in the afternoons.
Please note, children are not permitted to enter this Assembly area before 09:20 a.m. as the gate will be locked. Parents/guardians are advised to accompany their child/children in the 'School Zone' area before this time to maximise their safety. The school is not responsible for attending children before 09:20 a.m.
It is imperative for children to arrive to school in time for Assembly. However, in emergency situations where a child is late, parents/guardians are asked to accompany their child to the main door of the school building or the main entrance of the GAA Complex, depending on where their class group is located.
Wet Weather
On very wet mornings, our Assembly area will be open as normal from 9:20 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. However, where possible, children are encouraged to remain in their cars until close to 9:30 a.m. to avoid getting wet. Each teacher will supervise the safe entry of their respective pupils on such mornings.
Assembly will go ahead in the Astroturf as normal in the event of wet weather in the afternoon. In such circumstances, all children MUST assemble in the Astroturf regardless of weather conditions in the interests of child protection and safety.
Class Routines
(Please refer to Assembly Zones on Astroturf attached)
Junior & Senior Infants
Junior and Senior Infants will be asked to assemble in our Yellow Zone in the Astroturf. The children will enter and exit through the external door of their classroom at all times to avoid interaction with other class groups. Ms. O’Brien will accompany the children to and from the classroom for assembly.
As this is an exceptional time for our new Junior Infants, the start time for their FIRST DAY ONLY will be brought forward to 09:00 a.m. to allow sufficient time and space for both children and parents/guardians. Their schedule for the initial two weeks is outlined below. Our normal timetable, starting at 09:30 a.m., will apply to Senior Infants and all other classes. Senior Infants will finish at 02.10 p.m. from the start.
- 09:00 - 12:00 p.m. (Monday, 31st August)
- 09:30 – 12:30 p.m. (Tuesday, 01st September to Wednesday, 16th September inclusive)
- 09:30 - 14.10 p.m. (Thursday, 17th September onwards)
1st & 2nd Class
1st and 2nd class will be asked to assemble in the Blue Zone in the Astroturf. The children will walk along the pedestrian crossing from the ‘School Zone’ and onto the main door of the GAA Complex by following the footpath. They will then walk up the main stairs before entering their classroom. Ms. Ryan will accompany the children to and from their classroom in the GAA complex for assembly and break times.
3rd & 4th Class
3rd and 4th class will be asked to assemble in the Red Zone in the Astroturf. The children will walk along the pedestrian crossing from the ‘School Zone’ and onto the main door of the GAA Complex by following the footpath. They will then walk down the corridor and up the stairs, which is located beside the Sports Hall, before entering their classroom. Ms. Corbett will accompany the children to and from their classroom in the GAA complex for assembly and break times.
5th & 6th Class
5th and 6th class will be asked to assemble in our Green Zone in the Astroturf. The children will enter and exit their classroom through the external door by Harry’s Garden at all times to avoid interaction with other class groups. Mr. McCarthy will accompany the children to and from their classroom for assembly.
New Drop-off/Collection Layout
In order to maximise safety and ensure the school adheres to Covid-19 guidelines, it has been decided to change the structure of drop-offs in the morning and collections in the afternoon. The school’s drop off/collection point is now changed to the GAA Club grounds.
Please refer to the GAA Complex – Yard Layout to help you with the following notices;
- Parents/Guardians travelling by car or otherwise are asked to use the ONE WAY SYSTEM which is currently in place in the GAA Club grounds.
- Our ‘School Zone’ will be located at the back of the Astroturf area (marked on map) where the children will safely gain access to the Astroturf area as no car will be permitted to enter this area. Reflective bollards, points of directions and Covid-19 signage will be installed in the coming weeks to indicate this.
- In the morning, parents/guardians are asked to park for a brief time in a marked lay-by area where their child/children can safely enter our ‘School Zone’ before accessing the Assembly area. Those who wish to park their car and walk their child to our ‘School Zone’ may do so without causing congestion for arriving cars.
- In the afternoons, parents/guardians are asked to physically collect their child in the Astroturf area by forming an orderly queue from the entry point of the Astroturf back towards the stand (along the green fence). The supervising teacher will release your child/children to you as approach the entry point.
- No Parent/Guardian is permitted to enter our Assembly area in order to minimise risks. Parents are asked to social distance themselves in line with HSE guidelines and not congregate in small groups at these times.
- No car should be parking up at the front of the school, except in emergency circumstances.
Break Times & Yard Supervision
Bubbles (Classes) will have the same break times as normal, but will be assigned designated zones on the yard for a one week duration. These zones will rotate from week to week. Children will be asked to remain in their zones for the duration of break.
Three members of staff will supervise yard during break times to encourage good behaviour, monitor social distancing and accompany children who wish to use the toilet. The toilets located in the GAA Complex (located beside the pedestrian crossing) will be utilised by children in 1st – 4th class during break as they have external access and are in close proximity to the ‘School Zone’ (Please refer to GAA Complex - Yard Layout).
Walking/Cycling to School
Children who have permission by their parents/guardians to walk/cycle to school can either use this one way system in the GAA grounds or enter through the pedestrian gate at the front of the school, depending on whichever option suits best.
Our School Warden will continue to operate as normal to facilitate this option.
School Uniforms & Face Masks
Children are asked to wear their school uniform on Tuesday and Thursday each week. The school uniform consists of:
- A grey trousers, skirt or pinafore
- A navy v-neck jumper with emerald V and school crest
- A white shirt
- A navy & emerald tie
- Black or navy shoes
Children are asked to wear their school tracksuit on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week and on school tours/outings, if specified. This consists of a navy hooded top or their O’Neills half-zip top with the school crest and navy tracksuits pants.
Parents/Guardians are encouraged to wash their child’s uniform/tracksuit regularly.
Masks: Pupils in primary school are not required to wear face coverings. As of last Thursday's announcement by the Minister of Education, staff are recommended to wear face coverings while in contact with the children & other staff where a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained.
Access to the School and Contact Log
Arrangements for necessary visitors such as contractors and parents will be restricted for essential purposes and limited to those who have obtained prior approval from the principal.
Parents/Guardians who wish to collect their child/children during the school day are asked to report to the ‘Covid-19 Designated Area for Visitors’ which will be located at the main door of the school (marked on map).
Parents/Guardians of children located in the GAA Complex (1st – 4th Class), who wish to collect their child/children during the school day, are also asked to report to the ‘Covid-19 Designated Area for Visitors’ (located at the main door of the school) before collecting their child in the GAA Complex. An intercom system will be installed at the front entrance of the GAA Complex where you can access the building by signalling your child’s class teacher on the system AFTER you have checked in at the ‘Covid-19 Designated Area’.
Impromptu meetings between teachers and parents/guardians are not permitted. If required, you are asked to engage with your child’s teacher via phone call by appointment only.
A detailed sign in/sign out log of those entering the school facilities will be maintained. The school will also maintain a log of staff and pupil contacts.
Safe School Attendance
While all children will be welcome back to school, we would remind parents that, where children are displaying colds, coughs or flu like symptoms, they should not be sent to school. Children who display such symptoms in school will be isolated and parents asked to collect them from the school.
Children who have travelled from countries not on the Green List should not attend school during the 14-day self-isolation period.
Further information on COVID-19 symptoms in children is available at: -
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/if-your-child-has-symptoms.html
Teachers will make children aware of the proper hygiene procedures regarding hand washing and etiquette related to sneezing, coughing or spitting. We would be grateful if you could also emphasise safe behaviour in this regard to your children at home as part of the preparation for returning to school.
Please familiarise yourself with all control measures as set out in our COVID-19 Response Plan and Risk Assessment. Our COVID-19 Policy Statement is also included in this Response Plan.
Our aim remains to re-open the school in an orderly and safe manner, while reassuring the children and making them feel comfortable, safe and relaxed with their friends in the ‘new’ school environment. This will be achieved by all of us working towards this common goal.
We will keep you informed as best we can and issue a further letter next week with updates. If you need clarification or further detail on any aspect of the new changes, you can contact me by email at principalgoldenns@gmail.com.
Is mise le meas,
James McCarthy
Principal,
Golden National School
principalgoldenns@gmail.com
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