Return to School Guide for Children & Parents

GOLDEN N.S. RETURN TO SCHOOL GUIDE FOR CHILDREN & PARENTS

NOTICES FOR CHILDREN

1. You must only come to school if you are feeling well. If you are not feeling well and have a high temperature, you must stay at home.
2. When you arrive at school in the morning, you must go straight to your COLOURED ZONE in the Astroturf. You will be shown where to line up in your area. Do not worry as a teacher/SNA will be there to guide you to your area/line.
3. Your parents/guardians will not be able to come into the school with you this year. You will have to be dropped at our new SCHOOL ZONE in the GAA grounds and you will then safely walk into the Assembly on your own.
4. 3^rd Class – 6^th Class: To keep everyone safe, your class will be your bubble. This bubble will be divided into pods (small groups). Each pod will sit together. You will be in a pod with some of your friends. Of course you can still chat to all the other pods in the room but you won’t be able to sit beside them. When you come into the classroom in the morning/after breaks, you walk straight to your pod and sit down. Out on the yard, it’s important that you play with your class bubble in your allocated area of the yard.
5. Unfortunately, this year you won’t be able to share with your friends so make sure you have your name on any pencil/rubber/topper/ruler/colouring pen etc. that belongs to you.
6. We know that lots of you love to bring in items from home like hurleys/sliothars/footballs /toys/cards etc. but this year you can only bring the items you really need to school. We will revisit this in October and let you know when/if it is safe to start bringing items to school again.
7. Keeping your hands nice and clean is so important! We must all wash or sanitize our hands regularly. For example, when we come into school in the morning, before we eat, after coughing or sneezing, when we come in from the yard, after going to the toilet and so on. There will be sanitizer in all classrooms and lots of soap to clean your hands in the bathrooms.
8. All the staff in Golden N.S. are really looking forward to seeing you soon. While there are going to be lots of new changes, we will all get used to them in no time!

NOTICES FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS

Update on works completed over recent weeks

Relocation of Classes

Construction works have been completed in the GAA complex. We now have two spacious classrooms which will be occupied by Ms. Ryan (1^st & 2^nd class) and Ms. Corbett (3^rd and 4^th class).

Works have also been completed in rooms 4 & 5 in the main school building, formerly used as our SET room and Storage Room/Library, which will be occupied by 5^th & 6^th class (Mr. McCarthy). The partition has been removed to allow adequate space for this class group.

Two of the three classrooms located at the front of the school will be used as Special Educational Teaching (SET) rooms. The third room will be used as our Storage Room/Library (See Golden N.S. Site Map & Floor Plan).

New Drop-off/Collection Layout

Our ‘School Zone’ area at the back of the Astroturf has been revitalised to facilitate and sustain an increased footfall each school day. This includes:

• New chippings have been rolled in to offer a safer surface
• Flexible bollards have been assembled to prevent vehicles from entering this zone
• New signage has been mounted to signify this new area
• Lay by parking area markings for parents to safely drop off their child in the morning
• Pedestrian crossing markings for children to safely access our School Zone
• Line markings in the Astroturf area to assemble each class grouping (bubble) and allocate them into their colour coded zones

Plumbing

A leak has been repaired in the boys’ bathroom. Works to implement a controlled hot water system for each bathroom in the school building are in negotiations at present. Depending on finances and availability of tradespeople, it is hoped that this will be completed in the near future. We do, however, have hot water in both bathroom areas in the GAA Complex.

Cleaning

The entire school building and areas of use in the GAA Complex have undergone a comprehensive ‘deep clean’ by a local professional company. Every window in the school has also been thoroughly cleaned both internally and externally.

NEW PPE, Consumables & Equipment purchased

• Hand sanitiser station at each entry/exit point
• Soap dispenser in each toilet 
• Paper towels and dispenser in each toilet
• Bins in each toilet and classroom
• Visor/masks for each staff member
• Antibacterial sanitiser spray for each teaching area 
• Signage - outlining signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and to support good hand & respiratory hygiene

Reopening date – Monday, 31^st August 2020

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.

• 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)

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. 

Class Routines

*Please note: To settle back into our ‘new’ normal at school, the children will partake in an Induction morning with their teacher in their classrooms on our first morning back, Monday 31^st August.

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. Infants will use the same cloakroom located at the back of their classroom.

1^st & 2^nd Class

1^st and 2^nd 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. This class grouping will hang their coats in the corridor outside their new classroom. This area will be specified by Ms. Ryan on our first morning back in school.

3^rd & 4^th Class

3^rd and 4^th 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. This class grouping will hang their coats in the corridor outside their new classroom. This area will be specified by Ms. Corbett on our first morning back in school.

5^th & 6^th Class

5^th and 6^th 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. 5^th class girls and boys will use the cloakroom located beside the girls’ toilets. 6^th class girls and boys will use the cloakroom located beside the boy’s toilets towards the end of the corridor. This will be specified by Mr. McCarthy on our first morning back in school.

Drop-off/Collection Points

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 afternoon, 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.

This system will apply rain, hail or shine so please make sure that your child comes to school prepared for the weather!

Break Times & Yard Supervision

Class bubbles 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 1^st – 4^th class during break as they have external access and are in close proximity to the ‘School Zone’ (Please refer to GAA Complex - Yard Layout).

Changes to classroom and school layout and to school routines

The DES guidelines recognise that a common-sense approach is needed in our primary schools. To that end, every effort will be made to limit interaction within classrooms, to limit contact between class groups and to limit the sharing of common facilities.

The children and their teachers will work in class bubbles. A class bubble is a grouping which stays apart from other classes as much as possible. The aim of the system within the school is that class groupings mix only with their own class from arrival at school in the morning until the children go home at the end of the school day.  

Corridors

Children and staff members are asked to keep to the LEFT when walking on the corridors. There will be signs on the corridor floor to indicate this.

Briefly passing someone in a hall is unlikely to contribute significantly to the spread of infection if people do not have physical contact and avoid informal group discussions.

Doors and Windows

To ensure that classrooms are well ventilated, windows must be kept open as much as possible, and will be opened while children are taking breaks in the playground. Windows should be opened when children are singing as a group, or when they are playing musical instruments.

Where practical, all internal doors will be left open to minimise hand contact with common surfaces.

School bags

All books, copies and stationery as per book list must be brought in your child’s school bag on their first day back. School bags can be used to carry lunch boxes from the second day onwards.

Lunches

Parents/guardians must make sure that children bring their lunches to school to avoid adults having to come to the school during the day. Please remind your children not to share their food or drinks with other children.

Discretionary time (approximately five to ten minutes) will be allocated in advance of both break times for children to eat their lunches in class. Children are not permitted to share any item of their lunch and must store any rubbish in their lunch boxes to dispose of at home. Lunchboxes and water bottles are permissible but must be washed thoroughly every evening.

Pencil Cases & Labelling

Each child is asked to have two pencil cases. One pencil case is to remain in school for class work and the other is to remain at home for homework activities. Ms. O’Brien (Infant teacher) will supply each child with the necessary materials required for class work only.

All children are required to have their personal belongings and items for school labelled accordingly.

Children must use their own books, pens, pencils, etc. and must not share with other pupils. 

If teachers lend pencils etc to a pupil, they will need to be wiped down upon return. 

It is important to adhere with these rules in the interests of keeping everyone in our school community safe. 

Toilet Breaks

Individual class arrangements will be put in place regarding the procedures for going to the toilet. 

Homework

Homework will not be assigned for our first and second week back. The focus for these two weeks will be on the wellbeing of the children and allowing them to re-adjust to school life.

Homework will be implemented gradually from the beginning of Week 3 as children and teachers return to their new school routine after such a long absence. Teachers will arrange for children to take home books/copies specifically for homework purposes only in advance.

We will be exploring different online learning platforms (e.g. Class Dojo/SeeSaw/Google Classroom) during the month of September and beyond where some online activities will be assigned for homework. 

It is vital that we have an alternative educational plan in place if the return to school plan changes going forward.  Each child’s mental and physical wellbeing will be to the fore from the outset.

School Uniforms/Tracksuits

Children are asked to wear their school uniform on Tuesday and Thursday each week.

Children are asked to wear their school tracksuit on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week and on school tours/outings, if specified.

Parents/Guardians are encouraged to wash their child’s uniform/tracksuit regularly.

Teaching and Learning

As a staff, we are very aware that the children have been away from school since 12^th March. We appreciate the time and effort that went into home learning, and we recognise the challenges that home learning presented for all families.

Each child will be in a different place in relation to his/her learning, and we wish to assure you that staff will take that into consideration when planning for teaching and learning during the 2020/2021 school year.

The Department of Education and Skills has published curriculum guidelines for us, and we ask you to trust our experience and professional expertise as we work with all the children during the return to school.

Team Teaching/Special Education Teachers/Special Needs Assistants

Staff members (particularly SETs and SNAs) can move between areas/classes but this will be minimised where possible. When rotation occurs, agreed sanitising routines will be observed.

In keeping with our Special Education policy, special education teaching will be provided by a blended approach of in-class support and withdrawal. The provision of support will be organised to ensure our support teachers will work as far as possible, within the confines of a bubble.

Where a support teacher is working alongside a class teacher in a classroom, both teachers must be mindful of maintaining 2m physical distance from one another.  If not possible, the teachers must wear a mask/face covering.  

The tables and chairs in SET rooms will be wiped clean in between different pupils or small groups attending.

Visiting Teachers/Coaches

At present, it is not recommended that children from different bubbles would participate in extra-curricular activities at the same time, for example, during music lessons/GAA training/Athletics. The possibility of facilitating extra-curricular activities will be explored in time.

Physical Education and P.E. Equipment

Physical Education lessons will take place outside, weather permitting.

Staff members and pupils may take additional breaks outside during the school day.

Shared equipment must be cleaned between uses.  

Substitute Teachers and SNAs

A copy of our Covid-19 Response Plan will be provided to each substitute teacher/SNA. Substitute teachers will be required to complete a Pre-Return to the Workplace Form before they enter a classroom and will be asked to confirm that they have engaged in the online Induction training.

Masks & Gloves

The children are not required to wear masks or face coverings.

It is now recommended that teachers and other school staff wear face coverings, similar to those worn in shops or on public transport when a physical distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained. A visor and/or face mask will be provided for each staff member.  

There is no need for the children to wear disposable gloves. They are considered inappropriate under the guidelines.

Staff members do not need to wear disposable gloves unless they are looking after a pupil’s intimate care needs or administering First Aid.

There will be an emphasis on hand hygiene rather than on the wearing of disposable gloves.

Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Staff members are not required to wear PPE. However, for a limited number of staff, PPE will need to be used occasionally or constantly due to the nature of certain work activities or work areas. This might include roles such as:

• Assisting with intimate care needs
• Where a suspected case of COVID-19 is identified while the school is in operation
• Where staff are particularly vulnerable to infection but are not on the list of those categorised as people in very high-risk groups or may be living with those who are in the very high-risk category.
• When staff members have to move between classrooms to support children with learning needs.

Appropriate PPE will be available for dealing with suspected COVID-19 cases, intimate care needs and for first aid. Where staff provide healthcare to children with medical needs in the school environment, they will apply standard precautions as per usual.

Hygiene and Cleaning

Sanitiser dispensers have been installed throughout the school e.g. at each entrance/exit point.

Paper towels and soap dispensers are available in all toilets and by the sinks at the back of the classrooms. 

Hand hygiene will be promoted and encouraged, and parents/guardians are asked to support the school in reinforcing this message.

In accordance with the DES guidelines, the school will be thoroughly cleaned at least once per day. We are increasing the number of hours of work for our school cleaner. Particular attention will be focused on frequently touched surfaces – door handles, handrails, chairs/arm rests, communal eating areas, sink and toilet facilities.

All staff will have access to cleaning products and will be required to maintain cleanliness of their own work area. Under no circumstances should these cleaning materials be removed from the building to help curb any potential spread of the disease. Staff should thoroughly clean and disinfect their work area before and after use each day.

Waste will be collected regularly from offices and other areas within the school.

Staff must use and clean their own equipment and utensils (cup, cutlery, plate etc.)

Supporting the Learning of Children who Cannot Attend School

If a child is not able to attend school for an extended period of time, the class teacher (and/or the Special Education Teacher, where relevant) will provide work to support the child’s learning at home and this will be shared with parents/guardians.

The majority of parents have already provided an email address at which the school can contact them to support Home Learning. This will be especially important if the school, or parts of the school have to close due to HSE advice. Parents/Guardians, if you have not already done so, please email goldenns@yahoo.ie and you will be added to the Contact List for Home Learning.

Supporting pupils at “very high risk” of COVID-19

As per DES guidance:  “The Department is conscious that there may be some pupils for whom return to school at the end of August may not be appropriate because the relevant public health guidelines indicate they are at “very high risk”.  

Responsibility to ensure that these pupils receive appropriate support to engage adequately with learning remains with each school. 

Good communication is key to supporting these pupils and to ensure their ongoing connection with their classmates and school community.  

Additional supports will be provided for these pupils/students through designated teachers from within the staffing resources of the school. Schools will have discretion to manage and redistribute their teaching support resources in order to best meet the learning needs of their pupils/students, including pupils/students at ‘very high risk’ to COVID-19. 

Under the direction of the School Principal the designated teacher should: 

• Liaise with the class teacher and special education teacher on relevant curricular content and classwork;    
• Access relevant learning resources;
• Provide the pupil/student with individualised support for his/her learning;
• Increase the pupil/student autonomy, motivation, agency and wellbeing;
• Improve the pupil/student capacity to be become a self-directed learner;
• Support the development of the pupil/student digital competency;
• Avail of the communication/learning platform used by the school to ensure ongoing contact with classmates and class teacher.  

Wellbeing of the School Community

We will work on the recommended five principles to support the wellbeing of all our pupils and staff. These are promoting:

• A sense of safety
• A sense of calm
• A sense of belonging and connectedness to school
• A sense of self-efficacy and school-community efficacy
• A sense of hope

Our usual practice is to provide support to pupils based on what is known as the Continuum of Support. This is a tiered system that provides Whole School and Classroom Support for all pupils, additional School Support for some pupils, and School Support plus extra targeted intervention for a few pupils with complex needs.

Illness and Dealing with a Suspected Case of COVID-19

We love to see all of our children at school every day. However, under the current circumstances, parents/guardians must keep children at home if they display any Covid-19 Symptoms. https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/symptoms.html

Staff must not attend school if they display any symptoms.

A designated Isolation Area has been created in Room 9 (see Golden N.S. – Site Map).

If a staff member/pupil displays symptoms of COVID-19 while at school, the following procedure will be implemented:

• The pupil will be accompanied to the Isolation area. A distance of 2 meters will be maintained. The person accompanying the child must also wear a face covering.
• If a pupil has a suspected case, parents/guardians will be contacted immediately by telephone. To help us in this regard, parents/guardians are asked to make sure that their contact details are kept up to date at all times.
• Staff members who are symptomatic should immediately inform the Principal/Deputy Principal and go to the isolation area.
• A face covering will be provided to the staff member/child who is symptomatic.
• The staff member or child who is symptomatic should avoid touching people, surfaces and objects.
• If the staff member/child is well enough to go home, arrangements will be made for them to be transported home by a family member, as soon as possible.
• Anyone who is symptomatic is advised to inform their general practitioner by phone of their symptoms. Public transport of any kind should not be used to travel home.
• If the staff member/child is too unwell to go home or advice is required, the school will contact 999 or 112 and inform them that the sick person is a suspected case of Covid 19. 
• The isolation area and work areas will be thoroughly cleaned in line with the guidelines.
• The HSE will inform any staff/parents who have come into close contact with a diagnosed case via the contact tracing process. The HSE will contact all relevant persons where a diagnosis of COVID-19 is made. The instructions of the HSE should be followed and staff and pupil confidentiality is essential at all times.
• It is important to remember that any of us can get sick or unwell, and if we do, we need understanding and support from those around us. It is essential that anyone who feels unwell makes that known to the Principal/Deputy Principal as soon as possible.

COVID-19 Related Absence Management

COVID-19 related absences will be managed in line with agreed procedures with the Department of Education. Circular 0049/2020 - Coronavirus (COVID-19): Arrangements for Teachers and Special Needs Assistants

Teacher or SNA Absence and Substitution

If a teacher/SNA is unable to attend school, every effort will be made to secure a substitute teacher/SNA for the class/pupil. If a substitute teacher/SNA is not available, it is not appropriate for the class/pupil to be divided into groups and accommodated in other classes. In such circumstances, it may not be possible for the class/pupil to attend on that day. If that is the case, as much notice as possible will be given to parents.

Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Programme

Support for school staff wellbeing will be provided by Department Support Services including the PDST and CSL, as well as by the HSE’s Health Promotion Team.

An Occupational Health Strategy is in place as a supportive resource for staff in schools. The aim of the Occupational Health Strategy is to promote the health and wellbeing of employees in the workplace, with a strong focus on prevention.

The Occupational Health Strategy comprises the Employee Assistance Service and the Occupational Health Service. The Employee Assistance Service (EAS) is provided by Spectrum Life under the logo of ‘Wellbeing Together: Folláinne Le Chéile’.

 A free-phone confidential helpline 1800 411 057 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and staff members are encouraged to make use of the service when the need arises.

‘New Normal’

This is a daunting time for parents/guardians, children, staff and all in our school community. We fully understand that you may feel anxious about your child’s return to school. We are now living in a ‘new normal’. However, we have put in place all the precautions necessary so you can be assured that your child will return to a safe and welcoming classroom. If you have any concerns, please contact the school and we will do our very best to ease your worries. We are delighted to welcome back all the children of Golden National School and we assure you that we will carefully look after each and every pupil.  

If you need clarification or further detail on any aspect of our Return to School Guide for Children & Parents, you can contact me directly by email at principalgoldenns@gmail.com. Ní neart go cur le chéile.

Is mise le meas,

James McCarthy

James McCarthy

Principal,

Golden National School

principalgoldenns@gmail.com