Update: August 20, 2020

20-August-20

Dear Parents/Carers

Following the publication on 13 August of ‘Northern Ireland Reopening School Guidance - New School Day (Version 2)’ by the Department of Education (DE), we have formulated the following plans for the pupils’ return to our school in August and September 2020.

Restart Arrangements

Primary 7 pupils have been highlighted by the DE as a priority cohort and will start school on Monday 24 August. All Primary 2 – 6 pupils will return on a fulltime basis on Tuesday 1 September. Our new Primary 1 intake will be issued with their start dates directly via ‘Seesaw’.

Drop-off and Pick-up arrangements

There will be staggered start and finishing times, with designated entrances and exits for all pupils.

  • All the ‘A’ classes will arrive between 08:45 and 09:00
  • All the ‘B’ classes will arrive between 09:00 and 09:15
  • Parents with children in both ‘A’ and ‘B’ classes may arrive at the later time.
  • P1A, 2A and 3A will finish at 13:45
  • P1B, 2B and 3B will finish at 14:00
  • P4A, 5A, 6A and 7A will finish at 14:45
  • P4B, 5B, 6B and 7B will finish at 15:00

Details of the assigned entrances and exits to the school will be sent to you next week by your child’s class teacher. P7A and P7B will enter and exit the building through the Holland Drive fire exit and Holland Drive main entrance respectively.

School grounds will be open during these designated times to encourage social distancing, ease traffic congestion in the car park/Holland Drive and ensure families arrive punctually. Any children arriving late should proceed to the School Office, using the Holland Drive entrance to the school.

If a parent wishes to communicate with a teacher, please contact him/her directly via ‘SeeSaw’ or leave a message with the office. An appointment will be arranged should you wish to speak in person.

Hygiene and Physical Protection

As health and safety is our number one priority, the following measures will become normal practice:

  • Everyone entering the school will sanitise their hands.
  • Children will wash their hands thoroughly on arrival to class and will be asked to do so repeatedly during their time in school.
  • Protective bubbles, with consistent membership, will be used throughout the school day.
  • Movement around the school will be limited.
  • There will be designated areas in the playground for break and lunch.
  • Parents/carers will be contacted immediately if their child is displaying symptoms or feeling ill.

Please do not send your child to school if your child, or anyone you live with, has a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss of or change in sense of smell or taste. If your child or anyone in your household has any of these symptoms you should get a test for Covid-19.

Stationery/Classroom Resources

Pupils should bring into school on their first day, all the stationery that they need going forward. These resources will then be kept on the pupil’s desk. As a starting point, the following resources are required: pencils, colouring pencils, pencil case, rubber, sharpener, markers, whiteboard pens, glue stick, 30cm ruler, highlighters, hand sanitizer, tissues. Teachers will be in touch with you closer to the start of term if any other additional equipment is needed. A bag should also be brought into school on the first day and used to carry home books, which are then to remain at home. Homework will be organised using ‘SeeSaw’.

From then on, pupils should only bring into school each day a lunch box/bag, a water bottle (refills won’t be possible in school) and a coat, all clearly labelled. Medication e.g. inhalers should be brought into school on the first day back; these then will be kept in school in a sealed bag.

Break/School Dinners

All pupils will eat their break and lunch at their desk and will play together in designated areas of the playground within their own class bubbles. School dinners are available in the school canteen and can be booked using ParentPay - P7s please note that free school meals will only be available from 1 September.

PE and School Uniform

Following the publication of the minister’s guidance, PE lessons are to be part of the normal weekly curriculum. On non-PE days, pupils may wear either their normal school uniform or PE uniform. As ties are the least likely item of clothing to be washed, there is no requirement to wear a tie until further notice. The priority for all the staff is to make sure the children feel happy and safe returning to school and children won’t be criticised for not having the correct uniform.

Breakfast, Waiting and Kidz clubs

The Breakfast, Waiting and Kidz clubs will operate in September, but with a more limited capacity. For anyone wanting to avail of these clubs please contact Caroline in the school office - you can use Childcare vouchers for these clubs. There will be no other after-school clubs in September.

Concerns

If you have specific concerns about your child returning to school, then please follow the advice provided on the Department of Education and Health Department’s websites. If you feel that your child cannot return to school once open, then please contact me to discuss this.

As you can appreciate, there will be a lot of changes at the start of the new term for all the members of the school community to become familiar with. We will no doubt learn from experience and adapt and change these arrangements, accordingly, and we ask for your patience as we do so. We also are keenly aware that the children haven’t been in school since March and will return with a mixed range of emotions and anxieties. The teachers will tread carefully, and their initial priority will be to reassure pupils and put their mind at ease as these new routines are established.

As always, I will continue to keep you informed and updated of any developments.

Kind regards

Mr Donaldson

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Contact
St.Joseph's Primary School,
31a Holland Drive,
Ballyhackamore,
Belfast,
BT5 6EH

028 9065 0039


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