12 June 2020
Dear Parents/Carers
Firstly, may I congratulate pupils, parents and staff alike for your fantastic effort over the last three months in adapting and delivering Home Learning in what has been very unusual circumstances.
I am aware however, that the longer Home Learning has continued, the more difficult it has been to keep your children motivated - this is perfectly understandable, considering the length of time that it has lasted. With this in mind, there will be less focus on Numeracy and Literacy for the final 2 weeks of term, and more emphasis placed on Topic Work, Art and Craft etc…, with work in the last week being scaled back to give teachers the opportunity to return to school and organise their classrooms before the end of term. We are also planning a virtual Sports Day on 17 June - more details on this will be sent to you shortly. This scaling down of schoolwork is standard practice in a ‘normal’ school year, and we very much hope that the pupils will have the opportunity to relax and enjoy the final two weeks of term.
There has been a lot of speculation recently regarding the GL and AQE Transfer Tests. The bottom line, however, is that both sets of tests are planned for the Autumn Term in Belfast, apart from Lagan College, which has withdrawn from all assessments. More information is promised shortly by Lagan College as to how they are reviewing their admissions criteria in light of this decision and I will pass this information on to you once I receive it. Our P6 pupils are very much at the forefront of our thinking at this time, and we will continue to do whatever we can to minimise the disruption that has been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
One final point on Home Learning - please do make sure that your child contacts his or her teacher, via Seesaw, every few days, as regular communication between school and home is vital.
With regard to restarting school in the new term, the latest communication that I have received from the Minister of Education on 2 June states that:
‘You will appreciate that there will be many complex issues to be considered carefully as we
plan for Restart. The phased reopening of schools will require engagement, preparation
and implementation of arrangements in conjunction with a wide range of stakeholders. I
have therefore established the Education Restart Programme, which, working alongside a
wide range of stakeholders, will put in place the detailed measures and guidance which will
enable a safe phased reopening of schools.’
‘I recognise that schools will want to make preparations for restart in August, particularly during the month of June, and I would aim that the work to deliver the priorities outlined above will be progressed during the remainder of this term.’
Until we receive this guidance - hopefully in June - we are unable to give you any information on what this phased return will look like, and how we plan to implement it. Recent media coverage highlighting a possible 2-day week or a 17Th August return for the P7s are options being considered, but nothing has yet been agreed. Once we know what is expected of us in August and September, we can set about planning this phased return of all pupils.
What can I say about our Primary 7 pupils? Having worked hard throughout P6 and P7, they earned the right to fully experience the final two terms in P7, which in effect becomes a celebration of their time in St Joseph’s. Sadly, this was not to be, and their last day of school was 18 March 2020. I have been in regular communication with both Mrs Duffy and Mr Wright, and I know that their planning has tried to make Home Learning as much fun as possible. For example, recent weeks have focused on Science, Sport, Creativity and Transition. We also hope to invite the P7s back into the school for a day during the Autumn Term, if that is at all possible, to have a Leavers’ Assembly and say a proper goodbye.
Pupil annual reports will be issued in the final full week of term and will reflect the pupils’ progress in school up until the period of home schooling. Due to the unreliability of the post, these reports will be available for collection from the school office during that week. Your child’s teacher will inform you which day they can be collected, along with your child’s books. You will also be informed of classes and their respective teachers for the new school year early next week.
Finally, last but not least, don’t forget the PTA’s final event of the year – ‘St Jo’s Got Talent’, featuring live performances, as well as artistic and written submissions. Definitely the lockdown event of the year, and a final chance to support the school and the wonderfully talented children within. To watch, friends and family are able to secure their FREE tickets via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/st-jos-got-talent-tickets-107407324198
As always, if you need to contact me directly, please do so either by telephone at the school, or by email using either stjoesps@gmail.com or the contacts link on the school website.
Kind regards
Mr Donaldson