Dear Parent/Guardian/Student,
We hope that you are all staying safe and well.
We are now preparing for the reopening of Scoil Mhuire. We know that most students, and indeed their families and school staff will be looking forward to going back, reconnecting with school, reconnecting with staff and friends and settling back into school work. This will be a time of change, with new rules and routines to learn, in order to keep everyone safe. Some students may feel worried about returning to school, and that’s normal. Most will however, re-engage with little difficulty after an initial settling in period.
Please find below the procedures and protocols for the safe return of students and staff to Scoil Mhuire for the academic year 2020-2021as per Government guidelines which are subject to change.
- Students and staff displaying any Covid-19 symptoms must remain at home. It is important that you inform the school and follow HSE guidelines
- Respect 2 metres social distance in classrooms and whenever possible
- Government guidelines recommend that teachers, staff and students attending secondary schools wear a face-covering when a physical distance of 2 metres from other staff or students cannot be maintained. Face coverings will be required in Scoil Mhuire as a physical distance of 2metres cannot be maintained.
- Cloth face coverings are recommended but are not to be worn by the following groups:
- Any person with difficulty breathing
- Any person who has special needs and who may feel upset or very uncomfortable wearing the face covering, for example persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, sensory concerns or tactile sensitivity.
- In certain situations the use of clear visors will be considered, for example staff interacting with students with hearing difficulties or learning difficulties.
- All students on the post primary school transport scheme are asked to wear face coverings unless there is a good reason not to do so.
- All staff and students wearing face coverings are reminded not to touch the face covering and to wash or sanitise their hands (using a hand sanitiser) before putting on and after taking off the face covering
- Cloth face coverings should be washed after every day of use and/or before being used again, or if visibly soiled
- Face coverings should not be worn if they are wet. A wet cloth face covering may make it difficult to breathe.
- The school cannot provide cloth face coverings for students. It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to provide a sufficient number of plain coloured cloth face coverings (no images on the covering) for students – at least three per day
- Additional disposable face coverings will be available for students, teachers, and staff in case a back-up face covering is needed during the day.
- Student lockers have been removed to maximise space for physical distancing. Teachers will advise students on the necessary equipment, books etc to be brought to class in light of the unavailability of lockers
- Water fountains and vending machines have been removed as per guidance received
- We will advise of arrangements in relation to the school canteen following consultation with the catering company
- On entry and exit from the school buildings, students must wash/sanitise their hands
There will be sanitising stations in each classroom and throughout the school building. Students are asked to sanitise their hands entering and leaving each classroom.
They will also be responsible for sanitising their work area – sanitising materials will be available in each classroom for this purpose
Students and staff must practice good respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette
Full correct P.E. Uniform to be worn into school and for the full day when students are timetabled for P.E. classes
- Scoil Mhuire Red Polo Shirt
- Navy blue tracksuit bottoms
- Scoil Mhuire Red P.E. Top
Full school uniform to be worn on all other days
- Non-essential visits by parents/guardians to the school are discouraged. In the event that an essential visit is required, parents/guardians must contact the school office to arrange such a visit.
- All Parent-Teacher meetings have been postponed
- Current Government advice is not to travel overseas. Any person coming into Ireland (apart from Northern Ireland and from locations on the Green List) is required to restrict their movements for 14 days. The school must be informed if any member of the school community is in this category and they must not return to school until required 14 days is completed
We will communicate any additional updates in the coming days e.g. specific return dates, canteen etc.
Kind Regards
Jacqueline Maher, Celine Nulty, Peter Maguire
