Dear Parents and Children,

We hope you are looking forward to being back in school tomorrow.

In advance of tomorrow, please follow the link to complete the ‘pre-return to school Covid-19’ form for your children (you’ll need to complete a form for each child):

I attach our latest Covid-19 Response Plan which will help us navigate the return to school as safely as possible.

In addition, here are some reminders and tips to help make sure the start of the new school year goes smoothly:

All any child needs to bring is a schoolbag, along with a lunchbox and drink. We ask that lunch boxes be washed at home each day. Children should also bring an empty plastic bag in their bag in the event of having to bring home any wet items.

Children from 1st to 6th class may bring a small bottle of hand sanitiser for use in the classroom, which must stay in their schoolbag. This is in addition to the sanitiser being provided by the school in each classroom and at entrances and exits.

Children are asked not to bring any other items to school, such as toys, cards etc.If your child has an inhaler, it should be kept in their schoolbag.

It is very important that your child is dressed warmly and appropriately as children will be spending more time outdoors and teachers will be trying to make sure classrooms are well ventilated. A coat is essential every day, and a hood is preferable to a hat.

Please note if you are walking or cycling to school, there is a one way system in place. If coming in from Dunlin Street, use the pedestrian gate on the right, walk to the bike sheds and across the zebra crossing, then past the blue circles to the front door. You can then exit through the pedestrian gate nearest the front door. Children will be given sanitiser at the front door.

It will be helpful if your child knows whether they are in class A or B, as their lines are labelled as, for example, 4A and 4B.

If your child is absent, you can send in the reason or absence on Aladdin rather than a written absence note.

Here are some useful links provided by the Department of Education in support of families on the return to school:

Video advice for parents and students at different levels

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a04fc-advice-for-students-and-their-families/#returning-to-school

Posters/graphics advice for parents

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a04fc-advice-for-students-and-their-families/#returning-to-school

Multilingual advice for parents

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/0cf46-resources-and-materials-for-parentsguardians-and-for-students-on-returning-to-school-multi-lingual/