Hallowe'en Parade

Our spooky parade today!

Have a lovely Hallowe'en boys and girls.

 

Cavan County Council Tidy Schools Competition 2019 Winner

We entered the Tidy Schools Competition which was run in conjunction with Cavan County Council in 2019 and we were so excited and delighted to learn that we had won this special award.

At Scoil Bhríde we have fostered strong links with numerous voluntary organisations in the community i.e Tidy Towns Committee, Killeshandra Mens Shed, Killeshandra Gun Club, Killeshandra Community Garden and Killeshandra Day Centre for older people.

We also acknowledge the assistance of :

Heather Bothwell Heritage in Schools

Birdwatch Ireland

Cavan County Council

Inland Fisheries

We are also logged on the National Biodiversity Data Centre - All Ireland Pollinator Plan 2015-2020.

We will continue to work hard to maintain our gardens and wild spaces here at the school.

Thank you Cavan County Council from all at Scoil Bhríde, Killeshandra

Covid Symptoms/Isolation Guidelines

Dear Parents, 

Here is a very helpful guide for you if your child appears unwell and you are unsure about sending them in to school:

For a clearer picture click the link below:

ISOLATION QUICK GUIDE FOR CHILDREN AGED 3-13 

Social distancing in the classroom

 

Arrival & Home Time

 

Scoil Bhríde Cill na Seanrátha

Contae an Chabháin

Guthán: 049 4334886

Eolas: scoilbhridekilleshandra@gmail.com 

Website: scoilbhridekilleshandra.ie

23rd August2020

Dear Parent / Guardian,

RE: Drop-off and Collection Routines

The BoM and the School Saff  have been working to ensure a safe return to school for all pupils and staff in one weeks’ time.   We have now finalised our plans for drop-off and collection of the children every day. 

Scoil Bhride, appreciates your support as we try to safely reopen the school building. If at all possible we request you not to come onto the school grounds or into the school building. We appreciate that dropping off the Junior Infant pupils to their line in the yard may be essential initially,  but for the older pupils a drop off at the school gate is desirable. Working together we hope to be able to progress the reopening in as safe a manner as possible for all.

We would ask all parents to familiarise themselves with the following drop-off and collection routines for the safe delivery and collection of pupils from school.  Please be patient as we endeavour to embed these necessary precautionary and protective practices at the beginning of the school year.

 

It is imperative that

• ·     adults do not come within 2m of each other
•       parents do not try to have meetings with members of staff in the playground at drop-off and collection times – meetings between parents and teachers can only take place by prior arrangement by emailing or telephoning the school Principal .(This may have to be more restrictive depending on guidance - it is quite possible that the recommendation will be for remote meetings/telephonic communications.)
• ·      all parents MUST adhere to the drop-off and collection plans as outlined below

Drop-off Plan 

School will continue to commence each morning at 9.20 for ALL classes

·         Parents will drop their children close to  the school gate along the front of St Brigid’s Church.

·         Children exit the cars and walk to their own classroom door NOT the main school entrance. 

        3rd & 4th class ONLY to enter and exit by the Main School door. 

T 

·         Parents will leave once the child has exited the car.

·         No congregating or loitering please.

·         Children travelling by school bus will enter by gate beside staff car park and proceed to their own classroom door.

 

 

Collection Plan : 

Please note the Staggered Collection Times AND Adhere to these times.

Junior & Senior Infants :  2pm

·         Parents wait at school gate. (2m distance please)

·         Teacher will walk children to the collection point. (School Gate)

·         Parents leave immediately.

First & Second Class: 2.40pm

·         Parents wait at the school Gate. (2m distance please)

·         Teacher will walk children to the collection point.

·         Parents and child leave immediately.

 

Third & Fourth Class:  2.50pm

·         Parents wait at the school Gate. (2m distance please)

·         Teacher will walk children to the collection point.

·         Parents and child leave immediately.

 

Fifth & Sixth  Class:  3pm

·         Parents wait at the school Gate. (2m distance please)

·         Teacher will walk children to the collection point.

·         Parents and child leave immediately.

 

While we understand that the Home time arrangements are restrictive and some parents may be required to wait for a period of time. We ask for your full support on this matter. The childrens' safety is paramount and we MUST follow social distancing guidelines as set out by the HSE, NEPET and the Department of Education. 

le meas,

Brian Connolly.                                                                          

Cathaoirleach, An Bórd Bainistíochta                                        

Sarah Ginty

Príomhoide

Back to School Plan : How Parents Can Help

 

Back To School Plan:

What Parents Need To Know

Our main aim is to prevent the risk of infection coming in to school and we can not do this without your help!

YOU SHOULD NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL IF THEY HAVE A TEMPERATURE, A COUGH OF ANY KIND, LOSS OF SMELL/TASTE OR HAVE ANY KIND OF SHORTNESS OF BREATH.

If you are in any doubt whether you should send your child to school or not, please err on the side of caution.

Measures to keep your child safe:

•       The school day will continue to start at 9:20 and finish at 2.00(infants)
•       Staggered Home Times: 1st & 2nd : 2.40pm / 3rd & 4th : 2.50pm / 5th & 6th : 3pm
•      Children will independently enter and exit the school via a designated door to their own classroom and must use this door at all times. 
•       3rd & 4th class ONLY will enter via Main Door 
•       Throughout the school there will be hand sanitizers provided which children will be required to use and will be asked to regularly wash their hands while in school.
•        Classes will be confined to mixing with only their own class group. This includes break time and no whole school activities such as assemblies will take place.
•       Within each class, the children will be grouped into pods which will be distanced from each other as much as classroom space allows. Children from 3rd-6th will be required to stay in their pods and keep socially distant from other pods.
•       Children will be required to use their own resources ie pencils, scissors etc and sharing of resources, particularly from 3rd-6th will not be allowed.
•       Clean school uniform – alternate between Full Uniform and PE tracksuit, where possible.  
•       Staff will maintain a regular cleaning routine of all resources and materials that will be used by different pods or classes. Where necessary items of school equipment will be isolated for 72 hours prior to being used by a different pod/class.
•        The school will be cleaned by cleaners, following all government guidelines, advise and checklists, every day.
•        If your child becomes ill in school with any of the symptoms of covid-19, they will be immediately cared for in an isolation room. They MUST be collected as soon as possible. Please ensure that your contact details are up to date and provide an emergency contact also

How can you help?

•Take your child's temperature before coming to school and ensure their hands are clean.

•Do not enter the school grounds, unless prior permission to do so has been granted by the principal.

•Communicate with your child's teacher via email/note in Homework Diary.

•Uniform MUST be clean and washed regularly.

•Do not allow your child to bring any personal items, which are not necessary for school, in to school ie toys, teddies etc

•Do not loiter around the school at drop off and collection time. It is strictly set down and go at all times. 

Bubbles and Pods

 

17^th August 2020

Dear Parent / Guardian,

RE: Physical Distancing and Safe School Attendance

We are currently working on upgrading our procedures and routines within the school to ensure that there is as much Physical Distancing as is possible in our building. We will apply physical distancing in a practical and sensible way, recognising that the learning environment cannot be dominated by a potentially counter -productive focus on this issue.

Physical Distancing will be achieved in two ways: -

Increasing Separation.  This will be achieved by re-configuring the classrooms to maximise physical distancing. Each class will be referred to as a bubble and we will ensure that there is as little contact as possible between children in different bubbles.  Within the bubbles, children will be organised into pods.  A pod is a group of children (normally 4 - 6) who will sit together and who will stay in their pod while in the bubble, or classroom. 

Decreasing Interaction. This will be achieved by decreasing the potential for children from different bubbles to interact.  There will be marked routes for various bubbles to enter and exit the school and to access their classrooms.  Bubbles will have different Zone in which to play and access the playground.  We will make these routines enjoyable activities for the children, emphasising safety at all times.

While all children will be welcome back to school, we would remind parents that, where children are displaying colds, coughs or flu like symptoms, they should NOT be sent to school.  Children who display such symptoms in school will be isolated and parents asked to collect them from the school.

Children who have travelled from countries not on the Green List should not attend school during the 14-day self-isolation period

Further information on COVID-19 symptoms in children is available at: -

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/if-your-child-has-symptoms.html

Teachers will make children aware of the proper hygiene procedures regarding hand washing and etiquette related to sneezing, coughing or spitting.  We would be grateful if you could also emphasise safe behaviour in this regard to your children at home as part of the preparation for returning to school.

Our aim remains to re-open the school in an orderly safe manner, while reassuring the children and making them feel comfortable, safe and relaxed with their friends in the new school environment.  This will be achieved by all of us working towards this common goal.

Le meas, 

 Brian Connolly                                                                                                Sarah Ginty

 Cathaoirleach, An Bhóird Bainistíochta                                                          Príomhoide

New Junior Infants 2020

 

The new junior infants and their parents are invited to an Induction Evening on Tuesday 25th August at 6.30 pm. 

We look forward to meeting you all then. 

As September 1st draws closer your child will likely begin to feel a mix of excitement and nerves as they begin to look forward to this new chapter in their lives. 

Starting school is a big step for both children and their parents, so to help with this transition we have provided some tips and weblinks to information which will hopefully help with the transition process. 

It would greatly help if your child can: 

• Practice putting on/taking off/zipping coat. 
• Use the toilet without help, manage pants and buttons.
• Know how to flush the toilet and wash hands after toilet use.
• Use a tissue when necessary.
•  Tidy up and put away play things.
• Open and close his/her own lunch box. 
• Manage their own shoes - Velcro runners/shoes are the best for this. 

If parents could do the following :

• Purchase a school bag that is big enough to hold an A4 homework folder.
• Put names on all jumpers and personal belongings. 
• Small hand sanitiser  in your child’s bag.
• Please ensure a clean uniform is worn to school. 
• Teach your child to recognise his/her own name. 
• Encourage child to tidy up their own playthings. 
• Be on time for school and collected on time.

Some links to useful websites.

• Let’s Get Ready, a resource to provide guidance for parents, teachers and Early Learning and Care (ELC) practitioners in supporting children’s transition from ELC settings to primary school, available at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a8d8f-ready-for-school
• The Let’s Play Ireland website: https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/lets-playireland/ 
• NCCA Helping your child in Junior & Senior Infants :  https://ncca.ie/media/4084/helping_your_child_in_junior_and_senior_infants.pdf
• Aistear NCCA : https://ncca.ie/media/1127/information_leaflet_on_aistear_for_parents_.pdf
• Aistear NCCA : Tips for Parents:   https://ncca.ie/media/1136/tipsheet_play_parents_of_young_children.pdf

                                     REMEMBER WASHING HANDS IS VERY IMPORTANT:

Roadmap to Re-Opening Our School.

 

11^th August 2020

Dear Parent / Guardian, Staff Member,

RE: Re-opening of Scoil Bhride, Killeshandra.

I hope you and your families are keeping well.

As you are aware, our school has now been closed since 12^th March due to the COVID-19 

situation.  We are now hoping to re-open our school safely, in line with current guidance 

and recommendations.

Re-opening the school safely will require the co-operation of all members of our School Community – BoM, School Leadership, Staff, Parents and Pupils. We will all be called on to play our part in ensuring that re-opening of the school is done in a safe manner which prevents the spread of the virus and allows the vital work of Teaching and Learning to proceed with as little disruption as possible.

We have been working on our plan for the safe reopening of the school for some weeks now and will shortly publish the DES COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe and sustainable reopening of Primary and Special Schools on our school website.  The Response Plan gives details of

·         Physical preparation, signage, hand sanitiser stations,

·         Advice, procedures and training for the safe return to working in the school for all school staff and pupils

·         General and specific advice on how all pupils, staff, parents and visitors will prevent the spread of the virus

We have also published our COVID-19 Policy Statement on the school website. Our BoM will keep you informed as to the progress of our re-opening plans and provide you with the information required by you to play your part in safely re-opening the school.

We are really looking forward to welcoming our children back to school and will be doing all that we can to ensure that the return to school is a safe and enjoyable experience for the children. We will be in touch with you again before school re-opens.

 

 

Le meas,

                                   

BrianConnolly                                     

Cathaoirleach, An Bhóird Bainistíochta                                                                    

Sarah Ginty.

Príomhoide

 

School Calendar 2020/2021

Scoil Bhríde Killeshandra

School Calendar 2020/2021

Opening 1st Term: Tuesday 1st September 2020

Mid-Term Break: Monday 26th October – Friday 30th October 2020 (incl.)

Christmas:–Closing: Tuesday 22nd December 2020

        Re-Opening: Wednesday 6th January 2021

Mid-Term Break: Thursday 18th February – Friday 19th February 2021 (incl.)

St. Patrick’s Day: Wednesday 17th March 2021

Easter: - Closing Friday 26th March 2021

            Re-Opening Monday 12th April 2021

Bank Holiday: Monday 3rd May 2021

                                                Tuesday 4th May 2021

Bank Holiday: Monday 7th June 2021

Closing 3rd Term: Friday 25th June 2021