Re-opening Plan 17/8/'20

17/8/’20
Dear Parent / Guardian, Staff Member,
 
We hope you are all keeping well., and enjoying the last few weeks of the summer holidays.
Please read this Plan for Reopening of St. Joseph’s NS, Milltownpass. Here you will find all of the information needed for you and your child/children on their return to school on Monday 31st August. The BoM and the School Leadership Team have been working to ensure a safe return to school for all pupils and staff in two weeks’ time.   We have now finalised our plan and it is outlined below.
 
 
 
 
                     RE-OPENING PLAN FOR ST. JOSEPH'S NS  MILLTOWNPASS
 
Underlying Principles

• The school has a responsibility to make effort to ensure the safety, health and well-being of all members of our school community – children, parents and staff. This plan has been formulated to better ensure that the school can exercise that duty of care.

 

• Assuming it is in keeping with public health advice and guidelines issued by the Department of Education and Skills, it is preferable for all children to return to school for all five days of the school week and for a full school day. This plan has been formulated to achieve that aim.

 

• It is not possible to eliminate the risk of infection. However, with the co-operation of all members of our school community, it is possible to minimise the risk of the virus being introduced to school and the consequent risk of its spread.

 

• As well as co-operation, the flexibility and goodwill of all will be required to ensure the plan can be implemented.

 
Assumptions

• All children return to school and classes operate within a bubble system

 

• Each classroom is a Bubble

 

• The day will include 2 x 20 minute breaks ( times yet to be confirmed)

 

• Within each classroom  the children will be further divided into pods, with a minimum distance of 1 metre being maintained between pods

 

• Hand sanitiser will be available at all entry points and in all classrooms and support rooms

 
 
RE: Physical Distancing and Safe School Attendance
We have been 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 counterproductive focus on this issue.
Physical Distancing will be achieved in two ways: -
Increasing Separation. 
This has been achieved by re-configuring the classrooms to maximise physical distancing. Each classroom 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 small group of children 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 specific doors for each bubble to enter and exit the school and to access their classrooms. 
 
Entrance and exit doors for each classroom
 
Junior/Senior Infants/ 1st class will use the Infant door
2nd/3rd/4th will use their usual door
5th/6th will use main door/office door
Reach Class have their own door
 
Entrances & Exit Points to the school grounds:
 Entrance and Exit Points
Class/ Bubble

2nd 3rd 4th class use entrance at left of main gate
5th 6th class use entrance at right of main gate
J/S/1st and Reach Class use small entrance at far right of school wall

 
Arrival at school
 

• The children will be able to line up on the yard at their designated entrance door any time between 9.10 and 9.20 so as to avoid any congestion.
• Footprints will be painted on the yard, spaced 2 metres apart so children can line up socially distanced.
• We ask for co-operation with these times as it will mean that the numbers congregating on school grounds at any one time will be minimised.
• No pupils are permitted on the school yard before this time and consequently there will be no playing in the school yard in the mornings.
• The class teacher will invite the children to enter the building via their designated entrance point at the appropriate time.
• It is imperative that adults do not come within 2m of each other.
• Parents may 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. This may have to be more restrictive depending on guidance - it is quite possible that the recommendation will be for remote meetings/telephonic communications.)
• No adults, other than staff members, should enter the building.
• Messages for teachers can be sent by phoning the school office.
• Unfortunately, it will not be possible for parents/guardians to come onto the school grounds before/after school. To minimise the risks, and to help us to maintain social distancing, the children may not come onto the school grounds before the school doors open at 9.10a.m.

 
Break/Lunch
We will continue to have 2 x 20 minute breaks as before ( times to be arranged yet ) . However, these breaktimes will be staggered. The school yard will be divided in 2 to allow 2 Bubbles to play in the yard at each break. Bubbles will not interact in the yard at breaktime.
 
 
End of School Day

• Adults, who are collecting their children from school at the end of the day, should wait in their car or beside their car.
• When the school day for that class is over the following arrangements will apply –
  • Jun/Sen Inf and 1st-   the class teacher will line the children up on the footprints in front of their  classroom and will release the children into the care of the adult who is there to collect them.
  • For the first week, Junior Infants will go home at 12 and the teacher will accompany them to their parent/guardian
  • 2nd – 6th Class – the class teacher will allow each pod to leave the classroom separately in order to minimise contact.

 
Collection of Children during the School Day
If an adult has to collect a child during the course of the school day, the following arrangements will apply

• When the adult arrives at the school, they should either phone the office or use the intercom at the front door of the school to alert the office that they have arrived
• The child will be brought from their class to the adult by a member of staff
• The adult who is collecting will be asked to sign the child out
• No adult should enter the school building, unless invited to do so

 

Dealing with a suspected case of Covid-19

Pupils should not attend school if displaying any symptoms of Covid-19. If a pupil displays symptoms of Covid-19 while in the building, the following are the procedures will be implemented:

• Parents/guardians will be contacted immediately
• The child will be accompanied to the designated isolation area via the isolation route by a member of staff. The staff member will remain at least 2 metres away from the symptomatic child and will also make sure that others maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from the symptomatic child at all times
• A mask will be provided for the child presenting with symptoms, if one is available. He/she should wear the mask if in a common area with other people or while exiting the premises
• An assessment will be made as to whether the child who is displaying symptoms can immediately be brought home by parents and call their doctor and continue self-isolation at home
• The school will facilitate the child presenting with symptoms to remain in isolation, if they cannot immediately go home, and will assist them by calling their GP.
• The child presenting with symptoms should be advised to cover their mouth and nose with the disposable tissue provided when they cough or sneeze and to put the tissue in the waste bag provided
• If the child is well enough to go home, the school will arrange for them to be transported home by a family member, as soon as possible, and advise them to inform their GP by phone of their symptoms. Public transport of any kind should not be used
• If they are too unwell to go home or advice is required, the school will contact 999 or 112 and inform them that the sick child is a Covid-19 suspect.
• Arrangements will be made for appropriate cleaning of the isolation area and work areas involved.

 
The HSE will inform any staff/parents who have come into close contact with a diagnosed case via the contact tracing process. The HSE will contact all relevant persons where a diagnosis of COVID-19 is made. The instructions of the HSE should be followed.
 
 
Children who should not attend school
If your child is in one of the following categories, they should not attend school –

• Children who have been diagnosed with Covid-19
• Children who have been in close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with Covid-19
• Children who have a suspected case of Covid-19 and the outcome of the test is pending
• Children who have been in contact with a person who has a suspected case of Covid-19 and the outcome of the test is pending
• Children with underlying health conditions who have been directed by a medical professional not to attend school
• Children who have returned home after travelling abroad and must self-isolate for a period of 14 days
• Children who are generally unwell

 
Supporting the Learning of Children who cannot attend school
If a child is not able to attend school for an extended period of time, the class teacher (and/or the learning support teacher, where relevant) suggested activities to support the child’s learning at home will be shared with parents. This guidance is only in relation to students who are themselves deemed to be at very high risk if they contract Covid-19 .
 
Impact of a Suspected or Confirmed Case of Covid-19 in a Class
If the school is notified that a person in your child’s class has a suspected or confirmed case of Covid-19

• The parents of all children in the class will be notified
• Public health advice will be sought and followed

 
Personal Equipment

• In so far as possible, it is requested that all children will bring their own pens, pencils, colours, rubbers, scissors, prittsticks etc., to school in their own pencil case to avoid the sharing of equipment.
• It is further requested that all items have the child’s name on them for ease of identification.
• Children are not required to bring a hand towel to school, as we have hand dryers in every bathroom and paper towels are available also.
• Pupils are not required to bring their own sanitiser but may bring a small bottle if they wish. We will have an ample supply of sanitiser at all entry points and in all classrooms.
• There will be no hanging up of coats in the hall area. Pupils will bring coats, lunch, indoor shoes (2nd to 6th class)  and all belongings to their designated desk.

 
Shared Equipment
By necessity, some classroom equipment needs to be shared including tablets, laptops and the equipment used for structured activities and play in Infant classrooms. Cleaning of such shared equipment with wipes or other cleaning products will take place at regular intervals to minimise the risk of the spread of infection.
 
Uniforms/Tracksuits
There is no guidance or advice to say that school uniforms or tracksuits should be washed every day. We will follow our usual practice in relation to uniforms and tracksuits. Uniforms should be worn every day, except on P.E. days ( day to be confirmed ), or when otherwise requested by teachers.
 
Money Collections
All money should be sent to the school with your child in a clearly labelled sealed envelope, with the exact amount please.
 
 
Changes to Classroom and School Layout and to School Routines
The DES guidelines recognise that a common-sense approach is needed in our Primary schools. To that end, every effort will be made to limit interaction within classrooms, to limit contact between class groups and to limit the sharing of common facilities.
 
The children and their teachers will work in Class Bubbles. A Class Bubble is a grouping which stays apart from other classes as much as possible. The aim of the system within the school is that class groupings mix only with their own class from arrival at school in the morning until the children go home at the end of the school day.
 
 
 
Junior Infants to First Class
It is recognised that younger children are unlikely to maintain physical distancing indoors so there is no requirement for children from Junior Infants to First Class to maintain a physical distance within their Class Bubble.
 
 
Second Class to Sixth Class
Children from Second Class to Sixth Class will be arranged in Pods within their Class Bubbles, with a maximum of 6 pupils per Pod. As far as possible, each Pod will be at least 1 metre distance from the next Pod. All unnecessary furniture has been removed from these classrooms to create as much space as possible.
 
 
Teaching and Learning
As a staff, we are very aware that the children have been away from school since March 12th. We appreciate the time and effort that went into Distance Learning, and we recognise the challenges that this presented for all families.
 
Each child will be a different place in relation to his/her learning, and we wish to assure you that staff will take that into consideration when planning for Teaching and Learning during the 2020/2021 school year.
 
The Department of Education and Skills has published Curriculum guidelines for us, and we ask you to trust our experience and professional expertise as we work with all the children during the return to school.
 
Learning Support
In keeping with our Special Education policy, learning support will be provided by a blended approach of in-class support and withdrawal. The provision of support will be organised to ensure our support teachers will work within the confines of a bubble.

• Where a support teacher is working alongside a class teacher in a classroom, both teachers must be mindful of maintaining social distance from one another.
• Where any child receives support in one of the SET rooms, social distancing of 1 metre will be maintained between each child in the group.
• The tables and chairs in SET rooms will be wiped clean in between different groups/individuals attending.

 
Masks/ Face coverings
Department of Education Guidelines were issued on Friday 7th August and state:
 
          “primary school teachers and staff wear face coverings where a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained. Primary school children will not be required to wear masks under any circumstances”
 
Gloves
There is no need for the children to wear disposable gloves. They are considered inappropriate under the guidelines.
 
Staff members do not need to wear disposable gloves unless they are looking after a pupil’s intimate care needs or administering First Aid.
 
There will be an emphasis on hand hygiene rather than on the wearing of disposable gloves.
 
Hygiene and Cleaning
 
Hand Sanitiser dispensers are being installed throughout the school e.g. at each entrance, in each classroom.
 
Hand hygiene will be promoted and encouraged, and parents/guardians are asked to support the school in reinforcing this message.
 
In accordance with the DES guidelines, the school will be thoroughly cleaned at least once per day. Particular attention will be focused on frequently touched surfaces – door handles, handrails, chairs/arm rests, communal eating areas, sink and toilet facilities.
 
All staff will have access to cleaning products and will be required to maintain cleanliness of their own work area.
 
Teacher Absence and Substitution
In the event that teacher is unable to attend school, every effort will be made to secure a substitute teacher for the class. If a substitute teacher is not available, it is not appropriate for the class to be divided into groups and accommodated in other classes. In such circumstances, it may not be possible for the class to attend on that day. If that is the case, as much notice as possible will be given to parents.
 
PE
Where possible, PE should take place outdoors and use of equipment should be confined to the sets that have been distributed to class groupings.  Children should not bring a football or any sports equipment to school.
 
Conclusion
Our aim remains to re-open the school in an orderly safe manner on Monday 31st August., 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.
We will update you with a final letter prior to the school reopening.
 
Yours sincerely
 
David Gavin                                                                                   
Chairperson Board of  Management
 
Pauline O’Hara
Principal