School Reopening August-September 2020

Fri, Aug 21st, 2020

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30th 2020

Dear Parents/ Guardians,

Ahead of this week’s Student Induction Days, the final arrangements are below. Please note changes to Friday 4th and Monday 7th.

A PDF version of the arrangements is at the end of this article.

2. Protocol for Dealing with a Suspected Case of Covid-19 (Students, Staff)

At the end of this article, you will find a PDF version of the school's policy in relation to dealing with Suspected Cases of Covid-19.

Students should not attend school if displaying any symptoms of COVID-19 including

•         High temperature

•         Cough

•         Shortness of breath or breathing difficulties

•         Loss of smell, of taste or distortion of taste

Please note the following very important HSE advice:

Children with a blocked or runny nose, but no fever can attend school or childcare, but if they require paracetamol or ibuprofen for their symptoms, they must not attend school for 48 hours and GP assessment for testing is indicated.

___________________________________________________________________________

We are very much looking forward to welcoming your sons/daughters back to school from tomorrow. We have made every effort to ensure that they are returning to a safe environment, and that we have protocols in place to safeguard everyone in the school community. These protocols will be constantly monitored and reviewed in the coming days and weeks.

If you have particular concerns about your son/daughter, or if you require further information/clarification, please contact the School Office (01-2828126) and the relevant staff member will get back to you.

Please note that, for the moment, anyone who wishes to visit the school must do so by appointment only.

Best wishes to you and to your families,

John Murphy, Principal.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21st 2020

School Reopening August-September 2020 (details as of August 20th 2020)

The following is a summary of some of the key changes and developments to date, as well as the arrangements for the coming weeks.

(1)  Reopening Dates

Monday to Thursday of the first week are Induction Days for:

 Training with Year Head and Class Tutor

• Information about Timetable, Subjects and Teachers
• Health and Safety Training
• ICT Training
• Review of events since the school closure on March 12^th.

There will be full classes for all students from Friday, September 4^th.

(2)  Covid-19 / PPE / Hygiene

• Students must wear a mask at all times. Spare masks will be available, in case of emergency.
• Hand sanitising points are installed in all classrooms, and in all public areas of the school. Good hand hygiene must be observed at all times.
• Good coughing/sneezing etiquette must also be observed.
• Social distancing protocols will apply as follows: 1 metre between students, 2 metres between adults and 2 metres between adults and students.
• Students must clean their desk and chair, before they leave a classroom. Wipes will be provided for this purpose.
• Training will be provided for students during Induction Days.
• There will be appropriate signage throughout the school.

Note 1: Prior to our return to school, I will be in contact with all parents/guardians with details of protocols in the event of possible instances of Covid-19 among members of the school community.

Note 2: Next week, the school will start conversations with families of students with health issues, who may be particularly vulnerable at this time. If you wish to be contacted, please call the School Office (01-2828126) and we will get back to you.

(3)  Timetable / School Day

• The shape of the school day has changed, to facilitate staggered breaks for both students and staff.
• Assemblies cannot take place for the moment.
• Start (8.40am) and finish (3.50pm/1.05pm) times will remain the same.
• Students will start the school day with a teaching lesson.
• Mid-morning (Periods 4 & 5 in the draft timetable below), there will be a thirty-minute section where, alternately and in 15-minute slots, the Senior and Junior schools will have Pastoral Care and a Morning Break.
• There will be no afternoon Registration / Pastoral Care.
• At Periods 8 and 9 (see the draft timetable below), the Senior (4^th to 6^th) and Junior (1^st to 3^rd) schools will, alternately, have a teaching lesson and a Lunch Break (now 40 minutes).
• At the end of the school day, students must leave the school premises promptly, unless a prior arrangement has been made with the approval of management.
• Please see the new draft timetable below:

(4)  Year Heads

The Year Head Team for the new school year is as follows

• Mr Terry Lawless (First Year)
• Mr Brendan Fitzpatrick (Second Year)
• Ms Helen Dodd (Third Year)
• Mr Paul Connolly (Fourth Year)
• Ms Michele Daly (Fifth Year)
• Ms Fidelma Ní Mhurchú (Sixth Year)

(5)  Base Classrooms / Student Movement

• Students will be assigned to base classrooms, and will have a fixed seat.
• In the morning, when students come to the school, they will go directly to their classrooms and sit in their assigned seats.
• Students will remain in their base classrooms for all of their ‘core’ subjects (the teachers will move from room to room).
• Students will have to move to specialist/practical rooms and for option subjects.
• A one-way system has been introduced, which students must follow without exception.
• When moving between classrooms, social distancing will apply.
• Floors and walls will have signage reminding everyone of the new arrangements.

(6)   Breakfast Club / Canteen / School Meals / Breaks / Toilets

• There will be no Breakfast Club, initially at least.
• The Canteen is closed, for the moment too.
• The school is making an application for the School Meals Programme. Indications are that it should be successful, in which case all students will be supplied with breakfast and lunch in pre-labelled bags every day.
• Students will eat their lunches in their base classrooms.
• At their ‘Big Break’ (either 12.30 or 13.10 depending on what year a student is in), students may leave the school premises but, if they do, they may not return until 5 minutes prior to the end of that 40-minute period.
• Students who opt to stay in the school at lunchtime, must stay in their base classrooms, where they will be supervised.
• Systems will be put in place to ensure that all students have adequate access to toilets, and may use these facilities safely.

(7)   Uniform / Lockers / Cloakrooms

• The school uniform policy is the same as for previous years. The school PE uniform should be worn to school on PE days.
• It is recommended that school uniforms be washed regularly, but it is not advised that they need to be washed daily.
• A limited number of lockers will be retained in the school. Priority will be given to 1^st Year and 6^th Year students.
• Cloakrooms will be closed.

(8)   Subjects / Curriculum / ICT / Supervised Study

• It has been necessary to set up classrooms differently, and social distancing will apply in the rooms.
• While the way in which teaching and learning takes place must change, students will follow a full curriculum.
• Schools are still waiting for further advice from the DES about how practical and other subjects should be taught.
• Where the number of students exceeds the total permitted in a classroom, it may be necessary for a small number of students to go to an ‘overflow’ area where they will be supervised while doing work assigned to them by their subject teacher.
• Every effort will be made to minimise the time spent by any individual student in the overflow class.
• PE classes will be held outdoors only, weather permitting.
• An emphasis will be placed on developing students’ computer skills, to enhance their learning and to promote school-related communication with their teachers and their peers. 
• It is hoped that Supervised Study can take place, but it will not be possible in the initial weeks of term.

(9)  Student Wellbeing

• At St Kilian’s, student wellbeing will be an absolute priority over the coming weeks and months.
• A programme will be in place to help students readjust to their return to the school setting, and to address the anxieties that this may entail.
• The particular challenges that events of recent months have posed for our students, and for young people in general, will be addressed. Students will be supported in reflecting on their experiences and in developing their coping skills.

(10)  Refurbishment/ Building Works/ Classroom Setup

Extensive refurbishment projects are being carried out at the school. Some of this work is to make the school compliant with DES guidelines around the currents crisis. Other work had already been planned for this summer.

Some of the rooms/areas involved include:

• The Technical Graphics Room (34) is being refurbished to facilitate the teaching of the new TG syllabus. It will become another computer room, where TG is the priority subject. The room will be accessible by students of other subjects too.
• The Design and Communication Graphics Room (36) is being modified to provide five extra socially distant computer work stations.
• The Demonstration Room (28) has been fully redecorated and refurbished.
• The Breakfast/Community Room (33) will be restored as a classroom.
• The Canteen is being equipped with a projector and a very large screen. This area will be used as a supervised ‘overflow’ space for students (please see above).
• Ventilation systems will be installed in those classrooms requiring same.
• The mezzanine area of the Sports Hall will be converted into a classroom space, with priority for PE classes.
• A major reorganisation of all of the classrooms is taking place, to ensure the safe operation of the school and to maximise the capacity in each classroom.
• Teachers have been on-site for the past week, carrying out this work.
• Installation of the new and automated School Entrances will begin in mid-September.

(11)   Book Rental

On everyone’s behalf, I want to say a very sincere ‘Thank You’ to Helen Browne, Kim O’Toole, Linda Egan and their student helpers for the magnificent work that they have done on the Book Rental Scheme this summer. It is remarkable that, given the year that is in it, what has been achieved. Their efforts are greatly appreciated.

On behalf of the Board of Management, and of Ms Bools (DP), I want to wish all of the students and their families well for the new school year. I am very appreciative of the understanding, and support that families have shown around the current situation and what lies ahead. More than ever, it is important that we all work together in the coming months, to ensure the best possible outcomes for your children, our students.

Please do not hesitate to contact the School Office (01-2828126) should you wish to speak to a member of school staff or if you need clarification on any of the above. I will be in contact again, prior to school reopening, with further details.

John Murphy, Principal.