5th Year - Return to School Information Letter
Dear parent,
We are delighted that our 5th Year students can return to school on next Monday 15th March. As outlined in correspondence sent out last August, our classrooms sizes are such that we can achieve the desired 1m social distancing with all subject groups and we have ensured every possible additional safety measure is put in place to ensure the safety of everyone upon opening. All of the necessary precautions such as social distanced classroom layouts, staggered breaks, restricted access to school buildings, one-way circulation systems, washing and sanitising facilities, signage and information sharing and procedures for dealing with suspected cases, remain in place.
We want to reaffirm the importance of keeping COVID-19 out of our school by keeping symptomatic students at home. Parents should err on the side of caution in this respect.
The symptoms to be aware of are as follows:
High temperature or fever
Cough
Shortness of breath or breathing difficulties
Loss or change to sense of taste or smell
(whilst fatigue, sore throat, headache, runny/stuffy nose etc are classified as sometimes or rare symptoms).
Other instances where pupils must not return to or attend school are as follows:
if they are identified by the HSE as a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19
if they live with someone who has symptoms of the virus
If they have travelled outside of Ireland
Where necessary, we ask parents and pupils to cooperate with any public health officials and the school for contact tracing purposes and follow any public health advice in the event of a case or outbreak in the school.
Return from absence:
Parents of students (or students who are over 18 years) returning to school after illness or absence will be asked to complete the declaration form contained in the link here https://www.buttevantcolaiste.ie/news/return-to-learning-form
Please save the link in case you may require it over the coming weeks. Completed forms can be emailed to admin@buttevantcolaiste.ie prior to returning from absence. You will receive a separate link via text message to an online declaration form which must be completed before initial return on Monday 15th March.
Each student will require the following PPE Equipment:
Quality Washable Face Masks: ALL staff and students in post primary schools must wear high quality washable cloth face masks. In line with this guidance we are asking you to ensure your son/daughter has a number of these masks available to them before we return. Upon return, students must keep their mask on at all times (both indoors and outdoors). This includes at break times and at lunch times, except when eating or drinking.
Whilst we have installed hand sanitiser dispensers at every entrance/exit point and in every classroom, we also encourage students to have their own pocket size hand sanitiser as well as a packet of wipes for wiping down surfaces before use. We would also encourage students to wear a bum bag as a suitable means of storage. If not using a bum bag a clean container should be kept in the school bag where these items are stored.
New arrangements for period of phased reopening:
Students must stay in the school for the duration of the school day and cannot go down town during lunch break. A selection of rolls and wraps will be available in the canteen each day at morning break. Students have the option of purchasing more than one if they wish to have one at lunch-time also. Alternatively, students can bring a packed lunch.
We also ask parents to ensure that there is no congregation at pick up and collection times outside of the school during this phase or at any stage. As per previous arrangements, requests to engage with staff should be made through the school and will be provided by telephone or online.
Students will follow their normal timetables from Monday morning.
We thank you for your cooperation and patience at this time.
Kind regards,
Donal O Sullivan
