IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Staggered School Reopening Guidelines -Monday 8th March 2021

Dear Parents/Guardians,

At present, we are following Department of Education Guidelines on the reopening of our school. All Nursery, Primary 1, Primary 2, and Primary 3 children are welcome to attend school for face-to-face teaching from Monday 8^th March- Tuesday 16^th March. Supervision of vulnerable and key worker children Primary 4-7 will continue during this time as well as remote learning for P4-P7.

At Good Shepherd Primary & Nursery School, we would like to reassure you that we aim to support our children to reconnect socially, build positive relationships and engage enthusiastically with learning as they return to the school environment. In particular, for our youngest children, teachers know the importance of providing opportunities to be actively involved in practical, challenging play-based learning in a stimulating environment. The vision for us at Good Shepherd Primary & Nursery School is for a balanced day where children are able to play, are ready to learn and feel able to re-connect. As our youngest pupils return after almost three months away from the physical school environment, we aim to ensure that we as educationalists and care givers, consider the importance of supporting children’s emotional health and wellbeing, helping them to be engaged and motivated to learn and ensuring they have the tools and skills they require for learning.

At Good Shepherd Primary & Nursery School, we know the importance of providing planned opportunities for children to re-establish face-to-face friendships, reconnect with staff, work with others and talk about their interests and experiences over the last number of weeks.

In the remainder of the spring term and during summer term, we will aim to provide opportunities to:

• allow pupils to share their experience of school closure and express their feelings, ideas, concerns and positive experiences.
• rebuild, re-establish and reconnect relationships and friendships.
• reassure the children that any gaps in their skills and knowledge are understood by teachers;
• understand how to engage with learning and how to learn; and
• build children's confidence as learners.

The school is closed for all pupils on Wednesday 17^th-Friday 19^th March for the Feast Day of St. Patrick.  Children in School should wear something green/non-uniform on Tuesday 16th March.

At present, Nursery-Primary 3 children will then return to remote learning from Monday 22^nd March until after the Easter Holidays. If this changes, we will inform you as soon as possible.

The school will be closed for Easter Monday 1^st April-Friday 9^th April.

All Pupils Nursery-Primary 7 are expected to return to school for face to face teaching on Monday 12^th April.

Guidance for Monday 8^th-Tuesday 16^th March 2021.

Nursery-Primary 3 children should follow all previous arrangements which were in place before Christmas.

• Children are not permitted in the school grounds before 8.45am.
• School gates will open at 8:45am
• P1-P3 parents should wait inside the school gates until their child is brought down at Home Time
• One adult to drop off and pick up children
• Please share this information with anyone who may be dropping off or picking up your child

 Reminder of drop off/pick up times:

Specific entry/exit doors will be used and we will continue with staggered opening times as well as home times. Social distancing should be followed and parents/guardians should wear a mask when inside the school grounds. Children are not permitted to bring school bags into school. They should wear their full school uniform, and bring a coat/hat.

Nursery children will be provided with a dinner as normal and should pay via parent pay, unless receiving free school meals.

Primary 1-3 children who are receipt of free school meals will also be offered dinner. All other children will require a packed lunch. Every child will need a healthy break.

Primary 4-7 children who are in school for supervised learning must bring a healthy break and a packed lunch as normal. A form for requesting supervision will be shared on Tuesday 2^nd March and will close on Thursday 4^th March @10am.  

Children who are in school for supervised learning will now be organised into 2 bubbles; Primary 4&5 together and Primary 6&7 together to allow for appropriate staffing numbers. They will be in the Key Stage 2 area and should enter/exit the school via the top door at the right hand side. If a child is in school for supervised learning, they may leave early if they have a sibling attending in Nursery-Primary 3. Please ensure that your child informs the supervisory staff of this.

I would like to take the opportunity to remind everyone about the following procedures regarding Covid-19, in order to keep everyone safe and minimise risk:

• Check your child's temperature every morning before they come to school
• If ANYONE in your household is displaying symptoms and/or awaiting a Covid-19 test/results, do not send your child to school
• Inform the school if ANYONE in your household is displaying symptoms and/or awaiting a Covid-19 test/results using this email address: smccafferty143@c2kni.net
• Inform the school if your child has booked a Covid-19 test
• Inform the school of your Child's Covid-19 test results

The most common symptoms are:

• A new and continuous cough
• A raised temperature
• A loss of taste and smell

Thank you for your co-operation.  'We must all do it to get through it.'

Thank you for your continued support during this time.

Kind Regards,

Mrs S. McCafferty