COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
20/04/2020
Dear Parents/ Guardians,
Welcome back after a very different Easter break. At least there were chocolate Easter Eggs to help the children celebrate and to remind them that some things remained normal.
On April 10th the Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh, announced that schools, closed since March 12th at 6 PM, would remain closed on Public Health grounds until further notice.
Teachers and our secretary Aisleen, have been working on creative ways to reach out to cater for the academic and personal needs of the children. I want to thank them for their work, ideas and innovation over the last few weeks. I want to thank you for your overwhelming response to Google Classroom. Your promptness enabled us to set the system up quickly at a time when Google is busy with schools and is operating a reduced staff with many employees working from home. Google Classroom should help streamline our communications between teacher and students and vice versa.
At the moment we have limited phone access but we are continuing with the essential business of school. Currently we are occupied with organising enrolments and registrations. This is happening in a way that’s very different to normal. Our website, www.stannesns.ie,will be regularly updated and we will email or text you with essential news. We will try to limit emails/ texts to once a week so as not to add further to the increase of messages since the Covid 19 pandemic. We have a busy term ahead and we will make the most of the benefits of Distance Learning while acknowledging its restrictions. We ask for your cooperation and patience as we progress.
As time goes by, some children may develop small anxieties. Don’t hesitate to contact us if there is something we can do to help ease a situation. It’s important to keep positive and to share positive stories with the children and for the children to share positive stories with each other.
Education is always a partnership and distant learning is no different. We will work together and come take this period of school closure in our stride.
Stay safe, stay at home, save lives.
Paul Corcoran.
Update 27/03/2020
NEPS Advice & Resources for keeping Children and Young People well during Covid-19
Please follow below link and go to Resources for Schools.
https://www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Announcements/information-for-schools-preschools-and-third-level-institutions-on-the-coronavirus.html#15
Update 25/03/2020
Arrangements for schoolwork/ activities during the current school closure.
Last week, the Minister for Health, Simon Harris broadcast a strong message urging us all to take our responsibility around Covid-19 seriously. In particular, he emphasised social distancing.
Happiness and health are far more important than school. We have to look after our mental and physical wellbeing first and fore most. I have no hesitation is asking you to prioritise the two pillars, happiness and health, in your homes at this time. The advice from the Government is clear. People should stay at home to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Schools will remain closed until April 19th, 2020. (This date may be subject to change).
Our teachers have prepared work for this eventuality. Starting on this Friday, March 27th we plan to send work out each Friday, to be done during the following week. Please keep this work for your child’s teacher. We can’t guarantee each piece will be individually assessed but your child’s work and efforts will be respected, appreciated and positively acknowledged on the resumption of school. Work will not be set for the Easter break.
St. Anne’s N.S. has not opened for the collection of books. We will remain closed to avoid the possible spread of the virus to the school and wider community. We trust that everyone will understand that this decision was made in the interests of the health of all of our pupils, their families and friends. School books are available on-line.
Our message is simple, “Don’t allow this work become a source of anxiety for you or your child.” Engage as much as you can, not every family will be in a position to participate fully in the learning activities. As a staff, we understand this and value every family’s position and decision. There is no obligation on families to complete the activities we will suggest. Everyone should focus on keeping safe and healthy.
Our staff wishes health and happiness to all our pupils and their families.
Le meas,
Paul Corcoran.
Update 20/03/2020
Dear Parents/ Guardians,
The Department of Health and the HSE have produced Covid-19 resources in a range of languages other than Irish and English which you can access below:
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/newsfeatures/covid19-updates/partner-resources/covid-19-translated-resources/
The languages currently available are Chinese, Italian, Spanish, French, Arabic, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Latvian and Lithuanian.
Home Schooling
Please see below a useful schedule that you may adapt and use within your own home.
Update 18/03/2020
Dear Parents/ Guardians,
I hope you and your families are well. The staff send their best wishes at this time and we look forward to seeing you all in the near future. Each day brings a deeper understanding of the impact of Corona Virus. However we will take things one day at a time and look forward to the reopening of schools on March 30th. News of the closure of schools came suddenly and I want to thank teachers for organising homework for children on very short notice. You will find useful resources on some of the following websites.
http://www.askaboutireland.ie
www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/reading
http://www.helpmykidlearn.ie
http://www.scoilnet.ie
http://www.primaryscience.ie
http://www.focal.ie
National Geographic Kids
www.mathletics.eu
www.starfall.com
www.rainforestmaths.com
www.literacycentre.net
http://www.cula4.com
https://soundcloud.com/search?q=walker%20eireann
https://nrich.maths.org/primary
www.primaryresources.co.uk
https://nzmaths.co.nz/level-1-problems
https://nzmaths.co.nz/level-2-problems
www.cosmickids.com
www.virtualvisittours.com/
www.giftedkids.ie/science.html
www.foldifyapp.com
www.duchas.ie/en/cbes
In the meantime wash hands, observe social distancing and follow the expert advice to help reduce the impact of a sudden rise in cases of illness. Good luck with the above,
Paul Corcoran
Update 16/03/2020
“All pupils in schools are urged to practise social distancing, and to minimise physical contact with each other, to help avoid the spread of Covid-19. This should include minimising social contact, avoiding meeting up and keeping physical space between them. Parents and guardians are urged to support their children to maintain this approach”. DES.
Update 12/03/2020
Dear Parents/Guardians
The Department of Education and Skills press office have emailed to announce the closure of schools until March 30th. They are conscious of the impact on students, families and the wider community but feel it is a necessary and pro-active measure to help contain the threat of Covid-19.
Confirmation in the parish has also been postponed until further notice.
This is a time when we all need to work together and the support of everyone is vital as we strive to ensure this threat is dealt with as effectively as possible.
On behalf of St Anne’s N.S. I urge you to follow the advice of the public health authorities to keep safe as well as we look forward to seeing the children again on March 30th.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Corcoran
Update 11/03/2020
The Department of Education and Skills have sent notice to all parents and teachers on guidance when talking to children and young people about Covid-19. You can view this here talking-to-children-and-young-people-about-covid-19-coronavirus-advice-for-parents-and-schools.
Update 02/03/2020
Dear all,
The Department of Education and Skills has received an updated letter for all schools from the Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health, Dr Tony Holohan, addressing the recent school closure as a result of the confirmed Covid-19 case.
Please click like below to read the letter.
CMO letter to Parents.
Update 27/02/2020
Following a meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team, there has been an update from the Department of Education and Skills (DES) on the issue of COVID-19
"Anyone who has travelled from the affected regions in the last 14 days and has a cough, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties or fever should self-isolate and phone their GP immediately''
''Anyone who has travelled from the affected regions and has no symptoms should visit, http://www.hse.ie/ for advice.''
In St Anne's N.S. we are teaching specific lessons on,
- Washing (hands)
- Covering (mouth, and nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing)
- Avoiding (touching eyes, mouth or nose with unwashed hands)
- Cleaning and Disinfecting (frequently touched objects)
Please repeat this advice at home.
There have been a number of questions from parents around bringing hand gels to school. These hand gels are allowed in school.
18/02/2020
We received a query regarding COVID -19, the coronavirus.
As you are aware, COVID -19 in a new respiratory illness. There are no confirmed cases of COVID - 19 in Ireland. “The risks of catching the virus in Ireland are low” and “the risks of children catching the virus are low” (HSE).
We require parents who have been to China or who may have been in contact with someone who has the virus to follow the protocols set out by HSE. www.hse.ie
We note a report on www.rte.ie/news/world on Friday, February 14, relaying a rise in acts of racism and discrimination related to the coronavirus against the Asian community in Ireland. We teach children that discrimination and racism is wrong. We would appreciate your help by repeating this message.