Mol an Óige agus Tiocfaidh sí

11.03.20

RE: Covid-19 (Coronavirus)

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

As concern continues to grow in relation to the outbreak of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) in Ireland, and in consultation with guidance from the HSE, LMETB, ETBI and the Departments of Health and Education and Skills, it is appropriate at this stage that we step up our actions here in school to contain the spread of the virus.

On Wednesday morning, Moltóirí and members of the senior leadership team met with all year groups during

tutorial to reinforce in the strongest possible terms the importance of good hygiene practices – particularly

when coughing/sneezing and in relation to the washing of hands.

During tutorial, Caomhnóirí shared an instructional video with students and reiterated the importance of

students taking personal responsibility in relation to hand-washing and good hygiene practices.

Hand sanitiser dispensers are due to arrive shortly from our supplier and they will be placed at strategic locations throughout the building.

Our cleaners will continue to focus on disinfecting common touch points insofar as is possible for them and ensuring the supply of soap in the toilets. We have requested that students report to a teacher if they discover

the supply of soap in a toilet has run out. We have had a number of cases in recent days of vandalism in toilets,

specifically involving damage to soap dispensers and Moltóirí addressed this issue with their students this

morning also.

Hand-washing instructions have been placed prominently in more locations throughout the building, including in all student toilets.

Reminders about hand-washing and good hygiene practices will be issued each day during assembly.

We would ask that you stress the importance of good hygiene practices and hand washing at home. It may also be appropriate for students to bring their own hand sanitiser with them to school. We include below

copies of the information posters we have been provided by the HSE as well as guidance from the DES for

schools and parents in relation to talking to children and young people about the virus.

Alongside these measures, it is also prudent at this stage for us to begin preparing contingencies for the possibility that the school may be closed for a period of time at some stage in the coming weeks or months. In this light, teachers are currently taking steps to ensure they will have the requisite materials available to them at home in order that they will be able to provide learning resources and guidance for students working from home. We are fortunate that Schoology provides us with a ready-made platform for this in the case of a school closure.

We don’t anticipate a school closure at this stage, and this contingency planning is not based on any information we have received that such a closure is imminent or likely. The Departments of Health and Education and Skills have made it clear that “responses to Covid-19 are proportionate, necessary and based on specific public health advice. No other response is appropriate” [emphasis in the original]. We remain focused on ensuring that staff and students are able to carry out their work sensibly and safely and that we are prudent in preparing for potential disruption down the line. Rest assured we will contact you promptly in relation to any guidance we may receive from public health authorities in relation to our school. If you have recently changed any of your contact information, click here to update this information on the school’s database.

Once again, we appreciate your support and co-operation. This is a challenging period for us, and we are acutely aware of the potential that students, in particular those preparing for state exams, may be subject to added stress and anxiety as we enter practical and oral exam season in the coming weeks. As ever, if you are concerned about your son/daughter in this respect, please don’t hesitate to contact their Caomhnóir/Moltóir.

Yours faithfully,

Seamus Meehan Colm Connolly Donna Kelly John McCarthy Principal Deputy Principal Deputy Principal Deputy Principal