Update on school Closures

​Dear Parent/Guardian,

I hope this message finds you healthy and well, and that your families are keeping safe during what is
a difficult and surreal time for everyone.

I hope that all pupils are following the programme of work as laid out by teachers. This was sent
home with pupils in hard copy on Thursday last. Please try to complete the prescribed activities over
the course of the fortnight for which the work is allocated. It is important to realise that children
cannot be expected to do the same volume of work at home as they would do in school. Technology
is a very welcome and useful resource at this time. However, we must bear in mind that not every
family has sufficient access, particularly when there are a number of school-going pupils in a
household and/or parents also using technology to work from home. We understand that this is a
very stressful time for many and we do not wish to burden you with copious amounts of work.

The school awaits notification of an extension to our current closure from the Department of
Education. This looks very likely at this time. Staff are working together to put a system in place
should this arise, although social distancing restrictions make this more challenging so please bear
with us. In an effort to be proactive, we are putting in place contingency plans, should the current
school closure period be extended. If this were to happen, class teachers will be posting lists of work
and activities via the school website for pupils from Monday March 30th to Friday May 1st. We
await advice from the Minister for Education in respect of this, and I will be in touch with you if and
when there are any developments.

While the current situation is far from ideal, it also presents many opportunities for children to learn
in an engaging way, in their home and local environment. We look forward to a return to normality
and will continue to support and facilitate learning as best we can in the intervening period.

Stay Safe.
Príomhoide Bernice.