Dear Parent/Guardian,

I hope you and your family made the most of Christmas and New Year in these serious Covid times.

As per Minister Foley’s recent announcement (https://www.education.ie/en/Press-Events/Press-Releases/2020-press-releases/PR20-12-30.html) , I am regarding Wednesday 6th to Friday 8th January inclusive as ‘extended holidays’ to allow every member of our school community to follow public health advice closely and to  minimise your contacts before your children return to school. Consequently, no remote learning or school work will be assigned during these 3 days.

It is my genuine hope that schools will re-open safely on Monday, January 11th. However, this decision is subject to on-going daily review and it will depend on the levels of community transmission of the virus and its variant.  We are living in uncertain times. Consequently, it is important for us to be prepared.

If the Department of Education & Skills recommend an extended closure period, it is necessary to have a Plan of Action in place for implementation, which is as follows:

At this stage, all our parents have the email address of your child’s mainstream teacher and SET teacher….please feel free to email them with your queries/requests.

Mainstream and SET teachers will liaise with parents of their respective pupils not later than 6.00p.m., Sunday January 10th assigning work from their emergency pack for Monday 11th, Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th. (as per our Remote Learning Policy)

Please note the following timetable as regards distribution of school books/folders:

  •  teachers of Junior Infants to Senior Infants incl will liaise with their parents via text to arrange distribution of school books to their parents via classroom exit doors from 6.00pm to 7.00pm, Monday evening, January 11th
  • teachers of Rang I to Rang II incl will liaise with their parents via text to arrange distribution of school books to their parents via classroom exit doors from 7.15pm to 8.15pm, Monday evening, January 11th
  • teachers of Rang III to Rang IV incl will liaise with their parents via text to arrange distribution of school books to their parents via classroom exit doors from 6.00pm to 7.00pm, Tuesday evening, January 12th
  • teachers of Rang V to Rang VI incl will liaise with their parents via text to arrange distribution of school books from the following exit doors:
  • Ranganna V from Crusheen exit door from 7.15pm to 8.15pm
  • Ranganna VI from basketball exit door from 7.15pm to 8.15pm.

Needless to say, all teachers will give parents prior adequate notice to enable them make suitable arrangements to be present at the nominated times. Please wear masks and strictly adhere to social distancing. Also, please be careful as underfoot conditions may be slippery due to weather conditions.

Remote learning will officially commence using school books and files on Thursday, January 14th.  Each class/SET teacher will liaise with his/her respective parents via email to initiate, to implement and to monitor this remote learning process.

Our online Platforms to be used will be:

  • Email between teacher and parent
  • Zoom
  • Seesaw
  • Phonecall
  • Aladdin

In the event of on-going school closure, weekly work will be emailed by class/SET teachers to parents no later than 6.00p.m. of a Sunday evening followed by an Aladdin text alert.

Please remind yourself of the content of our Remote Learning Policy, which can be accessed on our school website:  (http://archive.barefieldns.com/documents/policies/)

My email address, if required, is: john.burns@archive.barefieldns.com

Finally, I am reminded of the famous words of the late poet, Seamus Heaney R.I.P.:

If we winter this one out, we can summer anywhere’.

Stay safe and well everyone,

Stay at home,

Kind regards,

John Burns (Principal)