Dear Parent/Guardian,
As we enter the last week of January, I just want to link in with you to enquire how you and your family are keeping. I hope all is well with you.
It has been a roller coaster journey for all of us since start of term. We had planned and we were ready to re-open on January 6th, on January 11th and again on January 21st for our pupils with additional needs. As we are in the middle of a Pandemic, these proposed re-openings had to be deferred for health and safety reasons due to the very high community transmission level of the virus.
Even though our school is closed, our staff are working very hard supporting our pupils. Our Remote Learning Policy is now being fully implemented. This Policy can be accessed at: http://archive.barefieldns.com/download/remote-learning-policy/. I hope your child is experiencing success with our remote learning. Our teachers are reporting that pupils are engaging very well.
As the Pandemic evolves, the pillars underpinning our work during this current Lockdown can be summarised as:
- Teachers having regular and on-going communication with parents during the week. At this stage, every parent should have the email address of their child’s relevant school staff.
- Teachers giving regular feedback on their pupils’ work and progress through Seesaw, Zoom calls, emails and phonecalls.
- Teachers contacting parents if their children are not completing their assigned work.
- Special Needs Assistants have agreed contact/communication plans in place with parents of their pupils via phone calls, text, zoom, what’s app, videoing and recording stories and dropping resources to homes.
- Our school office is open. Contact details are via email or phone. Please email your query to: bernadette.mcgloin@archive.barefieldns.com or miriam.brennan@archive.barefieldns.com. Please ring 065-6820303. Please leave your name, contact number and query on our answering service and your call will be returned. Every effort will be made to address your query. Please note we are now accepting applications for new pupils for September 2021. All queries to: bernadette.mcgloin@archive.barefieldns.com.
- Our school has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and facilities on our school grounds are now being maintained and upgraded.
- If you wish to contact me, my email is: john.burns@archive.barefieldns.com.
I wish to thank all our parents for your hard work and on-going support. I wish to compliment all our pupils who are working very hard and have successfully adapted to these exceptional circumstances. I know all our staff are also working very hard. You are all doing an amazing job and a huge ‘bualadh bos’ to each and everyone.
Undoubtedly, some families and children may be finding it very difficult at the moment. We don’t know how any one person is feeling on any particular day. Please inform your child’s relevant teacher if you or your child is experiencing overload or is feeling overwhelmed. It is not easy for you our parents, working from home and also monitoring your children’s work. It is equally not easy for school staff endeavouring to cater for all educational needs through remote learning. All we can do is our best during these exceptional times and to be there for each other.
On a personal note, I wish to advise I will retire as Principal of Barefield National School on May 28th 2021. I have to say I have thoroughly enjoyed every day of the last four decades teaching and guiding Barefield N.S.
What really matters to me is that everyone remains safe. These times will pass but it will take patience and resilience. Let’s follow NPHET’s advice and let’s protect ourselves and others from COVID-19. Please stay safe at home.
I thank you for your continued co-operation.
Kind regards,
John Burns (Principal)
P.S.
Mid-term break is Thursday, February 18th and Friday, February 19th. No school assignments will be issued for these two days.
