Promoting the wellbeing of our Loreto school community is a fundamental element of the school’s overall plan to ensure a successful return as we continue to manage the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic

We are living through exceptional times and this impacts on the wellbeing of everybody in different ways, at different times. People have been naturally worried about the risk to the physical health and that of their loved ones and have been challenged to varying degrees by the public health measures that were put in place in Ireland to control the spread of the virus, such as staying at home and the closing of our school here in Loreto.

Our school is opening up and staff are really looking forward to welcoming students back and helping them re-engage with learning in school. Most students will be looking forward to school and meeting up with friends, teachers and other school staff. Many will feel excited, relieved and happy. Some may feel a little anxious and worried about getting back. That’s to be expected and it’s a normal response at a time of transition and change. Most students will settle in over time, as they reconnect with friends and get used to the new school safety routines.

Our school has been working very hard to make sure that the school building and playground will be safe for all of the students, teachers and parents. This will mean some new routines and rules to keep everyone safe. We will support you to learn these new routines and rules.

School staff know that wellbeing is important and needed for learning to happen. We are prioritising the things that we know will promote wellbeing at this time, SPHE, Stay Safe Programme to name a few.

School staff know that parents have made great efforts to support their child’s continued education when schools were closed and that parents have done your best. Teachers will be starting with where every student is at and will take things slowly and gently.

Getting back to a school routine will take a little time. It is important that everyone, is getting enough sleep, is eating healthily, is taking physical exercise, and taking some time to be creative and reconnect with friends.

So what is important for us all to remember are the following five principles:

We in Loreto Grange Road working with Parents, Staff and Students will to the best of our ability

• Promote a sense of HOPE– so that we all will believe that things will work out well and we can do this together
• Promote a sense of SAFETY in the school-so that all feel that they are safe and that all around them are safe.
• Promote a sense of CALM – so that all feel that they are relaxed, composed and grounded.
• Promote a sense of BELONGING AND CONNECTEDNESS – so that all experience having meaningful relationships with others who support and understand them.
• Promote a BELIEF IN OURSELVES – so that we can work together to meet this challenge.

Supporting a successful transition back to what will be our new normal is best achieved when those within our school community feel safe, feel calm and hopeful. When we all feel a sense of belonging and connectedness to our Loreto school community, we can move mountains!

We will stay safe. We will protect each other. We will have fun!

Social Distancing 

Children from 3^rd– 6^th class are required to social distance 1 metre where possible. Classroom seating has been re-configured. Pods within the classroom bubble will be explained to the children on return.

Washing of hands

Please be aware that clean hands are very important. There are Sanitising stations in each class. The teachers will remind the girls during the day to sanitise/ wash hands prior to eating, after eating and when they return to classroom after breaks.

Masks

Children under 13 do not need to wear masks. However, our teachers will wear visors/masks when working closely with the children. If for any reason there is a medical reason for your child wearing a mask please inform us before return to school.

Temperature

Children’s temperatures do not need to be taken daily.

Suspected case of COVID-19

If your child or any member of your household has symptoms of Covid-19 you must keep your child and siblings at home and contact your GP. All must remain at home until the suspected person has been tested and the test returns negative. If the test returns positive you must then follow the required number of days of isolation for all members of that household.

Lunches

Please make sure your child understands that they must not share lunches or drinks and all boxes and bottles should be easily opened so the teacher does not have to touch your child’s lunch box etc.

Sharing in school

It is normal that we teach children to share. However, at this time the children will not be allowed share pencils, pens, colouring pens etc. Each child should have her own stationery. In some classes, stationery is supplied to your child and the teacher will make sure your child has what she requires. Please make sure pencils and pencil cases are clearly marked with your child’s name. Every item that comes into school must be marked clearly with your child’s name.

Coats and other items of clothing

Everything must be clearly marked with your child’s name prior to their return to school.

First Aid

If your child falls in School, we will attend to your child as best we can fully aware of your child’s risk of Covid-19 and the risk to the teacher also. We may need to ring you to come.

After School Activities

For the present all after-school activities that take place indoors will not be happening including outside groups that use our school. This will be reviewed at Mid-term when we can see how things are going for the school.

Toys

Teddies, toys, and any type of game will have to be left at home. Skipping ropes will have to be left at home also as these items are generally shared around with many.

Thank you for your understanding. School life has changed but we will ensure that the children will have lots of fun too! I look forward to sounds of laughter and joy around the school.

Sr. Maria

Please stay safe in your personal lives and this will ensure no risk here in school.

Stay safe. Protect each other.

Supporting the Safe Provision of Schooling Report

Please click the link ‘00729F_Supporting the Safe Provision of Schooling_25693_20210415 (004).pdf‘ below to download the COVID-19 Report, Date of Visit 15/04/2021:

00729F_Supporting the Safe Provision of Schooling_25693_20210415 (004)

COVID -19 Response Plan

Please click the link ‘Updated Covid Plan Feb 2021‘ below to download the COVID-19 Response Plan:

Updated Covid Plan Feb 2021

Protect your child.

The most important things you can do to protect your child are:

• be responsible, be safe – follow the advice on protecting yourself and others from coronavirus
• look out for symptoms of coronavirus – if your child has symptoms, they will need to self-isolate
• encourage your child to wash their hands regularly and properly
• clean and disinfect surfaces in your home and things people touch a lot. Coronavirus can live on surfaces so it’s important to do this. Don’t forget door handles and the toilet flush.
• follow advice to prevent your child from catching or spreading viral infections

Face coverings are not recommended for children under the age of 13.

This is because young children may not be able to follow the important advice about wearing a mask correctly and to avoid touching it.

Children older than 13 are more likely to be able to stick to the important advice on how to wear a face covering properly.

 

 

Internet and Smart Device Guideline for Parents and Students

Introductory Statement

The following guideline has been drawn up following consultation with the parents’ associations in both St. Mary’s B.N.S. and Loreto Primary School. We recognise that families differ in many regards and intend this document to be used as a guideline to accommodate the individuality of each child and family.

Please strike through any items you will not implement with your child and create a contract that works for your family.

Aim

Provide a guide for pupils and parents on how to help foster a sense of responsibility and self-discipline when using the Internet and Smart devices. In line with the school’s Code of Behaviour “pupils are expected to treat all adults and children with respect and courtesy at all times” this should also include when using the Internet or online applications.

Scope

This applies to all use of the Internet, online applications and all smart electronic devices that may facilitate such access including but not limited to mobile phones, games consoles, computers, smart TV, laptops.

Guideline

• Families should sit down together at an agreed frequency (perhaps annually) and complete / update the “Family Internet and Smart Device Contract” below
• Be familiar with what has been agreed, support and review its implementation

As part of your discussion, families may wish to work out how frequently they need to meet to review and refamiliarise themselves with the document. Some families may need to revisit this document more frequently to ensure that everyone is aware of the guidelines that were agreed upon together.

Family Internet and Smart Device Contract

As a child / pupil I shall

• Be a good Digital Citizen/online user
  • I will be polite and have good manners showing respect for all whilst online, not doing anything that could hurt or anger other people or that is against the law.
  • When talking with someone I will not look at my device.
  • I will never give out information such as my home address, telephone number, my parents’ work address or telephone number, credit card numbers, or the name and location of my school without my parents’ permission. (Protecting personal information)
  • I will never post anything that will upset or hurt people’s feelings. I will stop and think before I share photos or videos online and consider how it might make people feel (Respecting the privacy of others)
  • I will never do anything on the Internet that costs money without my parents’ permission.
  • I will use screen time for education purposes in a way which promotes learning and creativity and talking with my friends and family.
    • By playing apps that teach me about something useful or allow me to be creative
    • By playing games or watch programmes together with a friend/parent/guardian
    • By video chatting with my parents’ permission to my friends or relatives online
    • By watching programmes appropriate for my age (vetted by a trusted source such as https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ )

• Respect online safety principles
  • I will talk with my parent/guardian to learn the rules for Internet use, which includes where I can go, what I can do online
  • I will allow my parent(s) support me by keeping an eye on what I am doing online and by agreeing to talk to them about anything that I see, or am asked to do, that makes me feel upset or uncomfortable, this includes e-mail messages, content on web sites, or anything from friends online.
  • I will not accept friend requests from anyone I don’t know, not chatting or virtually gaming with someone I don’t know without a parent’s permission.
  • I shall never agree to meet anyone in person that I have met online, without my parents’ permission I will tell my parents if someone has asked to meet me and keep it secret.
  • I shall never send pictures of myself or other family members to other people through the Internet without my parents’ permission.
  • I will never give out my Internet passwords to anyone (even my best friends) other than my parents. I shall never download, install, or copy anything without permission from my parents.

• Balance any online time I have with my offline time by
  • Ensuring moderate and appropriate time online and sticking to agreed time limits for playing games/being online. This will allow more time for
    • Being with friends, playing outside, sleeping, reading, team sports, _________________________________________________

• • Having lots of time talking and interacting with family and friends

• Respect screen free areas by
  • Only being online in locations/areas approved by my parents

• Keep the following times free from smart devices / screen use
  • While doing homework, mealtimes, at school, crossing the road, whilst on the stairs
  • Other screen free times (to be agreed by each family) _________________________________________________

• Protect my Wellbeing
  • I will get enough exercise every day (at least _____ hour(s) per day)
  • I shall get enough sleep by not being online and turning off mobile devices, games, TV or online applications at least one hour before bedtime
  • I will be online for no more than _____ amount of time in a day

 

As a parent:

I will show good example in how I use devices

• I will be polite and have good manners showing respect for all whilst online, not doing anything that could hurt or anger other people or that is against the law.
• When talking with someone I will not look at my device.
• I will spend time with my child getting familiar with the app and games that they are using
• I shall support my child in using electronic devices, the Internet and online applications in a safe manner
• I will stay calm, listen and try not to over-react if my child talks to me about something negative that has happened online. I will take advice or appropriate action if I feel that my child or another is at risk. If in doubt consider how you would respond or feel if the same situation were happening offline. If cyber bullying is involved I shall raise this in line with the school’s anti-bullying policy.
• I will investigate and set parental controls to the best of my ability (settings that restrict or monitor online content/functionality) and I will review these periodically with my child.
• I will research safety on new apps that my child wants to use. If I agree that it is okay for them to use an app, we will agree rules and figure out how to apply privacy settings. I will also apply these on my own accounts.
• I will discuss with my child how I use similar privacy settings to restrict applications I use online
• I will think before I share my child’s photos online and will ensure that I am only sharing with real-life friends and family

 

Name (Pupil / Child)        __________________________       Date ____________

Parent or Guardian           __________________________       Date ____________

References:

• https://www.cybersafeireland.org/
• https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/Pages/Media-and-Children.aspx
• http://www.esafety.ie/safetyadvice/

 

Admission Policy and Application Form

A copy of the school’s Admission Policy and the Application Form for Admission for the 2020/21 is available as follows:

On request: By emailing info@loretograngeroad.ie or writing to: Secretary, Loreto Primary School, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.

Or by calling directly to the school office.

PART 1 – Admissions to the 2021 school year

Application and Decision Dates for admission 2021

The following are the dates applicable for admission to Junior Infants

• The school will commence accepting applications for admission on 1st October 2020
• The school shall cease accepting applications for admission on 6th November
• The date by which applicants will be notified of the decision on their application is 27^th November
• The period within which applicants must confirm acceptance of an offer of admission is 4th December

*Failure to accept an offer within the prescribed period above may result in the offer being withdrawn

Note: the school will consider and issue decisions on late applications in accordance with the school’s admission policy.

Special Class Application and Decision Dates for admission to ASD Class 2021

The following are the dates applicable for admission to the school’s Special Class which caters for children with ASD

• The school will commence accepting applications for admission to the special class on 1st October 2020
• The school shall cease accepting applications for admission to the special class on 6^th November 2020
• The date by which applicants will be notified of the decision on their application for admission to the special class is 27^th November provided SENO agrees child meets the criteria
• The period within which applicants must confirm acceptance of an offer of admission is 4^th December 2020

*Failure to accept an offer within the prescribed period above may result in the offer being withdrawn

Number of places being made available in 2021

• The number of places being made available in junior infants/first year is 52
• The number of places being made available in the special class* catering for children with ASD 0 at present
• Loreto Primary School, Rathfarnham, has made offers of school placement which have been accepted prior to the commencement of Section 62 of the Education (Admission to Schools) 2018 on 1 February 2020, the number of those places offered and accepted due to deferring a place from this year’s list (2020) for Junior Infants is: 4