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!