Dear parents/carers,
School update from the Northern Ireland Executive
This afternoon the Northern Ireland Executive announced that there will be a phased return of pupils to school in March. As yet we have received no official information to school but I am writing to parents to explain my understanding of what is likely to happen based on the news this afternoon.
Nursery and primary school pupils in P1 to P3 will return to full-time face-to-face teaching from Monday 8th to Friday 19th March 2021. From Monday 22nd to Friday 26th March 2021 remote learning will resume for all pupils in Nursery and primary school pupils in P1 to P3. The Northern Ireland Executive has stated that this is to enable the return of some pupils in post primary.
Primary 4 to Primary 7 pupils will continue with remote learning until Friday 26th March when the Easter holidays begin.
We as a school have been advocating for some time for a full return for all pupils as the best possible way forward. However this afternoon's announcement does not mean that all of our pupils will be returning at the one time but it will be gradual return. The Education Minister said today that his main objective was a full return of all pupils to school as soon as practicably possible after the Easter break, but this had to be balanced against the public health position.
Here is an outline of what is likely to happen over the incoming weeks:
Week beginning Tuesday 23rd February - Friday 26th February
- All pupils learning remotely from home and school is only open for key workers/vulnerable pupils.
- To register for supervision for your child from 23rd-26th February please fill in the following online form by Friday 19th February at 12 noon: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=-yeCOETeDkaBkAVAK4mNqE6IZGSWWw5Fr-cwGloPHtpUNkRISkgxRzVIM0VBRFlZVUdVVEtOTU01MS4u)
Week beginning Monday 1st March - Friday 5th March
- All pupils learning remotely from home and school is only open for key workers/vulnerable pupils.
- To register for supervision for your child from 1st-5th March please fill in the following online form by Friday 26th February at 12 noon: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=-yeCOETeDkaBkAVAK4mNqE6IZGSWWw5Fr-cwGloPHtpUMTZVVTVNNzROMlZURUVVNzE1VFdETVBVSC4u
Week beginning Monday 8th March - Friday 12th March
- Pupils in Nursery, Primary 1, Primary 2 and Primary 3 in school full-time for face-to-face learning.
- School also open for key workers/vulnerable pupils for pupils in P4-P7.
- To register for supervision for your child from 8th-12th March please fill in the following online form by Friday 5th March at 12 noon: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=-yeCOETeDkaBkAVAK4mNqE6IZGSWWw5Fr-cwGloPHtpUNkhYNVRNNThQVFZYMlpXSVZRTDJFSjFNMy4u
Week beginning Monday 15th March - Friday 19th March
- Pupils in Nursery, Primary 1, Primary 2 and Primary 3 in school for full-time face-to-face learning.
- School also open for key workers/vulnerable pupils for pupils in P4-P7.
- Please note that school is closed for St Patrick's Day on Wednesday 17th March.
- To register for supervision for your child from 15th-19th March (excluding 17th March) please fill in the following online form by Friday 12th March at 12 noon: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=-yeCOETeDkaBkAVAK4mNqE6IZGSWWw5Fr-cwGloPHtpUMVo0Vks5MEVaVUhIQlROQ0FKWk1DWDFUNC4u
Week beginning Monday 22nd March - Friday 26th March
- All pupils learning remotely from home and school is only open for key workers/vulnerable pupils.
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To register for supervision for your child from 22nd-26th March please fill in the following online form by Friday 19th March at 12 noon: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=-yeCOETeDkaBkAVAK4mNqE6IZGSWWw5Fr-cwGloPHtpUN1BLTzNTVzZRVko5OFdIR1BFT0pCWU1ZUC4u
Easter holidays Monday 29th March - Friday 9th April
- All pupils off school on their Easter holidays and school is closed.
This is far from an ideal situation but we are looking forward to welcoming back our Nursery to Primary 3 pupils back to full-time face-to-face teaching on 8th March. I will keep parents and carers informed of any information that is released by the Department of Education and Education Authority.
Work packs ready for collection on Monday 22nd February for all pupils from 9.30am - 2pm
The next learning work packs are available for collection for all pupils on Monday 22nd February from 9.30am - 2pm from the Queenora Avenue entrance. If it does not suit you to collect the work packs on Monday 22nd February you can collect the work pack any day between 9am to 3pm.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs K Taylor