Coronavirus update

13 March 2020

Coronavirus update

As I’m sure you will appreciate, we are currently dealing with a complex and rapidly changing situation in relation to Coronavirus. My first priority will always be the health and safety of the pupils and staff in our school. This is an entirely unprecedented situation and we will follow the official advice from the Government, Education Authority, Department of Education and the Public Health Agency. This advice is being added to on a daily basis and we are monitoring and responding to that as it is published. This official advice will underpin any actions which we take as a school.

Yesterday afternoon the Prime Minister announced that the UK moved to the delay phase and schools would remain open, a decision reinforced by the NI Assembly last night. At this moment in time there has been no guidance to school from the Education Authority or the Department of Education on any school closures.

Below you will find guidance regarding what I understand to be the current situation:

Current situation:

        • School is open and will remain open until such times as the Government or Department of Education in Northern Ireland Assembly decide otherwise.
        • We are to maintain procedures regarding handwashing. This will include proactively encouraging children to wash their hands at several times during the day.
        • Anyone with a new, continuous cough or high temperature is advised to self-isolate for seven days.

Additional precautions we are taking within our school community:

  • We as a school have provided additional hand-washing facilities in every classroom and we have delivered lessons in an age appropriate version to all pupils on personal hygiene and hand washing.

Updates and guidance will be sought by school from the Department of Education. We will continue to monitor the Public Health Agency’s website for advice. Contingency planning is in place should additional measures be implemented.

Any updates will be communicated via our website, social media and if needs be, letter and text message. Thank you for your understanding, support and cooperation at this very challenging time.

School Development Day and St Patrick’s Day

As already planned ourschool will be closed on Monday 16th March 2020 for a staff development day, therefore pupils are not to attend. On Tuesday 17th March 2020 school will close at 12 noon for St Patrick’s day. There will be no morning snack or dinners on Tuesday 17th March as the school meals kitchen is closed. School will resume on Wednesday 18th March and normal times will apply.