January update for return to school

Dear Parents / Guardians

Happy New Year.  I hope 2022 brings health, prosperity and happiness to you and your family. We are delighted to be reopening as planned tomorrow, Thursday 6th January 2022.

As we all know Covid-19 continues to be highly contagious and widespread in our communities. This presents us with the ongoing challenge of keeping everyone in our school community safe . We will continue to operate in line with our Covid-19 response plan , which sets out the range of mitigation measures in the school, including hand hygiene, social distancing, class POD and bubble system and mask wearing.

As a controlled and safe environment, we continue to require your support and goodwill to keep all in the Scoil Mhuire Mount Sackville school community as safe as possible during the current wave of the pandemic. I appreciate that this can be challenging for you and your family but your cooperation is imperative to help us minimise the spread of Covid 19 in your child’s class.

Mask wearing is required for all Staff/ adults entering the school grounds, and children in classes third to sixth. It is important that your child has a fresh mask to wear every day. It is essential that Parents/Guardians continue to wear a mask at drop off/collection times. 

We will continue to operate good ventilation in classrooms throughout the day as per DES guidelines. We are delighted to inform you that HEPA  air filters have been delivered and put in place in each classroom and SET room to-day. These will be another positive preventative measure for all pupils and staff.

Covid 19 Symptoms

If your child is presenting with any of the Covid 19 symptoms detailed below, please keep your child at home and follow HSE isolation guidelines on HSE website www.hse.ie. 

Signs of COVID-19 :  

• fever of 38.0⁰C or higher without another medical reason (such as chickenpox or a urine infection) OR

  • new cough or difficulty breathing or worsening of an existing breathing problem, OR

 • loss of sense of smell, change in sense of taste, or loss of sense of taste (if your child is able to say this) OR  

• other minor breathing or chest problems in a child who has been in contact with an ill person, is part of an outbreak or is a contact of someone who has COVID-19 

• Other symptoms associated with COVID-19 include fatigue, nasal congestion, conjunctivitis, sore throat, headache, muscle/joint pain, skin rash, nausea or vomiting, diarrhoea, chills or dizziness.  

If your child tests negative on antigen/PCR test they should be 48 hours symptom free before returning to school. Antigen tests are available to order through DE/HSE using the school Roll Number 17891J  on the following link : https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/schools-antigen-testing/ . Please do not send your child to school if they (or someone in the household) test positive on an antigen test.

Government advice on foreign travel is available on  the following link : https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/77952-government-advice-on-international-travel/

In addition to the above, public health advice is that all arrivals from overseas should undertake daily rapid antigen testing for 5 consecutive days following arrival and to self-isolate and undertake PCR testing should they become symptomatic.

To date, we have received wonderful support and co-operation from our school community in helping us combat the virus in the school. We are confident of your ongoing support , particularly over the coming weeks when covid numbers are expected to reach a peak.

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and safe new year . In spite of all the challenges we face at the moment , we embrace the year with a sense of excitement and openness as to what we can achieve together.

Stay safe and well.

Kind Regards,

Ms. O’ Kelly