Coronavirus Update

Thank-you to all members of the school community who have taken the time to contact us to let us know regarding any plans to keep children at home, rumours that are circulating or anything else related to the spread of the coronavirus. 

Current situation, Saturday 14th March, 3.00pm:

• No positive cases of coronavirus within the school community have been reported to me at this time. 
• There are no members of staff who are displaying symptoms at this time. 
• Several parents kept children off on Friday due to concerns regarding underlying medical conditions. 
• Several parents kept children off on Friday following the updated guidance by the UK Government on Thursday. 
• School did not advise any parents to keep their child off on Friday nor did we send any child home because they were displaying symptoms. 
• Guidance was received at 6pm last night from the Education Authority and Department of Education. Whilst this was useful there remain many decisions that school Principals have to take which are unique to their school. 
• On Friday morning the First Minister said that there will be school closures at some point. I will find out when this is and for how long at the same time as parents via the same news sources. 
• Contingency plans have been made for school closure. Details will be communicated when required. Online resources such as Education City and Accelerated Read will be used in relevant year groups. Reading books will not be sent home, you'll appreciate the same books will be used in multiple classes so please take this as advanced warning in case trips to the library is needed. 

Below you will find updated guidance regarding arrangements and additional precautions we are taking and changes to plan for next week.

• I know many do not agree with the current UK Government advice but school will be open on Monday and will remain open until such times as the Government or NI Assembly decide otherwise.
• Please remember that we have a scheduled closure on Tuesday, St Patrick's Day, for Staff Training. 
• Several parents have contacted school to say they will be using their discretion regarding sending their child to school next week.
• If you are planning to keep your child off, either because they display symptoms or as a precaution, please contact me through the school app. Please do not use the school FaceBook page as the app is a most efficient way for me to maintain attendance records at this time.
• After-school clubs will run as normal this week. 
• Children normally attending hockey on Monday will have an after-school sporting activity for them to participate in.
• It is important that we support the local businesses who provide our wide range of after-school clubs for as long as possible before any potential closure. 
• We are to maintain procedures re hand washing. This will include pro-actively encouraging children to do so at several times during the day including upon arrival and leaving.
• Anyone with a "new, continuous" cough or high temperature is advised to self-isolate for seven days. 
• Any pupil who has a "new, continuous" cough or high temperature will be sent home immediately. 
• Until further notice, parents will be restricted from entering the school building unless absolutely essential. Parents wishing to visit classrooms to speak to the teacher or who have a meeting scheduled will be asked to wash their hands or use hand sanitiser we hope to have in place. I appreciate this is a change to our open door policy and will cause issue for some. 

Additional precautions we can take within our school community:

• Pupils with symptoms or pupils with parents displaying symptoms should not be sent to school. 
• Parents of pupils with underlying medical conditions should consider if they wish to send their child to school.
• Grandparents or parents with underlying medical conditions should consider arrangements for collection.
• Additional cleaning staff have been employed over the last month
• Additional hand-washing facilities are available including in every classroom
• a cycle of regular cleaning of door handles has been implemented over the last fortnight.
• From Monday, visitors will not be permitted into school unless they agree to wash their hands
• Class trips planned for next week are postponed.
• We will not be sending children to swimming lessons this week.

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.  

Any updates will be communicated via our school app, website, social media and if needs-be, letter and text.

Thank-you for your understanding and cooperation at this very challenging time. 

J Gray 

Principal