Coronavirus Update

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. Several hours earlier the Taoiseach announced more stringent measures as part of the delay phase, including school closures.

Given the unique nature of Northern Ireland as part of the UK and sharing the island of Ireland with the Republic, as Principal I have to consider two very different approaches that have been taken to delay the spread of this virus.

You will have read many things last night online and watched situations develop on tv. You’ll be waking up and like myself checking to see what is going on and no doubt be just as confused and concerned as I am. 

Below you will find guidance regarding what I understand to be the current situation, additional precautions we can take and changes to plan for next week.

Current situation:

• School is open and will remain open until such times as the Government or NI Assembly decide otherwise.
• 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.
• Currently we have no pupils or staff who are displaying symptoms. I have not been made aware of any members of the extended school community who have the coronavirus.

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.
• The school app should be used to send messages if your child is absent or wish to inform us of alternative collection arrangements. You will appreciate our phones have been quite busy and there are times when the office is not always staffed given the nature of a busy primary school.
• 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.

Several changes to plans have been initiated so far:

• The IRFU and Hockey Ireland have suspended all fixtures and coaching for 2 weeks. This means there will be no after-school hockey on Monday with Frankie or rugby on Thursday with Mr Stewart.
• All other clubs will run as normal next week. This may change however. 
• Any class trips planned for next week will be postponed.
• The council will advise in due course regarding swimming lessons next week. At time of writing, they will be going ahead as normal this morning.

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 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.