Dear parents & guardians
The BoM and the School Leadership Team continue to work towards ensuring a safe return to school for all pupils and staff in two weeks’ time. We have now finalised our plans for drop-off and collection of the children every day.
Mary Mother of Hope Junior and Senior National Schools appreciate your support as we try to safely reopen our schools. If at all possible we request you not to come onto the school grounds or into the school building unless it is absolutely essential. We appreciate that dropping off the Junior & Senior Infant pupils closer to their line is essential, but for the older pupils a drop off at the school gate is desirable. Working together we hope to be able to progress the reopening in as safe a manner as possible for all.
We would ask all parents to familiarise themselves with the following drop-off and collection routines for the safe delivery and collection of pupils from school. Please be patient as we endeavour to embed these necessary precautionary and protective practices at the beginning of the school year.
It is imperative that parents follow these precautions:
Social Distancing: adults do not come within 2m of each other either on their way to or on the school grounds
Avoid Staff Interactions: parents should not try to have meetings with members of staff in the yard at drop-off and collection
times – meetings between parents and teachers can only take place by prior arrangement. (This may have to be more restrictive depending on guidance - it is quite possible that the recommendation will be for remote meetings/telephonic communications.)
Drop-Off and Collection Plan: all parents adhere to the drop-off and collection plans as outlined below
Face Coverings: Parents are strongly advised to wear face coverings when:
bringing children to and from school
when on the school grounds
if they have reason to enter the school building, face covering must be worn
Junior School Arrangements for Arrival at school
Every child should be brought to school as close to 8.50 as possible
Children are encouraged to walk, cycle or scoot to school
Children in 2nd Class and after the first week those in 1st class are asked to walk in from the main gate or from Mick’s Way without their parents/ guardians/older siblings. They should go straight to their line in the yard in front of the school. School staff will supervise from 8.40.
Children from Junior and Senior Infants should be brought to the gates at the entrance to the Junior School campus and staff of the school will direct them to their line from there.
No one other than staff members should enter the Junior School Yard.
In all cases parents/guardians should drop their children and go so as to avoid groups gathering on the campus.
The class teacher will invite the children to enter the building via their designated entrance point at the appropriate time.
No one other than staff members should enter the building unless by prior arrangement
Messages for teachers can be sent via the school app, by email to info@hopejns.ie or by phoning the school office on 01 6405655.
End of School Day
All children will be brought to their line at 1.30/2.30
Children in 2nd Class, for whom we have received written permission will be allowed leave the campus at 2.30 without an accompanying adult/older sibling. Parents who wish to collect their pupils outside of the campus should make arrangements with their child as to where this will be. This should form part of your Drop-Off and Collection Plan, which you should devise and explain to your child ahead of school re-opening.
Collection of Children during the School Day
If an adult has to collect a child during the course of the school day, the following arrangements will apply:
Prior notice should have been given to the school by phone or email.
Make sure to wear face covering throughout your time on the school campus
When the adult arrives at the school, they should either phone the office or enter the reception area through the front door of the school to alert the office that they have arrived
Anyone entering the reception lobby should sanitise their hands immediately on arrival
The child will be brought from their class to the adult by a member of staff
The adult who is collecting will be asked to sign the child out
No adult should enter the school building unless invited to do so
Uniform & Personal Equipment
School uniform should be worn everyday
Parents are welcome to alternate between the tracksuit and uniform. It is advisable that the schol tracksuit/uniform is kept for school only and that children change immediately after school rather than wearing the uniform in after-school facilities, shops, during after-school activities, etc.
Please make sure that all items of clothing are clearly labelled so as to avoid children bringing home the wrong clothing
Children should bring limited personal equipment to school
Lunch boxes and reusable bottles should be of a type that can be easily wiped clean
Children should come appropriately dressed for the weather and should be able to independently manage their bag, coat and shoes.
We urge parents to read this document carefully and to offer their full support in its implementation. We will be writing to you in due course in relation to other areas of operation of the school ahead of re-opening. We will continue to update you in the event of changes in advice or in this policy.
Take care and continue to stay safe.
Kind regards,
Alma Moran
The BoM and the School Leadership Team continue to work towards ensuring a safe return to school for all pupils and staff in two weeks’ time. We have now finalised our plans for drop-off and collection of the children every day.
Mary Mother of Hope Junior and Senior National Schools appreciate your support as we try to safely reopen our schools. If at all possible we request you not to come onto the school grounds or into the school building unless it is absolutely essential. We appreciate that dropping off the Junior & Senior Infant pupils closer to their line is essential, but for the older pupils a drop off at the school gate is desirable. Working together we hope to be able to progress the reopening in as safe a manner as possible for all.
We would ask all parents to familiarise themselves with the following drop-off and collection routines for the safe delivery and collection of pupils from school. Please be patient as we endeavour to embed these necessary precautionary and protective practices at the beginning of the school year.
It is imperative that parents follow these precautions:
Social Distancing: adults do not come within 2m of each other either on their way to or on the school grounds
Avoid Staff Interactions: parents should not try to have meetings with members of staff in the yard at drop-off and collection
times – meetings between parents and teachers can only take place by prior arrangement. (This may have to be more restrictive depending on guidance - it is quite possible that the recommendation will be for remote meetings/telephonic communications.)
Drop-Off and Collection Plan: all parents adhere to the drop-off and collection plans as outlined below
Face Coverings: Parents are strongly advised to wear face coverings when:
bringing children to and from school
when on the school grounds
if they have reason to enter the school building, face covering must be worn
Junior School Arrangements for Arrival at school
Every child should be brought to school as close to 8.50 as possible
Children are encouraged to walk, cycle or scoot to school
Children in 2nd Class and after the first week those in 1st class are asked to walk in from the main gate or from Mick’s Way without their parents/ guardians/older siblings. They should go straight to their line in the yard in front of the school. School staff will supervise from 8.40.
Children from Junior and Senior Infants should be brought to the gates at the entrance to the Junior School campus and staff of the school will direct them to their line from there.
No one other than staff members should enter the Junior School Yard.
In all cases parents/guardians should drop their children and go so as to avoid groups gathering on the campus.
The class teacher will invite the children to enter the building via their designated entrance point at the appropriate time.
No one other than staff members should enter the building unless by prior arrangement
Messages for teachers can be sent via the school app, by email to info@hopejns.ie or by phoning the school office on 01 6405655.
End of School Day
All children will be brought to their line at 1.30/2.30
Children in 2nd Class, for whom we have received written permission will be allowed leave the campus at 2.30 without an accompanying adult/older sibling. Parents who wish to collect their pupils outside of the campus should make arrangements with their child as to where this will be. This should form part of your Drop-Off and Collection Plan, which you should devise and explain to your child ahead of school re-opening.
Collection of Children during the School Day
If an adult has to collect a child during the course of the school day, the following arrangements will apply:
Prior notice should have been given to the school by phone or email.
Make sure to wear face covering throughout your time on the school campus
When the adult arrives at the school, they should either phone the office or enter the reception area through the front door of the school to alert the office that they have arrived
Anyone entering the reception lobby should sanitise their hands immediately on arrival
The child will be brought from their class to the adult by a member of staff
The adult who is collecting will be asked to sign the child out
No adult should enter the school building unless invited to do so
Uniform & Personal Equipment
School uniform should be worn everyday
Parents are welcome to alternate between the tracksuit and uniform. It is advisable that the schol tracksuit/uniform is kept for school only and that children change immediately after school rather than wearing the uniform in after-school facilities, shops, during after-school activities, etc.
Please make sure that all items of clothing are clearly labelled so as to avoid children bringing home the wrong clothing
Children should bring limited personal equipment to school
Lunch boxes and reusable bottles should be of a type that can be easily wiped clean
Children should come appropriately dressed for the weather and should be able to independently manage their bag, coat and shoes.
We urge parents to read this document carefully and to offer their full support in its implementation. We will be writing to you in due course in relation to other areas of operation of the school ahead of re-opening. We will continue to update you in the event of changes in advice or in this policy.
Take care and continue to stay safe.
Kind regards,
Alma Moran