Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

Covid Update.  It is lovely to welcome back the fine weather and be able to enjoy the outdoors in the knowledge that it can be the safest class to be. We are conscious that one swallow doesn’t make a summer, but we will accept it with open hands. There are various bugs and ailments in existence and thankfully families are erring on the side of caution. On a point of information, the attendance rate for this week has been 95.2% which is close on average.

On the next page I have included a Ready Reckoner for parents to answer some questions they may have around their child’s health and Covid 19 absences from school.

Term 3.  We are well into Term 3 and all is busy at our school. Teachers and pupils are working hard to get back on track. In May we will be commencing the process of teacher and class allocation for the upcoming year. Owing to high numbers finishing at senior end and lower numbers enrolling at the junior end in recent years, we will be returning to seven class teachers in lieu of eight from September. This will result in a loss of a teaching post and hence class splitting.

We will also prepare for the administration of Standardised testing in late May / early June and the completion of Annual Report Cards and booklists by mid and late June respectively. We will plan for modified Active Week and Sports Day, condensed tours and other such events in relation to the expected easing of restrictions and best available advice. New entrants will be facilitated by a somewhat modified Open Morning on Friday 11^th June, while our leavers in Rang 6 will have their RSE Day and Graduation Ceremony in late June. We are liaising with secondary schools re: this important transition. Again we will wait for further information on the administration of sacraments this summer which will be relayed immediately to you.

Bus Transport. Reminder. –  Those wishing to apply for bus transport to our school should do so by Friday 30/4/2021. You can do so by visiting this link https://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=522 for further information.

Go Fund Me.  Thanks to your recent generosity a sum of €500 was deposited into the fund established for past pupil Naomi Mulchy of Knockmeal this week. We thank you and wish Naomi a speedy recovery.

Conclusion. I include an updated Academic Calendar for the upcoming months of May & June for your perusal.

I will refer to this in remaining weekly emails of the year.

Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal