Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,                                                                                         

Welcome Back – School has been up and running for the junior side this past week and all is going well, thank God. The attendance rate for the week has been 98%. The weather, albeit still cold but dry, has been helpful and children have enjoyed their playtime with their friends as much as anything. We look forward to hearing if school can resume for the senior side on Monday 15th March, as anticipated.

Remote Teaching & Learning – This will continue for those pupils in Rang 3 – Rang 6 for the coming week. Another update will be sent to relevant personnel mid week informing you of any developments in this regard.

Return to School Declaration – As with the pupils already returned, School Family Declarations were sought for each individual child before joining us on Monday last.  This will continue with the children due to return from the senior side. Please keep slips which were posted previously for this purpose. If you haven’t received one you will do so by post next week. These slips will also be used for any periods of absence over one day for the rest of the year. I would again ask that parents would drop their children at the school gate and not enter the premises without a pre arranged appointment (if necessary) this is in line with the Covid-19 Response Plan for All Schools.

Isolation Quick Guide – I enclose a HSE guide on isolation called “Isolation Quick Guide for Parents and Guardians of Children Older Than 3 Months and Up to 13 Years of Age” It is a font of knowledge answering questions you may have on Covid, school attendance, restriction of movement or self isolation. Please familiarise yourself with its content.

Sacraments – Our sacraments days are all planned for May 2021. The Holy Communions are scheduled for Sunday 9^th May at the Nire and Saturday 15^th May in Fourmilewater. As regards Confirmation, our Rang 6 Nire pupils will receive the Sacrament along with Rang 6 from Touraneena N.S. at St. Mary’s Church, Touraneena on Saturday 29^th May. Their FMW classmates will receive the Sacrament the following day (Sunday 30^th May) in Fourmilewater Church. Even though these dates are now published, they are provisional and based on the projected easing of Covid-19 restrictions and the return of people to places of worship, albeit perhaps in a restricted fashion. We thank Fr Michael & Fr. Garrett for their assistance in this regard.

Seachtain na Gaeilge – Ceiliúirimid ár dteanga agus ár gcultúr ag an am seo, suas go dtí lá Fhéile Padraig. Bain níos mó úsáide as an nGaeilge le linn na féile: sa bhaile, le do chairde, ar an nguthán, i do ríomhphoist agus poist ar na meáin shóisialta – Féach ar an suíomh idirlíon snag@cnag.ie do liostaí, frásaí agus acmhainní eile chun cabhrú leat.

(Irish Week – We celebrate our language and our culture at this time, up to St. Patrick’s Day. Please try to use the language more during the festivities; at home with your friends, on the phone, in your emails and your social media posts – Look at the website snag@cnag.ie for lists, phrases and other resources to help you.)

“Shout out” – Kudos to Gavin Flynn for mentioning our school in his broadcasted piece aired on Wednesday’s 2FM Breakfast Show. Gavin mentioned that he was heading off to school to meet up with his Rang 1 classmates and Mr. Earley, his teacher.

Reminder – The school will close on Wednesday 17^th March 2021 to celebrate our national patron, Saint Patrick.

Conclusion – Semi-normality has resumed at school and we are progressing smoothly as we did prior to Christmas. It is important that we maintain our vigilance in all we do especially if given the go ahead to fully return from Monday 15^th March. I thank you all for your continued cooperation.

Le gach dea ghuí.

Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal