PARENTAL UPDATE 10.09.21

Dear Parents

I would like to welcome you and your children back to school and thank you for your punctuality in the mornings so far.  I wish to extend a warm welcome to our new Primary 1 pupils and their parents too!  We hope that you will be happy in St Malachy's in the months and years ahead! 

Please take a little time to read through the news letter below:

Starting well and establishing routines

The first few weeks back can be very tiring for children, so it is always a good idea to establish an early bedtime and daily routines.  These help mental and emotional health greatly. When children arrive home from school, encourage them to get changed into their own clothes as soon as possible, as this aids relaxation.  The earlier homework is done the better, and parental support and encouragement make a big difference to pupil progress.  Try to do it at a table and away from TV or distractions.  Use egg timers to encourage children and always try to focus on the positive elements of children's work.  Praise is much more effective than threats! 

Dinners and Packed Lunches: Crisps are allowed on Mondays/Tuesdays.  We would suggest sending yoghurt or a plain biscuit instead for the rest of the week.  Fizzy drinks are not allowed in school - Water/Milk are always good!  If your child is eligible for Free School Meals, please make sure to apply.  Processing times are usually 4 weeks and pupils must either pay for dinners in the meantime or take a packed lunch.  Details of how to apply are on the www.eani.org.uk/parents website.

Managing Covid

It is widely known that Covid Numbers in schools across the country have been high since starting back.  In St Malachy's we have provided hand sanitisers at the entrance to the school and to classrooms.  I would ask that you and your children always take the time to sanitise before entering an upon leaving and to be mindful of giving personal space to others at the school gate.  Recommended distances remain 2m for adults and 1m for children.  Our school has routine measures in place to prevent infection: 

• Masks are worn by pupils and drivers on school buses
• Classroom windows and doors are opened for ventilation
• Staff members are doing twice weekly Lateral Flow Tests so as to prevent risks of infection.

There is a letter attached to this message from the Chief Medical Officer, which discusses the risks of Covid to school children.  New measures have been put in place by the Executive and PHA to identify close contacts, should a child in any class test positive. Those identified as close contacts by this process will be contacted by the PHA CTS by phone or text, advised they have been identified as a close contact and directed to advice on self-isolation and testing (https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-self-isolating). Parents will be encouraged to inform the school of their child’s positive test or identification as a close contact as part of routine absence reporting.

Healthy Kidz Clubs

All Pupils will be having an extra PE Session each week which will be hosted by Healthy Kidz.  Pupils should wear PE uniforms on Wednesdays and Fridays.  For those who are interested in after schools Gaelic football you can enrol for the Healthy Kidz club on Tuesdays for the next 6 weeks.  Enrol here: 

https://healthy-kidz.com/product/healthy-kidz-afterschools-at-st-malachys-ps-ballymoyer/

Staying Safe on the Ballymoyer Road

The Ballymoyer Road continues to operate a 60mph speed limit, which is a source of great risk to families arriving to school in the mornings especially.  Although the Department of Infrastructure were asked to programme the flashing signs in June, there appears to be a fault with the equipment this year.  I have contacted them again to get these repaired urgently.  Our school is also on the list of schools to be added to the 20mph safe zone, but as yet there has been no update about when this will take effect.  While we wait on these measures to become active, I would encourage all parents and those transporting children to and from school to:

• Walk with your children until they have gone through the school gate and you be sure that they are en-route to their classroom.  (Occasionally children forget something and run back towards their parent).
• Try to Reverse park into the Layby when leaving/collecting children to school.  (This avoids the need to reverse out onto the road when departing) and greatly reduces the risk of an accident. 
• When reversing into the layby, be aware that some parents and children walk behind the cars.
• If parking across the road, please hold your children's hands when crossing and be aware that traffic coming from the Whitecross Direction can do so at speed.
• If chatting to another parent make sure your child remains beside you at all times or is safely in your car.
• Don't use the Church driveway for turning cars or collecting your child (as this creates extreme hazards for those exiting from the school gate).
• In the weeks ahead, please be aware that the Ballymoyer Road doesn't be gritted.  It can be extremely dangerous in the mornings especially.

Minders Club and After Schools Lessons

We aim to offer a Stay and Play Club from 1.30pm-2.45pm for Primary 123 pupils from 4th October as long as Covid numbers/cases stay at nil amongst the class.  Details of this will be issued towards the end of September when the children have had time to settle into school routines properly. 

After Schools Classes for P4-7  (2.45-3.45pm) will run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Details of these will be issued in the form of Consent Letters to children next week. 

Parental Contact Details

Parents will receive Data Collection Forms next week and these must be completed and returned to school as soon as possible.  If your telephone number/address has changed or if your child has a new medical condition, it is very important to let the school know so that we can contact you in the case of an emergency.

SCHOOL APP/TEXT SYSTEM

Most Parental Communications will be issued via the School App from now on.  Occasionally text messages will be used too but only for short/urgent messages). 

If you haven't yet downloaded the school app please do so as soon as possible from the school website: www.Ballymoyer.com

Please also keep referring to the school calendar for upcoming events and holidays.  (Bear in mind that these can be subject to change though).  www.ballymoyer.com/calendar/

Contacting the School and reporting absences

Should you need to contact the school please use teacher email addresses where possible:

Mr Toner: jtoner775@c2kni.net;

Mrs Smith: csmith685@c2kni.net;

Miss Savage: osavage311@c2kni.net;

Mrs Marron: kmarron550@c2kni.net

If your child is absent, please email the teacher or provide a written note.  These are requested by the schools welfare officer when she comes to do the audit.

School Telephone:  028 37507428

Mrs O' Connor (school secretary) works on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and will pass messages onto teachers. 

If your call is urgent:  You can be transferred through to the class teacher but please be aware that he/she must stop their lesson to talk to you, and it is difficult to continue to manage a class during this time. 

(If your child becomes ill or distressed in any way during the school day, we will inform parents without delay).

Here's to a safe, successful and happy year in school!

Yours faithfully

Justin Toner

Principal

P.S - The Chief Medical Officers Letter is attached for you to read about the new guidance for contact tracing.