Dear Dads, Mums, Pupils and Staff,
We have been asked to share this appeal with you. It can be hard to keep going and to keep following the guidelines, but it is the only way to make sure that we all stay safe.
Yours sincerely,
C. O’Reilly – Principal
Redouble efforts to drive down Covid-19
– a joint appeal by the HSE, Waterford City and County Council and the Gardai
The HSE, Waterford City and County Council and the Gardai are appealing to people locally to redouble their efforts to drive down transmissions of Covid-19.
The three principal response agencies have expressed their concern at the substantial rise in figures of confirmed cases in Co. Waterford recorded by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NEPHT) over recent days.
The HSE, the local authority and the Gardai say most of the public in city and county areas have been brilliant throughout the recent level 5 and other stages of pandemic management. The three agencies acknowledge the huge sacrifices that have been made by individuals, families and communities in Co. Waterford and have reiterated the message that if people apply “the basics” that such actions to suppress the virus can and will work.
Since the declaration of the pandemic in March of this year, in general, the Waterford and South East area has excelled in efforts to maintain low levels of Covid-19 transmission. The HSE, Waterford City and County Council and the Gardai say the increase of recent days can be reversed, as has happened previously, and that things can return to moving in the right direction for the remainder of the current phase of pandemic management.
The HSE, Waterford City and County Council and the Gardai, in reminding the public to comply with Level 5 restrictions are once more highlighting the message that “it’s in our hands” – via the continued practice of the “basics”:
- Reduce your contacts with other people.
- Wear a mask.
- Keep your distance.
- Wash your hands.
NOTES:
- For what to do when you’re waiting for a test, when you get a result and when you need to isolate, please see: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/managing-coronavirus-at-home/self-isolating-and-restricting-movements-differences.html
- For up to date public health advice and a comprehensive range of other important information on Covid 19, please see https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
- Information about level 5 restrictions is at www.gov.ie
Reminder
Thank you again to everyone who is helping to make our Stop, Drop/Pick Up, Go system so successful. We know that it may take a few minutes extra on rainy days and we appreciate your patience. Here are some little reminders to keep you and everyone else safe:
- If you are driving, please stay in your car. A staff member will bring your child to you.
- Use the drive through system and do not block traffic by parking on the road.
- If you are walking, please wear a mask and do not stand in line with the girls.
Mobile Phones and Electronic Devices
The girls are strongly encouraged not to bring mobile phones to school. If for some reason, a child absolutely must bring a mobile phone to school, it should be switched off outside the gate and given to the teacher before class begins. The girls are usually very good about doing that. However, if the phone is not handed up it will be confiscated, and a Parent/Guardian will need to come to the school to collect it. Smart watches are also considered electronic devices and are not allowed at school.
Comhairle na nÓg
Comhairle na nÓg (www.comhairlenanog.ie) are local councils for children and young people, aged 12-17, that give them a voice on the development of local policies and services. This year, Waterford Comhairle na nÓg will hold its annual general meeting, online, on Saturday, 28th November 2020 between 11am and 1pm. The topic this year is Nature and the Environment
If you are aged 12 or over, and you would like to take part, please contact Miss O’Reilly and she will give you all the information you need to take part. You must register for the event before November 24th.
Weekly Assembly
We are delighted to have gotten back to our weekly Assemblies. All the children and the staff have been meeting through Zoom on Friday mornings and it is working very well for us. Last Friday, Miss Kelly led a short reflection on the theme of the Holy Souls. Next, each class reported on some of the things that they had been working on during the week. After that, Miss O’Reilly had some announcements and reminders, and this was followed by our Green School Wrapper Report. Before we finished, we sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to anyone who had celebrated a big day during the week. Finally, as it was World Kindness Day, we closed the Assembly with a short meditation suggested by Mrs. Power on the theme of kindness.
High Vis Jackets
Many thanks to Mrs. Shanahan who sourced some High Vis Jackets for the girls in our school from the RSA. As you know our school is located on a busy road with lots of construction and other forms of traffic coming and going throughout the day. The mornings and evenings are getting darker making it even more important to be as visible as possible.
We have a Stop, Drop & Go system in place which is working very well in the mornings and afternoons and those children who can are making a great effort to walk/scoot to school. If the girls wear their High Vis Jackets, they will be clearly seen by all other road users keeping them safe. The Jackets are also very helpful to the staff during drop off and collection as the children can be clearly identified. We are very grateful to have received the jackets and we hope that the girls will put them to good use over the coming months. Remember – Be Safe Be Seen.
