NUACHTLITIR, LÚNASA 20, 2020

A chairde

Ta obair dhian ar siúl, faoi bhrú ama, chun ullmhú d’oscailt na scoile. Beidh Plean Freagartha na Scoile ullamh go luath ina iomlán ach is mian linn codanna de a roinnt libh anois chun cabhrú libh fail réidh. Faíltimid i gcónaí roimh moltaí agus/nó ceisteanna. Beidh tuilleadh eolais go luath.
Cúpla poinnte tapaidh:
(Freisin, féach an nóta ón scoil ar an 15 Lúnasa: http://ww2.cnocnare.net/nl150820/)

Osclóidh an scoil ag 8.40 gach lá, ag dúnadh ag 2.20.
Tiocfaidh páistí ar scoil idir 8.40 agus 9.10 gach maidin agus fágfaidh siad idir 2.10 agus 2.20 (sonraí iomlána thíos).
Beidh srianta ar an gcarrchlós, mínithe thíos.
Beidh béim mhór ar folláine, labhairt (Gaeilge ach go háirithe) agus Mata ó bhéal ag tús na bliana.
Fanfaidh leabhair na bpáistí ar scoil sa bhosca a chuirfidh an scoil ar fáil. Ní bheidh aon obair bhaile scríofa/foirmiúil don chéad mhí seachas léitheoireacht agus ó am go chéile gníomhaíochtaí molta sa bhaile.

Intensive work is underway, under pressure of time, to fully prepare for the opening of the school. The School Response Plan will be complete soon but we need to share parts of it now to help you get ready. As always, we welcome suggestions and/or questions.
A few quick points:
(See also note from school on 15 August: http://ww2.cnocnare.net/nl150820/ )

The school will open at 8.40 each day, closing at 2.20.
Children arrive at school between 8.40 and 9.10 each morning and leave between 2.10 and 2.20 (full details below).
There will be restrictions on the car park, explained below.
There will be a strong emphasis on wellbeing, oral language (especially Irish) and oral Maths at the beginning of the year.
Children’s books and copies will remain in class in the box provided by the school. There will be no written/formal homework for the first month other than reading and occasionally suggested activities at home.

Eolas ón bPlean Freagartha/Selected Items from School Response Plan:

CARRCHLÓS/CARPARK

We strongly encourage children to walk or cycle to school. Please note the following changes to the school car park

There will be no parking in the carpark, except for staff.
There will be a designated ‘drop and go’ area at the front of the school. Strictly no parking will be allowed in this area.
There will be a designated bus drop and collection area at the school footpath.
Parking if required will be to the rear of the pitch. Children arriving by car may be left to the gate adjacent to the viewing steps and will follow the footpath to access school grounds at the tunnel. Please note that adults accompanying children will not be permitted beyond the tunnel area.

Drop Off and Collection Times

Schools must “limit interaction on arrival and departure from school.”

To help reduce the amount of traffic around the school grounds, children are asked to walk, cycle, scoot to school if at all possible.
Arrival to school will be from 8.40 to 9.10 each morning. To minimise the risks, and help maintain social distancing, the children are not permitted onto school grounds before 8.40am.

The following arrival and departure procedures will be put in place
8.40 All staff to be present to support arrival of pupils; Class teachers to be in classroom; SETs SNAs and Principal to support arrival of pupils at front and sides of school.
8.40 – 8.50 Arrival of buses; Arrival of Children with no siblings
8.50 – 9.00 Arrival of Children with siblings – Naíonaín go Rang a 2
9.00 – 9.10 Arrival of children with siblings – Rang a 3 go Rang a 6 and Mixed (Junior and Senior)

Children will go straight to their class room every morning. There will be no línte or congregating on yard.
Children from Naíonáin Shoisir (Múinteoir Yvonne) will use the main front door.
Children from Naíonáin Shinsir (Rang Jade) will use the entrance door of St Mary’s. Children in prefabs go straight to their prefab.
Children will sanitise upon entering the school (there will be a sanitisation point at each entrance).
Children will hang their coats on the back of their chairs in order to avoid congregating at the coat hangers.

We ask for co-operation with these times as it will mean that the numbers on school grounds at any one time will be minimised. No adults, other than staff members, should enter the school building or classrooms and admittance beyond drop-off points will not be permitted except by appointment only.Messages for teachers can be sent through Aladdin or by phoning the school office.
End of School Day

When the school day for that class is over the following staggered arrangements will apply –
- 2.10 Departure of children going home by bus.School buses will have their own guidance about seating.
- 2.15 Departure of children walking/cycling home
- 2.20 Collection of all other children

Adults, who are collecting their children from school at the end of the day, should wait at the designated markers on the steps (beside St. Mary’s main pitch) with social distance observed. Adults should leave the collection area once children have been collected in order to avoid congestion.
We ask for co-operation with these times as it will mean that the numbers congregating on school grounds at any one time will be minimised.
It is imperative that

adults stay 2m apart

Parents do not try to have meetings with members of staff in the playground at drop-off and collection times – meetings between parents and teachers can only take place by prior arrangement. It is hoped that most correspondence will be able to take place via email.

All parents adhere to the drop-off and collection plans as outlined.

We would ask all parents to familiarise themselves with the 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. As problems arise the routine will be altered if necessary.

Leabharliostaí – Leabhair ar Chíos/ Booklists – School Book Rental Scheme
Tabhair faoi deara go gceannóidh an scoil na leabhair agus cóipleabhair ar fad – cuir an mór iomlán chuig an scoil ag tús na scoilbhliana nua (sonraí íocaíochtaí thíos) Tá breis eolais le feiceáil ar shuíomh idirlín na scoile (http://ww2.cnocnare.net/ll2020/). Scaipfear na leabhair ar na páistí ar an gcéad lá ar ais agus is ga go níocfar astu faoin lá seo. Tabharfaidh tú faoi deara go bhfuil ciseán luaite ar chuid de na leabharliostaí, a úsáidfear sna ranganna chun leabhair srl. a fhágáil go néata ar scoil. Tá Árachas Pearsanta 24/7 clúdaithe ag suim laghdaithe (€5.50) sa phraghas.
Please note that the school buys all books and copybooks – please return the total due when school reopens (details of online payment below). Full details of the books and costings are on the school website (http://ww2.cnocnare.net/ll2020/) All items should be individually marked with children’s names, particularly Junior Infants. Books will be distributed on the first day back and should be paid for by then. Personal Pupil Accident 24 hour cover at a reduced rate of €5.50 is included in the booklist price.

N.B. ! Cuirfidh an scoil bosca ar fáil ar mhaithe le gach rud a stóráil go sábháilte ar scoil.
The school will supply each child with a covered box to safely store their books and stationery at school.
Seo thíos costas na leabhair do gach rang/ The following is the cost of books for each class:
Naíonáin Shóisir/Junior Infants €60; Naíonáin Shinsir/Senior Infants €70; Rang 1 €75; Rang 2 €80; Rang 3 €80; Rang €80; Rang 5 €80; Rang 6 €75

ÍOCAÍOCHTAÍ ARLÍNE/ONLINE PAYMENTS
Má oireann daoibh, bheimis buíoch táillí a bheith seolta chugainn ag úsáid na sonraí thíos ag baint úsáid as do chóras baince féin. Déan cinnte go bhfuil ainm an phaiste/clainne sa tagairt íocaíochta.
Parents can use their own online banking service to make payments using the following details (NB ensure your child/family name is in the text narrative)
ULSTER BANK
IBAN: IE67ULSB98626052804007
BIC: ULSBIE2D

Roghanna Eile/OTHER OPTIONS
Seic tríd an phost roimh 27/8 nó i gclúdach litreach, le do pháiste ar gcéad lá scoile. Ná cuir airgead crua tríd an phost le bhur dtoil. Post a cheque to school, or drop into school letterbox, before 27^th; or send in an envelope with your child on their first day at school. Please mark name clearly on envelope. (no cash by post please)GRMA!

N.B.!! – Ailléirge Cnó – Nut Allergy
Féach an nóta tábhachtach./Please read this note carefully.
Tá roinnt páistí óga sa scoil atá ailéirgeach le cnónna le bagairt frithghníomh ailléirgeach géar. Ós rud é gur féidir le seo bheith baolach don bheatha, iarraimid bhur gcabhair an riosca a íoslaghdú dona páistí trí:

gan cnónna a bheith ag do pháiste don lón,
gan Nutella (leathadh seacláide déanta le cnónna coill) ná im piseanna talún a úsaid,
gan sneaiceanna / barraí ina bhfuil cnónna nó a lipéadaítear ” rianta cnó” a bheith i lónta scoile, agus
gan lón a roinnt.

Toisc déine na faidhbe, tá sé tábhachtach go gcuirfidh gach tuismitheoir i gcrích na bearta molta agus an baol frithghníomhú ailléirgeach a laghdú dona páistí seo. Tá polasaí lóin sláintiúil i bhfeidhm i nGaelscoil Chnoc na Ré agus ar an gcúis sin iarraimid oraibh gan milseáin, criospaí, deochanna súilíneacha, borróga, muifíní, císte, iógairt seacláide ná barraí arbhair a thabhairt don lón ach oiread. Gabhaimid buíochas leat as bhur gcomhoibriú.
Please note that a number of children in the school have a severe allergic reaction to peanuts/nuts. This allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock) can occur through ingestion of peanut/nut products, cross contamination and breathing peanuts in the air. Since this condition can be life threatening, we are asking for your help in minimising the risk to these children by:

Avoiding giving children peanuts in school lunches
Avoiding giving peanut butter sandwiches, as well as other spreads containing nuts such as Nutella
Avoiding giving snacks/bars containing nuts or labelled “may contain nut traces” in school lunches
Asking children notto share their lunches.

Due to the severity of the problem, it is important that all parents carry out the suggested measures and reduce the risk of allergic reaction to these children. We have a healthy eating policy in Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré and for that reason we ask that sweets, crisps, fizzy drinks, buns, muffins, slices of cake, chocolate yogurts or cereal bars NOT be given for lunch. We thank you for your co-operation.

Naíonáin Shóisir/Junior Infants
Rachaidh na Naíonáin Shóisir abhaile ag 12.00 gach lá ar feadh tamaillín ag tús na bliana: 27/8 – 11/9/2019, agus ag 1.20 ó sin ar aghaidh.
Junior Infants will finish at 12.00 each day for the first weeks: 27/8 – 11/9/2019, and thereafter at 1.20pm.

AN BORD BAINISTÍOCHTA- ranníocaíocht dheonach /BOARD of MANAGEMENT voluntary contribution
Re: School Financing and Operation/Maoiniú agus Feidhmiú na Scoile
Mar is eol daoibh, bíonn maoiniú do scoileanna mar dheacracht i gcónaí agus níl aon eisceacht ann i dtaobh Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré. I mbliana, teastaíonn ón mBord Bainistíochta an gannchion airgid i dtaca le costais oibriúcháin na scoile a láimhseáil le ranníocaíocht dheonach. Leanfaidh tuismitheoirí Cairde leo ag eagrú gníomhaíochtaí tiomsaithe airgid a bheidh dírithe ar fhorbairt na scoile ar bhonn leanúnach. Tá rátaí na ranníocaíochta socraithe againn mar a bhí ann anuraidh, se sin: Teaghlach le páiste amháin €70
Teaghlach le beirt pháiste €100
Teaghlach le triúr páistí ar a laghad €110
Cé gur féidir an t-airgead a íoc ón lá a fhaigheann tú an litir seo, tá fhios againn go bhfuil brú airgid ar dhaoine, mar sin iarrfar ort an t-airgead a íoc ina dhá chuid, is é sin €35, €50 nó €55 ag brath ar an méid páistí ón teaghlach atá ag freastal ar an scoil. Beidh an dá chuid le híoc faoin 30ú Meán Fómhair 2020 agus 1ú Márta 2021. Beimid ag brath ar lántacaíocht uaibhse chun ár sprioc-ioncam a bhaint amach.

Shocraíomar na rátaí ag leibhéal chomh híseal agus ab fhéidir i ngeall ar an staid eacnamaíoch faoi láthair. Níl a bhac ort ranníocaíocht níos airde a íoc más acmhainn duit agus bheimis an-bhuíoch díot as ucht do fhlaithiúlachta agus do thiomantais don scoil. Mura bhfuil ar do chumas an méid thuasluaite a íoc áfach, mholfaimis duit dul chun cainte le Micheál. Is eadraibh amháin a bheidh an comhrá agus coinneofar faoi rún é. Ar mhaithe le cothramaíocht, ta sé i gceist ag an mBord meabhráin a eisiúint más gá i gcásanna nach bhfuil teagmháil déanta le Mícheál mar atá leagtha amach thuas.
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As you are well aware, funding for schools is an annual issue and Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré is no exception. This year the Board of Management again seeks to raise the shortfall in school operating costs by way of the voluntary contribution. Cairde fund raising will be dedicated to the continued development of the school. We aim to raise an amount of €9,000 and have decided that voluntary contribution rates for the current year will be retained at last year’s levels ie

Family with one child only €70
Family with two children €100
Family with three or more children €110

While payment may be made from the date of this letter, we are extremely conscious that there are many costs facing each of us we will seek payment in two moieties in equal amounts of €35, €50 or €55 depending on the number of children from your family attending the school. The final dates for payment of each moiety are 30^th September 2020 and 1st March 2021. Achieving our target income will require your full support.
We have kept the rates as low as possible, conscious of the current economic conditions. If you are in a position to contribute at a higher rate we would encourage you to do so and will be greatly appreciative of your generosity and commitment to the school. Equally however if your circumstances are such that making a contribution in the amount stated above, is a burden you cannot now meet, please talk to Mícheál. Such discussions will be entirely between you and him and will remain totally confidential to you both. To ensure equity to all parents/guardians it is the Board’s intention to issue reminders where payment is not made and where no communication as described above is made to and agreed with Michéal.

Cabhair ag teastáil/Help required
Táimid ag lorg roinnt tuismitheoirí (scartha go sóisialta) chun an taobh amuigh den scoil a ghlanadh roimh thús na scoilbhliana nua ar an Luain (24/8) ó 6-7.i.n. Ní neart go cur le chéile! (Is fear nach mbeadh páistí ann le bhur dtoil)We would appreciate it if a number of parents would be willing to lend a socially -distanced hand at a clean-up of the school grounds on Monday August 24^th from 6 – 7 p.m. Many hands make light work! (No children please)