Parent Information Update 31 August 2020

Dear Parent(s) / Guardian(s),

We are absolutely delighted to have our students back in the school and we look forward to getting classes underway later this week. We thank you for your patience and cooperation as we endeavour to put all measures in place to prevent Covid-19 entering or spreading in the school.

The safety and the wellbeing of our students and teachers is of paramount importance to us and as our classes commence this week, we want to update you on our Covid protocols at St. Mary’s:

• Our Response Plan, Policy statement and Risk assessment V1 are available on our website http://holyfaith.ie/page/Covid-19/94542/Index.html
• Students remain in base rooms except for option classes. Movement is limited and classes are in bubbles
• We have engaged in structural changes to support social distancing requirements:
  
  -Our hall has become two big classrooms
  -Our craft room has been reconfigured into a large classroom
  -We have removed a partition wall and created a large classroom
  -We have created four staff areas
  - Our car park is closed to the public at this time

• We have installed multiple sanitizing stations at key locations in the school and cleaning stations are positioned in classrooms
• Corridors, bathrooms and classrooms (including surfaces) are cleaned daily and all students and teachers clean their work surfaces throughout the day
• We have zoned our school by year group and we have a one-way system in place
• Extracurricular classes are suspended until further notice
• Unfortunately, our canteen cannot facilitate social distancing and is not operating at present
• Unfortunately, our lockers cannot be used so as to prevent the spread of the virus
• Unfortunately, our water fountain cannot be used at this time
• Students should bring a packed lunch to school and bring left over food items and wrappers home each day
• Students are encouraged to go outside at lunch and break times
• We will provide outdoor movement and breath breaks during well-being classes to provide a reprieve for the girls
• Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate visitors to the school at this time. Entry to the school is by appointment only and we would ask that you do not use the car park at this time to allow for social distancing of students
• We have an isolation room set up for students presenting with cases
• Wellbeing classes will support students in reintegrating to school
• Our car parks are for teachers only at this time. We would be grateful if you could please use the drop off area at Brookwood Meadow entrance if you are dropping your daughter to school
• If there is a case of Covid –19 in the school, the HSE is the body responsible for contact tracing
• If your daughter has travelled abroad to any country that is not included on the government's green list, you must inform the school and fill in a self declaration form to confirm that you have fulfilled the mandatory self isolation time before returning to school. You can download the self declaration form HERE.

Please note:

For safety reasons and to facilitate social distancing , we would ask that parents observe the traffic flow system at Brookwood Meadow and avoid using the car park of the school at this time. This will prevent congregation, minimise interaction and allow adequate space for the students to stay 2M apart. Students are encouraged to walk or cycle to school if possible, a new bike rack is in place.