Remote Teaching and Learning: Information For Parents

First, we would like to wish you all a Happy New Year and hope that all of you are keeping healthy and safe during these difficult times. As you will be aware, the Department of Education has directed schools to stay closed and switch to remote teaching and learning for the month of January. This will be reviewed on 30th January.

Arising from the announcements agreed by Government yesterday, January 7th, we will be making the following arrangements:

1. Monday, 11th January will be a planning day for staff and students. On that day all year groups will have an assembly online to outline what their schedule will involve over the coming weeks. These assemblies will be conducted on the Teams platform commencing for all year groups at 12 noon.
2. Monday will also be a day when students can collect their books from the school. This will be carried out strictly by appointment only for social distancing purposes. Please contact Ms Gilligan - cgilligan@hfk.ie to arrange a time slot.
3. Remote teaching and learning will commence on Tuesday, 12th January from 9am.
4. Students will be expected insofar as possible to follow their normal timetable, but classes will be approximately 50 minutes in duration to allow for a brief screen break after class.
5. Our teachers will continue to do their best to ensure continuity of education for our students as far as possible under the circumstances. However, remote learning cannot replicate exactly the normal learning experience for students. There is no one solution to remote learning which suits all subject. For that reason, there will be different formats at different times. Remote teaching and learning will take several different formats:

• Work and communication from teachers will be through Microsoft 365. All students received training in this since and have been using this regularly.
• Classes may be 'live' using the meeting function on Microsoft Teams.
• Teachers may be available to ask and answer questions through Teams at class-time.
• Teachers may pre-record some lessons or provide a presentation with a voiceover.
• In some cases, students may be working independently on a piece of work agreed with their teacher in advance
• Students are expected to participate in the work as allocated. Any difficulties should be notified to your daughter’s year head as soon as possible.
• Non-attendance will be followed up as per school policies.
• Please note that teachers will be continuing with the curriculum during this time.

6. As you will be aware, like any group of people, our staff may be unavailable due to illness or family responsibilities. We will do our best to find substitute teachers and to keep you informed where necessary, though obviously, we cannot share teachers’ personal details.

7. As far as possible, we would ask that communication with school be within school time.

8. Exam years: The Mock Examinations for 6th years are postponed until further notice. We are awaiting guidance from the Department of Education regarding practical and oral examinations. We are conscious that students in exam years may be feeling very worried. School supports will continue to be available and our Guidance Counsellor, Ms. Hynes will continue to provide career guidance and other support during this period. Students should concentrate on what they can control – such as participating in schoolwork. It is important that they look after their mental health and try not to worry too far ahead. It is important to remember, that all students in the country are in the same position. It has always been our experience that the State Exams Commission has been very fair in making accommodations for students in difficulty.

9. Please be cogniscant of school’s Acceptable User Policy accessible at this link:

Acceptable User Policy

We would ask parents/guardians to go through this with students and to remind that school rules and policies apply to their behaviour while they are learning remotely. Breaches of school rules will be dealt with as per policies.

Please find below methods to contact the school and if you have any issues please let us know:

By email:

General school enquiries: admin@hfk.ie

By phone

01)8310963

The most important thing during this period is that we all work together to reduce the incidence of the virus and keep safe and well. To that end, we remind students to stay home and adhere to all the public health guidelines.

Evelyn McLoughlin, Principal

Clare Gilligan, Deputy Principal