SHS Covid Response Plan August 2021

Sacred Heart School, Tullamore

Covid -19 Response Plan for the safe and sustainable reopening of Post Primary Schools

This is a living document and may be reviewed and amended to take into account new guidance from www.Gov.ie, www.dbei.ie , www.hse.ie, www.hpsc.ie, www.hsa.ie; www.education.ie or agreements with education partners as appropriate for primary and special schools.

Please download the entire plan here (pdf)

Introduction

The Minister for Education has published “The Roadmap for the Full Return to School” on the 27th July and this was updated again in February 2021. It sets out what the operation of schools will look like and the range of supports which will be available in a COVID-19 context.

 It has been developed in line with public health advice issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and in compliance with the “Return to Work Safely Protocols” developed by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Health with guidance documents provided by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). Each workplace is required to have a COVID-19 Response Plan. In addition to being places of learning, schools are also places of work. This document sets out the information that post primary schools need to implement a School COVID-19 Response Plan, including a COVID19 policy, lead worker representative/s (LWR) and a process to deal with a suspected case of COVID-19. 

The purpose of this document is to provide clear and helpful guidance for the safe operation of post primary schools through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19. It provides key messages to minimise the risk of COVID-19 for staff, students, families and the wider community while recognising the importance of education for the health and wellbeing of students and society as a whole.

This document focuses on the practical steps which can be taken in post primary schools to minimise the risk of infection while recognising that no interpersonal activity is without risk of transmission of infection at any time. The documentation and templates in this booklet are supported by the public health advice provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) for the safe reopening of schools and educational facilities. 

One of the key challenges is to balance the need for a practical and sensible level of caution with the need to provide a supportive environment for teaching and learning. This document identifies the steps schools can take to do everything practical to avoid the introduction of COVID-19 into the school, and the steps that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of the spread within the school itself in the event that COVID-19 is introduced to the school. 

The Department has worked intensively with the education partners to develop consistent plans, advice, protocols and guidance for schools, including the School COVID-19 Response plan. There is a suite of documentation available to support schools to reopen safely and fully including guidance on learning, school programmes and wellbeing for the 2020/21 school year. There is also information on funding, staffing and resources to schools to support COVID-19 measures. Schools are advised to familiarise themselves with these documents. All of the documents will be available at gov.ie/backtoschool

 In addition the Department has a communication plan for school reopening which focuses on ensuring that schools, school communities and all stakeholders will have the relevant information to support the reopening and continued operation of schools. There is a COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe and sustainable reopening of post primary schools with particular focus on supporting parents and students through the appropriate use of media channels, through schools themselves and on gov.ie.

Please continue reading by downloading the entire plan here (pdf)

School returns for 1/2/3/TYyr group

Dear Parent/Guardian,

As school returns for 1/2/3/TYyr group  -12.04.2021-we would like to revisit and  outline the SHS  Covid procedures:

All students are expected to return to on site learning unless that they have a condition that warrants a medical  certificate or letter from a GP.

School access:  All students access school from 8.10-8.45 via Daingean rd. or Harbour Rd  for temperature check, mask check and hand sanitising.

Return to school form: Please complete the return to school form on school website by Sunday evening 13-04-2021– Have a screen shot ready of this for  temperature check in on Monday 01.03.2021

Late access: Students who attend school after 8.45 need to only enter the school through the Daingean rd entrance for temperature check and to record the same.

Absences: All absences illness appointments are logged by sending an email to the relevant Covid officer TY 5th 6th year – A.Griffin@shstullamore.ie——1-3rd yr-L.Corley@shstullamore.ie  – Please send email by 8.30 in advance of any absence

Illness follow up: Please contact the Covid officer re progress of student who has been ill and do not attend school until this contact has been made,. Prior to school return please fill in the Return to school form on the school website- www.shstullamore.ie under Covid 19 tab. Any school return after absence is based on GP and HSE advice.

Travel outside of Ireland– The school follows all DFA guidelines re returning from any travel abroad and as this is always being updated we trust that this will be followed in all cases.

Parent/Guardian school access: Please contact the school by email to arrange any request for appointment. Limited access available to school office hence all letters to be left at outside hatch.

Illness Please do not attend for school if your daughter is unwell and has any of the Covid symptoms as noted on HSE- Symptoms of COVID-19 – HSE.ie and make sure that you have contacted the relevant Covid officer.  School return after illness relating to any Covid symptoms is always dependant on HSE/GP advice.

In line with Level 5 restrictions please ensure that there is no congregation in the school carpark/entrances to school.

Thank you for your cooperation and support with all these procedures over the last term and we look forward to our continuing partnership to help protect our school community going forward for the remainder of the school year.

 

      Regards,

    Luke Corley                               Pauline Mc Kenna

    Lydia Mooney                           Orla Healy

    Annette Griffin

      Covid Admin team