Covid-19 Statement
from
Department of Education and Skills
An announcement was made this morning (Thursday 12th March 2020) by the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD of the closure of schools, pre-schools and further and higher education settings, for a period until 29 March 2020, to support efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19. This will take effect from 6pm this evening, Thursday 12 March. This is in line with the advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team.
All pupils and students, from pre-school to third level are urged to practice social distancing, and to minimise physical contact with each other, to help avoid the spread of Covid-19. This should include minimising social contact, avoiding meeting up and keeping physical space between them. Parents and guardians are urged to support their children to maintain this approach.
In order to minimise the impact on teaching and learning all schools will be asked to continue to plan lessons and, where possible, provide online resources for students or online lessons where schools are equipped to do so. Schools are asked to be conscious of students that may not have access to online facilities and to consider this actively in their response.
Schools are asked to prioritise supporting exam classes to continue to prepare for State examinations.
Physical classes in universities and higher education facilities will not be held during the closure. Institutions can make other arrangements for teaching and learning and other activities in line with their business continuity plans and contingency planning.
Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD said:
“I am deeply conscious of the impact that school and education setting closures have on students, on families and on the wider community. This is a necessary and proportionate measure that we are taking as a pro-active measure to help contain the threat of Covid-19.
“This is the right decision at the right time. It is taken in the best interests of our children, our young people, our school and college communities and our wider society.
“At this point in time the closure is planned for two weeks, from tomorrow until 29 March. The Government, in conjunction with the public health authorities, will keep the situation under ongoing review. Any change to that date will be communicated widely.
“Pupils should take their books and learning materials home with them this evening.
“This is a very challenging time for our pupils, our teachers, our students and our colleagues in further and higher education.
“Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine – we all live in one another’s shadow. If there was ever a time for us to appreciate how closely we are connected, how much what we do matters to others, how much we rely on each other, this is it. This is a time where we all need to work together for the best possible outcome for our students. The support of everyone across the sector is vital, as we all strive to ensure that this threat is dealt with as effectively as possible.”
The Department of Education and Skills will remain open and will continue to provide supports to the education sector at this time.
The Department of Education and Skills has been liaising closely on a continual basis with the Department of Health in relation to Coronavirus/Covid-19 since early January. This will continue.
ENDS
Note for editors
The Taoiseach has announced that these measures will take effect from 6pm Thursday 12 March
All pupils and students, from pre-school to third level are urged to practice social distancing, and to minimise physical contact with each other, to help avoid the spread of Covid-19. This should include minimising social contact, avoiding meeting up and keeping physical space between them. Parents and guardians are urged to support their children to maintain this approach.
In order to minimise the impact on teaching and learning all schools will be asked to continue to plan lessons and, where possible, provide online resources for students or online lessons where schools are equipped to do so. Schools are asked to be conscious of students that may not have access to online facilities and to consider this actively in their response.
Schools are asked to prioritise supporting exam classes to continue to prepare for State examinations.
Physical classes in universities and higher education facilities will not be held during the closure. Institutions can make other arrangements for teaching and learning and other activities in line with their business continuity plans and contingency planning.
Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD said:
“I am deeply conscious of the impact that school and education setting closures have on students, on families and on the wider community. This is a necessary and proportionate measure that we are taking as a pro-active measure to help contain the threat of Covid-19.
“This is the right decision at the right time. It is taken in the best interests of our children, our young people, our school and college communities and our wider society.
“At this point in time the closure is planned for two weeks, from tomorrow until 29 March. The Government, in conjunction with the public health authorities, will keep the situation under ongoing review. Any change to that date will be communicated widely.
“Pupils should take their books and learning materials home with them this evening.
“This is a very challenging time for our pupils, our teachers, our students and our colleagues in further and higher education.
“Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine – we all live in one another’s shadow. If there was ever a time for us to appreciate how closely we are connected, how much what we do matters to others, how much we rely on each other, this is it. This is a time where we all need to work together for the best possible outcome for our students. The support of everyone across the sector is vital, as we all strive to ensure that this threat is dealt with as effectively as possible.”
The Department of Education and Skills will remain open and will continue to provide supports to the education sector at this time.
The Department of Education and Skills has been liaising closely on a continual basis with the Department of Health in relation to Coronavirus/Covid-19 since early January. This will continue.
ENDS
Note for editors
The Taoiseach has announced that these measures will take effect from 6pm Thursday 12 March
A Note From
St. Fursey's N.S.
The priority of us all here in St. Fursey's N.S. is to ensure the health and well-being of all in our Local and National Community. The unprecedented nature of the Covid-19 pandemic has altered the shape and fabric of our lives. With social distancing deemed a priority to ensure our health, we now need to educate from a distance and send school work home via our School Website.
Each teacher has already prepared and sent home a pack of school work for pupil's to engage with for the initial fortnight that schools were due to be closed. However we now feel that the time has come to provide more support for you during this "testing" time. All class teachers will provide some ideas, activities, games, appropriate website links, videos and tasks for you to try to engage your child with at home. Please check the relevant Class Pages to find out more information on how your child's teacher will link up with you (Information to follow). Some teachers will provide their work on this website, while others may use Class Dojo, Google Classroom, Email, Blog Pages or External Websites.
Please know that we are doing this to try and maintain some continuity for children during this difficult time. Please understand that this is new territory for us too. We are doing our best in a situation beyond our control. We are trying to offer some support, guidance and help for the children in our classes. Children thrive on routine and hopefully by doing this we can create a new normality for them. We understand that each family is in a different and unique situation at this time. Anxiety levels may be very high and circumstances may be difficult at home. These activities may be completed entirely at the discretion and choice of "you" the parents. You know what is best for your own child at this time. While education is important; the happiness, health and well-being of our children is paramount during this pandemic.
We, the staff of St. Fursey's N.S. miss the children we teach face to face too. We will make sure that academic subject areas will be revisited and caught up on as soon as things return to normal. So try not to worry too much about it for now. Our priority is that we all stay HEALTHY and hopefully we will all see each other face to face soon.
Below is a list of educational websites and apps that you may browse through and find helpful too.
Each teacher has already prepared and sent home a pack of school work for pupil's to engage with for the initial fortnight that schools were due to be closed. However we now feel that the time has come to provide more support for you during this "testing" time. All class teachers will provide some ideas, activities, games, appropriate website links, videos and tasks for you to try to engage your child with at home. Please check the relevant Class Pages to find out more information on how your child's teacher will link up with you (Information to follow). Some teachers will provide their work on this website, while others may use Class Dojo, Google Classroom, Email, Blog Pages or External Websites.
Please know that we are doing this to try and maintain some continuity for children during this difficult time. Please understand that this is new territory for us too. We are doing our best in a situation beyond our control. We are trying to offer some support, guidance and help for the children in our classes. Children thrive on routine and hopefully by doing this we can create a new normality for them. We understand that each family is in a different and unique situation at this time. Anxiety levels may be very high and circumstances may be difficult at home. These activities may be completed entirely at the discretion and choice of "you" the parents. You know what is best for your own child at this time. While education is important; the happiness, health and well-being of our children is paramount during this pandemic.
We, the staff of St. Fursey's N.S. miss the children we teach face to face too. We will make sure that academic subject areas will be revisited and caught up on as soon as things return to normal. So try not to worry too much about it for now. Our priority is that we all stay HEALTHY and hopefully we will all see each other face to face soon.
Below is a list of educational websites and apps that you may browse through and find helpful too.
General Websites/Resources & Lessons:
RTÉ 2 - has confirmed that it will broadcast over an hour of "school on TV" to support primary school children and their parents at home. It is part of a cross-platform teaching initiative that has been developed by RTÉ at short notice with the support of the Department of Education.The one-hour programme will begin on Monday. It will run from 11-12 Monday to Friday on RTÉ 2, with a shorter "catch-up" segment later in the afternoon. It will be aimed particularly at children in 1st to 6th class.
https://www.scoilnet.ie/ (amazing bank of resources for all class levels for all subject areas)
https://www.twinkl.ie/search?term= (A website offering a bank of activities and resources for all class levels. Twinkl is offering parents a free subscription for one month due to school closures)
https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html (choose a grade level and follow through the lessons day by day- covers a broad range of topics and subject areas)
Phonics Websites:
http://www.ictgames.com/literacy.html
https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com (waiving fee at moment due to School Closures)
https://phonicsplay.co.uk/freeIndex.htm
https://www.phonicsbloom.com
https://www.mrmcmakingmemories.com
http://www.letters-and-sounds.com
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows
http://epicphonics.com
https://www.starfall.com/h/ltr-classic/
PE/ Gross Motor Skills Websites:
PE with The Body Coach - The Body Coach Joe provides children with half hour PE lesson every morning live on his youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz0go1pTda8
https://www.gonoodle.com/
https://www.wired.com/2009/08/simpleoutdoorplay/
https://www.themeasuredmom.com/indoor-gross-motor-activities/
SESE/Arts Websites:
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html
https://www.brainpop.com/science/seeall/
https://www.deepspacesparkle.com/
https://babbledabbledo.com/20-preschool-art-projects/
https://dabbledoomusic.com/p/parents (offering free subscription for a month in light of School Closures)
Maths Websites:
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/Search.aspx?Subject=16
https://www.khanacademy.org/
https://www.whizz.com/en-us/
https://www.fun4thebrain.com/
Apps (Literacy & Numeracy):
Hairy Letters
Jolly Phonics
Pirate Phonics
Pocket Phonics
Eggy Words
Eggy Alphabet
King of Maths
Leaf Snap