Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are well this week as we reach the end of September. Our news this week is as follows

• The HSE have issued new guidance for parents/guardians re changes to testing and contact tracing in primary schools. This can be accessed at

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/13610-information-for-parents-about-the-changes-to-contact-tracing-and-testing-for-children-aged-between-3-months-and-13-years-in-early-learning-and-care-elc-and-school-age-childcare-sac-education-primary-school-sports-and-social-settings/

if your child develops symptoms of Covid 19 or seems unwell or off form the advice remains to not send them into school and contact your GP for advice.  For an up to date guide on symptoms please see below

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a04fc-advice-for-students-and-their-families/

• 2^nd class have been busy as they are taking part in a literacy hour every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. They are revising phonic sounds and using this skill to decode and extend their word knowledge. They are also applying these skills to writing. Ms Kelleher, Ms Halliday, Ms Riordan/Ms Fleming and Ms Fitzgerald are working with them on this initiative. As well as that 2^nd have been learning all about people in the community this week. They have been discussing what jobs they would like to do when they are older. They also explored what the job of an astronaut entails. Maybe we have a future astronaut in 2^nd class!!!
• As we roll out our Weaving Wellbeing programme across all classes we are putting up a Gratitude tree on the window at the front of the school. Every week two pupils from each class will be asked to contribute to this saying what it is they are grateful for. We hope to share these across the whole school at Cruinniu on Fridays.
• As the weather has turned colder and wetter this week we ask that your child brings a coat to school. If we can get outside at breaktimes we will even if there is a slight drizzle.  A coat may be necessary for your child. It is important to aid ventilation in the classrooms that pupils get outside as much as possible.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, Principal