Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are well as we begin the final month of 2021! Our news this week is as follows

• From last Monday 29^th November the free antigen programme has been rolled out for primary schools. If your child tests positive for COVID 19 you are required to let the school know. You can do this by emailing office@tolasns.com or ringing 061 362894. We will then contact the parents of the other pupils in your child’s pod with details on how to apply for free antigen tests. We will not be identifying any pupil who has tested positive.  5 tests will be delivered and parents will be asked to administer tests on day 0,2 and 4. If the child is well, symptom free and receives a negative antigen test they continue to attend school. Parents do not have to administer antigen tests if they so wish and the child can continue to attend school as long as they are symptom free.  If the antigen test is positive they restrict their movements and parents need to book a PCR test.  If the antigen test is negative and the child has any symptoms parents need to book a PCR test and the child remains at home until they receive the results of the PCR test. I would like to thank all the parents who have co-operated with this new programme this week.
• As you are aware the government announced on Tuesday evening last that all pupils from 3^rd-6^th classes in primary schools are now required to wear masks. There are some exceptions to this including pupils who have medical conditions and pupils with certain categories of additional needs. We are aware that an adjustment period will be needed for pupils to get used to wearing masks and all staff will be sensitive to the needs of the pupils at this time. I was so impressed by the pupils yesterday when I visited 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th classes to chat about this new requirement. Many of the pupils were wearing masks from yesterday and they had some insightful and interesting questions for me. Further clarifications may be received by schools in the coming days on this issue and I will communicate them when I receive them. This is a temporary measure and we all hope that numbers being infected by COVID 19 nationwide decrease in the coming weeks and this requirement for our pupils will be lifted.
• All classes are busy preparing a short song/poem/performance for Christmas. This will be shared on Seesaw with parents before the end of term. It will not be possible to have parents attend in person this year due to Covid restrictions.
• We will have our annual Carol Service on Wednesday 22^nd December at 10a.m. and it will take place via Zoom. The Zoom link will be shared with parents/guardians closer to the time but you may want to mark the date and time in your diary.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, Principal