Letter to Parents

21st May 2020

Dear Parents,

I hope you and your families are all keeping well.

At our staff meeting yesterday the teachers asked me to thank you and your children for their outstanding level of interaction on both Google classroom and by email. The quality of the work being submitted is remarkable and we greatly acknowledge and appreciate the huge effort that is going into their work at home.

We also understand that remote learning doesn't suit every child and some have struggled with it but I've no doubt that they have flourished in other ways.

All children will have benefited from the quality time they have had with their families - the family meals, the chats, conversations and debates - that deep family connection that has formed will remain with them forever.

Some children will have developed a love of nature and animals, they have heard birds sing like never before! They also have developed a love for gardening and see the beauty in the weeds. Others have become the best bakers and housekeepers and will have no problem running their own homes in the future! I have heard that some have learned to ride a bike, tie their shoelaces - just to mention a few of the very valuable life skills that have been learned during this time. Other children have discovered their hidden talents.

But most importantly children have developed empathy and an awareness and appreciation of people in the community and beyond who are helping us through this time. I'm sure many pupils stood at their doorsteps and clapped for the nurses and doctors -( some of whom were their own parents) and all front line workers. Some are very aware that their Mom or Dad is taking care of a Grandparent or neighbour at this time -they have seen and felt the love and care that has been shown.

So parents please don't be concerned about your child missing out or falling behind. From what I have seen and heard they are doing great!! Be so proud of everything you have done over the last 10 weeks.

We have decided that for the last 3 weeks of June we are going to do activities as similar as possible to what we would be doing if we were in school. Normally in June we would have Cork City Sports, Sports day, school tours, class plays etc. and most of the curriculum would have been covered. Teachers hope to have most of the work done by the 5th of June also this year.

Our plan is

Sports Week - 8th - 12th June

Science/ Stem week- 15th - 19th June

Well being week 22nd - 26th June

We're already working on making those weeks as much fun as possible for the pupils!

The school received an ICT grant from the Department which we can use to buy 2 laptops to support families with remote learning. If any family would like to borrow a laptop for this purpose for the next 5 weeks please don't hesitate to email me.

Keep safe and well.

Kind regards,

Carmel Walmsley.