Summer Message to All of Our School Families

“We All Stand Together”

Win or lose, sink or swim
One thing is certain, we'll never give in
Side by side, hand in hand
We all stand together

Play the game, fight the fight
But what's the point on a beautiful night?
Arm in arm, hand in hand
We all stand together.

Dear Parents

Every year we sing this Paul McCartney song at First Class Graduation and I cry a little tear. This year we are together apart.

I think of the three years of being involved with such lovely children, watching them blossom and grow and enjoying the warmth and good humour of your support as parents. And so our First classes are moving on this week. They have been an exceptional year group, full of wit and wisdom, intelligence, curiosity and oh so much fun! It has been such a joy to meet with them at their weekly zooms. Nothing can replace that special gathering in our school hall but, like everyone else at this time, we are grateful for the small things in life.

Your children have graduated; they received their certificates and photos in the post. They will meet their new Second Class teachers this week. Lucky Principal, Ms Gartland and teachers Ms Whiston and Ms O’Callaghan. We expect to see them laughing a lot next year! Thank you for making our lives so bright, First Class of 2020. All of us look forward to having you as good neighbours and lifelong friends as you move through the Senior school.

Senior Infant children move to First Class and will be our new school leaders! They will be fantastic role models for the new children. We trust them to jump straight back into learning, reuniting with friends and teachers and making up for lost time. We know they can do this with the support and kindness of their new Class Teachers and the Learning support team.

Junior Infants had achieved so much by 12 March. What a pity their first year in school was so disrupted. They had settled into school and were bouncing in the gate every day, so positive for the day ahead. It was really great for their teachers to chat with you and hear how well they are managing. Their new teachers in Senior Infants are connecting with you and them on Seesaw and together we will get them back on track. They’ll be fine! I hope you enjoyed receiving their first school reports.

Finally, a big warm Fáilte/Welcome to all our new families joining us this year. Your child’s class teacher is ready to welcome you on the Seesaw app this week. This is a strange start to joining our school community but, be assured, you will be welcomed warmly by us all when you get here and I will keep you updated every step of the way.

Parents, our school is in the same position as every school in Ireland. We are waiting for Public Health Guidance on how to reopen safely and will follow it carefully. Our Board and Staff are busy preparing for the best possible return on the 26^th of August. Your support will be more important than ever-teaching your child about hand hygiene, cough/sneeze etiquette and all the other aspects of staying safe. We will use our website to give you all the information you need. We will continue communicating with you by email, seesaw and phone.

Meanwhile, let’s be calm, positive and as relaxed as possible over the summer so that we’ll be ready for a fresh start in August. The more informed we are, the less anxious we and our children will be.

On behalf of the staff, I wish you all that is here in our other much-loved Central Model Infants’ school song :

‘‘May The Road Rise To Meet You’’

May the road rise up my friend, to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face today,

And the rains fall soft upon your field

and until we meet again.....

May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Fanaigí Slán, (Stay Safe)

Catherine Groves