BOCOMBRA PRIMARY SCHOOL AND NURSERY

 1 Old Lurgan Road, Portadown, Co. Armagh, BT63 5SG

 Telephone:  Portadown 028 3833 6749    Fax:028 3839 1109

 Email: mvallelly562@c2kni.net

 Website: www.bocombraps.co.uk

                         Principal: Mr MD Vallelly B.Ed.(Hons.) M.Ed.

23^rd August 2021

Dear Parent/Guardian,

WELCOME BACK TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR

I would like to take the opportunity to say how delighted I am to be back in post at Bocombra PS after my recent secondment with the Education Authority. I am indebted to both Mrs Taylor and Mrs Maxwell who skilfully guided our school in my absence, in what has probably been the most challenging time in education. I will continue to draw on their professionalism and knowledge as we navigate the next number of months.

Many things still remain the same, namely our super staff team and fantastic pupils. However, the last 18 months have brought many changes to how we operate as a school. It is to that end I am writing to you prior to the commencement of a new school year.

Guidance was recently provided by the Department of Education and this will continue to inform our decision making going forwards. In the short term, we have decided to operate a cautious approach for our initial few weeks of term. This will involve retaining distinct class groupings and the ‘drop-off’ and ‘pick-up’ arrangements from the last school year. You will have received notification in June regarding your child’s class and grouping. This will help you plan your arrangements for the first number of weeks in September.

I will be communicating our longer term plans in due course. It is our intention to return to a greater normalisation of the school day as quickly and safely as possible. This will involve adherence to DE Guidance and taking cognisance of the current public health conditions, balanced with the need to provide the best offering for our pupils including a full school day and after-school activities.

Please find below a reminder of the Drop-off and Pick-Up times that we will operate for the first few weeks of September. This will be subject to on-going review and change.

Years 1-7   Drop-off time:  Group 1- 8.45am   Group 2 - 8.55am

Pick-up times:

Year 1 F - 1.10pm   Year 1 T - 1.20pm

Year 2B and A/N 2.00pm

Year 3 R and M 2.15pm (until further notice)

Years 4-7:  Group 1-  2.30pm   Group 2- 2.40pm

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we start our new school year.

Yours sincerely,

Mr MD Vallelly

(Principal)