BOCOMBRA PRIMARY SCHOOL AND NURSERY

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

 Telephone:  Portadown 028 3833 6749    Covid Mobile (Out of Hours): 078 5022 6063

 Email: mvallelly562@c2kni.net

 Website: www.bocombraps.co.uk

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

 31^st August 2021

Dear Parent/Guardian,

WELCOME BACK

It is a privilege to be welcoming everyone back to the new school year, I hope you all had a restful summer break.  As I outlined in my last letter on 23^rd August, we will be approaching the first few weeks cautiously but optimistically. It is our sincere hope that we will be able to extend our school day safely as soon as it is possible. See below for further details on our plans for normalisation.

You will no doubt be aware that there have been some changes in the guidance from the Department of Education (DE) in relation to restrictions in place due to Covid-19.

Clearly our aim as a school is to keep all of our pupils and staff as safe as possible while reducing the spread of the virus. The measures recommended by DE are also to keep close contacts to a minimum in the event of a positive case.

COVID-19 SYMPTOMS

If your child has any Covid-19 symptoms they should isolate and arrange a PCR test.  If the test result is negative your child will be able to return to school.  If the result is positive your child will need to isolate for 10 days.  Symptoms remain unchanged:

• A high temperature
• A continuous cough
• A loss or change in sense of taste or smell

CLOSE CONTACTS

If your child has been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19, they will need to isolate and arrange a PCR test (not a lateral flow test).  If the test is negative your child can return to school but will need to have another test on Day 8.  If they test positive they will need to isolate for 10 days.  Nursery children are to be encouraged to take a PCR test, but do not have to isolate unless they develop symptoms or have a positive PCR test result.

EMERGENCY COVID CONTACT NUMBER

Arrangements for informing the school of positive Covid cases outside of school hours remains the same. The school mobile phone number is: 078 5022 6063.  This number will be managed by school staff outside of school hours.  Text or voice messages can be left and will be acknowledged and followed up.  This will be particularly useful if children present with Covid-19 symptoms or to report a positive PCR test result.  This will allow the school to inform close contacts.

SOCIAL DISTANCING

Following DE and PHA Guidance all adults are to observe 2m distancing where possible, both inside and outside the school building.  DE also advise that all adults wear a face mask when on school grounds and inside school buildings.

CLASS GROUPS

Schools have been asked to keep pupils in a consistent group to reduce the spread of infection and assist with contract tracing.  Consequently, pupils will be with their own class groups throughout the school day and will travel together to the school dining hall at lunchtime where they will eat in their socially distant class groups.

DROP-OFF AND PICK UP ARRANGEMENTS

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

HAND HYGIENE

Hygiene is a top priority in fighting the spread of the virus and as a consequence, every child will be encouraged to wash their hands or sanitise regularly throughout the school day.

• When they arrive at school
• Before and after they eat
• Before they go outside
• After they come in from outside

Pupils will be encouraged to place tissues in the bin immediately after coughing or sneezing.  If a tissue is not available, children will be asked to cough or sneeze in to the crook of the arm. It would be helpful if this was practiced at home, particularly with younger children.

PE

Where possible PE lessons will be conducted outside. Children will be informed by their class teachers of their PE days and what PE kit to wear.

SCHOOL MEALS

School meals are priced at £13.00 per week or £2.60 per day.  It is a great help if the correct amount is sent on a Monday morning in an envelope indicating the child’s name, amount enclosed and days they intend to take school dinners. Cheques should be made payable to the ‘EA- Southern Region’.  It is also very helpful for class teachers if you can inform the school in advance of a ‘late arrival’ to school for a medical appointment or festival performance, this will ensure accurate school dinner numbers and attendance coding.

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS

Whilst most special dietary requirements and food allergies are known to the school, it is of vital importance to inform your child’s class teacher if you have not done so already. Registration forms will be distributed to known pupils. If this form has not previously been completed, please request one from the school office.  Please also note that a Doctor’s counter-signature is required to confirm the type of dietary requirements. Our school kitchen will in turn make appropriate adjustments to their menus. It is of paramount importance that this form is returned as soon as practicable.

PUPIL DATA FORMS

It would be greatly appreciated if all Pupil Data Forms (Year 2-7) could be returned to the class teacher as soon as possible.  This will help ensure all of our information regarding contact details and medical conditions are up to date.  We will be using contact ‘1’ as the emergency contact in all cases.

ASTHMA AND EPIPEN REGISTER

The Asthma/Epipen arrangements in place last term will continue, we will also continue to hold emergency ‘salbutamol’ inhalers and Epipens in school for administration to those pupils who have one prescribed to them but may have forgotten to bring it to school.  Please ensure that the appropriate section of the Pupil Data Form has been completed to update our ‘Salbutamol list’ for 2021/22.  If you have not done so already, please also ensure that if your child requires any type of inhaler, that they have a clearly labelled one in their school bag and one for emergencies in their teacher’s possession. Children who have Epipens will have a separate Care Plan drawn up between the school and the school nurse.

PLANS FOR NORMALISATION

As outlined previously, it is our hope that we will be able to return to a greater normalisation of the school day as quickly and safely as possible.  As you will be aware we have continued initially with our staggered drop off and pick up arrangements. Returning to a full school day for our children is a priority area.  It is envisaged that following an initial settling in period to determine the level of community transmission, we will conduct a review of our arrangements within the first two weeks of term. Being mindful of DE and EA guidance and the impact on our school family, we inform you of our plans with reasonable notice of changes. In the medium term we also hope that swimming and outdoor after-school activities can begin again safely.

BOCOMBRA PS SCHOOL APP

It is hoped that we will continue to reduce the amount of ‘paper based’ communications sent out from school.  To this end we are encouraging all of our parent body to download our free Bocombra Primary School App, available on both Apple and Android platforms. This will not only reduce our administration costs but provide each parent with up to date information regarding school events, holidays, menus and closures, direct to their smart phone or tablet. Year Group and Class specific messages can also be sent directly to parents. It is also important to register for the new school year (within the ‘Notifications-Tools’ section) to have access to on-line class related activities, particularly should pupils need to self-isolate.  If you would still prefer to have a paper copy of the weekly letter, this can be requested from our school office or alternatively they are also available on our school website.

SUMMER UNIFORM

As in previous years we will allow pupils to wear our optional summer uniform until the end of September. In warmer days the polo shirts and summer dresses can be more comfortable but full school uniform can also be worn.

SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS

• Staggered drop-off and pick-ups will operate initially for the first two weeks subject to review
• Pupils will continue to have lunch in the school dinner hall each day
• Pupils can continue to use a school bag and carry resources to and from school
• If a child has symptoms they must stay at home and get a PCR test (Year 1-7)
• If a child (Year 1-7) is a close contact, they must isolate until they have a negative PCR test
• Pupils will be kept in their consistent class groups
• All adults must continue to keep 2m apart and wear a face covering within the school grounds
• Regular handwashing and sanitising is of paramount importance

Yours faithfully,

MD Vallelly

(Principal)

BOCOMBRA PRIMARY SCHOOL AND NURSERY

HOLIDAY LIST 2021-22