Please find below important information about pupils returning to school on Wednesday 14th August.
Dear Parent/Carer,
I hope you and your family are well and ready for our return to a new school year. We recognise things have been difficult for many people and that we are not ‘back to normal’ yet. We also know that things may change quickly, and we will need to respond to any changes. I write to you now with the current information as it stands regarding pupil’s return to school.
School pupils will start back on Wednesday 12th August
Pupils may enter school between 8:50 and 9:10am. Pupils should go directly to the classroom and wash their hands. They will not play in the playground.
Entry to school
Nursery – Parents will take their children to the Nursery door. Parents will hand children to staff outside the door, social distancing should be observed. Transition visit dates and times will be sent to parents shortly. A full start for nursery children will commence on Monday 17th August.
P1 & P1/2 – Parents will take their children to the classroom door via the gate near the carpark and MUGA. Parents will leave school the same way.
The remainder of the school are to use the usual side gate. No parents of these pupils will be allowed into the playground.
Parents will not be allowed into the school but should phone or email the school with any information or questions.
We ask that where possible pupils and parents walk or cycle to school. Where this is not possible please consider ‘park and stride’ where the car is parked away from the school and pupils and parents make the short walk to school.
Office drop box
There will be a box placed in the school entrance for letters and notes to be handed into school.
On entry to the school pupils will wash their hands in the classroom. Teachers will have arranged for a starter activity for the class to do during the first 20 minutes.
Pupils should make every effort to maintain a 2m distance from staff.
Pupils will use their own pencils etc. provided by the school. We ask that pupils do not bring toys into school and only the essentials are brought to school.
Work and books moving between school and home will be kept to a minimum, but pupils will still have reading book to take home and some homework.
Breaktimes and lunchtimes will be staggered.
Lunches will be ordered in the classroom in the morning as usual but initially no hot food will be available. Lunches will be delivered to the classrooms for pupils to eat in their room. Lunch money can be brought to school by the pupil in an envelope with pupil’s name, class and amount written on the outside or dropped off at the office drop box. D&G hope to soon move to a cashless system.
Leaving times
Leaving times will be staggered.
P1 – 3:00 Pupils collected from outside the classroom by parents via MUGA gate
P1/2 – 3:05 Pupils collected from outside the classroom by parents via MUGA gate
P2/3 leave at 3:00 via the usual side gate. No parents allowed in the playground
P3 leave at 3:00 via the usual side gate. No parents allowed in the playground
P4 leave at 3:05 via the usual side gate. No parents allowed in the playground
P5 leave at 3:05 via the usual side gate. No parents allowed in the playground
P5/6 leave at 3:10 via the usual side gate. No parents allowed in the playground
P6/7 leave at 3:10 via the usual side gate. No parents allowed in the playground
P7 leave at 3:15 via the usual side gate. No parents allowed in the playground
Cleaning
Enhanced cleaning of the school has been arranged and the school will be cleaned constantly throughout the day.
Although social distancing between children is no longer required we ask that you remind your child/children to respect the 2m distancing between children and adults. Also that coughs and sneezes should be caught in a tissue or the crook of the elbow and not the hand.
Please do not send your child to school if they are unwell. We will ask you to remove your child if they are coughing, appear to have a high temperature or seem unwell.
It is important that if a member of your family must self-isolate that the child does not attend school and we are informed that you are in isolation.
The arrangements above will be reviewed often and regularly. It is very likely that changes in procedure will be necessary but we will endeavour to keep you informed as soon as any decisions are made. We will all work hard to keep everyone safe in school and the systems put in place will help in doing this. I appreciate and thank you in advance for your usual support and patience as we navigate through our first few weeks back.
David Stevens
Head teacher
