I hope this email finds you well. It is wonderful to see very active and positive interaction on Google Classroom & Seesaw between the teachers, pupils & parents so far this week. Please continue to encourage your son or daughter to engage with online learning, assignments, projects & activities.
Please see link below to statement from Ministers Foley & Madigan on planning for the re-opening of special school.
I will be in contact when more information is available and with full details of any plan to re-open our school.
In the interim, Holy Family will continue to ensure that pupil’s learning and well-being is maintained throughout the current school closure.
Please remember, there is no pressure on any pupil to complete all activities and work set by the class teacher. We encourage all families to complete only what they can manage in their given situation.
I hope you and all your family continue to keep safe and well at this time.
As the Department of Education and Skills has reversed it’s decision to reopen Special Schools on Monday 11th January, we are now preparing for online teaching and learning.
I realise that it is very challenging for our pupils to learn from home and for you to support them. Having learned a lot from the previous experience and greatly improved our technology provision and skills, I believe that online teaching and learning has the potential to be much more effective this time. Our teachers are fully committed to this goal and will be ready to engage with pupils from early next week.
I ask that you do all possible to maximise the engagement of your son or daughter. Please treat Monday to Friday each week as full school days.
Post Primary:
Our pupils and most especially those in exam years (6A, 6B, 6C, 6D 5A,5B & 3A/B should be ready to learn from 9am each day. All post primary pupils have Chromebooks, Gmail accounts and have developed the necessary skills to communicate directly with their teachers.
If access to a good internet connection is a problem in your area you should communicate this without delay so that teachers can plan accordingly.
Unless otherwise agreed, all pupils should ONLY contact their teachers using their Google email accounts and any live teaching or interactions will be via Google meets. This is a secure system. Parents are expected to take responsibility for the supervision of their son or daughter while online. Any parent who has NOT already given permission for this engagement will be asked to do so.
Post Primary Pupils should follow their daily school timetable to engage with Teachers. Subject teachers will link in with students as per the timetable to either provide live classes or to communicate work to be completed. Please note NOT all classes will be live. Priority will be given to examination classes.
Teachers will record attendance and engagement and expect a prompt response to emails and work assigned. Class teachers will follow up with parents whose son or daughter is not engaging. If you son or daughter is unwell or for any reason cannot engage online please email Eugene Doyle, Deputy Principal dp@holyfamilydeafschool.ie
Mock examinations: mock examinations have been re-scheduled to the week beginning Monday 22nd February 2021.
Respectful behaviour is expected at all times. Our school code of Conduct applies during online engagement. Parents must take responsibility for their son or daughter’s online behaviour. Regretfully, there was evidence of inappropriate messaging and hurtful comments being posted by pupils during the last school closure
SNAs will also be available to provide support. This support may be to support the subject teacher during Live classes, assist pupils to complete assignments or for a general check in and well being support.
Primary:
Primary teachers will continue to use email and SEESAW to communicate with parents and pupils. Class teachers will create individual learning packs for each pupil.
Chromebooks have been ordered and will be posted directly to senior primary pupils whose teachers have confirmed that use of this technology will support their learning. SNAs will also provide support.
Respectful behaviour is expected at all times. Our school code of Conduct applies during online engagement. Parents must take responsibility for their son or daughter’s online behaviour. Regretfully, there was evidence of inappropriate messaging and hurtful comments being posted by primary pupils during the last school closure
Early Intervention:
Teachers will email parents to outline tasks and activities for the children that will assist them to refresh and build on their language and communication skills programme. SNAs will also provide support.
Online teaching and Learning is challenging for all. We are here to support you.
Please remember; our school staff also have families to care for and support so unless very urgent, communication should take place during school working hours.
Please check the News Section of the Website daily for updates and suggestions for learning activities and Well Being support.
Minister for Education Norma Foley TD has confirmed that all schools including schools with children with special needs will regrettably remain closed to students from Monday the 11th of January.
The Government decision, taken on the 6th of January, on foot of public health advice to reduce mobility in the community, was to close schools for the vast majority of students for a period of three weeks. While not ideal, this decision was absolutely the correct one and very necessary to ensure the health and safety of our school community.
Holy Family School will commence Online Learning on Monday the 11th of January 2021. Our Principal Eimear O’ Rourke will email parents full details of our online learning plan. This will also be posted in the News section of our Website.
If students need to collect books or chrome books for online learning please contact dp@holyfamilydeafschool.ie
In the meantime, please Stay at Home and Stay Safe.
Best wishes for the New Year. I hope this message finds you and your families safe and well. As most of you know, the government has taken the decision to re-open special schools, including Holy Family School for the Deaf, from next Monday 11th January.
CIDP have confirmed that the boarding residences will also re-open inline with this decision.
As soon as we hear more information, it will be passed on to you. As of now, we have had no direct contact from the Department of Education.
I will be in further contact with you all during this week. Please continue to check your emails, our website and our twitter feed for updates.
As we approach the Christmas holidays, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone in our school community for the tremendous work that has been done since September to keep those in our school safe.
Please find attached an open letter from Dr Tony Holohan to parents/guardians of school children which encourages everyone to continue working together, limit social contacts and maintain the social distancing practices over the Christmas period.
We invite you to participate in a virtual walk or run in aid of the Holy Family School for the Deaf. All funds raised will go towards funding Chromebooks for students and teachers and achieving our goal of becoming a Digital School of Distinction.
To make this event a challenge and accessible to all abilities, we have divided the virtual run into three themes. Please select the theme according to your ability;
When? Tuesday the 1st of Dec to Saturday the 12th of Dec.
Where? Anywhere!
How Much? €15!
What do I get for doing the run/walk?
Everyone who has registered will receive a beautiful handmade wooden Christmas Decoration which is 100% made by Holy Family Students.
Check out the video of our students making these fantastic medals!
Our enthusiastic teachers explains how it works
How do I sign up? Easy!! Fill in the Google Form Link Below.
Parent/Teacher meeting for Post Primary Parents 20th November 2020
As it is not possible ,due to Covid restrictions, to invite our parents/guardians to our scheduled Parent/Teacher meeting on 20th November, a progress report for each individual pupil will be forwarded in the coming weeks.
If you have any questions or concerns in relation to your son or daughter’s progress please email these to info@holyfamilydeafschool.ie
Teachers will then be able to answer these questions in their reports or by email.
Please read the school newsletter regarding not attending school if feeling unwell. A copy of this letter is sent home to parents on Friday 2nd of October 2020. The most important message is that pupils should not attend if feeling unwell. Please download links below to read the letter.
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