News Category: Boarding

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Digital progress under the Grant Scheme for EU NRRP funding to Schools

Dear Parents/guardians

We would like to update you on our digital progress under the Grant Scheme for EU NRRP funding to Schools at Risk of Educational disadvantage. Circular letter 0060/2021

gov.ie – Grant Scheme for EU NRRP Funding to schools to address the digital divide, and learners at risk of educational disadvantage (www.gov.ie)

In 2021 our school received €8000 as part of this scheme. This funding was used to support Holy Family’s core project, within our overarching digital strategy. As you are aware we began this project in 2020 with the assistance of funding from the Dublin Lions so we could  support our pupils through the covid pandemic.

The goal of the project was to ensure that every pupil in the second level section of the school and senior pupils (5th/6th class) in the primary section had access to a personal digital device i.e. a Google Chromebook. This would ensure full participation in Google Classroom for all, both in school and outside school for homework tasks or for access to teaching and learning should the school be forced to close.  The wellbeing of our Deaf students is at the heart of this project.  We know that they are at risk of disengagement from learning and social isolation when at home for long periods.

In addition, all pupils would have shared access to digital learning devices such as iPads and digital cameras. Deaf students are visual learners, so each class teacher was to be provided with a visualizer. Visualizers provide Deaf students with equal access to text-based learning. EU funding was also used to purchase one additional interactive presentation device- a Clever Touch Screen. Combing these technologies allows our Deaf students to engage in whole school activities such as Kahoot quizzes, digital storytelling, and other activities.

The project was led by our in-school digital team. The Chromebooks were made available to parent/guardians for purchase or rental. Families who could not afford the rental were fully supported under the EU NRRP grant. Access to other digital technologies were made available to all class teachers through a booking scheme. Teacher training was initially provided for free by the companies who provided the technology. Additional training was provided by the in school digital team and peer learning over the course of one full school year after school hours.

We are proud to report that EVERY pupil from the youngest in early intervention to the oldest in the post primary section benefited from the project. The project has been enormously successfully. We now consider our school to well on our journey to digital excellence!


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Golf Classics 22nd April 2022

The Holy Family School for the Deaf are hosting a fundraising Golf Classic event on Friday 22nd April 2022
in St Margaret’s Golf & Country Club, Co Dublin. All funds raised via this event will go towards a new 18
seater bus for Holy Family School for the Deaf. It is very important that the Holy Family Deaf School can
fully engage with learning in external environments. A new bus can be used to bring our students on
educational field trips for example a trip to the Print Museum, National Art Gallery, Kildare National Studs,
Titanic in Belfast and so much more.

We would truly appreciate if your company/organisation would consider being involved in our event.

To book your place please click on link below to download booking form.

Please fill in the form and email your form details to g.mccormack@holyfamilydeafschool.ie. If you need any further information please text Geoffrey at 0861788701.

Thank you in advance for supporting our School!


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Covid 19 Vaccination Progamme

The HSE continue to rollout the COVID-19 vaccination programme and with over 90% of those aged 12 years and above fully vaccinated. For anyone aged 12 and over who hasn’t had their COVID-19 vaccine yet; dose 1 or 2 they can register on https://vaccine.hse.ie/ for an appointment in a HSE clinic. People can also talk to their GP or local pharmacy about getting their COVID-19 vaccine. Booster clinics are also open for eligible people aged 16 years and older. Visit www.hse.ie for more information.

COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommends parents and guardians consider vaccinating their 5 to 11-year-old children. COVID-19 vaccine is particularly recommended if children:

· Have a health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19

· live with a younger child or adult who is at risk of severe illness if they get COVID-19 e.g. another child with complex medical needs, or an immunocompromised adult The vaccine that will be offered to children aged 5 to 11 years is Comirnaty® Children’s formulation.

Children in this age group will be given a smaller dose of the vaccine than adults.

Parents and guardians can register their child for their vaccine online at https://vaccine.hse.ie/.

As part of this stage of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, information for people considering vaccinating their children including information about the benefits and risk of vaccination and information about how to get vaccinated is available on https://bit.ly/HSEC19511

A cartoon strip has also been developed to help children understand what will happen when they go to a HSE clinic to get their COVID-19 vaccine https://bit.ly/C19Cartoon511

Getting COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines NIAC advises that children aged 5 to 11 years wait at least 2 weeks between getting a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, like the flu vaccine or 4 in 1 and MMR vaccines. Children aged 2 to 17 years can get the free nasal flu vaccine through participating GPs and pharmacies until the end of this month. Information about the flu vaccination programme is available on the HSE website at www.hse.ie/flu. A list of pharmacies giving flu vaccines is also available on https://bit.ly/PhFluFinder Children in Junior Infants may also be due their 4 in 1 and MMR vaccine, school teams will work with your school to ensure where possible the vaccination programme continues and children whose parents have consented for them to receive 4in1 and MMR vaccine can do so.

Consent Only parent(s) and legal guardian(s) are entitled to provide consent for vaccination for students under 16 years of age. A video covering information about consent is available from our office YouTube Channel at https://youtu.be/vE1X5AcwNgE

Further information on COVID-19 vaccines we recommend visiting the HSE website www.hse.ie/COVID19Vaccine.

Eimear O’Rourke M.Ed

Principal

Useful information on Covid – 19 in ISL below.

https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/covid-19-resources-and-translations/covid-19-vaccine-materials/covid-19-vaccine-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-communications-resources.html


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Return to School 6th January 2022

Holy Family School for the Deaf will re-open for all our pupils tomorrow Thursday 6th January.

Please DO Not send your son or daughter to school if they are unwell or have symptoms of Covid 19. We need to keep our school community safe.

Best wishes to all for a happy and healthy 2022.


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NetFIT Challenge!

New Year New You! For Twenty Twenty Two!

Are you ready to sign up for Holy Family Deaf School Cabra#NetFIT challenge at #HFSD!
NetFIT Challenge will start on the 10th of January 2022.

Check out this promo video

To register click here https://forms.gle/RfZwxnfsYaQ5BVtN910e per entry or 15e for you and a friend!

******** Every registration goes into a draw for a FITBIT watch! ********

An example of testing the fitness component ‘BALANCE’

Register Here






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School Reopening POSTPONED

***** UPDATE *****
In light of Dublin moving into Orange alert within the last hour, the Board of Management have decided it is safer if our pupils and staff are not travelling during this period. Therefore our school will remain closed tomorrow (Wednesday 8th December)
We will update you further tomorrow


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Principal’s Message at Mid Term

Sincere thanks to our parents & guardians for their support this half term.

There was a very spooky but joyful atmosphere in all sections of the school today in celebration of Halloween!!

Please log on to the website (News section ) and Twitter @HFSchoolDeaf1 for the latest photographs and updates.

I wish you and your families a safe and enjoyable bank holiday weekend and school break!

We return to school on Monday 1st November.  


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CIDP 175 Years Anniversary

All of our Students and Staff was invited to a special celebration of CIDP 175 years anniversary. Our students included their momemtoes and books of their experiences in school for the Time Capsule and they helped with the planting of two trees. We would like to thank CEO Tara McBreen, Manager Paul Ryder and everyone involved in organising today. The sun was shining and it was a wonderful celebration. We want to wish CIDP a very happy 175 years anniversary.


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Redeployment of our Speech and Language Therapist is unfair and unjust.

Newspaper Article on losing our SLT
18/03/2021

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/redeployment-of-therapists-away-from-special-schools-unjust-and-unfair-principals-say-1.4512998?fbclid=IwAR32zu2Iunj95kROnk6xGqYbSb8ufwq3hnx_66RO0shV8HEJo_eU_tEdiwk

Thank you to Marie Sherlock for highlighting our concerns

Sunday Independent Article 21/03/2021


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Ireland Reads

On Thursday 25 February Holy Family School is inviting students, staff, family, friends and the deaf community of all ages to get reading.

Why? Because taking some time for yourself to relax and do the things you enjoy (like reading) is important to help look after your mental wellbeing.

Please pick up your favourite book and
1. READ
2. Time yourself reading
3. Email wellread@holyfamilydeaf.com your time and a selfie of you reading your book (optional)

Happy Reading!!!