July 3, 2023
Dear Parents & Guardians, It has been confirmed today that Ms. Charlotte Lyne has been appointed as the new principal of St. Conal's NS following the appointment process. It's wonderful news for the school and Charlotte is wished every success and happiness in her new role.
June 27, 2023
We wish all our pupils and staff a relaxing, re-invigorating, safe and joyful summer.
June 20, 2023
The result didn't pan out as we had hoped, but our girls put on a wonderful show of determined and skilful football today in Ardara where they were beated by four points by S.N. An Chaisil of Glencolmcille in the final of the Cumann na mBunscol Roinn 5. The match was played at a ferocious tempo and there was never more than a few points between the teams. The host of spectators from both teams cheered relentlessly, and the match was played in a fine sporting spirit by two teams who respected each other greatly. We congratulate S.N. An Chaisil on their victory and commend Mr. Breslin's girls for the efforts they have put in over the past two months. They did St. Conal's proud.
We would request that the children wear their uniform on Friday for the end-of-year service which starts at 11am. They may wear their sports clothes otherwise this week and next as the weather is so warm.
The annual school reports will be sent home with the pupils tomorrow.
We finish at 12.20pm on Tuesday next.
June 15, 2023
Tony McNamee of Donegal Down Syndrome collected a cheque for €1,505, the proceeds of our recent Coffee Morning. We are truly grateful to all who supported the fundraiser. It meant a lot.
Our children from 1st to 6th seemed to really enjoy their tour to Wild Ireland and Xtreme Bounce, and the infants who remained produced beautiful clay work and enjoyed a lovely picnic. The children were so well-behaved and were a credit to you all.
The annual RSE evening takes place tonight in the senior room for the 6th class pupils and their parents .
The Infant Intake day will take place tomorrow (Friday) from 2-3pm. The parents of all incoming pupils are invited to attend.
Our girls' football team will compete in the Cumann na mBunscol County Final in Roinn 5 next Tuesday in Pearse Memorial Park in Ardara. Their opponents will be S.N. An Chaisil, a school managed by James McHugh. The game kicks off at 10.45a.m. and we wish Mr. Breslin's charges every success. Win or lose, they have enjoyed the journey and represented both their school and club with tenacity and skill in three testing matches. We hope they get a good support on Tuesday.
The annual school reports will be issued next week.
The 4th/5th6th will stage the short play, Antony and Cleopatra, in the round next Thursday, June 22nd commencing at 7.30pm. For reasons of space and the particular play format, we invite just immediate and extended family to come along and watch them in the school hall. There is no charge on entry. This is the children's thank-you to their families for all the support during the year.
Our end-of-year service will take place in the school on Friday, June 23rd at 11am. Refreshments will be served afterwards.
We finish for the school year at 12.20pm on Tuesday, June 27th. The buses will be notified.
June 9, 2023
Our girls' team won through to the County Final in the Cumann na mBunscol Roinn 5 division yesterday following a brilliant second-half performance against a strong Acres outfit in Dungloe. The girls were a point up at half-time, but turned adversity into dynamism in the second period to run out handsome winners. We thank all those who came to support the girls and a big shout-out to our boys and non-playing girls who cheered from the rafters each time the referee's hand signalled a score for St. Conal's! We await the winners of the other half of the draw and look forward to a special occasion in what will be our first County Final in well over a decade.
We thank Acres for organising the venue and referee and, as the majority of both teams were in fourth and fifth class, there is a good chance that their paths will cross again next year! We are also very grateful to C.L.G. An Clochán Liath for facilitating the match on the day.
May 31, 2023
A big thank you to all who organised & supported the Coffee Morning today. It was a great success! The pupils are off until next Wednesday. Enjoy the sun!
May 29, 2023
We send a big thanks to our staff for organising a great Sports Day! Sports clothes should be worn also tomorrow and Wednesday, as it is expected to be warm. If anyone can donate homebakes to our Coffee Morning on Wednesday, please leave them in the school from 8.45am on Wednesday morning. They will be gratefully received. All are welcome to the Coffee Morning which is in aid of Donegal Down Syndrome.
May 26, 2023
The fun-filled Bring 'n' Buy Sale raised 518 euro for classroom resources, which will be divided equally among the three rooms. A big thank you to all concerned! Our annual Sports Day will take place on Monday. Sun cream, a cap/hat, water, and the usual teddy bear/scarf/sack/potato and spoon combo will be required. Appropriate sportswear is necessary.
May 15, 2023
Our girls won their quarter-final today at the Comp. pitch against a talented and sporting S.N. An Choimin and have progressed to the Cumann na mBunscol county semi-final. We are thrilled for them all! An important note regarding the 1st to 6th Class tour was sent home with the pupils today.
The children in Second Class celebrated their First Holy Communion last Saturday and it was a special occasion for all concerned. The children were so well prepared by their teacher, Mrs O'Donnell and her colleagues, and the children's parents accompanied the children on their faith journey throughout the months of preparation. Fr. Daly encouraged the children to feel at home in the church and he elicited confident and natural responses in their oral contributions. The singers and musicians embellished the Mass under the expert eye of our longtime maestro, Sara Laughlin. The after party organised by the parents in the Dolmen Centre was a joyous occasion and provided the children with an opportunity to celebrate with their friends and family.
May 8, 2023
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR MAY/JUNE 2023
The Dept. of Education has stipulated that all teaching staff should attend two in-school webinars this term: One is the final Language Curriculum Webinar 8 which relates to the Transfer of Skills across the curriculum. The other relates to the new Curriculum, which is due for full implementation in 2026. Two half-days have been assigned this term by the Dept. for the purpose of attending these webinars and St. Conal’s NS will merge the two into one full day so as to limit disruption to parents on two days. The date selected is Thursday, June 1st, so the pupils will not be in attendance on that day. This date coincides with the June public holiday weekend scheduled in the calendar last summer (posted on the school website at www.stconals.ie), so the children will be off from Thursday, June 1st to Tuesday, June 6th inclusive.
The second class will celebrate their First Holy Communion this Saturday, May 13th, at 11a.m. A choir practice will take place in the church on Wednesday evening (May 10th) from 5 to 6p.m. We hope the children enjoy a truly special celebration of this beautiful Sacrament.
The official pupil assessment in Literacy (MicraT) and Numeracy (SigmaT) will take place in the middle of May for classes from 1st to 6th. The annual school reports will be issued in the week beginning June 19th.
Sports Day will be held on a suitable day in early June, weather permitting. The Girls’ Gaelic team will play S.N. An Choimín of Glenfin in the third round of the Cumann na mBunscol competition, possibly as early as next week and we wish them the very best of luck.
The annual Bring ‘n’ Buy Sale fundraiser for classroom resources will be organised in the school hall by the senior class on May 26th. This is a market extravaganza for pupils only.
Tour dates: The pupils from 1st to 6th will take place on Wednesday, June 14th. We will be travelling to Wild Ireland in Burnfoot and a trampoline activity centre near Derry. Further details regarding cost and timings will be issued closer to the date. Information relating to the activities of the two infant classes on that day will be issued in due course.
The sixth class will be hosting a Coffee Morning in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland on May 31st and all are welcome to attend.
The senior class will be performing the play, Antony and Cleopatra, towards the end of the school year.
We will finish the year with a School Mass and further details will be issued closer to the time. The school year will end at 12.20p.m on Tuesday, June 27th.
May 3, 2023
Our girls' football team won today's play-off with Gortnacart & Crannog Bui and will face S.N. Coimin in a couple of weeks time in the next round. I extend my my sincere thanks to the parent who sponsored the ice-cream treat afterwards.
April 24, 2023
I just wish to praise our pupils for the way they conducted themselves today, both on and off the football field.
Our boys lost to Brackey after extra time, in what was a very closely-contested match by talented youngsters. All the lads took part and the girls cheered from the rafters in support. The disappointment afterwards was keenly felt, but Mr. Breslin's players kept their cool and congratulated Brackey. I was very proud of them all.
A parent made an unsolicited donation to the school to defray the cost of the ice-creams afterwards. I am very grateful to her for her many kind gestures to the school down the years.
The girls await the scheduling of their match and I know the lads will back them to the hilt.
March 6, 2023
The three Confirmandi enjoyed a lovely day on Saturday when they received the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Alan McGuckian in the Church of the Holy Family, Ardara. All the preparation alongside their engaged families was truly worthwhile, as the children were spiritually ready to receive the lovely sacrament. The visual displays they created in the church in Kilclooney over several weeks were striking, and a real credit to staff members, Nicholas Breslin and Martina McGinley, who designed the artwork. I wish to thank all those who helped in any way to prepare the children since Christmas, in particular Fr. Daly who celebrated three themed Masses in Kilclooney, and Fr. Cannon who conducted three weekly sacramental workshops in Ardara. The focus will be on our First Communicants going forward, and they have been hard at work preparing for their big day in May under the guidance of their teacher, Gina O'Donnell.
February 24, 2023
Our third quiz team performed admirably in the Garda Quiz held last night in Donegal Town, and they really enjoyed the experience. Creevy were victorious once again, garnering a clean sweep of Credit Union, Cumann na mBunscol and Garda Quizzes.
The children may dress up for World Book Day next Thursday. Any character from a book may be portrayed by the children. We look forward to seeing their creativity!
February 20, 2023
The children will be celebrating Ash Wednesday in the church this Wednesday at 10a.m. to mark the beginning of Lent.
February 13, 2023
I want to thank all those who contributed to a beautiful Mass yesterday, which was part of the Do This in Memory programme being undertaken by the First Communion class in preparation for their big day in May. The music enhanced the celebration of the Mass, and the children (and adults!) were so well-spoken. Mrs. O'Donnell's hard work in pulling it all together is to be commended, but I know she would like me to thank all the parents who support their children on the journey. I especially wish to thank our past pupils (and special guest stars!) who generously return each year to their alma mater to grace us with their muscial ability.
The Confirmation class has celebrated two preparatory Masses and their final one will take place on Sunday, February 26th. Their parents have been such a support to them, and the children have learned their parts diligently. They will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop McGuckian in Ardara on Saturday, March 4th.
Grandparents' Day saw a large crowd fill the hall and we enjoyed a lovely service in the company of both parents and grandparents. This service was the culmination of Catholic Schools' Week, and coincided with the making of St. Brigid's Crosses the previous day. I wish to thank everyone who assisted in organising the service, and especially the pupils in sixth class who looked after the catering arrangements on the day.
The quizzes are coming thick and fast at present and two of our teams have already competed in the G.A.A. Cumann na mBunscol and Credit Union competitions. The next one in the schedule is that of the Garda Quiz, which will take place in the Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town, on Thursday, February 23rd, commencing at 7.30p.m. We wish the competitiors every success and thank Mrs. Lough for her dedication in preparing the teams.
The senior classes attended a music and dance workshop in the Parish Hall in Ardara last week conducted by Paula Monaghan of the Comprehensive School, and assisted by Anne McDwyer and local musicians. It was very enjoyable, and hopefully will inspire our senior pupils to consider music as one of their elective subjects in second level. Music lessons with Evan McGarrigle are continuing this term in the school.
Please note that Thursday and Friday of this week constitutes the Dept. of Education primary school mid-term break.
January 30, 2023
Our junior and senior quiz teams performed very well in Ballyshannon on Saturday in the Ballyshannon and Killybegs Credit Union Quiz. The senior team finished in an excellent third place in a really competitive event, with both categories won by 2023 Cumann na mBunscol County Champions, Creevy N.S. We wish the winners every success in the next round, and congratulate our team members and their teacher, Mrs. Lough, on their diligent preparation and dedication.
January 26, 2023
We wil celebrate Grandparents' Day next Wednesday from 11:10a.m. in the school as part of our Catholic Schools' Week activities.. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served afterwards.
December 19, 2022
The children are very excited about the show tonight, and I hope as many of you as possible will be able to make it. Many lovely prizes and hampers have been donated for the fundraising raffle, and we are very grateful to all the generous donors. The show starts at 7p.m. and should be over by 9pm. We very much appreciate the co-operation of the Dolmen Centre staff and the expertise of our wonderful sound technician, Tony Ryan, who has been a stalwart support to our school for many years.
The school is very grateful to Louise and Carmel Maxwell who have once again donated Christmas treats for all the children. They go to a lot of trouble and the children's faces always light up when they see their annual gifts. The two women exemplify the spirit of Christmas. We extend our thanks also to Maloney's Service Station, Seamus Shovlin, the Dolmen Christmas Party organisers, and Brolly IT Services, who have also donated treats to the school this Christmas. Their generous gestures are very much appreciated.
December 16, 2022
We have a busy few days next week as we approach Christmas. Hopefully this icy spell will soon be behind us.
FIRST COMMUNION MASS ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18TH
Mrs. O’Donnell’s class has prepared for a Do This in Memory Mass on Sunday at 11 a.m. in St. Conal’s Church, Kilclooney. We hope that as many children as possible from all classes will be present to support our first communicants through prayer and singing. There is a preparatory page for the Mass on the Classes page of the school website, with prayers and certain children’s roles outlined, and the lyrics to Silent Night included therein.
CHRISTMAS SHOW ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 19TH
The Christmas Show will be staged from 7 p.m. on Monday evening, and we will be practising the dress rehearsals during the day. Please make sure the children have their costumes with them. A lot of work has gone into these productions, and the staff and children are to be commended for their dedication and artistry. Entry to the show is free, but we will accept any donations to our school fundraising. There will also be a raffle on the night, with some lovely prizes.
SLEEPING BEAUTY PANTOMIME ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20TH
We will be heading to a Panto in Derry on Tuesday, a real treat for the whole school from infants to sixth! The show is “Sleeping Beauty” in the Waterside Theatre, and it should be a special day out for all the children. It is something we used to do every couple of years before Covid, so it is nice to revive this Christmas tradition again. Proceeds from the Halloween Quiz in the Tavern are paying the children’s entry fee to this acclaimed production, and we are very grateful to the parents who raised this money on the day.
We will be leaving from the school itself at 8 a.m. in order to make it in time for the show, so the children will have to be brought to the school by parents/guardians. We aim to return by 3p.m., so the children will be able to go home on the buses. If there is any deviation from this schedule, we will, of course, text you on the day.
CHRISTMAS CHOIR
The children will perform in the choir on Christmas morning in Kilclooney Church, and we hope that as many pupils as possible can be present to celebrate the birth of our Saviour.
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
We close for the Christmas holidays at 12.20 p.m. on Wednesday, December 21st. The buses have been notified. We hope that everyone has a peaceful and safe Christmas. The school re-opens on Thursday, January 5th, 2023.
December 5, 2022
The Board of Management conducted its annual review of our Child Protection measures at its meeting last Monday. I have emailed both the updated Child Safeguarding Statement and the obligatory notification of the review to parents/guardians. Should any parent or guardian wish to raise any issue with the Board of Management regarding the Child Safeguarding Statement, please write to the Chairperson, Fr. Philip Daly, Parochial House, Kilclooney, Portnoo, Co. Donegal.
December 3, 2022
The school choir will be guesting in the Ulster University Choir's concert in St. Conal's Church next Thursday. The concert begins at 7.30pm and all donations will be donated to the Red Cross Creelough Fund. The concert is organised by the Jim Rafferty Foundation.
The children will be attending Mass in the church earlier on Thursday, as we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. As I communicated on November 21st, they will be going home at 12.20pm on Thursday, as the teachers will be attending a Dept. of Education webinar on the Language curriculum.
Paddy Hegarty will be in the school on Monday next week as usual, so sports clothes will be required.
The school's GAA quiz team will compete at the Mount Errigal Hotel next Tuesday commencing at 7pm. We wish Mrs. Lough's charges every success on the night.
A total of 40 Christmas boxes were donated by the school community to the Hope Foundation, and we are so grateful to you all for your generosity.
November 8, 2022
I want to sincerely thank Claire O'Donnell, Siobhan Nicholson, Andrea McGill and Caroline Shovlin for organising such a successful fundraising quiz at Halloween. The stupendous sum of 1,500 euro was delivered to the school today. I am very grateful to all who attended the quiz, dressed for the occasion, sponsored prizes or donated money to the cause. It was a fun-filled afternoon, and the staff at the Tavern couldn't have been nicer.
November 7, 2022
Once again it is that time of year when we are asked by the HSE to encourage parents to protect their children from Flu by bringing their children for the Flu vaccine. The Nasal Flu vaccine is now available for children aged 2-17 years of age. It can be accessed FREE at participating GPs or Pharmacies.
The Nasal Flu Vaccine is recommended by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee to help prevent Flu in children. It will also help protect others, like siblings, parents, grandparents and those who are vulnerable.
We have been asked to circulate the attached flyer to the parents/guardians of pupils at our school.
More info can be found at www.hse.ie/flu about the FREE Nasal Flu Vaccine for children/young people and also other clinically ‘At Risk’ groups.
October 9, 2022
The community's prayers and sympathies are with the victims and their families at this awful time of pain and loss. To show our support and concern for them, a short vigil and prayer service will take place in Kilclooney Church this evening at 7p.m. It will include appropriate music, song and scripture readings, with short silent periods of prayer. You are invited to come along and pray for these people: those who died, victims in hospital, and their families. They will surely need our prayers over the coming days. The liturgy will end at about 7.30p.m.
September 29, 2022
Thank you to all those who made today's service so uplifting. We heard three languages, English, Irish and Ukrainian, and this was such a lovely experience. We have a loving school community and long may this last.
September 26, 2022
Our Start-of-Year Religious Service will take place in the school on Thursday, September 29th starting at 11:10. All are welcome.
September 25, 2022
As you may know, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is currently engaged in a consultation process on an updated Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum. The proposed new curriculum will incorporate Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE). This is for the junior cycle, i.e. for 12-15 year olds.
Parents are invited by the NCCA to participate in that consultation. It is vital that the voice of parents be heard.
The SPHE parent/guardian feedback survey may be found at the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/HE9KeRB8xg.
Further information, including the draft SPHE curriculum can be found at https://ncca.ie/en/junior-cycle/curriculum-developments/social-personal-and-health-education-relationships-and-sexuality-education/.
September 24, 2022
The following flyer was sent to us on behalf of TUSLA for dissemination to parents and guardians who might be interested. It is a link to an upcoming free online webinar on the topic of "Managing Anxiety in your child and Helping them to worry less" to be conducted by Dr Elizabeth Mc Quaid, Senior Clinical Psychologist with the HSE. It will take place on Wednesday 19th October from 7p.m. to 8:30p.m. The event is free but booking is essential. Booking is done through Eventbrite at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/managing-anxiety-in-children-and-helping-them-to-worry-less-tickets-424235418557
September 15, 2022
We will have our annual Homework Evening for parents and guardians in the school on Wednesday night, September 21, 2022, at which the teachers will elaborate on the subject of children’s homework and what it entails for the various age groups. These short meetings promote better communication between home and school.
Mrs McLoone’s times are as follows:
The junior infants at 6.30p.m.,
Senior infants at 6.45p.m.,
1st at 7p.m.
Mrs O’Donnell’s time is:
2nd and 3rd at 7.15p.m.
Mr Plunkett’s time is:
4th, 5th and 6th at 7.45p.m.
The school photographs will be taken in the school next Thursday. As in previous years, there is no obligation to purchase photographs.
September 1, 2022
We had a great first day back at school and the weather certainly cooperated. We have 14 new pupils in the school this year and they are lovely children. We welcome them all and their families to our school and hope that their time in St. Conal's will be a happy and rewarding one.
The school looked great inside and out, and I sincerely wish to thank those parents who helped to tidy the shelter area so well on Tuesday evening. Our gardener left the lawns in a wonderful condition and our cleaners worked like troopers. Please God the heat will be activated tomorrow, as final touches are being made to the central heating project today.
As in previous years, absence explanation notes should be returned to the school when a child comes back after any absence. Paper copies will be given to each child at school, but I am also emailing you all a copy should you have access to a printer. The reason given for an absence should also be recorded. This is necessary information when the end-of-year attendance reports are being compiled. Additional copies may be requested from the teachers if your supply runs out.
HSE advice regarding when a child should return to school following possible Covid symptoms or a positive result should be heeded.
This HSE link provides the necessary information, if you are unsure:
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/preventing-the-spread/child-returning-to-school-or-childcare/
August 29, 2022
We are nearly ready to open our doors on Wednesday! The school is being cleaned like a new pin and the modern heating system, which will include warm water in the taps, has been installed through a myriad of pipes and new radiators. Unfortunately, there is some finishing work to do on the project and the heat will not be coming on stream until this Friday. Therefore the children may wear coats in the classroom if they feel the need, although the weather forecast is mild for Wednesday and Thursday.
We would be very grateful if any unwanted uniforms could be cleaned and donated to the school by 3p.m. tomorrow, so they can be available for other children in the school community. These can be left in the school porch.
We are still awaiting a fresh delivery of Tipperary drinking water, so the children must bring their own drinks with them until I advise you that the water bottles have arrived.
The free lunch scheme commences on Monday next, so the children who have signed up for this must bring their own lunch to school this week. The Fresh Today passwords and menu will be given to the children on Wednesday. As usual, they have until Thursday afternoon to select their menu for the following week, otherwise a default menu is delivered to them.
Parents and guardians of the junior infants should note that they will be going home at 12p.m. each day up to and including until Friday, September 16th. Thereafter, they will go home at 1.55p.m.
We wish all our pupils and staff a successful and happy school year.
June 8, 2022
As we approach the final weeks of the school year, I just wish to update you all of an upcoming Board of Management project in the school. The school applied to the Summer Works Scheme in 2019 seeking the replacement of the 37 year-old heating system in the school. We received word this spring that our application to the Dept. of Education for grant-aid was successful and the exhaustive process of appointing a consultant to oversee the project and a contractor to carry out the work is now complete. We are very grateful for the substantial grant received, which is expected to cover the total cost of the works.
Sweeney Plumbing and Heating Contractors from Lettermacaward were awarded the contract following an e-tendering process and they will start on Wednesday, June 29th, the day after we get the summer holidays. Work is scheduled to be complete by August 24th, all going well, but with the delivery of components and parts being delayed at present due to world events, parents should be aware that there is a worst-case scenario whereby the heating system will not be operational into the early weeks of September. The Board will address this scenario with alternative plans, if it arises. As always outside school hours and during holidays, the grounds will be limited to authorised access only.
We will be switching over to gas from kerosene. The project will include the replacement of all radiators and connecting pipes and the installation of a new boiler and outside gas tank. Thermostat-controlled hot and cold water will be available in the classrooms for the first time.
Since 2010, the Board has installed extra insulation into the cavity walls and roof-space, replaced all the wooden doors and windows with PVC, painted both interior and exterior, and together with the upcoming overhaul of the heating system, we will be providing a comfortable and energy-efficient working environment for our pupils and staff.
May 27, 2022
Our first Bring 'n' Buy Sale since 2019 was a huge success today, with 551 euro raised for extra resources to be divided among the classrooms and special education rooms. The senior children worked really hard yesterday in preparing the hall and today they reaped the fruits of that preparation. The tables featured everything from raffles, drinks, bakes, goodie bags, challenges and more besides. All the children shopped to their hearts content, while the DJ kept the beat going! And when it was over, many conscientious pupils stayed behind to clear up the hall and leave it ready for work next week. I wish to pay tribute to the excellent behaviour and good humour of all the pupils today and I thank all the adults who assisted in any way.
May 24, 2022
The children in the senior room are busy getting ready for the Bring and Buy Sale in the school hall this Friday. This was an annual showpiece for many years before Covid and it is wonderful to see it back on the roster. The idea is that the senior pupils organise a stall and sell small items like toys or books, finger food/bakery items, popcorn, soft drinks, etc. that they think may be desired by their customers: their fellow pupils. We restrict it to the senior room in terms of being responsible for stalls and money, although children from Mrs O'Donnell's room may assist a stall-holder if deemed necessary. Items not permitted to be sold include CDs, DVDs and computer games. We see the entrepreneurial and mathematical skills of the pupils on display and it is also a great social occasion. The proceeds will be divided among the classrooms.
I wish to thank all those who contributed to making the First Communion such a lovely experience for the whole community. The children were outstanding and a credit to themselves, their loving parents and their hardworking teacher and SNA. I hope they all had a wonderful weekend with their friends and family.
April 4, 2022
We will be marking Autism Awareness this Friday. Blue is the colour associated with Autism Awareness and we hope that the children will wear someting blue on the day. It is also a Crazy Hair Day! Friday will be a no-uniform day, so the pupils can be creative in the blue they display.
We wish everyone in the school community a very happy Easter.
April 1, 2022
We send a big thank you to our teams who played so valiantly in the Cumann na mBunscol GAA blitz in Glenties. We wish the winners, Glenties every success in the next round. We thank Brian Moore most sincerely for sponsoring ice-creams for all the squad and helpers afterwards.
March 1, 2022
We were delighted to learn today that fifth class pupil, Cian Shovlin, was a runner-up in the Primary School Road Safety Art Competition, organised by Donegal Road Safety Working Group and Finn Harps FC. The Road Safety Art competition invites young artists from Donegal’s Primary Schools, to create a piece of visual art that will raise awareness of how to stay safe on the roads. The theme of the competition this year was “Travelling to School Safely”. Congratulations, Cian! We are very proud of you. Coming so soon after Iona McHugh's artistic success, this has been a very successful term so far for Mr. Breslin's pupils.
February 25, 2022
Please note the email I sent to all parents and staff today regarding the changes to our Covid Protocols, commencing on Monday, February 28, 2022.
February 20, 2022
Our first Confirmation preparatory Mass went very well and I wish to thank all the children for participating so well. Their artwork was coordinated by Mrs McGinley and it really enhanced the central message regarding the Beatitudes. The next preparatory Mass will be on Sunday, March 13, 2022, at 11a.m. The Confirmation Day itself will be on Saturday, March 26, 2022, commencing at 11a.m.
February 7, 2022
As you are aware, we have multiple cases in the school community. I have uploaded a one-page table which gives clear information on what familes should know regarding Covid-19 cases and contacts. Children should not be sent into school with any of the symptoms of Covid-19, even if they have tested negative on an antigen test.
February 2, 2022
We are all very proud of Iona McHugh from sixth class in St. Conal's National School on being selected as one of the county winners in this year's Someone Like Me Art Competition 2021. Nicholas Breslin entered the class in this competition, which focused on disability in its many forms.
With nearly 2,000 submissions received and such a high calibre of entries ranging from posters to sculptures and everything in between, it's a huge accomplishment for Iona to have made it this far. The other work entered from our senior room was of a very high standard and to have a winner from its ranks is a great achievement and a tribute to the encouragement of their teacher, Mr. Breslin.
The National Disability Authority will be presenting the national awards tomorrow, Thursday, February 3, 2022 from 12p.m. and we would like to invite you to virtually attend the Someone Like Me National Awards Ceremony where they will be announcing Iona’s County Donegal prize and showcasing her creation, as well as announcing the Overall National Winner.
The award ceremony will be available at https://someonelikemecompetition.ie/ceremony/
Well done, Iona!
January 19, 2022
Fr. Daly has set aside Saturday, March 26th for Confirmation in Kilclooney. Fifth and Sixth will receive the Sacrament should they choose to do so. It may have to take place in two Masses on that day, should there be restrictions on numbers attending. There will be three preparatory Masses prior to the Confirmation itself and attendance at these should be prioritised by the pupils.
The First Communion will take place on Sunday, May 22nd.
December 22, 2021
We wish to thank Louise and Carmel Maxwell for the elaborate and tasty treats they voluntarily prepared for the children of the school. We also wish you all a safe and enjoyable Christmas with your families.
December 21, 2021
The Department of Education has been asked by the HSE to disseminate the information below to schools for onward communication to parents/guardians.
COVID-19 vaccine information for parents of children aged 5-11
The HSE has published detailed information and guidance for parents about COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5-11. This aims to help parents and guardians of 5-11 year old children make an informed decision when it’s time for their child to be offered a COVID-19 vaccine.
Registration for the vaccine will open shortly, with priority being placed on children who are more at risk from COVID-19 or children who have a high-risk person in the family. Parents and guardians can read this information on https://www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/get-the-vaccine/covid-19-vaccination-for-children/ or they can download these information booklets from HSE.ie.
Important information for parents and guardians about the COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5-11 (Comirnaty, Pfizer/BioNTech) (PDF, size 1.11 MB, 16 pages)
December 20, 2021
Please see the attached flyer from the HSE in relation to the free Children’s Flu Vaccine (nasal spray/no needle) for those aged 2-17.
In a letter to schools, the HSE explains the rationale behind the flu vaccine:
“Flu is a highly infectious illness caused by the flu virus. Flu spreads easily and infects both children and adults. Children are more likely than adults to get severe complications of Flu and it can cause them serious illness. They are also more likely to transmit the Flu virus than adults. Over the last 10 years in Ireland, almost 5,000 children were hospitalised because of flu; almost 200 needed intensive care; and sadly 40 children died. Where there were no incidences of Flu in Ireland last year, this year it has been circulating over the past number of weeks.
The Children’s Flu vaccine is available for those aged 2-17 years. It is recommended to help prevent Flu illness in Children as well as help decrease transmission to others, particularly those most vulnerable.
The Children’s flu vaccine is a ‘no needle’ vaccine which is administered as a single nasal spray in each nostril. It is available to all children free of charge and can be accessed at participating GPs or Pharmacies”.
December 16, 2021
A video has been posted on Youtube about the activities conducted in the Dolmen Centre and St. Conal's NS during Science Week in November. The senior classes were asked to assist the pilot programme, which was aimed at bringing science to both the older and younger generations in a community. The link to the video is included below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4r8jDlKIBw
December 7, 2021
Below please find the Diocesan link to the Prayer Service marking the 1500th Anniversary of the birth of St Colmcille taking place in Gartan today. One can log on to the video recording at any time. Feel free to share the link.
https://youtu.be/HGWJMNWXQk4
November 29, 2021
The notification of the annual Child Safeguarding Review by the Board of Management can be found in your email.
November 18, 2021
Each school has been asked by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to pass on this message to parents/guardians concerning the planned revision of the school curriculum.:
"Parents! Do you know that the Primary Curriculum is changing?
What children learn and how children learn in primary school is changing. The proposed changes aim to enhance children’s learning in school and provide for even more relevant and meaningful learning.
As a parent, it is important that you have a say in shaping your child’s future learning. Consultation will close by the end of February 2022.
Want to know more? Visit our website www.ncca.ie/primary"
October 21, 2021
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has asked the Department to assist in sending out a message through school communities to parents. Please see below its warning about the danger associated with eating edible products, such as jelly sweets, containing cannabis components.
Secondly, in conjunction with the network of drug and alcohol taskforces throughout the country, the attached information leaflet has been prepared specifically for schools. It provides information on the range of supports that drug and alcohol taskforces can provide to schools, parents and students to prevent and tackle drug and alcohol use and to strengthen communications between local schools and drug and alcohol task forces.
As well as the contact details for each of the drug and alcohol task forces, it provides information on a range of valuable resources for schools and parents relating to drug and alcohol use. This leaflet is attached with this email.
Warning regarding jelly sweets containing cannabis (THC)
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is urging parents and guardians to be extremely vigilant to the dangers of their children getting access to and eating confectionary, particularly jelly sweets, containing significant amounts of the psychoactive cannabis component called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This warning comes amid the ongoing seizures of these illegal food products by the Gardaí and Customs services, and a number of serious medical incidents whereby these THC-containing jelly sweets resulted in teenagers and young children suffering serious adverse health effects requiring hospitalisation. These jelly sweets are packaged to look like popular brands of jellies and have been found to contain toxic amounts of THC (up to 50mg/jelly). Depending on the concentration of THC, eating one of these jellies can mean an equivalent intake of THC that is 5-10 times higher than that inhaled from a single cannabis cigarette. Also, unlike the almost immediate effects of inhaling THC (smoking or vaping), ingesting THC through these jellies can take up to 30 minutes for any effects to be felt. However, while waiting for those effects, those who have eaten these products may overdose in the mistaken belief that they need to eat more sweets in order to feel the effects. Of particular concern to the FSAI is the inadvertent consumption of these jelly sweets by small children who may somehow gain access to what looks and possibly tastes like ordinary sweets. Unfortunately, given access to a bag of these jellies, children will rarely eat just one and therefore, overdosing is a very likely outcome as witnessed by the hospitalisation of a number of seriously ill young children in the early part of 2021.
The FSAI has become aware of reports about the availability of THC-containing jelly sweets in schools in Ireland and therefore, parents and guardians are asked to speak with their teenagers alerting them to the dangers if they eat them or if their younger siblings get access to them and subsequently suffer the serious consequences of consuming a toxic substance.
September 29, 2021
The HSE has provided information for parents about the changes to contact tracing and testing for children aged between 3 months and 13 years in early learning and care, school aged childcare, education, primary school sports and social settings. You can find it here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/13610-information-for-parents-about-the-changes-to-contact-tracing-and-testing-for-children-aged-between-3-months-and-13-years-in-early-learning-and-care-elc-and-school-age-childcare-sac-education-primary-school-sports-and-social-settings/
You can find other resources for parents for download here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a04fc-advice-for-students-and-their-families/
Videos and posters outlining the common symptoms of Covid-19, and stressing to parents that if a child has any new onset symptoms as listed and feels unwell or seems off-form, not to send them to school and contact their GP for advice, if necessary.
September 23, 2021
Separately, we have been notified that the guidance pertaining to how a positive case will affect other pupils in the school will change from next Monday, as follows:
“Update from HSE for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) managers and school principals on the changes to COVID 19 testing and contact tracing for children, 3months to under 13 years (and inclusive of all children attending primary school)
In line with recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team, it has been agreed that from September 27th 2021, automatic contact tracing of asymptomatic close contacts in children aged over 3 months and less than 13 years, in ELC and SAC facilities, primary education and social and sporting groups is no longer recommended.
This means that children aged between 3 months and 13 years who are identified as a close contact in ELC / SAC or education settings, social and sporting groups, or other non-household settings and who are asymptomatic will no longer be routinely required to restrict their movements.
Automatic COVID 19 testing of asymptomatic close contacts identified in ELC / SAC or education settings, social and sporting groups will no longer take place; instead testing will focus on clinically relevant symptomatic disease. There will be transition to testing for public health action and surveillance as indicated on public health or clinical grounds.
Cases and outbreaks in special educational needs settings, and respite care will still have a public health risk assessment, which may still require children to be identified as close contacts, be referred for testing and have their movements restricted. However they will generally be requested only to restrict their movements for five days, and be referred for one COVID 19 test.
Children aged between 3 months and 13 years who are identified, as household close contacts and are not fully vaccinated or have had a confirmed Covid-19 diagnoses in the last 9 months (even if they have no symptoms) will still need to restrict their movements and get a COVID 19 test. A child is a household contact if they were present over-night, in the household of a COVID 19 case while the case was infectious. This may be in their own home or someone else’s home for example children who may have been on sleepovers with family or friends.
Public Health advice remains the same for any child between 3 months and 13 years of age with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 - they should immediately self-isolate, should not attend childcare or school or socialise and follow current public health advice”.
Please check the HSE website for any further information.
August 26, 2021
ST. CONAL’S N.S. COVID-19 RESPONSE PLAN SUMMARY
We wish to welcome back all our pupils, parents and staff and greet new members of our school community. Covid-19 is going to continue to be with us for the foreseeable future and it is our hope to keep everyone safe in school. The safe re-opening of St. Conal’s N.S. is very important for both our pupils and staff and we hope that it will be a positive return for all. Please note the updated symptoms listed below of the Delta variant. Any child exhibiting any of these symptoms should not attend school.
Little has changed from June 2020:
For children- this means pods, bubbles, handwashing, hand sanitisers, teachers wearing masks, social distancing, yard restrictions and individuals going home should they present symptoms of COVID-19.
For parents – this means communicating with the school via telephone or email, not
congregating outside the school, keeping symptomatic children at home, collecting children who develop symptoms of COVID-1 and sending in Return to School after Pupil Absence forms.
For staff- this means handwashing and sanitising routines, wearing masks, vigilance in relation to children exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and maintaining pods and bubbles.
Government information for students, parents and families on the return to school
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a04fc-advice-for-students-and-their-families/#returning-to-school
Government School Transport Advice
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/64a88-school-transport/
THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 (including the DELTA variant)
In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 it is important to know and recognise the symptoms of coronavirus (which includes the DELTA variant).
Common symptoms of coronavirus include:
• a fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above).
• a new cough - this can be any kind of cough, not just dry.
• shortness of breath or breathing difficulties.
• loss or change in your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
• Fatigue
• Aches and Pains
Other uncommon symptoms of coronavirus include:
• sore throat
• headaches
• runny or stuffy noses
• feeling sick or vomiting
• diarrhoea
Infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 can cause illness, ranging from mild to severe, and, in some cases, can be fatal. It can take up to 14 days for symptoms to show. They can be similar to symptoms of cold and flu.
If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 (coronavirus), self-isolate (stay in your room) and phone your family doctor straight away to see if you need a free COVID-19 test.
Getting an early diagnosis means, you can get the help you need and take steps to avoid spreading the virus, if you have it.
For the complete list of symptoms, please refer to the HSE Website. Symptoms may be subject to change so regular review of the HSE Website is advised. If you do not have symptoms, you can get a free COVID-19 (coronavirus) test at a COVID-19 walk-in test centre.
COVID-19 Tracker App
COVID Tracker app is a free and easy-to-use mobile phone app that will:
• alert you if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus)
• keep other app users safe by alerting them if you test positive for COVID-19
• give you advice on what to do if you have symptoms
You can download the free app from Apple's AppStore or the GooglePlay store
Employers and workers must keep themselves up to date on Public Health information as this can be updated on a regular basis. Public Health information on close contacts, casual contacts and testing is available from the HSE website.
COVID-19 Policy Statement
St. Conal’s N.S. is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all our staff and a safe learning environment for all our pupils. To ensure that, we have developed and updated the following COVID-19 Response Plan. The BOM and all school staff are responsible for the implementation of this plan and a combined effort will help contain the spread of the virus. We will:
• continue to monitor our COVID-19 response and amend this plan in consultation with our staff
• provide up to date information to our staff and pupils on the Public Health advice issued by the HSE and Gov.ie
• display information on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and correct hand-washing techniques
• agree with staff, a worker representative who is easily identifiable to carry out the role outlined in this plan
• inform all staff and pupils of essential hygiene and respiratory etiquette and physical distancing requirements
• adapt the school to facilitate physical distancing as appropriate in line with the guidance and direction of the Department of Education
• keep a contact log to help with contact tracing
• ensure staff engage with the induction/familiarisation briefing provided by the Department of Education
• implement the agreed procedures to be followed in the event of someone showing symptoms of COVID-19 while at school
• provide instructions for staff and pupils to follow if they develop signs and symptoms of COVID-19 during school time
• implement cleaning in line with Department of Education advice
All school staff will be consulted on an ongoing basis and feedback is encouraged on any concerns, issues or suggestions.
This can be done through the Lead Worker Representative(s), who will be supported in line with the agreement between the Department and education partners.
Tom Plunkett
August 24, 2021
SUMMARY OF ST. CONAL'S N.S. 2021 RESPONSE PLAN
The Board of Management will follow guidance given by the Department of Education, and in line with public health advice issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and in compliance with the “Return to Work Safely Protocols” developed by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Health with guidance documents provided by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).
It is the intention of this Covid-19 Response Plan to introduce the supports and control measures for the sustainable reopening of school where the overriding objective is to protect the health of staff and pupils.
What follows is a summary of the procedures we are following in getting back to school. The main control measures to be implemented and described in this document are there to (i) minimise the risk of introduction of infection in our schools; and (ii) managing risk of spread if introduced through:
• Regular and good hand hygiene.
• Good respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.
• Enhanced cleaning regimes; and
• Maintaining physical distancing in the classroom and within schools.
The school hired a Professional Health and Safety Practitioner in 2020 to assist us in how best to re-open the school safely and all these measures remain in place in 2021. All initiatives and protocols taken are put in place to allow the school to re-open and help prevent the spread of the virus in the school and out into the local community. The co-operation and support of all the staff of the school, along with parents and pupils is essential in ensuring the safe re-opening of the school.
Foreign travel is not a matter for schools to investigate. Parents are personally responsible for compliance with public health advice and should refer to the government-advice on international-travel available at
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/77952-government-advice-on-international-travel
While staff have to complete a Return to Work Form (available at Appendix 2 of the updated Covid-19-Response Plan for-primary-and-special-schools ), they also have personal responsibility for compliance with public health advice in relation to foreign travel and should also refer to the government advice on international travel .
Signage:
Signage outlining the signs and symptoms of COVID19 and to support good hand and respiratory hygiene, are posted throughout the school building and at all entrance points to the school grounds. The Department provided printed posters to schools, with age appropriate key health messages – hand washing, sneeze and cough etiquette etc.
Preparing to open the school:
• The school is currently being thoroughly cleaned before re-opening.
• Classrooms have been cleared to make sufficient space for re-configuration of classrooms.
• Floor marking and signage are displayed to help in social distancing and hand-hygiene controls.
Control Measures - To prevent Introduction and Spread of COVID-19 in Schools, we will:
• Schools should ensure that they have up-to-date contact numbers for parents/guardians who can be contacted to collect pupils from school in the event of illness. Parents should ensure that those authorised to collect their children if they are unavailable should not be in the at-risk group in the population. Please contact the school at school@stconals.ie if you wish to change the name(s) of the person(s) who is/are an emergency contact and include a phone number.
• Promote awareness of COVID-19 and its symptoms among staff, parents and pupils as age appropriate for example with posters, email/text communications.
• Advise staff members that have symptoms of COVID-19 or other acute infectious disease not to attend work, to phone their doctor and to follow HSE guidance on self-isolation.
• Advise staff members not to present for work if they have been identified by HSE as a Contact of a person with COVID-19 and to follow the HSE advice on restriction of movement.
• Advise staff members that develop symptoms at work to bring this to the attention of their manager promptly and to follow HSE guidance on self-isolation.
• Request all staff members to confirm on arrival for work each day that they do not have symptoms of COVID-19 infection.
• Advise parents not to bring their children to school if the child has symptoms of a viral respiratory infection or if there is someone in the household suspected or known to have COVID-19.
• Advise parents not to bring their children to school if they have been identified as COVID-19 contacts.
• Ensure students (as appropriate) are aware of the reason why they should not attend if they have respiratory symptoms.
• Ensure students are aware that if they develop signs or symptoms when at school they should let their teacher know.
• It is unlikely to be practical to ask pupils to declare that they are symptom-free on arrival at school; however, parents should be advised that the school reserves the right to decline entry to pupils who appear to have fever or respiratory tract infection.
• Everyone entering the building should be required to perform hand hygiene with a hand sanitiser.
• Know the Symptoms of COVID-19 In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 it is important to know and recognise the symptoms.
Respiratory Hygiene:
Staff will invoke the message of:
Make Sure You, And The People Around You, Follow Good Respiratory Hygiene.
This requires both staff and pupils to: cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your bent elbow when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately and safely into a nearby bin. By following good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and Covid-19.
Carbon dioxide monitoring units are due to be delivered by the Dept. of Education to the school.
The Minister also confirmed that she had been working with the public health authorities to ensure that the public health advice underpinning the safe reopening of schools is fully up to date. Public Health Authorities have confirmed that the recommendations issued remain current. These recommendations from the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre confirm that:
• All recommendations published in the public health advice by the Minister at the beginning of July including physical distancing guidelines as set out in the recently published roadmap still apply in all schools, with the exception of the recommendations on face coverings which has been updated to reflect the latest research and expertise.
• Staff, including teachers at both primary and post primary levels, who cannot maintain a 2m distance from students or other staff will be required to wear face coverings. A visor will suffice if that distance can be maintained, e.g. in teaching a lesson.
• All SNAs will be required to wear face coverings, or in certain situations clear visors, in the classroom.
• Other staff, e.g. bus escorts, who have close contact with students will be required to wear face coverings.
Hand Hygiene:
Staff and pupils should understand why hand hygiene is important as well as when and how to wash their hands. The school will promote good hygiene and display posters throughout the schools on how to wash your hands. We will follow the HSE guidelines on handwashing.
Changes of the school building layout:
Physical Distancing
The re-configuration of classrooms and other areas is necessary to support physical distancing in line with the guidance in advance of school reopening.
There are very few changes in the classroom for Junior & Senior infants and 1st Class as social distancing rules do not apply to pupils there.
Larger changes are required for the 2nd, 3rd & 4th classroom and the 5th & 6th classrooms, to allow for social distancing of one metre between each pupil and help staff to maintain a minimum of 1m distance and, where possible, 2m for the pupils.
Each classroom is to structure pupils and their teachers into Class Bubbles (i.e. a class grouping which stays apart from other classes as much as possible).
In the 2nd, 3rd & 4th classroom, the class is divided into Pods. 2nd Class will be in one pod, as there is no need for these children to social distance. Another pod containing 3rd & 4th class do have to comply with social distancing rules and will be separate from the 2nd class pod. There will be at least 1m distance between individual Pods within the Class Bubble and between individuals in the 3rd & 4th class pod.
The new large Special Education Room 1 requires no alterations.
Within Special Education room 2, only 2 pupils and the teacher are permitted in the room at any one time. The desks are to be configured to allow the teacher to keep at least 1metre distance from the pupils.
Generally speaking, the objective is to limit contact and sharing of common facilities between people in different Class Bubbles (and Pods within those Class Bubbles) as much as possible.
The aim of the system within the school is that class groupings mix only with their own class from arrival at school in the morning until departure at the end of the school day. The Pods within those Class Bubbles is an additional measure, to limit the extent of close contact within the Class Bubble.
To the greatest extent possible, pupils and teaching staff should consistently be in the same Class Bubbles, with Staff members who move from class bubble to class bubble to be limited as much as possible.
To facilitate the re-configuration of the classrooms, and also to allow staff to take their breaks whilst maintaining a social distance, the Assembly Hall has been re-configured and will not be used as for purpose during the lifetime the COVID-19 restrictions are in place.
A designated isolation area has been created and will be clearly signed as such.
Special Educational Needs:
Additional considerations for those with Special Educational Needs for children with special educational needs (SEN) maintaining physical distancing in many instances will not be practical or appropriate to implement. The focus should therefore, be on emphasising that parents/guardians should have a heightened awareness of signs, symptoms or changes in baseline which suggests illness/COVID-19.
Similarly, staff should be aware of their responsibility not to attend for work if they develop signs or symptoms of respiratory illness.
The use of a face covering will conceal facial expression and can make communication difficult and as such may not be practical in this setting; however, the wearing of a visor as an alternative to a facial covering may be considered where there is a concern that physical distancing cannot be maintained, there will be prolonged close contact and/or that exposure to fluid/respiratory droplets is likely.
Uniforms:
The wearing of uniforms will be required from September 1st. All jumpers (and coats) should be permanantly labelled with the pupil's name.
Arriving at school:
Parents are reminded that assembly in the school yard should not commence before 9.20a.m. when supervision commences. Children should not enter the school gate prior to that time. Pupils and parents should maintain social distancing at the school wall.
Signage will be posted at the school entrance to maintain a distance of 2m between parents and guardians and between parents and guardians and school staff.
Pupils will be encouraged to head to the section of the school yard allocated to their class bubble and stand on their relevant coloured spots.
On wet mornings, to avoid pupils congregating in the school shelter, they will follow social distance and hand hygiene protocols and enter directly into their classroom.
Access points:
The school is to utilise the two access points to decrease interaction between class bubbles.
The Junior, Senior infants and 1st Class are to enter and leave the school via the back entrance. This includes start and finish times, play times and lunch breaks. They must also access the school through this door if they require the toilet during lunch and break times.
2nd to 6th classes are to access their classrooms from the main front entrance as per usual.
No pupil from 2nd to 6th class is to use the rear access at any time.
Signs will be posted to clearly indicate routes to be used by each class.
Break times:
The playground will be segregated into different areas so that each class bubble can have its own section of the schoolyard and football fields.
To decrease interaction in the communal corridor at the front access point 2nd, 3rd & 4th class will leave lessons approximately 3 minutes earlier than 5th & 6th classes.
Similarly, when breaks times are over, 5th & 6th classes will wait until 2nd, 3rd & 4th class have entered their classroom before lining up to go back to their class.
Floor marking will be made on the school yard to encourage social distancing when re-entering the school building.
The marking will assist in staggering access back into the classroom and so avoid congestion around wash basins and hand sanitisers within each classroom.
End of school day:
Class finishing times between 2nd, 3rd & 4th class and 5th & 6th class will be slightly staggered to avoid congestion around the access/egress points.
Emergencies:
In emergency situations and during fire drills normal routes of leaving the building, via nearest exit/emergency exits and gathering at the class assembly points will apply.
Hand Hygiene:
St Conal’s staff will promote good hygiene and posters displayed throughout the schools on how to wash your hands.
Paper towels must be used by pupils to turn off taps after cleaning to avoid re-contamination if turning taps off with bare hands. Signs to indicate this requirement will be posted at all sinks throughout the school.
Hand sanitiser is suitable for use for hand hygiene when hands are not visibly soiled (look clean).
Young children should not have independent use of containers of alcohol gel.
Frequency of Hand Hygiene:
Pupils and staff should perform hand hygiene:
• On arrival at school;
• Before eating or drinking;
• After using the toilet;
• After playing outdoors;
• When their hands are physically dirty;
• When they cough or sneeze.
Cleaning regimes:
Schools will be provided a Covid-19 specific capitation payment in first term which will be used as the mechanism to support the implementation of enhanced cleaning regimes in schools.
Dealing with a Suspected Case of COVID-19:
Staff or pupils should not attend school if displaying any symptoms of COVID-19. The following outlines how St Conal’s National School will deal with a suspected case that may arise in a school setting:
• A designated isolation area has been identified within the school building. The isolation room is large enough for up to 3 suspected cases at any one time
• The designated isolation area is behind a closed door and away from other staff and pupils. A viewing window in the door which will allow the suspected case to be monitored from outside the room.
• If a staff member/pupil displays symptoms of COVID-19 while at school the following are the procedures to be implemented:
o If the person with the suspected case is a pupil, the parents/guardians will be contacted immediately.
o The suspected case will be isolated accompanied to the designated isolation area keeping at least 2m away from the symptomatic person and also making sure that others maintain a distance of at least 2m from the symptomatic person at all times.
o If it is not possible to maintain a distance of 2m a staff member caring for a pupil should wear a face covering or mask. Gloves should not be used as the virus does not pass through skin;
o Provide a mask for the person presenting with symptoms. He/she should wear the mask if in a common area with other people or while exiting the premises.
o Assess whether the individual who is displaying symptoms can immediately be directed to go home/be brought home by parents who will call their doctor and continue self-isolation at home.
o Facilitate the person presenting with symptoms remaining in isolation if they cannot immediately go home and facilitate them calling their doctor.
o The individual should avoid touching people, surfaces and objects. Advice should be given to the person presenting with symptoms to cover their mouth and nose with the disposable tissue provided when they cough or sneeze and put the tissue in the waste bag provided.
o If the person is well enough to go home, arrange for them to be transported home by a family member, as soon as possible and advise them to inform their general practitioner by phone of their symptoms.
o School bus to transport the individual who is displaying symptoms home should not be used.
o If they are too unwell to go home or advice is required, contact 999 or 112 and inform them that the sick person is a Covid-19 suspect.
o The school Principal, LWR and safety Practitioner will carry out an assessment of the incident which will form part of determining follow-up actions and recovery.
Access to School and Contact Log:
Access to the school and school grounds is to be restricted to essential purposes and limited to those who have obtained prior approval from the Principal.
As the prompt identification and isolation of potentially infectious individuals is a crucial step in restricting the spread of the virus and protecting the health and safety of the individuals themselves and other staff, contractors and visitors at the workplace, a detailed sign in/sign out log of those entering the school facilities will be maintained.
The school will maintain a log of staff and pupil contacts.
Emergency contacts:
The school will request that parent/guardians of pupils re-submit contact details of those they wish to be used should their child need to be sent home and that they themselves are unavailable to collect their child.
The person selected should not be in the vulnerable category themselves.
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance:
For information on the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, please click on the following link:
https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_to_families_and_children/back_to_school_clothing_and_footwear_allowance.html
Communication:
Pupils must not be used by teachers to send messages to teachers throughout the school.
An electronic messaging system via smart phones will be used to relay school information between staff.
Parents will be informed that they cannot enter the school to discuss matters relating to their children but must telephone the school and make arrangements for the class teacher to contact them over the telephone at an appropriate time.
Personal property:
The pupils will hang their coats on the backs of their chairs where practical.
All lunch-boxes and pencil cases must be clearly labelled with the child’s name in a permanent way.
August 7, 2021
ST. CONAL’S N.S. GOLF CLASSIC 2021
The Board of Management of St. Conal’s N.S. wishes to sincerely thank Messrs. Liam McDevitt and Larry Foley for permitting us the free use of the wonderful Narin and Portnoo Links to hold the golf team classic in aid of the school, which raised €10,000 on the day itself and €500 subsequently. Liam also spontaneously donated the prizes we sourced from the shop, a gesture which was so generous. We couldn’t have had kinder and more thoughtful partners for our fundraising effort.
The Board is extremely appreciative of a significant, unsolicited donation to the school from the Laurence and Megan Foley Family Foundation. Their bigheartedness and altruism are truly admirable.
The Board of Management of St. Conal’s N.S. also wishes to thank the generous sponsors and donors listed below for their support of the Golf Classic. If there is an omission, please let us know at school@stconals.ie and we will amend the list.
We thank the many parents and friends of the school who bought raffle tickets. Over €2,000 worth of tickets were purchased and several beautiful prizes were donated. This aspect of the fundraising was vital to the cause.
We also express our great gratitude to those who attended meetings, contacted sponsors, arranged teams, aided with the preparation prior to the event and who were present on the day to assist with the organisation of this event. The inspirational Noleen McGrath lit the spark and her team were super-efficient and a joy to work with. The Board thanks Noleen, Ann Rodgers, Martina McGinley, Bernie Gallagher, Aisling Boyle, Patsy Harkin, Hugh Francis Shovlin, John Quinn, Yuka Quinn and Karl Finnerty for all of their efforts.
Sponsors & Benefactors
Laurence and Megan Foley Family Foundation
Narin & Portnoo Links
Cornerstone Architecture
Western Seaboard
Fresh Today
Donegal Shores
St. Conal’s Church, Kilclooney
Seamus Shovlin
Patrick Breslin
Michael Gallagher
Church of the Holy Family, Ardara
Ronan Doherty
Joan McCole
Cosyhomes Fuel
Pat Connaghan
John Cunningham
Maloney’s Texaco Filling Station
Sharkey Waste
JMAC Photography & P.R.
Fr. Philip Daly, C.C.
Sixth Class Boys
Michael McNelis
Peg Gillespie
Charlie Tully
Lyle Taggart
Alan Moore
Nesbitt Arms Hotel
John Joe Doherty
CBC Distributors
Hugh Boyle
Briege Naughton
Barney & Fiona Isherwood
Shane Mulreany
Sandfield Pitch & Putt
Brian McGinley
Nora Shovlin
Brian Morgan
Michaelangelo’s Bar & Restaurant
Annora Pub & Accommodation
Curl Up & Dye, Narin
Sliabh Liag Distillers
V2 Hair Salon, Ardara
Creative Hair, Ardara
Portnoo Market Garden
Patsy & Patrick Harkin
Frankie & Kathleen Shovlin
July 24, 2021
We had an outstanding fundraising event at Narin and Portnoo Links on Friday and the Board of Management pays tribute to all those involved in organising the Golf Classic and thanks the ownership and management of Narin and Portnoo Links for their great generosity to the school. We will be in a position to announce the final total raised in a week's time, as donations are still coming in, and a fuller report will be issued to parents then. For now, we thank all those who organised and supported the Classic in any way and will elaborate on that next weekend.
The full team result and raffle result are available by clicking on the highlighted words. The team of Anthony Harkin, Patsy Harkin, Norman Doherty and Connor Taggart were the victorious team on the day with 99 points. Michael Glynn of Glenties won the first prize in the raffle.
(photo courtesy of Bernie Gallagher)
July 1, 2021
A fundraising golf team classic will take place at the pristine Narin & Portnoo Links in aid of St. Conal’s N.S., on Friday, July 23, 2021. The competition is open to ladies and gents and the entry fee is €120 per team of four. Members of Narin & Portnoo Links should book online in the usual way, while non-members should contact the pro shop at 074-9545107 or via info@nandplinks.com. Entry payments in cash only will be accepted on the day itself.
We hope that a sizeable field will enter this event, as the school requires extra financial support at this time. We wish to thank the owners of Narin & Portnoo Links for granting us the course on the day and we especially thank Noleen McGrath, Yuka Quinn and Patsy Harkin for all their assistance in organising this event.
A raffle will also be held and anyone wishing to purchase tickets may do so at the club on the day. Volunteers to sell the tickets would also be desirable. We would also welcome donations of raffle prizes, should anyone wish to do so.
Let’s hope that the weather is kind on July 23rd and that a good day is had by all.
June 29, 2021
We have just received this email regarding the need to postpone the confirmation this Saturday. Please God this situation will improve soon and we can re-organise it.
Statement by Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ on recent Covid 19 Guidelines from Government
Postponement of Sacraments - Confirmation and First Holy Communion
It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform priests, young people and their families and the staff in our schools of the need to postpone our Confirmations yet again. The government, at very short notice, has declared that Confirmations and First Holy Communions ‘are off’. I know that all of our schools and parishes were making preparations to have small ceremonies in complete compliance with the Covid 19 guidelines. The Government have made it clear that NPHET have called for this deferment as a result of the rising threat from the very contagious Delta variant. This sudden decision will be a cause of deep disappointment to all those involved. Again I am very sorry that that we need to comply with this decision and I recognise the great inconvenience this causes to so many people.
Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ
Bishop of Raphoe
June 10, 2021
The StepUp school transition website is now available to use as a simple free resource for 6th class pupils and their parents.
The website was developed last June, as part of the Planet Youth project, largely because COVID19 had curtailed a lot of the school transition work that would typically happen before the summer. The site proved very popular with students and parents alike and there were 23,000 unique visitors to the site during last summer. Mostly young people.
There will also be a short free webinar for parents next Tuesday the 15th of June from 7.45 – 8.45pm and this is for any 6th class parents that would like to support their children with the move. We have a panel of speakers as follows:
Gina Dowd: Adolescent Psychotherapist
Helen Butler: Youth Coach
Niamh O’Flanagan: School Chaplain
The main elements of the webinar will be:
Life in secondary school - A discussion with the panel.
Step Up Website - A guide to the website and how best for parents to use it.
Q&A - Parents will have the opportunity to put their questions to the panel.
If any parents/guardians would like to come to the webinar, they can register through the news item on the website or the link to register is:
Stepping Up To Secondary School – A webinar for 6th class parents
Parents can submit questions on the night or in advance by email to events@planetyouth.ie.
Kind regards
Emmet Major
Planet Youth Coordinator
April 28, 2021
Please read this letter re important HSE information regarding possible Covid symptoms and the requirement that the child stay off school for 48 hours in certain circumstances. Children returning to school after any absence must return the Return to Educational Facility Parental Declaration Form.
March 23, 2021
Just a reminder that a Return to Educational Facility Parental Declaration Form must be submitted to the school when a child is returning from any absence. This form is available for download here. Copies of the form will be distributed to all children today.
March 12, 2021
The Dept. has provided us with links to video messages from public health doctors on the safety of schools, posters and digital animations and videos. A set of materials for parents of children in third-sixth class have been uploaded here and the posters are attached.
All materials are available here and on the Department’s twitter feed @Education_Ire
The direct links to the animations on YouTube are here also:
· Video for Third – sixth class students Irish – https://youtu.be/N_6bfgtO9Go
· Video for Third – sixth class English – https://youtu.be/IfrNHfHo5vI
· Video for Parents in Irish – https://youtu.be/G5MsUMWIGwQ
· Video for Parents in English including Irish Sign Language – https://youtu.be/LfV7KOgKWYQ
· Video for Parents in English – https://youtu.be/hg2wRiXXSpc
Click here for the Poster: Advice for Parents of senior pupils
March 5, 2021
The first week back in school has gone smoothly and hopefully the senior pupils can return on Monday week if the goivernment gives the go-ahead.
We had a provisional date in mid-May for the Confirmation in Kilclooney, but this has had to be changed to Saturday, June 19th. We hope that the restrictions will have eased considerably by then.
The date of the First Communion is unchanged (May 22nd).
February 7, 2021
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Thank you for all your goodwill and support with the Remote Learning. I appreciate that it is not easy or ideal, but please God, we will be back in school soon and can resume our normal lives once again. You have been a great source of encouragement to us all.
I wish to thank our dedicated staff who have been putting many extra hours into remote learning. It has been a learning curve for us all and I am extremely grateful to them for their efforts.
The children have been magnificent heroes, working diligently and keeping their spirits (and ours) up. Thank you for keeping them focused on their tasks and for all the homework returned to the teachers.
This coming week will be the last full week before the two-day midterm holiday on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th. We will be sending lighter work to the pupils for Monday to Wednesday, February 15th to 17th, as the staff will be using these three days to prepare work for the following weeks and the probable return to school in March. This will be work which is not intended to be returned to the teachers for correction. The staff will not be making contact with pupils and parents that week in order to focus on this important preparation, but these calls and the workload will resume as normal in the week commencing February 22nd. We will then, hopefully, have just a few more weeks of remote learning afterwards before we return to school as normal.
Thank you again for all your support. Please keep safe.
Yours sincerely,
Tom Plunkett
January 24, 2021
A big thank you to all the pupils and their parents/guardians who have been collaborating and working so well in the past week. Please God, we have only a few more weeks of this to go before we can all come back to school. Further resources have been posted on the Classes page of the website.
January 12, 2021
Completed homework may be photographed and emailed to the relevant teachers at their school email addresses. Pupils in 5th and 6th may photograph written work or record audio files and send them through whatsapp to Tom Plunkett.
The email addresses via which you can communicate with teachers are:
mmcloone@stconals.ie
mlough@stconals.ie
kwalsh@stconals.ie
godonnell@stconals.ie
nbreslin@stconals.ie
tplunkett@stconals.ie
HTML Editor