Message from our School Principal, Ms Ní Mhurchú

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope you and your families are all well. It has been a difficult few weeks for us all and we still have a testing few weeks to come but hopefully there are happier times ahead for us all and we will soon begin to enjoy life to the full again

Our teachers and students are back working online together and making the most of what is a very challenging situation. You can be very proud of your sons and daughters regarding the levels of interest and engagement they are demonstrating. We are looking forward to welcoming our students back to Ardgillan on the following dates:

• March 1st 6th Year students
• March 15th 5th Year students
• April 12th 1st, 2nd 3rd and TY students

All students will have to complete a Return to School Form before returning. This will be sent to you via text in advance of their return. I would also ask that you and your child revisit the resources and advice under the Covid 19 tab on our website. In order to protect all members of our school community please note the following:

• Please do not send your child to school if they are identified by the HSE as a close contact of a confirmed case of Covid 19.
• Please do not send your child to school if they or someone they live with has symptoms of the virus.
• Pupils should not attend school if they have travelled outside of Ireland recently.
• Pupils are asked to co-operate with any public health officials and the school for contact tracing purposes and to follow any public health advice in the event of a case or outbreak in the school.
• Students should re-familiarise themselves with our Covid 19 Response Plan and remember that face masks, sanitising and social distancing are key.
• All students must sanitise their hands on entry/exit to and from the school building.
• We will mind the students here in the college during the school day but we would ask that parents impress upon their children the importance of wearing masks and social distancing on their way to and from school.

We are waiting on the Department of Education to issue guidance documents on the 2021 Leaving Certificate and we will meet with our LC students and arrange an information evening for our 6th Year parents when these documents are published.

The media has reported that the Junior Cycle is cancelled but this is not correct. The school will now issue the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement instead of the State Examinations Commission and students will still be awarded a grade in each of their subjects, a descriptor for their completed CBAs and acknowledged for their OALs.

Finally, I wish to thank you for your support and goodwill in these difficult times. Your lovely phone calls and emails of support give us all a lift when needed. Ardgillan is a vibrant and positive school community and by continuing to work together we will come out the other side of Covid proving we are dynamic, resilient and still strong.

Yours sincerely,

Nuala Ní Mhurchú

Principal