⚡Attention Parents/Guardians of teens 12-15 yrs⚡Routines are important to us all in these anxious times & Triple P Parenting Programmes help parents to establish these routines,while providing tips on how to respond to children to reduce anxieties.See upcoming courses below⬇️ pic.twitter.com/UQl5LbPLKy
— Elphin Community College (@ElphinCC) January 25, 2021
Please click here for further guidance
This document is designed to provide guidance for schools in situations where a partial or full school closure is advised by Public Health HSE because of a case or cases of COVID-19. It is also intended to advise schools on how individual students who may have to self-isolate or restrict their movements can be supported in continuing their learning remotely. It is intended to review the operation of these arrangements at the end of each term while we continue to live with COVID-19.
The Department acknowledges the collective efforts across the system that enabled schools to re-open at the start of the school year. In particular, it acknowledges the leadership shown by principals, deputy principals and management of schools and the degree to which teachers have prepared for and adapted their practice in order to minimise the risk of infection due to COVID-19 in schools. In addition, the efforts of the wider school community in supporting the reopening of schools, including Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), secretaries, caretakers, parents/guardians and others are acknowledged.
It should be noted that decisions around advising students, teachers or other school staff to restrict their movements for COVID-19 related reasons are made solely by Public Health HSE. Schools should refer to the Public Health Guidance Letter to schools dated 27 August 2020 and to Schools Pathway for COVID-19: The Public Health approachprepared by the HSE, both of which are available here.
In addition, schools should refer to Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19, the Government’s risk management strategy for the next six to nine months, designed to allow individuals, families, businesses and services better understand, anticipate and prepare for the measures government might introduce to stop escalation of the transmission of the disease. A set of frequently raised topics entitled COVID-19: Your questions answered about returning to school is available here,
This Department guidance sets out how schools should plan for and support students’ learning in a number of possible scenarios which could occur during the 2020/21 school year. As the extent to which these scenarios may be required cannot be predicted, it is possible that individual or groups of students and teachers may find that they are advised to self-isolate or restrict their movements on a number of occasions during the 2020-21 school year. This may lead to an accumulation of a significant number of days where students learn and teachers work from home. Therefore, it is crucial that all schools make every effort to enable teachers to support the continuation of students’learning effectively during each possible scenario. This is particularly important in the context of students at risk of early school leaving, students with special educational needs and students at risk of educational disadvantage. The examples in Section 4 provide some illustrations of how schools can sustain students’ learning where they are advised to self-isolate or restrict their movements.
Where students are advised to self-isolate or restrict their movements, schools should continue to focus on supporting their wellbeing. Staff and families who are experiencing particularly challenging times can be directed to the support services available at gov.ie/en/campaigns/together/. Families can be referred to the resources and supports provided by agencies such as the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) and the Tusla Education Support Service (TESS). Staff can refer to the Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Programme. Schools may also consult with NEPS in relation to the academic, social and emotional needs of their students.
This document should be read in conjunction with the Department’s previous guidance to schools in relation to supporting continuity of students’ learning during the March to June 2020 school closure period, available at: www.gov.ie
Reminder: Youtube Live Stream tomorrow morning at 10.30am. We have invited all the local National Schools to join us for a short presentation followed by the big reveal of our new school promotional video. There will be a Q&A session at the end also. Looking forward to it. Hopefully everything goes smoothly!!!!
We have also provided a link to our school admissions page and a Microsoft forms page where parents/guardians can fill in the short questionnaire that we can then use to provide updates to you and your child. We hope that you avail of the opportunity to see our school community in action and we look forward to seeing you Friday 27th November. If this date or time does not suit you, please feel free to contact the school by e-mail: info.elphin@gretb.ie or by calling the school at 0719635031
Link to application form – https://elphincollege.ie/admission-no…
Elphin Community College Admission Database https://forms.office.com/Pages/Respon…
Printable Version – Admission Notice ECC
Printable Version – Application Form For Admission – PDF
Printable Version – Application Form For Admission – Word Document
Open Evening Contact Form for Parents
You can also scan the QR Code below:
Congratulations to Karl Gilmartin (TY 2019-2020) who was awarded the Technology Award for his project ‘Generating Electricity from Wastewater’ in the 2020 SciFest Competition. The award, sponsored by Intel, was awarded for the most innovative use of technology in a project. His innovative use of a Pelton turbine was created using the Engineering Department’s 3D printer.
Karl was also awarded the Maths in Science Award by SciFest, which was held virtually in IT Sligo in July for the north-west region. SciFest is the largest second-level Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fair in Ireland, with over 10,000 students participating annually.
Traditionally, the competition gives students the opportunity to showcase their projects at a series of one-day science fairs held at 16 regional venues across the island of Ireland. The winners from regional STEM go on to compete at a national final in November 2020. The national winner(s) will represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2021 in the USA.
The school would like to extend its deep appreciation and thanks to our wonderful Deputy Principal Mrs. Lee on her retirement last Friday. Mrs Lee was a wonderful teacher and colleague and will be greatly missed by the school community. We wish Marie, her husband Anthony and her family, daughter Siobhan and son Francis every health and happiness in the future.
Date 29/09/2020
Re: Confirmed case of COVID-19 in fifth year at Elphin Community College, Roscommon
A confirmed case of COVID-19 in the fifth year of your child’s school has been notified to the Department of Public Health HSE West. A public health risk assessment has been undertaken and all close contacts have been identified.
Your child has NOT been identified as a close contact in the school setting. In line with public health advice, your child does not need to be tested for COVID-19 at this time and does not have to stay home from school or self-isolate.
If your child develops symptoms (such as a cough, a fever, shortness of breath or breathing difficulties, loss or change in sense of taste or smell) – they should be isolated immediately and you should phone your GP for further advice, and any siblings and any other individuals sharing your accommodation should restrict their movements, as per current public health advice.
Outside of the school setting, if you are not sure if you/your child could be a close contact of a case, please review the advice at https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/close-contact-and-casual- contact.html and contact HSELive if you have any additional questions or would like someone to talk you through it.
Further information on COVID-19 is available at: www.hse.ie www.hpsc.ie and www.gov.ie Yours sincerely,
Dr. Emer O’Connell FFPHMI MPH MRCGP
Consultant in Public Health Medicine
MCRN 016424
Elphin Community College letter for casual contacts – Printable Version
Re: Confirmed case of COVID-19 in sixth year at Elphin Community College, Roscommon
A confirmed case of COVID-19 in the sixth year of your child’s school has been notified to the Department of Public Health HSE West.
The Department of Public Health HSE West is also aware of cases of COVID-19 infection in the North Roscommon area.
A public health risk assessment has been undertaken and the parents of any children deemed to be close contacts of the confirmed case have been contacted and advised accordingly. If your child has not been identified as a close contact at this time, your child does not need a test for Covid-19, they can continue to attend school, and no further actions are required at this time. For more information on determining contact level please review the advice at https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/close-contact-and-casual-contact.html and contact us if you have a concern.
If your child develops symptoms (such as a cough, a fever, shortness of breath or breathing difficulties, loss or change in sense of taste or smell) – they should be isolated immediately and you should phone your GP for further advice, and any siblings and any other individuals sharing your accommodation should restrict their movements, as per current public health advice.
Further information on COVID-19 is available at: www.hse.ie www.hpsc.ie and www.gov.ie Yours sincerely,
Dr. Emer O’Connell FFPHMI MPH MRCGP
Consultant in Public Health Medicine
MCRN 016424
Wearing a face covering or mask does not negate the need to stay at home if symptomatic.
Wearing of face coverings – a requirement
Staff and students, at post-primary level, are required to wear a face covering. The exemptions to this are set out below.
Cloth face coverings
Cloth face coverings are recommended for staff and students. Cloth face coverings act as a barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from travelling into the air and onto other people when the person wearing the face covering coughs, sneezes, talks or raises their voice. Cloth face coverings are therefore intended to prevent transmission of the virus from the wearer (who may not know that they are infected) to those with whom they come into close contact.
Face coverings must not contain any slogans/logos/images that may cause upset or be deemed offensive to any member of the school community.
Visors
Cloth face coverings are more effective than visors. In the limited circumstances where a cloth face covering cannot be worn clear visors must be considered. The alternate use of a clear visor can also be considered when a staff member is interacting with students with hearing difficulties or learning difficulties.
Exemptions
A medical certificate to certify that a person falls into a category listed below must be provided to the school by, or on behalf of, any person (staff or student) who claims that they are covered by the exemptions below:
the cloth face covering or visor, for example persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, sensory concerns or tactile sensitivity.
In circumstances where a medical certificate is not provided that person (staff or student) will be refused entry to the school.
Directions for effective use of face coverings
Whilst staff and students may wish to utilise their own face covering on a day-to-day basis, schools should have a stock of additional disposable or multi-use face coverings (or if appropriate, visors) for staff and students in case a back-up face covering is needed during the day or where required on an ongoing basis.
Use of medical grade face coverings
Schools should consider the specific circumstances where the use of medical face masks (to EU Standard EN 14683) may be more appropriate for staff as part of their risk assessment for employees returning to work (for example where staff by necessity need to be in close and continued proximity with students with intimate care needs such as SNAs.
Students using school transport
All students on the post primary transport scheme should are required to wear face coverings subject to the exemptions above.
