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RTÉ broadcast of plays on their curriculum

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Guidance on Emergency Remote Teaching and Learning in a COVID-19 Context

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

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Now Enrolling – Youtube Live Stream

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…

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Generating Electricity from Wastewater – 2020 SciFest Competition

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.

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