REMINDER
FINAL Home Learning Packs to be collected on Monday 22nd February at the following times:
(All being well, we'll be back to school on Monday 8th)
Y1-2 + older siblings / 9.30 – 10.15
Y3-4 + older siblings /10.15 – 11.00
Y5-7 /11.00 – 12.00
Collect new packs (for Mon 22 Feb-Fri 5th March)
Return completed work for assessment.(Mon 1 Feb - Fri 12 Feb)
Please make sure your child's name is on all work.
New packs can be collected from the school sports hall and completed work left.
Remember school is closed for half term Mon 15th - Fri 19th Feb.
FINAL Home Learning Packs to be collected on Monday 22nd February at the following times:
(All being well, we'll be back to school on Monday 8th)
Y1-2 + older siblings / 9.30 – 10.15
Y3-4 + older siblings /10.15 – 11.00
Y5-7 /11.00 – 12.00
Collect new packs (for Mon 22 Feb-Fri 5th March)
Return completed work for assessment.(Mon 1 Feb - Fri 12 Feb)
Please make sure your child's name is on all work.
New packs can be collected from the school sports hall and completed work left.
Remember school is closed for half term Mon 15th - Fri 19th Feb.
Exceptional Closure
Notices
In the event of exceptional closure, e.g. bad weather, we aim to let parents know as soon as possible. Notices may be found on:
* the school website
* NI Direct website (www.nidirect.gov.uk) by following the topics ‘parents à schools à school life à list of closures’
* BBC’s digital text service on your TV or
* BBC NI website (www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland).
We will also attempt to contact parents via text message.
In the event of exceptional closure, e.g. bad weather, we aim to let parents know as soon as possible. Notices may be found on:
* the school website
* NI Direct website (www.nidirect.gov.uk) by following the topics ‘parents à schools à school life à list of closures’
* BBC’s digital text service on your TV or
* BBC NI website (www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland).
We will also attempt to contact parents via text message.
| Letter dated 14.1.21 |
| Letter re home schooling 7.1.21 |
4 January 2021
Dear Parent,
Further to my letter of 31 December 2020, I write to confirm that school will be open on Thursday 7th and Friday 8th January for those pupils who fall into the ‘Children of Key Workers’ or ‘Vulnerable Children’ categories. I would suggest that you only send children in if there is no other option available to you for childcare. Again, I would like to stress that this is supervision only during the normal period of the school day and that no formal teaching will be taking place on Thursday or Friday.
For clarity, the definitions of Key Worker Children and Vulnerable Children are available to you below. Please familiarise yourself with the definitions and if you need to avail of supervision on Thursday and Friday, please email the school immediately and by 12.00 noon on Wednesday at the latest.
Home Learning
Please visit your child's class webpage from Thursday morning for information on the work that they should be doing.
Transfer Tests
As indicated by AQE, the tests will go ahead as scheduled. Whilst I am pleased that this is the case, given all the hard work the children have put in, I am disappointed that there could not have been a slight delay on the first test. However, I would like the AQE entrants to have one final practice test as had been planned. Therefore, I will leave a practice test in the main entrance porch of the school for each of them and parents/carers can collect it on Wednesday morning to be completed at home. I also want to wish the boys and girls every success with their first test on Saturday.
Thank you once again for your patience and understanding during what has, yet again, become a confusing and uncertain time for us all. I look forward to welcoming everyone back to school from Monday 11th January. However, if there are any changes to this restart date, I am sure BBC NI News will communicate it to you, after which I will let you know formally!
Best regards,
A Armstrong
Principal
Dear Parent,
Further to my letter of 31 December 2020, I write to confirm that school will be open on Thursday 7th and Friday 8th January for those pupils who fall into the ‘Children of Key Workers’ or ‘Vulnerable Children’ categories. I would suggest that you only send children in if there is no other option available to you for childcare. Again, I would like to stress that this is supervision only during the normal period of the school day and that no formal teaching will be taking place on Thursday or Friday.
For clarity, the definitions of Key Worker Children and Vulnerable Children are available to you below. Please familiarise yourself with the definitions and if you need to avail of supervision on Thursday and Friday, please email the school immediately and by 12.00 noon on Wednesday at the latest.
Home Learning
Please visit your child's class webpage from Thursday morning for information on the work that they should be doing.
Transfer Tests
As indicated by AQE, the tests will go ahead as scheduled. Whilst I am pleased that this is the case, given all the hard work the children have put in, I am disappointed that there could not have been a slight delay on the first test. However, I would like the AQE entrants to have one final practice test as had been planned. Therefore, I will leave a practice test in the main entrance porch of the school for each of them and parents/carers can collect it on Wednesday morning to be completed at home. I also want to wish the boys and girls every success with their first test on Saturday.
Thank you once again for your patience and understanding during what has, yet again, become a confusing and uncertain time for us all. I look forward to welcoming everyone back to school from Monday 11th January. However, if there are any changes to this restart date, I am sure BBC NI News will communicate it to you, after which I will let you know formally!
Best regards,
A Armstrong
Principal
Department of Education Definition of a Vulnerable Child (Jan 21)
The definition of Vulnerable Children as set out in the cross-departmental Vulnerable Children and Young People's Plan 2020 is: (https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-crossdepartmental-covid-19-vulnerable-children-and-young-peoples-plan)
• A child who has an assigned social worker because he or she is a child in need, in need of protection (or on the child protection register) or is a looked after child.
• A child in need includes young carers, children with disabilities, and children living in families where there is domestic abuse, substance abuse, and / or mental health difficulties.
• A child who is receiving support from, or has been referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
• A child who has a statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN), a child who is accessing EOTAS, or a child who normally accesses Education Nurture Units.
• A child who is ‘on-the-edge’ of receiving support from children’s social services.
• A child who is in need, including in need of protection, but whose need is not known to statutory services.
• A child who is not known to statutory or voluntary and community support services but who is vulnerable because their family is under increased pressure due to Covid-19 related circumstances.
• A young person who was previously a looked after child, whether or not they are receiving support from statutory services.
• A child who has been placed for adoption.
• Asylum seeking and refugee children and children whose parents have no recourse to public funds.
Information Correct at 1/1/21
Department of Education Definition of a Key Worker (Jan 21)
(Please note that if one parent meets this definition then the child can attend school)
• Health and Social Care. This includes doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, home carers and staff required to maintain our health and social care sector;
• Education and childcare. This includes pre-school and teaching staff, social workers and those specialist education professionals who will remain active during the Covid-19 response;
• Public safety and national security. This includes civilians and officers in the police (including key contractors), Fire and Rescue Service, prison service and other national security roles;
• Transport. This will include those keeping air, water, road and rail transport modes operating during the Covid-19 response;
• Utilities, and Communication. This includes staff needed for oil, gas, electricity and water (including sewage) and primary industry supplies to continue during the Covid-19 response, as well as key staff in telecommunications, post and delivery, banking and waste disposal;
• Financial Services - This includes staff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure);
• Food and other necessary goods. This includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution and sale, as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (e.g. hygiene, medical, etc.);
• Retail. This includes those workers who have been working throughout the pandemic in food retail, for example, and will now extend to those working in other retail businesses permitted to operate by the Executive from June 2020;
• Other workers essential to delivering key public services such as the National Crime Agency; and
• Key national and local government including those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the Covid-19 response.
• A child who has an assigned social worker because he or she is a child in need, in need of protection (or on the child protection register) or is a looked after child.
• A child in need includes young carers, children with disabilities, and children living in families where there is domestic abuse, substance abuse, and / or mental health difficulties.
• A child who is receiving support from, or has been referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
• A child who has a statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN), a child who is accessing EOTAS, or a child who normally accesses Education Nurture Units.
• A child who is ‘on-the-edge’ of receiving support from children’s social services.
• A child who is in need, including in need of protection, but whose need is not known to statutory services.
• A child who is not known to statutory or voluntary and community support services but who is vulnerable because their family is under increased pressure due to Covid-19 related circumstances.
• A young person who was previously a looked after child, whether or not they are receiving support from statutory services.
• A child who has been placed for adoption.
• Asylum seeking and refugee children and children whose parents have no recourse to public funds.
Information Correct at 1/1/21
Department of Education Definition of a Key Worker (Jan 21)
(Please note that if one parent meets this definition then the child can attend school)
• Health and Social Care. This includes doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, home carers and staff required to maintain our health and social care sector;
• Education and childcare. This includes pre-school and teaching staff, social workers and those specialist education professionals who will remain active during the Covid-19 response;
• Public safety and national security. This includes civilians and officers in the police (including key contractors), Fire and Rescue Service, prison service and other national security roles;
• Transport. This will include those keeping air, water, road and rail transport modes operating during the Covid-19 response;
• Utilities, and Communication. This includes staff needed for oil, gas, electricity and water (including sewage) and primary industry supplies to continue during the Covid-19 response, as well as key staff in telecommunications, post and delivery, banking and waste disposal;
• Financial Services - This includes staff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure);
• Food and other necessary goods. This includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution and sale, as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (e.g. hygiene, medical, etc.);
• Retail. This includes those workers who have been working throughout the pandemic in food retail, for example, and will now extend to those working in other retail businesses permitted to operate by the Executive from June 2020;
• Other workers essential to delivering key public services such as the National Crime Agency; and
• Key national and local government including those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the Covid-19 response.
31st December 2020
Dear parent,
You will have heard on local news media the announcement from Minister Weir regarding the postponement of return to school for primary school pupils until Monday 11th January.
The school has still had no communication from the Department of Education about this and yet again we have been left to find out information from the media. At this stage, you will know as much as we do about the position.
For those pupils due to sit the first AQE test on Saturday 9th, again there is no information forthcoming about this, but we must assume that it will be going ahead as planned.
I would suggest that you make childcare arrangements for Wednesday 6th - Friday 8th January on the basis that school will not be open to pupils. There is some discussion of children of key workers being able to access the school, but more clarification is needed on this and I would suggest that this should only be a last resort. Even then it will only be from the Thursday as the Minister has stated that the first 'normal' school day will be for staff to prepare work for the remainder of the week. If those children are in school on those days, it will only be for supervision and not proper face-to-face teaching.
Please keep an eye on the school website and App for information in the coming days, as we plan for reopening, given yet another last-minute decision by the minister.
In closing, may I wish all associated with our school community a much happier and safe New Year.
Regards,
Andrew Armstrong
Dromara Primary School
Dear parent,
You will have heard on local news media the announcement from Minister Weir regarding the postponement of return to school for primary school pupils until Monday 11th January.
The school has still had no communication from the Department of Education about this and yet again we have been left to find out information from the media. At this stage, you will know as much as we do about the position.
For those pupils due to sit the first AQE test on Saturday 9th, again there is no information forthcoming about this, but we must assume that it will be going ahead as planned.
I would suggest that you make childcare arrangements for Wednesday 6th - Friday 8th January on the basis that school will not be open to pupils. There is some discussion of children of key workers being able to access the school, but more clarification is needed on this and I would suggest that this should only be a last resort. Even then it will only be from the Thursday as the Minister has stated that the first 'normal' school day will be for staff to prepare work for the remainder of the week. If those children are in school on those days, it will only be for supervision and not proper face-to-face teaching.
Please keep an eye on the school website and App for information in the coming days, as we plan for reopening, given yet another last-minute decision by the minister.
In closing, may I wish all associated with our school community a much happier and safe New Year.
Regards,
Andrew Armstrong
Dromara Primary School
Christmas Closures: School will finish on Monday 21st December (12.15/12.25 pm) and reopen on Wednesday 6th January. School dinners for 6th - 8th January can be ordered/paid for on 6th January.
A huge thank you to Dromara Village Association for organising a tin of sweets for each family. We very much appreciate this kind gesture to our school community.
A flavour of 'Festive Fridays'!
Check out the 'Class' pages too.
Check out the 'Class' pages too.
A message from 2nd Dromara Church:
Winter is always a busy time in our hospitals, but this year is busier than ever. So wouldn't it be great in this SEASON OF GIVING, TO SEND SOME SWEETS AND TREATS TO THOSE WHO WORK SO TIRELESSLY FOR US?
We want to deliver these treats to our wonderful hospital staff, on behalf of 2nd Dromara & our wider community. It's our way of saying "thank you to our NHS".
So, if you'd like to be part of this, collection boxes will be available in the school foyer and at the door of 2nd Dromara church hall. Please drop your treats in by TUESDAY 15TH DECEMBER at the latest.
And we'll deliver them on your behalf. Thank you so much and Merry Christmas.
Winter is always a busy time in our hospitals, but this year is busier than ever. So wouldn't it be great in this SEASON OF GIVING, TO SEND SOME SWEETS AND TREATS TO THOSE WHO WORK SO TIRELESSLY FOR US?
We want to deliver these treats to our wonderful hospital staff, on behalf of 2nd Dromara & our wider community. It's our way of saying "thank you to our NHS".
So, if you'd like to be part of this, collection boxes will be available in the school foyer and at the door of 2nd Dromara church hall. Please drop your treats in by TUESDAY 15TH DECEMBER at the latest.
And we'll deliver them on your behalf. Thank you so much and Merry Christmas.
| 27.11.20 - Literacy Service letter to parents |
10th Nov 2020 - Year 2 had great fun at their Hallowe'en Party!
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Parentline NI is running FREE and confidential sessions on how parents can support their child’s speech, language and communication development.
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Dromara Primary School App
We encourage all parents to download the app to their phone so that you will receive notifications immediately and be able to look up information quickly and easily.
Instructions on how to download the app can be found in the document below.
We encourage all parents to download the app to their phone so that you will receive notifications immediately and be able to look up information quickly and easily.
Instructions on how to download the app can be found in the document below.
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Robyn, superb at dressage! She wins her class in first competition since lockdown. One step closer to the Olympics!
Class Entry to School from August 2020
Click on a link below to show how each class is to enter school:
P1 Entry to school P5 Entry to school
P2 Entry to school P6 Entry to school
P3 Entry to school P7 Entry to school
P4 Entry to school
P1 Entry to school P5 Entry to school
P2 Entry to school P6 Entry to school
P3 Entry to school P7 Entry to school
P4 Entry to school
| 20.8.20 - Updated information for parents. |
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The 'Start of Year Booklet' contains important information. We ask parents to read this carefully and keep it for future reference.
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Download the file below, which gives dates, times etc for school reopening in August.
PLEASE NOTE: Morning and Afternoon Clubs will NOT be running for the time being due to COVID-19 restrictions.
PLEASE NOTE: Morning and Afternoon Clubs will NOT be running for the time being due to COVID-19 restrictions.
| Restart info Aug-Sept 2020 |
| Letter to parents from the Minister of Education, August 2020 |
Our information on sickness is set out in the Start of Year Booklet (Click Here to access).
If a child has a cold/cough/sneezing:
You know your own child best and you will know if they have a cough which is perhaps the norm for the time of year or weather. However, I would suggest that you err on the side of caution if a child is under the weather and keep them off for at least 24 hours. Provided there is no development of new symptoms or worsening of current symptoms, then they should be able to return to school. This is provided that they are indeed well enough to come to school and do their work. There have been many children with colds and sniffles at the start of the year – this is not unusual.
Sending work home
The school’s policy on sending work home for pupils who are ill remains unchanged. We will not send work home for pupils who are unwell – they should be recuperating. We will only send home work for a pupil who is self-isolating and is well.
Parents with concerns over COVID-19
We have been advised by the Department of Education that if you are concerned about the risk of your child catching COVID-19, this is not a valid reason for keeping your child off school. If you are keeping your child off (with COVID-19 as a reason for absence) then you must provide documentary evidence as to why they need to be off school. If evidence is not forthcoming, then children will receive an ‘Unauthorised Absence’ mark against their name.
If a child has a cold/cough/sneezing:
You know your own child best and you will know if they have a cough which is perhaps the norm for the time of year or weather. However, I would suggest that you err on the side of caution if a child is under the weather and keep them off for at least 24 hours. Provided there is no development of new symptoms or worsening of current symptoms, then they should be able to return to school. This is provided that they are indeed well enough to come to school and do their work. There have been many children with colds and sniffles at the start of the year – this is not unusual.
Sending work home
The school’s policy on sending work home for pupils who are ill remains unchanged. We will not send work home for pupils who are unwell – they should be recuperating. We will only send home work for a pupil who is self-isolating and is well.
Parents with concerns over COVID-19
We have been advised by the Department of Education that if you are concerned about the risk of your child catching COVID-19, this is not a valid reason for keeping your child off school. If you are keeping your child off (with COVID-19 as a reason for absence) then you must provide documentary evidence as to why they need to be off school. If evidence is not forthcoming, then children will receive an ‘Unauthorised Absence’ mark against their name.
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