Hi everyone,
Please see our monthly newsletter here - Newsletter Edition 10 May 2020
Some important news:
School will open on Friday June 12th from 10am - 3pm for the following:
For parents to return rental books to the school - i.e. Planet Maths etc. - A list will issue next week of books that each class rent each year
For parents to collect any items belonging to the children i.e. pencil cases, art work etc - to allow us to do a thorough clean of the school
For 5th class parents to collect an envelope with their child's Buddy name for next year
For all parents to collect end of year school reports
For Incoming Junior Infant Parents to collect a Welcome Pack. Their teacher next year will be Ms. Deirdre Franey who will be there that day from 1 - 3pm to say hello and to welcome any new families to the school for a socially distant tour! This is for parents only.
Zoom Calls
Well done to 3rd, 4th and 5th classes this week who had very successful Zoom Calls.
1st class will have their Zoom call with Ms. Hannigan on Tuesday June 2nd at 11am
2nd class will have a Zoom call with Ms. Hannigan on Wednesday June 3rd at 11am.
There is no obligation to do Zoom Calls. Adults must be present during the call. Please see Rules for Zoom Calls in Distance Learning Policy under Policies tab on website.
6th Class reminders
Ms. Barrett has asked all pupils to send a photo of them with hoodies and a photo with their dream job written on a page.
Also, please return the educational passports that were sent out on Monday.
Parents Survey Results
These will be emailed to the parents who requested results.
Main summary of findings were:
There were 58 respondents - a response rate of 62% of our total families
90% of pupils are engaging with the website each week for work
82% of pupils are watching videos put up by teachers each week
64% said pupils are less engaged as time goes on
60% want a one page menu for month of June as opposed to the detailed structured work
75% were happy to go with the suggested Wellness Week for the last week of June
33% of parents said they would request work for the summer.
29% of parents concerned about academic progress, 59% concerned about social development and 33% concerned about pupils' emotional well being.
96.5% of parents said that Ballymitty NS staff had supported their children and them, as parents.
There was an overwhelming majority of positive comments in relation to the staff and how they have planned in great detail each week, how they have corrected work as requested, how they answered emails promptly and made phone calls and home visits as requested/planned by Principal/parent.
These findings were brought to our staff Zoom meeting today and the following decisions were made:
Staff will continue to send weekly videos on their articles - this week's video will be put up on Monday evening/Tues. due to Bank Holiday weekend.
Staff have engaged in many ways with parents and it was agreed that there is a general consensus that children are disengaging as time goes on.
Staff will give a one page menu with suggested work for the pupils for the remaining weeks in June with a Wellness Week planned for the final week of term. This is to keep them engaged with work and to echo some of the activities covered in school every June.
Should parents request a pack of work for the summer they can email their class teacher on ballymittyteachers@gmail.com before June 12th so that the work can be collected on the day school opens.
Staff understand the concerns parents have about children's emotional and social development. This will be a priority when school reopens for all staff. It will be a matter of restoring well being and mental health for all the school community.
Staff appreciated the positive comments written by parents and will continue to support pupils and families over the next four weeks.
I hope you all have a wonderful June Bank Holiday weekend.
My thanks to the parents for their continued support.
My thanks to the staff for their support to families and pupils.
ABOVE ALL, MY THANKS TO OUR WONDERFUL PUPILS WHO ARE SO STRONG AND PATIENT,
WHO SHOW TREMENDOUS COURAGE BY STAYING AT HOME AND WORKING AT HOME
AND WHO ARE AT THE CORE OF EVERYTHING WE ALL DO, TOGETHER.
Stay safe and stick to public health guidelines.
Míle buíochas,
Audrey