We hope this message finds you and your family well in a very uncertain time and by now most of you will have had a phone call from Mike our HSCL. We are glad that you finding the links on the school website useful.

From Friday March 27th there will be specific homework going up on the website for each class and also for children who attend additional classes with our Support Teachers in so far as possible. This is a menu that you can choose from if you wish. However, many of you have indicated that you have your own learning routine going using the opportunity to play, bake, do yoga, arts & crafts, reading stories and poetry and writing your own, writing letters, keeping a diary, going on nature walks, etc. and this is also fine.

We understand that at this time there are many stresses in different households. Many of you will be trying to work from home, some of you may find yourselves suddenly out of work, some of you may have someone self-isolating or waiting to be tested, some of you are caring for elderly family members or have news of sick family members abroad so the advice would be to just do what you can to keep a link with school going. You could tell your child their teacher sent them some work to do as this may be encouraging for them and a different voice. As a parent with my husband still working outside the home I am finding the whole situation extremely challenging. Take it day by day and do not fight over school work as we have a lot more to be concerned about.

There is a lot of talk in the media about home schooling which is adding unnecessary stress to us all.  You are not expected to home school but you can do some school related work with your child. It is important more than ever that your child feels loved and secure and this experience will build resilience in us all.

After Easter if we find ourselves still at home then we as a staff will come up with ways of working more closely with you over the phone and online as well as getting books and copies out to you under the guidance of the HSE. Rest assured we will do whatever it takes in the coming weeks to support the continued learning of your child.

If you have any feedback in relation to how we can support you and your child to continue to learn or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me principal@stgabrielsns.ie or call our HSCL Mike Donnelly on the HSCL number 085 187 1173.

This is a very uncertain time so more important than anything is that we stay at home and bond with our children. We will be watching more TV and playing computer games but we will also be going on walks, baking, playing games and talking to each other. We have time to spend with our children and once they are happy and secure that is what matters. Learning through play is so valuable.

Keep your eye on the website as we will add to it in the coming weeks.

Please see following link on Social Distancing: https://stgabrielsns.ie/?p=7601

Stay Safe & Best Wishes

Suzanne Comerford

Principal