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What are we doing to protect staff and students?

4/8/2020

School staff will shortly become frontline workers in the Covid battle and we again ask for your support in complying with the recommendations. House parties and non compliant foreign travel can put us all in danger. We are working to make Athy College as low a risk setting as possible. Among the measures we are taking are:

We are having hand sanitisers at front door , all classrooms, social areas, canteen
Warm water and soap in bathrooms
We are removing worktops, desk computers and excess presses or shelving in classrooms to maximise space
We are introducing one way system on stairs and keep left policy on corridors
We are using all areas in the school to create extra classroom space
We are installing electronic signage throughout the school
We are moving as many processes as possible on line -payments, enrolment, assessment, etc
We are constructing glass screening in reception, catering and front office areas
We are introducing a new increased cleaning regime to comply with DES regulations
We will be employing additional teachers to meet the increased demands which these procedures will require
We are limiting the number of people who can access the toilet area at any one time
We are implementing a visitors log with contact tracing details
We are introducing induction programme on Covid hygiene and procedures for all students and staff
We are establishing an isolation area and an isolation procedure in the event of a case of in school Covid 19
We are encouraging families to invest in Chromebooks/laptops which will allow us to deliver remote education (even in school)
We are limiting all outside visitors to the school to essential services
We will be moving several school events online.

We need the support of the families and the community to open our schools. Thank you in advance.

Parents - How can you help?

3/8/2020

In one months time we expect to be welcoming back the first of our returning students

We want to maintain a safe environment in our school. We want it to be a comfortable and welcoming place and we need it to be “as normal as possible”. Together we can make this happen. How can you help as a parent?

Don’t allow your child to go to school if they are showing any of the possible Covid Symptoms

Encourage your child to follow strict hygiene rules, handwashing, sanitising and keeping social distance

Minimise all visits to school. Try to do business with us online. We will try to answer as promptly as possible. If your child has appointments, etc let us know by email/telephone

Pay school charges online (Way2Pay)

If you are in a position to do so purchase a Chromebook for your students as a considerable amount of the work will be done online and sharing them in school will present a problem. If you already have a laptop they should be encouraged to bring it into school.

Yes, we are continuing with a school uniform. The school jacket is probably needed more than ever as we will be encouraging as much fresh air experience as possible.

In shops and on buses students will be required to have a mask. A sealable plastic bag is a good idea for when not in use. In some classes masks may be required. Might be a good idea if they also had their own hand sanitiser for outside school.

If students want to drink water they will need their own water bottles which should be filled at home. We have to turn off water fountains for obvious reasons and are working on some method of refilling bottles.

Enrolment for 2021 is online. No need for a paper application form.

Please ensure that we have Accurate contact details

Cycling and walking to school should be encouraged if it is an option

Please keep checking our website for any updates

Re-0pening Guidelines

27/7/2020

Athy College has large growth in numbers

24/7/2020

Despite the Covid -19 crisis and the challenges of blended learning and home schooling Athy College will have the largest enrollment ever at the end of the coming month. Overall student numbers in the building will increase by almost 70 students with the addition of several additional teaching and staff positions. While the coming term will pose several challenges we look forward to making the return to school as positive as possible for all students.

Even before our annual Open Day (which also might be challenging this year) and before our visits to primary schools we have already over 100 advance enrolments for Sept 2021. Enrolment application for 2021 can be done on our website www.athycollege.ie

We await an update from the Department of Education on details of the return to school but in the meantime we have begun preparing the building for the safe return of students and staff. Watch this space!

Return to School

22/7/2020

Following today’s announcement of a “green” list of countries, staff parents and students are advised that a two week self isolation period is required for all other countries before returning to school. We will be returning on August 31st so any visits to countries not on the list (including the UK) should be completed by Aug 16th to ensure a safe return to school.
Please check irregularly with our website for updated information on school return.

Leaving Cert Students

19/7/2020

Calculated Student Portal will open at 12am on Monday 20th July to allow LC and LCA (year 1 and 2) students to opt to receive Calculated Grades. RD

Update 2nd July 2020

1/7/2020

Following the most recent indications from the Department of Education today (1/7/20) it seems most probable that there may not be a return to full time education for all students is Aug/Sept.

At present compliance with the regulations and distance would seem to support a week on/week off procedure at the beginning of next term initially. This would allow for social distancing in the classroom and hopefully in the school grounds.

It will become more important that students have access to Chromebook/laptops. While we have a large number available for student use by day we are again urging all who are in a position to do so to provide their own. This prevents sanitising of devices and also students will need them at home as we move towards blended learning and some of the school term being spent at home. Chromebooks are the chosen device if you are purchasing (around €200 - €250) but any device will do.

We are preparing for delivering education both in the classroom and online for all students. However we will be prioritising Leaving Certificate students and some of our more sensitive students for as much in school time as possible.

Be assured that the safety of students and parents is our top concern and we continue to prepare our premises for opening in Aug/September.

The situation may change over the next two months but it is important that we are prepared for whatever may emerge. We will update here with every change.

In the meantime enjoy the summer.

RD

Message to Parents/Guardians re Opening of School in Aug/Sept

25/6/2020

June 2020

Dear Parents/Guardians
As we prepare for our return to school in August/September our top priority will be the safety of students and staff and we ask for your assistance ensuring this.

We do not know yet what the medical advice or social distancing requirement will be

Very definitely school will be different. Bathrooms, classrooms, lunch halls, changing rooms, text books, copies, sharing of equipment, PE, practical subjects, food provision and school transport are among the challenges which face us.

HEALTH CONCERNS
It will be difficult for us in the normal school day to enforce social distancing with teenagers but in the interest of their safety and the teachers safety we will be making every effort. If any student presents as sick we will be asking that in the first instance they do not attend school but if they do that we have a contact number where arrangements can be made immediately for their removal from the school. We will have an isolation area as a short term measure.

Strict regulations will be enforced on toilet use and circulation areas

ONLINE PAYMENTS
We are transferring all of our payment systems (Book Rental, etc) to an online system (Way2Pay) which can operate through mobile phones. This will both limit the handling of cash and limit the visits to the building which parents formerly had to make. Already you should have received a message from the school on the use of this system (sorry if it arrived at an unsocial hour). Payments can be made all together or gradually and in part between now and the end of the summer. We really want to try and limit cash and unnecessary visits. A link to apply for Book Grant is also available here.

CHROMEBOOKS/LAPTOPS
Certainly our delivery in the classroom will be a combination of online and traditional teaching methods.(Blended Learning) Over the years we have purchased a large number of Chromebooks which are used throughout the day by students The sanitising of these between each use will present us with a problem as we do not have enough for each student and sharing has been our practice.Through recent research we have discovered that a very large proportion of our students already have their own Chromebooks and in September we will be encouraging students to bring these in as it will prevent sharing and thereby limit the possibility of any infection.
If you are in a position to or are considering purchasing a device we recommend the Chromebook which is one of the cheapest devices and is available from most computer suppliers and even stores like Argos. The retail price is of the order of €250 and the device would be of great benefit to students both in school and at home. We are looking at how best we can share out the resources which we have.
We are fortunate that Athy College has been selected as the only Google Reference School in Ireland which gives us added advantage in delivering education through Google Classroom and Google Meet. Also many of our teachers have qualified as Google Educators in order to deliver the very best of education on line.
CLEANING
We are establishing a regular cleaning and disinfecting regime and hand sanitisation will be available in all classrooms, at the front door and all social areas. We will also be reminding all students of best hygiene practices.
WATER BOTTLE
Drinking water fountains will be turned off and students are asked to provide their own personal drinking water bottles. Ideally these should be filled at home as contamination can occur.
RETURN DATES
We are planning for a staged return as normal in the first week. A schedule for this will appear on our website.
FUTURE ENROLMENTS
For those who would like to join us in 21/22 our enrolment can now be done online from our enrolment section of our web page. We already have a record number of enrolments submitted for 21/22 and if you have already submitted one we will be in touch in September to confirm this.

CALENDAR
The planned school calendar for the coming year is accessible on our website. This may be subject to change.
BUILDINGS
Our new building has moved to Stage 2 of Design and we will be installing 5 new prefabricated classrooms during the year to meet the demand in the interim.

Updated information will be posted here as the summer progresses.

R. Daly

June 14th, 2020

14/6/2020

Book returns

Mionday 15th 11am - 1pm Third Years
Wednesday 17th 10am - 12 Second Years
Wednesday 17th 12 - 2pm First Years
Thursday 18th 11am - 1pm TY and Fifth Years

Information for incoming First Years

12/6/2020

With still a lot of uncertainty about the situation for next September we have posted some information here for parents of incoming first years which will be regularly updated. We hope this answers many of your questions.
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