Hi Girls,

I hope you are all enjoying the mid term break. 
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The winners of the Jerusalema Dance Challenge are:

Juliet & Rolo Clear                                   (4th Class)
Sarah Leavy & her 3 fabulous pooches     (5th Class) 
Clodagh Rigney                                         (5th Class)
Holly & Charlie Kinnarney                         (6th Class)

A big Well Done also to Ella O'Meara who learned the dance and showed her Mam (Ms. O'Meara ), her Granny and her neighbour how to do it also!  I got to see the dance on zoom so it really was a community effort!

Keep an eye on the post for your prizes - there might be something in there for our canine competitors also!
Love,
​Mrs. G.x

Triple P Positive Parenting Programme: Triple P is one of the world’s most effective parenting programmes and is available FREE throughout Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly. Triple P helps parents handle the big and small challenges of family life. Triple P’s Positive Parenting approach is about creating a strong relationship with your child or teenager, encouraging positive behaviour and managing stressful situations. Please see below for a full list of upcoming Online Triple P Programmes
 
                                             Triple P Groups & Workshops Online
                 To book a place, please see details below each programme available;
                  Anne 086 8062095 or anne.mcguinness1@tusla.ie
            Catherine 0877057965 catherine.carragher2@tusla.ie

Saturday Sing Along Sessions- Early Years Learning with Hummingbirds: Athlone Family Resource Centre and Ms. Annie from Hummingbirds Lets Make Music are delighted to bring you a monthly Saturday Morning Sing Along Session for the little ones, commencing on Saturday 30th January.
Ms. Annie hosts a wonderful interactive session of rhymes, song and stories. This is a wonderful way for the early years age group to develop language and communication skills, as well as have some fun, from the comfort of their own home. The monthly sessions are funded by Westmeath County Councils  Keep Well Westmeath Campaign. To sign up for this Facebook event CLICK HERE
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The Government have made the decision that all schools are to remain closed for the month of January in order to support the suppression of the COVID-19 virus in the community. Teachers will be providing on-line learning during this closure via the SeeSaw platform.

St. Philomena's will close on Tuesday December 22nd for Christmas. Wishing you all a very happy and safe Christmas and we will see everyone on January 6th.

A number of parents and guardians enjoyed a winter wreath making workshop in the Town Park on Thursday, December 3rd. Thanks to Ms. Buckley for organising this event.

Well done to Allyssa and Eitmile for having full attendance during their four years in St. Philomena's. A great achievement girls.

Please click on the file below to read a letter to parents from Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ronan Glynn on the return to school.

A Big Well Done to Everyone on a very successful first day back to school in St. Philomena's.  We are so proud of all the girls on how they settled back in to their new routines today!   

A couple of little reminders:

• If you start class at 9 o'clock - you finish at 2:40
• If you start class at 9:10 - you finish at 2:50
• If you start class at 9:20  you finish at 3 o'clock

If your class enters through the the back door - remember to come in through the back gate a couple of minutes before your class starts and your teacher will bring you into class!

Please scroll down to find all of the information about your class 'start times' and your route for entering the school every morning!

Get out and enjoy a bit of fresh air on this last day of August!

It's great to be back x

Please click this link to watch a video with advice for parents 
​youtu.be/MVlb0jAm55Y

Advice for parents in other languages
nascireland.org/covid-19-world-service

St. Philomena's will re-open on Monday, August 31st. These are our drop off and collection procedures:
We will be using the three entrances to the school-front door, side door and back door. Parents/Guardians of girls that are entering through the back door are asked to park on Store St. and escort your daughter to the back gate, or your daughter may walk up the path. A teacher will be present on the path just before 9.00am. You are asked to avoid driving up Benburb St as it is very narrow. Chapel Lane will also be closed from August 31st as there are works taking place so you will only be able to turn right onto Harbour St.

We will have 3 opening times and you are asked to only arrive at the appointed time. The girls will go directly to their classrooms on entering the school.

• 9.00am Front Door: Ms Marron (Room 5) 3rd+4th Class

                     Side Door: Ms Madden (Room 8) 6th Class
                     Back Door: Ms Higgins (Room 7) 6th Class

• 9.10am Front Door: Ms McDonnell (Room 2) 3rd Class

                     Side Door: Mr Murphy (Room 3) 5th Class
                     Back Door: Ms Kenny (Room 6) 5th Class

• 9.20 am Side Door: Ms. Lee (Room 4) 4th Class

There will be staggered closing times also. 

• 2.40pm Front Door: Ms Marron 3rd+4th Class

                     Side Door: Ms Madden 6th Class
                     Back Door: Ms Higgins 6th Class

• 2.50pm Front Door: Ms McDonnell 3rd Class

                     Side Door: Mr Murphy 5th Class
                     Back Door: Ms Kenny 5th Class

• 3.00pm Side Door: Ms Lee 4th Class

In the morning sisters whose starting times are not the same may arrive together and one may wait on a bench until their entry time. In the evening sisters will leave together at the earlier time.
Parents/Guardians are asked to keep a 2 metre distance from each other.
The girls will have 2 breaks, one ten minute break in the classroom and one half hour break outside. The outside break times will be staggered and there will be 2 or 3 classes on the yard at a time in their designated areas.

If a child needs to be collected during the school day, please let the school know in advance. 
Visitors to the school will only be seen by making an appointment. A form will have to be completed upon arrival for contact tracing purposes.
Remember: Please do not send your child to school if they have a high temperature, a cough, shortness of breath or loss of smell or taste. Any pupil displaying these symptom will be escorted to the First Aid area and parents/guardians will be contacted.
If you have any questions, please contact the school.
Please read our updated Covid-19 School Response Plan
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Here are some of our plans to help keep everyone safe when we return to school:

• The girls have the option of wearing their school uniform on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and their PE uniform on Tuesday and Thursday. When the weather gets colder, they may wear a long sleeved top underneath their t-shirt.
• There will be no homework for the first month. Time will be allocated at the end of the school day for completion of set tasks.
• All pencil cases and books will be left in school.
• The girls will need their school bag to bring their lunch and water and to bring home any wrappers/papers etc.
• If any girl feels unwell they need to remain at home until they are better.
• If any girl feels unwell during school, they will be escorted to our isolation room and you will be contacted to collect them.
• Anyone who has been abroad to a country that is not on the 'Green List' must restrict their movements for 14 days this means staying indoors in one location and avoiding contact with other people and social situations as much as possible. 

We are continuing to work on our drop off and collection procedures and we will let you know when they have been finalised.
Kind regards, Bridget Clear.