LATEST UPDATE 8/7/2020

Morning,

I hope you’ve enjoyed the first week of summer hols...at least it’s sunny this morning!

I just wanted to clarify part of the letter on the website regarding our plans for returning to school.

Staggered Drop Off: Miss Beggs’ class will be the first drop off of the morning. If your eldest child is in this class and they have siblings in the primary school, the whole primary school family can be dropped off at the same time. 
This format will be repeated for each subsequent class, Mrs Knox then Mrs McKee/Mrs Gibson then finally Mrs Stevenson, with all siblings dropped off at the same time.
Parents won’t be asked to drop off primary school children on more than one occasion. All we ask, in order to keep all children and adults in school safe and well and to ensure that there is no undue closure of the school due to ‘bubble contamination’, is that family groups enter the school playground together as a group and do not mix with any other children on route.

As the Pre School are having a later drop off, Pre School children cannot be dropped off with the eldest or other sibling in the primary school. Any queries regarding Pre School pick up should be forwarded to the Pre School leader, Marina McClenaghan, by email.

I hope this clarification helps, especially with those parents who will be trying to organise their working patterns.

I will be in touch with any further updates as I have them.

Miss B

Coronavirus update - 18th March

Dear parent,
I am writing this to you feeling a profound sense of sadness at the announcement made by the First Minister that all schools will close from Monday 23rd March.

I feel so sad for our P7 pupils in particular and apologise for the disappointment you will feel as the final weeks of their time at Carr PS come to an end. I know P6 parents will be particularly anxious and I share your anxiety.

Carr will be open on Thursday 19th March until 2pm. After school waiting club will be cancelled. This day will ensure that our children have an opportunity to say goodbye for now and to give out work packs for all children which will last up to the Easter holiday.  We will totally understand if you do not wish to send your child to school tomorrow and their work pack will still be available to collect from 10am onwards.

However, Carr will be closed on Friday 20th March to allow staff to meet to discuss the strategies we will use to support children’s learning beyond the Easter break.

At this stage, we are not able to say when our school will reopen. This will be kept under review. I will keep you all informed with regular updates through SeeSaw, FB and the school website and provide as much information as I have myself.

Finally, I would like to thank you on behalf of myself and the staff for the many kind and thoughtful messages we have received in the past few days. We have very much appreciated your support in what has been a very confusing and difficult week.

Stay safe and stay well,
Joanne Beggs

Coronavirus Update - 17th March

Two different members of our school community have been advised or have decided to self isolate for a 14 day period.
At this stage, in both cases, these a purely precautionary measures and not due to contact with any individuals with confirmed Coronavirus.

Advice has been sought from the Education Authority and the NI Medical Helpline and the school has continued to follow cleaning protocols. The school has been advised that there is no immediate need to close the school.

I felt that it was important to inform parents of this, as I understand the desire for openness at this time.

I hope that all members of our school community continue to stay safe and well.

Miss Beggs

COVID-19 statement 15/3/2020

Update on Coronavirus (Covid 19)

As I am sure you are aware, we are currently dealing with a complex and rapidly changing situation.  My first priority will always be the health and safety of the children and staff of our school.  We are following official guidance which is being updated on a daily basis. This official advice will underpin all the decisions we take.  This is why I have delayed providing an update until this evening.

I fully respect the rights of parents not to send their child/children to school, but I would ask you that you confirm your decision in writing by emailing the school email address. Absence due to Coronavirus will be considered an authorised absence.

Parents are asked to inform the school by email as soon as possible if any household members become infected or have been advised to self isolate.  

Current guidance from the EA states that schools should remain open until directed otherwise.  School leaders do not have the power to close schools due to Coronavirus, however, I am sure you are aware of recent new articles and statements from the First Minister that school closures are likely and may last for a protracted period of time.

To prepare for school closure, the staff of Carr have been working hard in the background to develop contingency plans which will ensure that teaching and learning can continue.  Details of school contingency plans will be made available on the school website on Monday 16th March.

Whilst I appreciate that there will a wide range of different views about how we should be responding and what action should be taken, I hope you will appreciate that I am duty bound to follow the official advice from government and the Department of Education.

The weeks that lie ahead are uncharted waters and will result in many events, activities and opportunities being cancelled or curtailed.  I thank you for your patience, understanding and continued trust you place in the governors and staff of our wee school.