COVID-19 RESPONSE PLAN

MESSAGE FROM ALICIA, LEAD WORKER REPRESENTIVE (LWR) 

IMPORTANT UPDATE 25 FEBRUARY 2022

As we know, the Government has accepted the recommendations of NPHET to remove restrictions relating to mask-wearing and physical distancing in schools. Mask wearing at school will now be voluntary for students and staff - social distancing will no longer necessary.  Wearing face coverings/masks on school transport will no longer be mandatory, but will continue to be advised. There is likely to be a mixed response to these changes with some welcoming them and others feeling fearful. It's not easy to step out of two years of restrictions without adjustment for everyone.  
Schools have discretion at local level to determine the timescale for introducing changes in relation to social distancing arrangements. In our case, we can end the one-way system around the school immediately and promote group work and pair work in classrooms. We will maintain desk configurations as they are until Easter. 

Guidelines that stay the same:

  • We will continue to promote good hand hygiene
  • The requirement to stay at home if a person has symptoms of Covid-19 is still in place for both students and staff

Alicia Devlin-Byrne, LWR at ETSS Wicklow

Hello everyone and thanks for visiting this page to learn more about our Covid-19 Response plan in what has been an extraordinary two years for education and for the world. As LWR (Lead Worker Representative) my job is to work closely with the school’s management team, staff, students and parents to ensure the school community implements & adheres to all possible measures to prevent Covid-19 entering our school community and if it does, to reduce the spread by limiting close contacts and the chance of community infection. 

This year we continue to implement several measures to keep our community safe, including temperature checks, regular cleaning, sanitising of desks and restricting the number of visitors allowed into the school. As we are in a highly fluid time with new information becoming available regularly, the plan is likely to be revised several times during the year. Below you can read the inspectorate report on the operation of our Covid-19 Response plan, the Covid-19 Response itself and information on wellbeing initiatives at our school during this pandemic era. 

UPDATE ON PLAN FOR NEW SCHOOL YEAR 

  • The Covid-19 plan from last year remains in place as we start this new school year;
  • Parents/guardians are asked to ensure that all students have masks and their own sanitiser;
  • Once at the school, all year groups will have a separate entrance to the building which they will be shown on the first morning and in the induction sessions;
  • All other important information in the operation of the plan will be shared during the training session on the first day back. 

DE INSPECTORATE'S REPORT ON COVID-19 RESPONSE PLAN AT ETSS WICKLOW 

(INSPECTION WAS CARRIED OUT ON WED. 21 APRIL, 2021)

ONLINE LEARNING PLAN

During periods when the school is closed, our online learning plan includes the following protocols: 


COVID 19 RESPONSE PLAN 

(pages 48-52 were added in April 2021 on the reopening of the school)

Covid_2.pdf

ETSS WICKLOW SHOWS RESILIENCE

                       Ice Cream for Everyone

It was always going to be difficult to adjust to a very strange set of new rules for this year - masks, hygiene, social distancing, new seating configurations etc..., but everyone at ETSS Wicklow has shown great resilience in finding ways to work well in these conditions. 

Activity Clubs take place at lunch times and we've had lots of theme weeks such as Diversity Week, Active Week, Languages Week and Mathematics Week. We even organised an ice cream van to visit the school one Friday afternoon. 

Congratulations to everyone for keeping our school safe and finding ways to improve our quality of life during these extraordinary times. 

Interactive Mathematics Games for the 
Socially Distanced Classroom 

 LIST OF WELLBEING INITIATIVES DURING PANDEMIC ERA

                                                                                          1.  Ice Cream Afternoon 

                                                                                  2.  Bingo Afternoon

                                                                                  3.  Student Assemblies by Zoom

                                                                                  4.  Club Activities at Lunch Time

                                                                                  5.  Christmas Variety Show 

                                                                                  6.   Livestreaming Classes to Students in Social Isolation

                                                                                  7.   Drama Workshops for Every Class - Wellbeing Theme

                                                                                  8.  Online Training Day to Prepare for a Non-Stressful Transition to Online Learning if Necessary 

                                                                                 9.   Launch of Morning Yoga Classes in December

                                                                               10.   Students' Council raising the flags of the school, the country and the EU for celebration days    

                                                                               11.  Pancake Days - start the day with pancakes before first class     

                                                                               12.  Student v Parent Debate

                                                                               13. Online Chess Competition

                                                                               14. Online National Debate Competition for all Educate Together secondary schools

                                                                               15. End of year treat - burger and chips for everyone 

                                                                               16. Livestreamed Summer Concert 

                                               Thanks to everyone for playing your part in raising spirits, keeping to the plan and helping the work of the school continue!