Welcome to latest news
20 August 2021
Dear Parent/Guardian,
I would firstly like to welcome all of our children and their families to the new school year 2021/22.
I trust everyone has had a restful and enjoyable summer holiday.
Guidance for the re-opening of schools arrived from the Department of Education at 6pm on the 18th August.
In light of the guidance the attached arrangements for the month of September will apply.
While the Board of Governors and staff recognise that Covid-19 is still very much with us in Northern Ireland we plan to try our best to return to our pre-covid timetable from Monday 6th September.
That said, it must be stressed that events throughout the incoming school year will be managed at all times by following the PHA and the Department of Education advice. The health and safety of our children and staff will be our first priority together with the delivery of a challenging and enjoyable learning experience for each and every pupil attending King’s Park.
Your co-operation over these last eighteen months has been greatly appreciated and we trust that your understanding and support will continue throughout the unknown challenges ahead.
As most of you will know I will be retiring from teaching after 45 years in education on the 31st October and I wish to thank everyone in the King’s Park community for your support and encouragement throughout my 21 years as Principal of this very special school.
As most will also know our current Vice-principal Miss H Brown has been appointed as Principal of King’s Park from the 1st November and I have no doubt Heather and the hard working staff at all levels across the school will continue to move the school forward and enjoy the support of you our parents and friends of King’s Park in the years ahead.
Yours sincerely
T Shields
……………………
DTO Shields
Principal
School times for September 2021
Opening times on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd September:
School will open at 8.45am each morning and parents are asked to have children into the school grounds by 9.00am. There will be no bells.
Nursery and Primary One parents have received individual start times and dates from their teachers.
Finish times on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd September:
Nursery - individual times have been sent to all Nursery parents
Primary 1 - will leave at lunchtime for the first three weeks of term as previously advised
Primary 2 - 1.45pm
Primary 3/4 - 1.55pm
Primary 5/6/7 - 2.05pm
These times will allow children to settle in with their new teachers and surroundings.
Opening times from 6th September:
Nursery - individual start times for each child have been issued
Primary 1 to 7 - school will open from 8.30am
Parents are asked to send their children in as near to 9.00am as possible.
Children must go directly to their classroom, wash their hands and take their seat. Note also that between 8.30am and 8.45am there will be a skeleton staff only to supervise classes. All teachers will be in their class from 8.45am.
Finish times from 6th September:
Nursery - individual pupil finish times
Primary 1 - September – lunchtime 12.20am *
Primary 2 - 2.00pm each day
Primary 3 - 2.55pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
2.00pm Thursday and Friday
Primary 4 - 2.55pm Monday to Thursday
2.10pm Friday – to be reviewed at the end of September
Primary 5/6/7 - 3.00pm Monday to Thursday
2.15pm Friday – to be reviewed at the end of September
Note the earlier times for Nursery and Primary One to allow for transition.
* The normal finish time of 2.00pm for Primary One will begin on 27th September.
Nursery – all queries regarding nursery children should be directed to each Nursery teacher via the class Dojo.
Further points to note:
1 As a school we intend to retain our class bubbles throughout September at the end of which the situation will be reviewed.
2 Full school uniform to be worn by all pupils. Tracksuits should be worn on PE Days only. (Class teachers will inform parents of PE days in September). School bags are permitted (preferably small). All belongings will be kept in the classes.
3 Adults are asked NOT to enter the school building without a pre-appointment with the Principal.
4 There will be NO BELLS throughout September.
5 Remote learning: In the event of a Covid-19 outbreak affecting a child/ren the school will provide remote learning to the child/ren concerned.
6 Please note that all school meals must be ordered and paid for through ParentPay. If you are unsure about how to pay by ParentPay please contact Mrs Morrow in the office on 028 3832 2450. The dinner menu is available on our school website.
7 The most recent guidance to schools is that adults are asked to continue to maintain 2 metre social distancing when in the school grounds and to wear face coverings.
8 Parents are asked NOT to send their child/ren into school if they are feeling unwell and to inform school (Tel: 028 3832 2450) immediately should any member of their family return a positive Covid test.
9 Continued good hygiene practice will be followed in school by all staff and children.
10 Well ventilated classrooms are very important in combating Covid-19 and we will endeavour to have all rooms well ventilated at all times.
Finally, Covid-19 is still very much with us, however we hope that the procedures we have in place and with the co-operation of all our parents we can reduce the effects of the virus across the school to a minimum over the coming months.
T Shields
Principal