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Letter from the Chairman of the Board of Governors and Principal
Mon 29 Jun 2020KING'S PARK PRIMARY AND NURSERY SCHOOL
(EDUCATION AUTHORITY – SOUTHERN REGION)
29 June 2020
From the Board of Governors and Principal of King’s Park Primary & Nursery School
Dear parent/guardian,
I trust you are all well and staying safe. I write to update you on our plans for re-opening King’s Park after the summer holidays.
It is important at the outset to say this is the plan as of today 29 June and that Government and Education Authority advice may change between now and the 24 August. Any such new advice may well impact on our current plan and cause the Governors to re-assess and change our advice to parents.
Firstly, it is our hope and intention to try and return all of our children to school in September and to adhere to all of the guidance in managing the threat of Covid-19 on our children and staff. One metre distancing for P1-P7 children and two metres for all staff.
Your understanding and co-operation will be critical if this aim is to be achieved.
It is hoped the Primary 7 children and a number of other children will return to school on 24 August. It is likely that we will operate a phased return of the remaining children in September with different year groups starting on different dates.
We have requisitioned 200+ single pupil desks to meet the one metre social distancing rule.
Unfortunately, in King’s Park when it comes to the physical size of our 28 classrooms we only have approximately 10 rooms which are 60 square metres in size – which meet the Department of Education’s regulations. Of the remaining 18 rooms approximately 4 are under 40 square metres.
This large number of very small classrooms and associated accommodation is why we are due to have a new school build for September 2023. Work is ongoing regarding our new build school.
This small physical class size issue creates a problem for the Governors in the context of Covid-19 requirements, particularly for Primary 5 classrooms come September. To meet the regulations and to achieve our aim of returning all children to school in September the Governors have decided to create a fourth Primary 5 class next year. That class will be made up largely of the same children who were in the fourth Primary 2 class which existed before they were amalgamated two years ago.
It is important to say even with the four Primary 5 classes next year it may be necessary to move a small number of children across the new four Primary 5 rooms to facilitate social distancing requirements. This may also apply in a small number of cases in Primary 4, 6 and 7 children.
While it seems the Covid-19 threat is for the time being under control, it will be important that we as a school community do not drop our guard or become complacent in the weeks and months ahead. To this end many other changes will have to be made across King’s Park to adapt to the “new normal” come September, for example: it is unlikely parents will be allowed to enter our school buildings except in an emergency; a staggered drop off and collection of children is likely to be implemented; children and staff will be asked to remain in their class “bubble” throughout the school day; etc.
I and each teacher will over the coming two months be informing you of what further changes will be necessary to observe the Covid regulations within the school and to keep your child and the staff safe, which will at all times be our first priority.
I trust you will again appreciate that the Government advice we are receiving seems to change almost by the day and that the decisions made above have been taken as early as possible to let our parents know as best we can, what a return to King’s Park will mean for everyone.
In the meantime take care, stay safe and enjoy the holidays.
PS You may want to view our website regularly for updates and today to view the staff sing along!!
Yours sincerely
W Jennett T Shields
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Chairperson DTO Shields
Board of Governors Principal
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ParentPay
Sun 28 Jun 2020We are introducing a new cashless payment system called ParentPay for the new school year. Click on the link below to watch a video explaining how it works. Over the next few weeks you will receive further information from school on how to activate your account.
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A message to all our pupils
Fri 26 Jun 2020Click on the link below to see a special message from the King's Park staff to all of our pupils!
https://www.kingsparklurgan.com/a-message-for-our-pupils/
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Letter to all parents from Mr Shields (Principal)
Fri 19 Jun 202019 June 2020
Dear parent/guardian,
I write to update everyone regarding how things are progressing with schooling and the changes Covid-19 is having and will have over the coming months.
Firstly, it is important to report that we still await clear instructions from the Minister of Education and the Department of Education regarding when and how schools are to re-open after the summer holidays.
Whenever that date arrives it seems fairly certain schools are going to be very different places to what they have been in the past.
What we can assure you at this time, is that everyone in King’s Park will make every effort to ensure the return to schooling is as safe and child friendly as is possible at these uncertain times.
Please note the following points:
Annual Reports will be sent out to parents on 29 June in most cases by email. The report will also inform your child of his/her teacher next year. The report will be reduced in content this year as advised by the Department of Education.
Uniform – children may wear full school uniform in the next school year however parents may send children in polo shirts and tracksuits each day should you find that helpful in light of advice on washing clothes due to Covid-19.
Money – at this time we are setting up a cashless money system which will mean that money will no longer be collected for school meals, trips etc. More detail on this will follow.
Children’s personal items – we will be asking families to supply each of their children with a shoe box size container to hold such things as pencils, rubber, tissues, ruler etc. which will be brought into school on day one and remain in school. Your child’s name should be clearly marked.
Key worker’s cover – Despite the lockdown King’s Park School has been open every weekday since 23 March for key worker and vulnerable childcare. I would like to thank the staff both teaching and non-teaching who volunteered to support these families. As a school community we would also wish to thank all of our key worker families for their dedication in the face of an unseen enemy in the war against Covid-19.
Home Learning – Home learning has been a challenge for everyone, families and schools alike. I would wish to record my thanks and the thanks of our Board of Governors for the tremendous efforts by everyone since March 23rd. So to staff and families a BIG THANK YOU! and we hope you will enjoy the summer holidays.
We will endeavour to keep everyone informed with as much detail as possible over the coming weeks and throughout the summer. To this end we would ask everyone to view our school website regularly.
Yours sincerely
T Shields
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DTO Shields
Principal
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P7 Leavers - Photo Opportunity
Wed 17 Jun 2020Opus Memories are giving Primary 7 parents the opportunity to have their children's P7 Leavers photographs taken. Please find all the necessary information on the flier below.
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Letter to Key Workers whose children currently attend King's Park
Tue 16 Jun 202015 June 2020
TO KEY WORKERS who have been using King’s Park staff to cover their children during lockdown for Covid19.
Dear parent/guardian,
I write to inform you that cover for the children of Key Workers and vulnerable children will end for the summer on Tuesday 30th June.
I am sure you will agree with the Board of Governors in expressing their thanks to those staff members who have supported you and your children since the 23rd March. Like you, we have all had to reorganise our lifelong daily routines during lockdown and we all hope and trust that life in the coming months can return to the ‘new normal’ as smoothly as possible.
As for the ‘new normal’, we in schools are still very unclear what that will look like, but we hope we will receive clear guidance from the Minister of Education sooner rather than later so that we can put procedures in place to make the return of your children to King’s Park as stress free as possible.
We will be writing to all parents again on 19th June regarding arrangements for school closing on the 30th June and other related matters.
Finally, thank you for your cooperation over this past three months and we hope you and your children will stay safe and have an enjoyable summer break.Yours sincerely
T Shields
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Mr DTO Shields
Principal
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Libraries NI 'Silly Squad' Summer Reading Challenge 2020
Mon 15 Jun 2020Issued on behalf of NI Libraries – If you would like more information about this initiative email NI Libraries at feedback@librariesni.org.uk
Libraries NI is delighted to announce details of ‘Silly Squad’, Summer Reading Challenge 2020 produced by
The Reading Agency and delivered by libraries which will take place from Monday 15 June.
The Silly Squad, Summer Reading Challenge, is a free, exciting way to keep
young people aged 4 - 11 years reading during the summer months.
Children can sign up for free here.
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Messages of Hope
Mon 15 Jun 2020This week's theme for messages of hope is 'Friendship.'
Remember to send your artwork to kpmessagesofhope@gmail.com - we really love to see all your lovely pictures!
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Messages of Hope
Mon 08 Jun 2020This week's theme is 'Gratitude' and artwork should be based around things that our pupils are thankful for. These can be more personally specific than our more general NHS Thank yous a few months ago.
Maybe you would like to make a thank you card to send to someone to brighten their day!
Remember to send us a picture of your artwork at the usual address
kpmessagesofhope@gmail.com
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Post Primary Placement Letters
Wed 03 Jun 2020Dear Parent/Guardian
Your child’s Post Primary Placement letter should arrive tomorrow Thursday 4th June.
In the event of your letter not arriving or should your child not receive a placement in their 1st preference choice of school Mr Shields will be available from 1pm to 5pm on Thursday 4th June to receive any queries or concerns you may have.
Please email Mr Shields using dshields234@c2kni.net and include the following information in order to confirm your child’s identity: child’s full name, date of birth and postal address.
Admissions Helpdesk
The Education Authority Helpdesk will be in operation from 1pm to 5pm on Thursday 4th June. It can be contacted on 028 9598 5595 or via email on postprimaryadmissions@eani.org.uk. It will operate Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm thereafter. Further information will also be available on the Education Authority website www.eani.org.uk/admissions
SEN Helpdesk
The SEN Helpdesk (028 9598 5960) can provide information to parents of children with Statements of Special Educational Needs. The SEN Helpline operates Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
