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Letter to parents from Mr T Shields (Principal)
Mon 17 Aug 2020KING'S PARK PRIMARY AND NURSERY SCHOOL
(EDUCATION AUTHORITY – SOUTHERN REGION)
17 August 2020
Dear Parent/Guardian,
I would welcome all of our families again after what has been and is a most extraordinary and unprecedented time for everyone. I would thank everyone for your co-operation and patience over these past months.The Minister of Education has sent you two attached messages which I would ask everyone to read carefully. I would emphasise that the health and safety, personal hygiene and pastoral care of your child will be our main priorities in the days ahead.
This letter will be followed by another email from your child’s new class teacher which you can expect before mid-day tomorrow.
That information will contain details of your child’s start and finishing time each day over the first three weeks of the term.
These times will be reviewed over the coming weeks and may be subject to change as necessary. Again parents will be informed of any changes during September.
The following information is also to be noted:
Uniform – children may come to school in polo shirt and tracksuit or regular school uniform if parents so wish.
Coats – coats will be kept in classrooms as cloak areas will be out of use.
Lunches – all children who will be attending must bring a packed lunch and break snack next week 24-28 August.
– all lunches/break time snacks should be brought to school in a plastic container which will be taken home each day.
– Dinners will start on 1 September.
School bags – children should not bring in school bags; school will provide plastic zip folders to each child.
– each child should bring in a second plastic box for their stationery items plus tissues and hand sanitisers/anti-bacterial wipes. All items in the box to be provided by parents.
Medical – All necessary medication ie epi-pens etc should be sent in to your child’s class teacher on their first day.
PE Kits – will not be required until further notice.
Updated address/contact numbers – Please ensure these are with the office as soon as possible.
Parentpay – Please register for this cashless system before your child/children commence school. If you are having any difficulties registering, please contact Mrs Morrow in the school office.
Parent/Carers – Parents/Carers are not to enter the school building until further notice.
Parent/Carers may wish to wear face coverings when waiting for children.
Timetable Arrival/Departure:
All Primary 7 children will return on the 24th August, details will be in the teacher’s email tomorrow and all other children will return on a staggered timetable to facilitate settling in. Nursery to Primary 6 children will return in small groups throughout the week 24 to 28 August. The precise return date and time will be sent to all parents by mid-day tomorrow Tuesday 18th August. It is planned to have all classes into school on 1st September. Note: 31 August is a public holiday and school will be closed.
Entry Doors/Gates:
The park gate will be opened each day at 8.45am for 30 minutes and again from 1.30 to 2.45pm each day to facilitate entry. Children will be instructed by their teacher as to which door they enter and leave school each day. We would ask everyone to use only their assigned door to enter and leave school.
Start Times:
For health and safety reasons start times from 1 September will be staggered.
8.45am – children with surnames from A to L
8.55am – children with surnames from M to R
9.00am – children with surnames from S to Z
Home times will also be staggered and class teachers will provide details in their correspondence.
The Governors have agreed with the above measures which will facilitate a full return of all our children on 1 September.
Yours sincerely
T Shields
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DTO Shields
Principal
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Return to school - Dealing with your child's anxieties
Thu 13 Aug 2020
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Parent Update - 31 July 2020
Fri 31 Jul 202031 July 2020
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Further to our plan for a return to school of all children in late August early September. Our aim is still to have all of our children into school early next term and importantly to observe the social distancing rules for children and adults at all times.
This will involve much detailed pre-planning by the school, which is currently taking place and much understanding on your part.
We also understand that the NI Executive and the Department of Education will be issuing further guidance to schools by mid-August. This guidance may cause us to change our plans at any time over the coming weeks.
As things stand at present there will be a staggered intake across P2 to P7 classes over the last week of August and throughout September. Arrangements for Nursery and Primary 1 will be staggered throughout late August and the month of September as is normal practice.
Parents and guardians will be informed by email on 17/18 August which children should return on which dates, also regarding the procedures to be followed and the timetable for dropping off children and the collection of children to and from school each day.
Further details will also be issued at that time regarding packed lunches, uniform, pupils personal items ie pencils, rubbers etc etc. and other health and safety guidance.
Parents are reminded that we will introduce a cashless money system across the school from the beginning of the term and everyone is asked to make sure you are registered for this system. If you have not yet registered or are having any difficulties registering please contact Mrs Morrow in the school office from 17 August.
Finally, I will write again to all of our families on 17 August to update everyone so until then, take care stay safe and enjoy the rest of the holidays.
Sincerely
T Shields
PRINCIPAL -
Anxious about returning to school?
Thu 09 Jul 2020
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Free School Meals and Uniform Grants - UPDATE
Wed 08 Jul 2020Please read the current information below from the Education Authority website:
Free School Meals / Uniform Grant Applications 2020/21
- Current eligible families - Claimants who are currently in receipt of support for the 2019/20 year will receive a pre-populated form for the 2020/21 year which must be completed and returned as soon as possible. Forms to begin arriving week commencing 6 July 2020.
- New Applicants - New applicants will be able to apply online from Wednesday 8 July 2020. See below for more information and to apply.
- Current eligible families - Claimants who are currently in receipt of support for the 2019/20 year will receive a pre-populated form for the 2020/21 year which must be completed and returned as soon as possible. Forms to begin arriving week commencing 6 July 2020.
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SCHOOL UNIFORM
Tue 07 Jul 2020The school uniform is as follows:
Boys: Grey trousers, white or grey shirt, grey pullover with coloured inset, school tie and badge.
Girls: Black pinafore or skirt, white blouse, black cardigan/V neck pullover, school tie and badge.
Summer clothing
Boys: may wear yellow school polo shirt and single coloured shorts, preferably black.
Girls: may also wear yellow school polo shirt and single coloured shorts, preferably black or a yellow gingham dress.
Due to the current situation with COVID-19 children are permitted to wear their tracksuit everyday if they so wish, to facilitate ease of washing.
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Activity day on 30th June
Tue 07 Jul 2020We wanted to organise a very special last day of term for the boys and girls of King’s Park. We decided that they should have a Sport’s day followed by a picnic. Mrs Carson very kindly sent text messages to all parents involved and the children came prepared.
We made great use of our outdoor facilities and organised activities for all age groups, right from Nursery to Primary 7. All children and staff had a fabulous day. Well done everyone.
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P4 Posties 🌈❤️🚲🏃♀️
Sun 05 Jul 2020The P4 Posties visited the Primary Fours on Monday 29th June! It was brilliant day!🌟
Check out the video on the P4 Class Page.
https://www.kingsparklurgan.com/primary-4-4/
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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.
