Parents Newsletter Halloween 2020

Hi All,

Please read the following Newsletter Halloween 2020 for further updates for our school days ahead.

Fr. Niall's Autumn Message

Hi All,

Fr. Niall has sent us a lovely new message as we settle into the Autumn.  Please click on the following link "Autumn Message" to view his latest video .  

St.Oliver's Covid 19 Latest News Update

Hi All,  Please click on the following link "St. Oliver's Covid 19 Latest News Update" to watch a Video giving us the  latest update on Covid 19  from two of our students and Mr. D'Arcy.

Important Update on Homework/Home-Learning 24th Sept

Please click on the following link to read an important update on Homework-Home Learning  in St. Olivers

Parents Note 11th Sept.

Information note to parents:   11^th Sept 2020

Dear Parents,

It has been a busy time as we get used to the new routines. Thanks to everyone for their kindness and support over the past week.  Our school community displayed both compassion and courage throughout and there have been no further positive cases.

Face Masks.    

We are asking all adults who enter the school grounds to please wear a face covering.      At arrival and dismissal large numbers of people gather in our yards. Let’s keep each other safe, maintain social distancing and wear a protective face covering please.

When to keep a child at home.

Please continue to follow public health advice and do not send a child to school who is feeling unwell. In the case of a high temperature, cough, shortness of breath, or change in sense of taste or smell it is also vital to seek advice by phoning your doctor.

Tracksuits.

Pupils will continue to wear their school tracksuits for the next two weeks – until the end of September and we will review then. Please remember to change from your school tracksuit when you go home in the evening.

First Holy Communion.

Best wishes to Ms. O’Neill’s Class (Ms. O’Brien’s class from last year) who make their Holy Communion on Saturday. May God Bless the 18 children and their families at this special time.

Junior Infants ready for the full day!

Our 76 Junior Infants have settled into the routine of school life. From Monday, September 14^th the Junior Infant children will stay in school until 2 p.m.

COVID guidelines are there to keep us all safe.

We will continue to be vigilant and rely on each other.  The guidelines may cause inconvenience, but this is a small price to pay for ensuring that everyone stays safe and healthy and avoids what could be a far more serious outcome. 

Thank you for your support and if we can help in any way please contact us.

Regards and best wishes,                                                                  

Rory D’Arcy

Parents Note 28th August 2020

Note to Parents re. Full Return to School on August 31^st 2020.

Greetings all,

It was fantastic to see everyone this week.

Following our staggered returns last week, I hope that you and your child have an idea of your classroom location and where to go tomorrow morning. This note may be translated to over 50 languages by clicking ‘Select Language’ at the top right of this screen.

Our full return to school will be the largest movement of people in Killarney since March 12^th 2020.  It will be extremely busy. We will rely on everyone giving themselves time and space to get to school.               

SO BE EXTRA CAREFUL, IT WILL BE VERY BUSY.

Traffic Safety.

Due to the changes in the number of children playing in each yard at break time, our children require more yard space free of cars. This means we have less car parking spaces and this will add to the daily traffic chaos around our school. School staff will be at the gates to welcome, help and guide people as they arrive. The Gardai will also be monitoring traffic throughout our return. Already, on Friday, we had a close call for a mother and two young children due to speeding outside our school. Slow down, park a distance from the school and walk. Take your time. Children too may be extra excited and/or nervous at this time and can make mistakes. I appeal to drivers to be patient, careful and respectful as we bring our children back to school.

What does my child need tomorrow?

• Full Lunchbox.
• Wear School Tracksuit.
• Schoolbag with books stays in school, most pupils brought them last week.

What time does school finish?

Junior Infants 12 noon

Senior Infants  2 p.m.

All other classes 3 p.m.

I couldn’t make it last week and don’t know where to go.

Check what class your child is in and the coloured zone of their classroom (the school sent a text with this info). Follow the appropriate coloured arrows on the ground to the zone and a staff member will guide you from there. If you did not receive a text or are confused please text your query to 0877559237 today.

Can I enter the school yard?

Yes, Parents are welcome into the school yard. Please respect and maintain social distancing.  The yard will be busy in the mornings and afternoons. Face covering is advised but not mandatory in this outdoor setting. Visitors are also welcome to the school office.

However there is a strict staff and children only policy throughout the rest of the school and no adults other than staff are permitted within the school building. The purpose of which is to reduce the danger of infection.

If I can’t go in, how will we stay in touch with school?

Your child’s teacher will be in touch later this week by text to set up email contact. One of the difficulties we will face is trying to stay in touch and answer any queries you may have, so be sure and reply to the contact. This email contact will also form the basis for Seesaw App interaction throughout the year.

Make sure if you change your contact details (address, phone, email etc.) that you inform the school on 0646632047.

There is no doubt that face-face meetings have become more difficult to arrange, but we must find alternatives – email contact, phone, Zoom, Facetime, Video Calls etc will all have to be used as well as some personal meetings.

If you are worried please also contact the school office at 0877559237 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Word of thanks.

A word of thanks to all who have helped us prepare for tomorrow’s return. To you, our parents and families for your co-operation, encouragement and support. To our staff for their hard work preparing their classrooms, advising and support our management team and leading our safety protocols to fight this virus. Finally, huge thanks to Tim, Hannah Mary, Aileen and Dan who have moved mountains.

See you in the morning,

Rory D’Arcy

Principal Teacher.

Covid 19 - Advice for Parents

Please click on the link "Covid 19 Advice for Parents " for useful information on symptoms to look out for.

Please also click on this link "Covid 19- Multi-lingual" for resources and materials for parents/guardians and students on returning to school . 

Parents Note 23rd August 2020

Parents Information Note 23rd August and Video Link.

This is the third information note for parents and aims to recap on some of the guidelines contained in earlier correspondence and update you on new guidelines. Each of the earlier notes are available in our “Latest News Section” , here on our website www.stolivers.ie

We have prepared a short video to help show you some of the changes we have made. Please take 8 mins to have a look…St. Oliver’s Return to School

Our classes return this week on the following days and times………..

o Thursday Aug 27th - 1st & 6th Classes – 10am to 12 noon.
o Thursday Aug 27th - Sen. Inf & 5th Class – 1pm to 3pm.
o Friday Aug 28th - 2nd & 4th Class 10am to 12 noon.
o Friday Aug 28th - 3rd Class 1pm-3pm.

o Junior Infant classes will visit at assigned times on Wednesday 26th (Mrs.Goulding), Thursday 27th , (Ms. O’Donoghue) and Friday 28th  (Ms. Ni Lionaird). We have been in touch with these families with the allocated times.

o Our children in our Special Classes will also be contacted by their teacher to arrange a visit this week.
Each family will get a text message on Monday reminding them of their class teacher and the location of the classroom.

The school is divided by six colours, the text will tell you which colour and follow the coloured yard markings to guide you. Staff members will be present also to help.

THE RED CORRIDOR (Follow the Red Signs)
JUNIOR INFANTS Ms. Sheila. Goulding , Ms. Neasa. Ní Líonaird, Ms. Mary O’ Donoghue –
The Purple Corridor (Follow the Purple signs)
Snr Infants -Ms. Miriam Dennehy, Ms. Lisa Doona, Ms. Sheila Curtin
2nd Class - Ms. Leana O’Brien , Ms. Stella Maloney, Ms. Louise O’Connor
The Green Corridor (Follow the Green signs)
5TH Class - Mr. Brendan Kealy
Special Classes in the Green Corridor – Ms. Josephine Doncel , Ms. Elaine Kavanagh, Ms. Catherine Doyle, Ms. Claire Riordan
The Yellow Corridor (Follow the Yellow Signs)
1st Class Ms. Christine Crehan , Ms. Denise Fenton , Ms. Charlene Brosnan
5th Class Ms. Maria Ryan – Ms Julie O'Sullivan
ASD Class: Ms. Martina O’Neill,
Language Class: Ms. Katriona Crowley,
Speech & Language Class: Ms. Maria O’Connell
The Blue Corridor (Follow the Blue Signs)
3rd Class-Ms. Claire O’Mahony, Ms. Marian Chute, Ms. Susan O’Neill –
4th Class - Mr. Micheal Gleeson, Ms. Michelle Fairbrother , Ms. Ciara O’Sullivan –
The Coral/Orange Corridor- The Pre-Fabs (at the rear of the school)
6th Class Mr. Ciarán Ó’ Muircheartaigh, Ms. Aoife O’Carroll , Ms. Joanne Rattigan
MGLD/MD C10 – Ms. Aisling O’Leary.

 What will my child need this week?

 On returning to school your child will need :

o A schoolbag with the items listed on their booklist.
o A lunchbox with a light snack.
o Wear the school tracksuit and polo-shirt.

Your child will be leaving their books and schoolbag in school. There will be no assigned homework for the first three weeks. This not only cuts back the dangers of cross infection on objects travelling form home to school and vice-versa but also allows a gradual reintroduction to the rhythm of school life.

Lunchboxes should be washed thoroughly each day. There is no need to wash your child’s uniform daily, but change their clothes when they return home.

Children will be washing their hands in school 4-6 times daily. They will not need hand towels or soap as disposable towels and soap dispensers are available in all classrooms.

80 new hand sanitiser units are fitted and available in all rooms. Your child does not need to bring hand sanitiser to school.

Children in primary school are not required to wear face coverings. Staff will wear face coverings if they cannot maintain 2m social distancing. Both children and staff are welcome to wear face coverings if they wish at any time, but it is not mandatory.

 Monday, August 31^st 2020.

School reopens fully on Monday, August 31^st. Normal school times apply except for Junior Infants who will finish at 12 noon. There will not be a 2-3 Club at the start of the year.

 From August 31^st school will begin at 9:20 as usual, but the school will be open from 8:50 a.m. Children will go directly to their classrooms. Classroom and corridors will be supervised from 8:50 a.m.

It will be very busy in the mornings, particularly as pupils get to know where there new classrooms are located. It is therefore very important pupils attend this week before the full return on Monday week, so both you and your child has a chance to see how best to get to your classroom.

Give yourself plenty of time in the morning – take your time, park and walk to school.

Remember, children will not be allowed meet and play in the yard before 8:50 a.m. and staff only will be permitted access beyond the front office.

If you have changed your contact details or are not getting the text messages from school please call Hannah Mary on 064 6632047 to update our system. We will require contact phone and email addresses to stay in touch.

Talk to your children about the video and the content of the three notes as they will be curious as to how school is preparing for their return.

Remember, if you have any further queries or concerns contact the school at 0646632047, 0877559237 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Many thanks,

Rory D’Arcy

0877559237