Students will only move for practical classes - St Bricin's

Pods have been installed in classrooms at St Bricin's College in Belturbet in preparation for the safe return of students to school later this week.

Speaking to the Celt last week, principal Mary Sheridan outlined some of the work that has been going on in recent weeks.

“The idea we came up with in order to protect the students and everyone working in the school community was to form a pod for each class and this pod system will pertain for as much of the school day as is possible.

“We decommissioned all lockers because we don't want clusters of students gathering in small areas and we want to restrict their movement on corridors. All filing cabinets have been removed from every classroom and put into storage provided by the CMETB,” she outlined.

Each student will have their own single individual desk and chair and they will remain at this desk, in the same pod, and will have a tray for their books. Staff too will be wearing masks or visors and teacher's desks have been screened off.

Pod/work areas have also been put in place for staff so there will be no staff congregating in the staff room.

“Students will only have to move if they are going to a practical class. The teacher of that class will collect them at the door and ensure social distancing as they proceed to that classroom. The desks will be wiped and cleaned between every movement of a class. Every pod has designated toilet facilities,” detailed Ms Sheridan.

Extra cleaners have been hired and the college has been deep cleaned in advance of students' return. Sanitation stations are also being provided at the front entrance and in every single classroom.

Students are being asked to bring their own sanitiser, masks/visor with them to school every day; though there is also a supply of PPE in the college. Students are also being asked to have their own calculators, dictionaries, pens and pencils, as they will not be allowed to borrow from others.

There have been obstacles. “The college is over 80 years old, the corridors are narrow and some of the rooms might be smaller than they would be in some of the newer schools,” explained Ms Sheridan of the challenges of implementing social distancing measures.

“We have notified all the parents and have sent out the guidelines and the College Covid Plan has been sent to all staff and families. Anyone that wishes to visit the college has to make an appointment and complete the contact tracing documentation in advance,” said Ms Sheridan.

There will be no seating in the canteen, so a staggered arrangement has been put in place for each school year to collect their lunch and take it back to their pod room or they can bring in their own lunch.

Ms Sheridan sees sport and recreation as essential and all the courts have been marked out in the yard area, which has been zoned. There will be facilities for volleyball, soccer, basketball and handball and table tennis.

“There will be a rota in operation in the sports area where the students from the different pods can access the various sports facilities during the lunch time, so that they will have some variety in their day,” said Ms Sheridan.

First years are due to start at St Bricin's College this Friday, August 28, and TY students will be present as mentors to show them around the school.

Ms Sheridan said they hoping to make the new school environment as normal as possible for students who have not been in the classroom for over five months now.

"We want our students to return to a happy but safer school environment after coming from their family bubble. Most importantly we want to give them as much normality in accessing their curriculum including sport, trips or activities under safe conditions because prioritising their well-being is most important to us," she remarked.

The principal explained that, in some ways, it is easier for a small school to do the necessary reconfiguration to comply with guidelines to mitigate against the spread of COVID-19.

“We have a young dynamic staff, who are enthused to get back and meet the students, both new and existing,” said Ms Sheridan.

In that regard, Stephen Smith has been appointed as deputy principal. He has been the Guidance Counsellor and PE teacher for the past 10 years.