Big smiles as children are reunited with friends

YOUNG children ‘bounced’ in through the doors of St Brigid’s Primary School on Monday as they returned to the classroom.

St Brigid’s Primary School Altamuskin was a busy place as children in nursery and P1 to P3 classes were reunited with their friends and teachers after months of remote learning due to the Covid19 restrictions.

Principal of the school, Sinead Gormley said both staff and children were glad to be allowed back in the classroom, and is hopeful that pupils will not have to return to remote learning after Easter.

She said, “We are all so delighted to have some of the children back and they bounced through the gates yesterday morning.

“It is so heart-warming to hear the chatter and giggles in the school during the day.

“We expected some tears on the first morning but because we have been keeping in touch with them through live lessons, I think that has helped them settle back in quicker.

“It would be lovely to keep them now until Easter and have the beginning of a steady section of the year and to finish the year out with them.”

Ms Gormley is a teaching principal and teaches the P1 and P2 classes in the school. She believes the young children need structure and routine in order to learn.

She continued, “They need routine, familiarity and to be able to see their friends.

“At school for this age group, it is all about learning through play and socialising.

“This week has been all about making sure everyone is feeling safe and happy before we even think about getting down to the nitty gritty of teaching and learning,” said Ms Gormley.

Despite announcing a phased return to schools, the Executive has not yet announced a date for the return of older children.

The principal acknowledged that is difficult for the pupils who cannot return to school yet, especially if they have younger siblings who started back this week.

Ms Gormley continued, “We have brothers and sisters who would love to be coming back to school with their younger brother and sisters but it is just not possible.

“It is a tricky one as they are waving the children off and then going home to do remote learning so it is a really strange scenario

“We are all really hopeful we will get them back soon.

“If the number of cases keep going down, fingers and toes crossed that they will all be back in after Easter,” said Ms Gormley.