Privacy Policy
Covid-19 Policies and procedures
K-Star Academy is committed to safeguarding children, staff, parents and all visitors to our various locations. Since the covid-19 pandemic, a list of policies and procedures have been designed and written, in accordance with both government and HSE guidelines, to ensure that we do our utmost to help stop the spread of the virus and provide a safe and fully compliant space for children, staff, parents and visitors alike.
The following policies will outline the role of management, teachers, students, parents and visitors to the academy in relation to the policies we all must follow. We will have procedures in place to ensure these policies are met and procedures put in place to follow in the event of an emergency.
Unless otherwise specifically stated, the procedures below will be in place throughout all of our locations and venues.
DROP OFF and COLLECTION:
For our Donabate K-Star's, all students will be dropped off and picked up from the car park outside the parish hall. No parents will be permitted to come into the parish hall.
For our Ongar and Tyrrelstown community centre K-Star's, we must follow the guidelines from the centre which will be clearly marked on entering and exiting the building.
Gaelscoil An Chuilinn K-Star's, you will be brought to the school hall by your teacher and collected outside, chaperoned by a member of K-Star staff.
If there are any questions on the above, you can text or call Karen on 0831556997.
Hand sanitiser will be provided but it is advised that you do pack a small hand sanitiser for your child. If they have allergies to hand sanitiser please let a member of staff know.
The wearing of masks is optional for students. Teachers will be wearing ppe.
If a younger student is joining us for the first time, we will liaise directly with their parents in advance and, if necessary, we will suggest they be dropped to class ahead of time in order to meet their teacher. As much as is possible, we want to eliminate the need for parents entering the building.
We want our students to have as much fun as possible during their time with us but we have to follow the guidelines so please read rules we had to put in place below,
1. Students may only bring one drinks bottle (easily opened by themselves) and any items of PPE or personal hand sanitation. Parents are asked to take jackets/hats, scarves or any items that are not necessary for the duration of their stay with us.
2. Individual scripts or props will be supplied for each child if needed for their class so they will not share with anyone else.
3. The room that we will work in will be pre-measured and outlined with coloured circles. Students will be allocated a circle at the beginning of class which will be their space for the duration, to allow for strict social distancing. There will also be a taped off teachers area at the front where students are not permitted.
4. Unless absolutely necessary, students will not be assisted in tying open shoe laces. As a result, we encourage parents to ensure students can tie their own laces or wear Velcro or slip on shoes.
5. If a student wants to remove an item of clothing we encourage them to do so themselves.
6. If a student falls or becomes injured during class time, they will be helped by a designated member of staff with as little close contact as possible. If appropriate, PPE will be worn by the staff member while aiding the child.
7. At the end of the class, students will be lined up in accordance with social distancing guidelines and brought to the pick up point by a chaperone.
*Students will not be permitted to be dropped off in advance of their class times.
8. Between each class session, all chairs, floors and coloured circles as well as all relevant door handles and surfaces are cleaned and sprayed with disinfectant. The cleaning of the building as a whole is a responsibility of the staff who work in each of our locations but K-Star Academy will work in conjunction with each of our locations to ensure all areas we utilize are completely clean.
9. Doors, as far as possible, will now remain open throughout class time, in order to minimize the use of door handles.
10. No mobile phones will be allowed at camp. If a student needs to bring a phone, for any reason, it must be kept in a zip locked bag and will not be permitted during class time.
11. If a student looks unwell or begins to show any symptoms of Covid-19 throughout a class, they will be removed and isolated in another room or outdoor space, ensuring the risk of spreading the infection is minimized. A chaperone will remain with them at a distance of 2 metres. The emergency contact will be notified and they will be sent home.
12. All parents will be notified of this via text. We actively encourage parents to keep students home if they are feeling unwell. K-Star Academy reserves the right to refuse admittance to any student deemed to be unwell.
13. In any case that a student is suspected of having contracted Covid-19 and is isolated during class time, any tissues /wipes they may have will be double bagged and stored for 72 hrs before being disposed of, in accordance to the HSE guidelines. The room utilized by said student will be thoroughly cleaned before the start of the next class.
14. Parents are encouraged to inform us if a student begins to show symptoms of covid-19 at any stage throughout their time with us at K-Star so other parents can be notified by text. The student or teacher in question will never be named.
15. Bathroom: We would actively encourage students to use the bathroom at home before coming to class and try to eliminate the use of the bathroom while with us. In the event that one of our younger students needs the use of the bathroom they will be accompanied by a chaperone as per normal regulations. Students will not be assisted in the bathroom at any stage, therefore it is imperative that students are fully competent in all aspects of using the toilet, are appropriately dressed that they will not require help and can effectively wash their hands by themselves. A note of who used the bathroom along with the chaperone who accompanied them will be kept during each class to allow for contact tracing.
16. It is extremely important to me moving forward to communicate with parents more than ever. I want parents to feel like we have done everything possible to make their children safe.
17. Each class will be going over the new rules each week until it becomes the ‘new normal’. For right now, most of this goes against our human nature but our kids will adapt quickly and so will we.
Any questions on any of the above please do get in touch,
With thanks,
Karen Tynan
K-Star Academy
0831556997