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Junior Infants at Presentation Primary at playtime on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
Teacher at Presentation Primary School, Helena Hennessy, describes the excitement as the new Junior Infants began their schooldays this week…
As is customary for the first day back at school, the excitement and anticipation was palpable on the corridors of Presentation Primary School this week as the students returned after the summer holidays.
For one particular group of children however, this was escalated by the fact that they were not returning, rather treading the grounds and corridors for the first time.
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As the new junior infant pupils lined up with their parents and guardians at the drop-off and collection point at the rear of the school building, their little faces said it all – the eagerness and anticipation of what was to come, coupled with a fear of the unknown.
For their parents, too, it was mixed emotions as they entrusted them to the care of their class teachers, Ms. Daly and Ms. Deenihan Sugrue when their names were called.
Junior Infants at Presentation Primary at playtime on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
The children were then gently and sensitively directed into their “líne” by the Special Education teachers and Special Needs Assistants, as it was “all-hands-on-deck” to ensure that any fears and anxieties were immediately allayed as these little boys and girls stepped forward for the first time into a world that will form a significant part of their lives, development, hopes and aspirations for the next eight years.
Once the initial separation process was successfully completed, the students were led to their respective classrooms, where schoolbags were deposited outside the rooms in keeping with Covid safety measures.
They then lined up and were shown how to sanitise their hands before entry to their rooms. Once inside, they were seated in their bubbles, where they proceeded with a fun-packed schedule of activities. These included circle-time, colouring activities, jigsaws, games, toys, story-time, rhymes, songs, music and dance moves. The large interactive smartboards proved a big hit!
One of the highlights of the day was a tour of their new surroundings and a safe “meet-and-greet” with other staff members.
Junior Infants at Presentation Primary at playtime on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
Another was yard time, where the children happily played and formed new friendships in the “Quadrangle” – an enclosed circular outdoor space with soft-fall rubber surfacing and surrounded by windows, creating an extremely child-friendly and safe space.
There was a “photo shoot” for the school facebook page and of course, the delivery of their lunches by the School Food Company (which can be pre-ordered by parents through the school lunch app).
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And then, just like that, it was time to pack up and return to the collection point to go home.
As the children were released to their parents, it was wonderful to observe the smiles, happiness and hugs and to listen to the elated babbling and enthusiastic relating of the events of the morning.
Junior Infants at Presentation Primary at playtime on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
The cautious steps over the threshold and the subdued tones of the early morning had been replaced by a pep, a skip and a sense of the familiar as they exited the school grounds.
And for the teachers – it was on to preparing for the following day’s activities, happy in the knowledge that first-day rules and routines had been successfully established and that they had once again helped their little cares overcome one of the most important and special milestones in their lives.
All in a day’s work at Presentation Primary School! Scroll down for photos…
A Junior Infant at Presentation Primary at playtime on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Junior Infants at Presentation Primary at playtime on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
Junior Infants at Presentation Primary at playtime on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Junior Infants at Presentation Primary at playtime on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
Ms Deenihan Sugrue’s Junior Infants at Presentation Primary at playtime on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
