Moving on with treasured memories that last a lifetime

OUR primary school years mark a time of incredible learning, growth and friendship.

They stay with us forever and influence how we progress in our lives.

For the 6th Class pupils of 2020 in County Wexford, their final year in primary school was different and, at times, very challenging.

Up until March 12 pupils attended class in their school every day. They chatted in the year with their friends and enjoyed sitting at their desks learning and interacting in close proximity with classmates.

Overnight all changed thatas the government, led by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, had to make the tough decision to close all schools indefinitely.

Initially it was felt that would last until after the Easter break, but as the number of Covid-19 cases climbed into the thousands and more and more people died from the virus, the need to keep schools closed until August became clearer and clearer by the days.

Pupils suddenly had their lives upended through no fault of their own. Occasions they were looking forward to, including their Confirmation, were postponed and social interaction with peers was confined to WhatsApp, Snapchat and other phone based forms of contact.

Throughout their teachers scrambled to superimpose structure and routine on a chaotic, fluid learning landscape to ensure the pupils were able to maintain some form of routine.

Somehow they managed this herculean feat, aided in no small part by the sterling efforts of parents, many of whom were working throughout the ‘ lockdown’.

The psychological impact of the lockdown on teenagers, of being away from friends and not being able to participate in group activities like sport, dance and birthday parties has been widely reported on and must not be underestimated.

Not being able to be together in school has been very tough and if not for the amazing efforts of principals to ensure daily contact each weekday with pupils, involving them in fun projects and helping them express pent up feelings of loneliness and anxiety, the situation could have been a lot worse.

Pupils have done fantastically well considering all they have been faced with and can hold their heads up high as they finish their 6th Class year.