ASD classes back amid hopes of full return before Easter

AS he welcomed the special classes back to Gorey Community School yesterday (Monday), Principal Michael Finn believes that all classes will be back in school before the Easter holidays.

However, like the rest of the country, he awaits the full release of the government’s Living with Covid plan.

‘Today (yesterday) our ASD classes are reopening but not all 12 students are opting to return. We have six students in our ASD classes and we have two classes, and those who wished to do so will be taught in school. Those enrolled in the ASD classes also attend mainstream classes as well, so they’ll be getting all aspects when they’re in school. They’ll be logging in with the online learning during certain parts of the day.

‘Like anybody with uncertainty, it becomes the sole-focus of your attention and it was a challenge for all of us. For Leaving Certificate students in particular, it was a huge distriction when the students should be in a position that they’re able to focus on their work and academic studies. It was a good decision to cancel the Junior Cert, and in the case of Leaving Certs, the student voice has certainly been listened to in this particular discussion and that’s very clear from the outcome as it was a choice that students were looking for’.

Mr Finn said that he hopes to see sixth years back in school next month.

‘The decision on the Leaving Cert is really healthy and positive, and as a year group, they had been through a lot. They faced the uncertainty around school closures last March and again at Christmas. I’d be hopeful that March 1 will see the sixth years back in and the fifth years shortly after that.

‘In the next few weeks the schools will get more clarity in terms of the procedures and steps to take, as well as instructions on the exams. I’ve every confidence that they’ll be clear and logical steps that we’ll all be able to follow. Any students that are usually assisted during exams, with RACE, the facility will be granted to them in the written exam and teachers providing grades will take their learning disability or issue of access into account as part of the process’.

This week, Mr Finn said that the school will be looking at the relevance of holding mock exams, but noted that Junior Cert mocks will be cancelled.

‘We’ll look at it by subject and the possibility for students who wish to do so opting for mock exams. Before the midterm break, we were looking at a limited form of mock exams but the context has changed following the announcement last week.