‘Thermometers up our noses’ on first day back’
DID you know that you can catch coronavirus by looking at someone directly in the eyes?
And that teachers will also force thermometers up their pupils’ noses on their first day back to school?
These are just some of the many rumours flying around the Canon Mooney Gardens flat complex in Ringsend, Dublin.
To the 45 children who live there, the word ‘coronavirus’ has many different meanings, but one thing they can count on is that their return to school this week will be like nothing they’ve ever experienced.
And while most initially loved not having to get up early for school each day, they all agreed that nearly six months without classes was far too long.
Sixth class pupil Seán Murphy, 10, told the Irish Daily Mail that he’s mostly looking forward to seeing his friends again. However, he’s also worried that he’s fallen behind.
This is particularly concerning for the young Dubliner as he intends to apply for a scholarship at the privately-owned St Michael’s College next year.
‘I just want to get back to normality,’ he said. ‘I’ve always liked school and obviously want to get a good education, as well as seeing my friends again. I’m just worried about forgetting the stuff I’ve already learned.’
Seán’s younger sister Ally, aged seven, who is set to start second class at St Patrick’s NS in Ringsend, hopes she will be able to make her Communion this year.
‘I’ve picked out my dress already so the thought about not being able to make my Communion is very scary,’ she said.
‘It feels much longer than five months and it just gets so boring at home with nothing to do.’
Ally added that she’s been on her best behaviour since her school closed.
Her friend and neighbour is sixyear-old Sadie Brennan.
Sadie’s father Stephen said that rumours have run rife among the children in the area.
‘There are all sorts of bizarre things kids are being told about this virus, like you can catch it if you look at an infected person directly in the eyes,’ he said.
‘There’s not much you can do about these rumours, but hopefully they won’t be as bad once the children return to school.
‘A lot of changes have been made throughout the summer in St Patrick’s. There are different drop-off times and the kids have been placed in their own pods to ensure maximum safety, but at the end of the day they can only do so much.’
One child who has been particularly affected by the lengthy school closure is 11-year-old Seán McCabe, who attends a special needs school in south Dublin.
His mother, Catriona, told the Irish Daily Mail that his condition and behaviour have become progressively worse since the start of the pandemic
And to make matters worse,
Seán wasn’t accepted into the Government’s Summer Programme for children with special needs.
‘I felt very annoyed because even an extra week of school for him in July nosewould have done wonders,’ she said.
‘There are about 70 kids in his school, but only 15 of them were selected for this three-week programme. The only reason Seán wasn’t picked was because I don’t drive, which is ridiculous because I could have easily arranged a lift.’
BUT Seán hasn’t spent his time off feeling sorry for himself. In April, he was dubbed ‘The King of Ringsend’ after raising more than €900 for charity.
The passionate Liverpool supporter has been at the forefront of bringing bundles of joy and positivity to his community of Canon Mooney Gardens.
As part of an initiative to raise funds for Pieta House, Seán walked 28 laps around the flats complex for a total of four days.
Talking about his return to school, he said that he’s both nervous and excited.
‘I will be going into fourth class and am looking forward to seeing all my friends again,’ he said.
‘But I heard the teachers will stick a thermometer up our noses once we go back just to make sure we don’t have coronavirus. I’m just looking forward until this is all over. I even had to cancel my birthday party in April because of it.’
Although wearing facemasks isn’t mandatory for primary school students, cousins Mason Devlin, 9, and Carter Doyle, 8, won’t be caught dead without one. But it’s not their health that they’re worried about.
Instead, it’s making sure they’re up to date with the latest fashion accessory.
‘We both have black masks and even though it’s good to be protected, we’re just going to wear them because they’re cool,’ said Carter. ‘There are loads of new rules that we now have to follow, like if you cough or sneeze on purpose you will get in serious trouble.’
Mason, who is about to attend fourth class, said that playing soccer again is what he’s looking forward to most.
‘We both play for Cambridge United FC but it’ll definitely be good to get in some extra training during PE again,’ he said.
Like several other children in the flat’s complex, eight-year-old Luke Johnston had to have his Communion postponed.
Thankfully, he’ll get to make it on September 26, but the only problem is that he’s grown out of his suit.
‘I’ve gotten too big for it so my Mam will have to buy me a new one,’ he said.