The Senior Child and Family Support Network (CFSN) Co-ordinator in Carlow would like to let parents know that they are still providing and co-ordinating services for children, young people and families in the county.  Due to the current Covid-19 situation, the ways in which supports are being provided have been altered to best meet the needs of families, while adhering to governmental guidelines.  The CFSN Co-ordinator provides support for all families, whether or not they have been engaged with Tusla previously, these supports can include access to counselling; family support; supports for young children and teenagers; therapy online or on the phone, or help with food and practical supports.

If you would like to find out more, please contact your local Snr CFSN Co-ordinator: Sandra Collins sandra.collins3@tusla.ie 087 3802163

We would like to let all our students know we are thinking of them, missing them and hope they are keeping well.

Click here for our video message for students.

We have put together a short video of the images sent in from staff and students to mark our school community's response. It's a lovely reflection of the event. If anyone has photos they haven't had a chance to send please do and we can add them in. Click on this link to view our video. DIL_Pres_College_Carlow.mp4 

It is moments like these that draw our school together and made even more poignant by the circumstances.

May 9^th was to be the Darkness into Light event marked by many walks around the world and locally. We invite you to share the message from our YSVP team ‘You are not alone’. We would like our students, staff, family and friends to get involved by participating on May 9^th by lighting a candle and taking a photo in support and remembrance. Please send these photos to ... (Click on heading for more information and photo)

As we stay at home we may find ourselves with more time in the kitchen. The food we eat affects our health and  well-being and budget plays an important role in what food we buy and prepare.  This recipe book is designed to provide  easy-to-prepare, low-budget, tasty, yet highly nutritious meals. This is a  FREE cookbook called  “101 Square Meals” - developed by Safefood and MABS (Money and Budgeting Service). It can be accessed online interactively and available to download in PDF for FREE!

https://www.mabs.ie/downloads/publications/101_Square_Meals_2018.pdf

There has been a further announcement by the Taoiseach that, in line with public health advice, schools will remain closed until 19 April. In addition to maintaining ongoing engagement with students, one really important message you can assist with, is to convey to students, the absolute need to practice social and physical distancing, and to minimise physical contact with each other, to help avoid the spread of Covid-19. This should include advice to avoid meeting up and in all circumstances to adhere to HSE guidelines. As part of your school community, parents and guardians should also be urged to support their children to maintain the restrictions on congregating for the safety of all in their community. 

As part of your school community, parents and guardians should also be urged to support their children to maintain the restrictions on congregating for the safety of all in their community. In order to support you in getting this important public health message across to your school communities information notices (in 17 different languages) are available here:  

https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/newsfeatures/covid19-updates/partner-resources/covid-19-translated-resources/

The full letter can be read by clicking this link: Letter from Secretary General of the DES 25-03-2020

There are many students and parents in Ireland for whom English/Irish is not their first language. With this in mind, the Department of Health and the HSE have produced Covid-19 resources in a range of languages other than Irish and English which you can access below:  

https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/newsfeatures/covid19-updates/partner-resources/covid-19-translated-resources/ 

The languages currently available include: Chinese, Italian, Spanish, French, Arabic, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Latvian and Lithuanian. 

Please pass on this information.

Spreading Best Wishes to our Exam Students -  Members of 'The Aloysius Foundation' made a 'motivational board' to spread our message of ‘Best Wishes’ to the exam students. The board was filled with positive sayings, some ‘Did you knows?’ about studying and exams, the perfect guide to successfully completing their exams and also positive pictures and emogis. We wish all students good luck in their exams. (Click on the heading for the full article)

Blue Monday: By Nessa Whelan To tackle the Monday blues, our Young St. Vincent De Paul group baked dozens of cupcakes. They went into town handing the cupcakes out for free to show our appreciation for the work being done in our community....The YSVP group also made up bags of blue sweets ... and sold them at break time ... All money raised will go to our local SVP group in Carlow.

(Click on the heading for the full article)