A mix of ‘trepidation and excitement’ as schools reopen

Primary and secondary schools partially reopened on Monday, with staff and students feeling a mix of “trepidation and excitement” at the return.

“The mood among the principals is that, while there is a little bit of trepidation, there’s also a desire to get schools open and to get classes in and by teachers to get back to face-face learning,” said Seamus Mulconry, secretary general of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association.

“Principals, boards of management and teachers have really been putting their shoulders to the wheel,” Mr Mulconry told The Irish Catholic.

Two principals of primary schools in Meath said they are “glad to be back”, although there is still a little apprehension.

Ms Ciara Gleeson, principal at Rathregan NS, said it was “great to see everyone and get back to a sense of normality”.

“A lot of the students were nervous they’d been gone so long,” Ms Gleeson said. “But kids are just so adaptable as well.”

Ms Ailish McKeown, principal at Kilskyre NS, compared the return to coming back after the summer holidays, saying that children are excited to be back, “but the staff are a little more apprehensive”.

“We’re definitely glad to be back, it’s just not as picture perfect as is being painted in the media,” Ms McKeown said. “The fact is that we just have juniors, seniors, first and second class back. It’s kind of eerie too.”

But she added that after they’re “back three or four days” everyone will settle in: “I won’t say we’re jumping out of our socks, but we’ll get on with it,” she said.

The president of the Catholic Secondary School Parents Association, Mr Sean O’Riordan, said parents are “relieved” at the return “of some bit of normality”.

“However,” he continued,” I’m aware that the whole situation hasn’t been explained fully to parents, which is a worrying part.”