{"id":16930,"date":"2021-02-24T20:34:44","date_gmt":"2021-02-24T20:34:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/?p=16930"},"modified":"2026-08-14T18:13:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T17:13:09","slug":"letter24feb2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/dev\/letter24feb2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Return to School: Letter to Parents &amp; Guardians from Minister Norma Foley (Feb 2021)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- ========================================== -->\n<!-- NEWS ARTICLE: RETURN TO SCHOOL FEB 2021    -->\n<!-- ========================================== -->\n<div class=\"aen-news-article-modern\" style=\"font-family: 'Plus Jakarta Sans', sans-serif; width: 100%; max-width: 1200px; margin: 50px auto 30px auto; padding: 0 20px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; position: relative; z-index: 10;\">\n  \n  <div style=\"background: #ffffff; border: 1px solid #e2e8f0; border-radius: 24px; overflow: hidden; box-shadow: 0 20px 40px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);\">\n    \n    <!-- Header Banner -->\n    <div style=\"background: linear-gradient(135deg, #0f2015 0%, #1a3825 100%); padding: 55px 40px; border-bottom: 4px solid #f59e0b; text-align: center;\">\n      <span style=\"display: inline-block; background-color: rgba(245, 158, 11, 0.2); color: #fbbf24; font-weight: 800; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1.5px; font-size: 11px; padding: 6px 16px; border-radius: 50px; margin-bottom: 15px; border: 1px solid rgba(245, 158, 11, 0.4);\">\n        &#x1f3eb; School Notices \u2022 Official Correspondence\n      <\/span>\n      <h2 style=\"font-size: 36px !important; color: #ffffff !important; font-weight: 800 !important; margin: 0 0 15px 0 !important; letter-spacing: -0.5px !important; line-height: 1.25 !important;\" class=\"modern-article-title\">\n        Return to School: Letter to Parents &amp; Guardians from Minister Norma Foley\n      <\/h2>\n      <p style=\"font-size: 14px; color: #cbd5e1; margin: 0; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.5px;\">\n        24 February 2021 \u2022 Department of Education\n      <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- Body Section Inside Single Card -->\n    <div style=\"padding: 50px;\" class=\"modern-body-pad\">\n      \n      <!-- Intro Text -->\n      <div style=\"color: #334155; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 40px;\">\n        \n        <p style=\"margin: 0 0 25px 0; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; color: #0f2015; border-left: 4px solid #f59e0b; padding-left: 20px;\">\n          Davitt College has published the official correspondence received from the Minister for Education, <strong>Norma Foley TD<\/strong>, regarding the phased timeline for the return to in-school teaching and learning.\n        <\/p>\n\n        <p style=\"margin: 0 0 25px 0;\">\n          The letter outlines the Government\u2019s structured, public health-approved framework to safely transition students back to the classroom starting from March 2021. This phased approach has been designed in coordination with the Department of Health and the HSE to closely monitor community safety at every stage.\n        <\/p>\n\n        <p style=\"margin: 0 0 0 0; font-weight: 600; color: #0f2015;\">\n          Please review the core return dates, safety guidelines, and official public health advice outlined below.\n        <\/p>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n      <!-- TIMELINE SECTION -->\n      <div style=\"margin-bottom: 40px;\">\n        <div style=\"margin-bottom: 25px; text-align: left;\">\n          <h3 style=\"font-size: 26px !important; color: #0f2015; font-weight: 800; margin: 0 0 10px 0; letter-spacing: -0.5px;\">&#x1f4c5; Staggered Return Timeline<\/h3>\n          <div style=\"width: 60px; height: 4px; background-color: #254b2e; border-radius: 2px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr); gap: 20px;\" class=\"three-col-grid\">\n          \n          <!-- Date 1 -->\n          <div style=\"background: #f8fafc; border: 1px solid #e2e8f0; border-radius: 16px; padding: 25px;\">\n            <div style=\"font-size: 20px; font-weight: 800; color: #254b2e; margin-bottom: 8px;\">Monday 1 March<\/div>\n            <p style=\"margin: 0; font-size: 14.5px; color: #475569; line-height: 1.6;\">\n              Return of final-year Leaving Certificate students.\n            <\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n          <!-- Date 2 -->\n          <div style=\"background: #f8fafc; border: 1px solid #e2e8f0; border-radius: 16px; padding: 25px;\">\n            <div style=\"font-size: 20px; font-weight: 800; color: #254b2e; margin-bottom: 8px;\">Monday 15 March<\/div>\n            <span style=\"font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; color: #f59e0b; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; display:block; margin-bottom: 6px;\">Target Date<\/span>\n            <p style=\"margin: 0; font-size: 14.5px; color: #475569; line-height: 1.6;\">\n              Return of fifth-year Leaving Certificate students.\n            <\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n          <!-- Date 3 -->\n          <div style=\"background: #f8fafc; border: 1px solid #e2e8f0; border-radius: 16px; padding: 25px;\">\n            <div style=\"font-size: 20px; font-weight: 800; color: #254b2e; margin-bottom: 8px;\">Monday 12 April<\/div>\n            <span style=\"font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; color: #f59e0b; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; display:block; margin-bottom: 6px;\">Target Date<\/span>\n            <p style=\"margin: 0; font-size: 14.5px; color: #475569; line-height: 1.6;\">\n              Return of the remaining post-primary students (1st to 4th Year) following the Easter break.\n            <\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <!-- HEALTH & SAFETY SECTION -->\n      <div style=\"margin-bottom: 45px;\">\n        <div style=\"margin-bottom: 25px; text-align: left;\">\n          <h3 style=\"font-size: 26px !important; color: #0f2015; font-weight: 800; margin: 0 0 10px 0; letter-spacing: -0.5px;\">&#x1f6e1;&#xfe0f; Essential Health &amp; Safety Reminders<\/h3>\n          <div style=\"width: 60px; height: 4px; background-color: #254b2e; border-radius: 2px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 15px;\">\n          <div style=\"background: #f8fafc; border-left: 4px solid #254b2e; border-radius: 8px; padding: 20px 25px;\">\n            <strong style=\"color: #0f2015; font-size: 16px;\">Symptom Check:<\/strong> \n            <span style=\"color: #475569; font-size: 15px;\">Parents are requested to strictly monitor for any symptoms of Covid-19; children displaying symptoms must not attend school.<\/span>\n          <\/div>\n          \n          <div style=\"background: #f8fafc; border-left: 4px solid #254b2e; border-radius: 8px; padding: 20px 25px;\">\n            <strong style=\"color: #0f2015; font-size: 16px;\">School Gates:<\/strong> \n            <span style=\"color: #475569; font-size: 15px;\">To support safety measures, parents are asked to be individually responsible and avoid lingering outside the school gates during morning drop-off and afternoon collection times.<\/span>\n          <\/div>\n          \n          <div style=\"background: #f8fafc; border-left: 4px solid #254b2e; border-radius: 8px; padding: 20px 25px;\">\n            <strong style=\"color: #0f2015; font-size: 16px;\">Social Bubble:<\/strong> \n            <span style=\"color: #475569; font-size: 15px;\">While the return to school allows students to reconnect with peers, public health advice dictates that playdates or home visits should not be organised.<\/span>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <!-- EMBEDDED PDF LETTER -->\n      <div style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\">\n        <div style=\"margin-bottom: 25px; text-align: left;\">\n          <h3 style=\"font-size: 26px !important; color: #0f2015; font-weight: 800; margin: 0 0 10px 0; letter-spacing: -0.5px;\">&#x1f4c4; Official Letter to Parents &amp; Guardians<\/h3>\n          <div style=\"width: 60px; height: 4px; background-color: #254b2e; border-radius: 2px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <!-- Embedded PDF Viewer -->\n        <div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; border-radius: 16px; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid #e2e8f0; box-shadow: 0 10px 30px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.08); background: #f8fafc;\">\n          <iframe \n            src=\"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Letter-to-parents-and-guardians-from-DE-24-Feb.pdf\" \n            width=\"100%\" \n            height=\"800px\" \n            style=\"border: none; display: block;\"\n            title=\"Letter to Parents and Guardians from DE 24 Feb\">\n          <\/iframe>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <!-- Styled Download Button -->\n        <div style=\"text-align: center; margin-top: 25px;\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Letter-to-parents-and-guardians-from-DE-24-Feb.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"aen-download-btn\">\n            Download Official Letter &rarr;\n          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<style>\n  \/* ======================================================= *\/\n  \/* INTERACTIVE DOWNLOAD BUTTONS                            *\/\n  \/* ======================================================= *\/\n  .aen-download-btn {\n    display: inline-block !important;\n    background-color: #254b2e !important;\n    color: #ffffff !important;\n    text-decoration: none !important;\n    font-size: 13.5px !important;\n    font-weight: 700 !important;\n    padding: 10px 22px !important;\n    border-radius: 8px !important;\n    box-shadow: 0 4px 10px rgba(37, 75, 46, 0.15) !important;\n    transition: transform 0.25s cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1), background-color 0.25s ease, box-shadow 0.25s ease !important;\n  }\n\n  .aen-download-btn:hover {\n    background-color: #1a3825 !important; \n    transform: translateY(-3px) !important; \n    box-shadow: 0 8px 18px rgba(15, 32, 21, 0.25) !important; \n    color: #ffffff !important;\n  }\n\n  @media (max-width: 900px) {\n    .modern-article-title {\n      white-space: normal !important;\n      font-size: 26px !important;\n    }\n    .modern-body-pad {\n      padding: 20px !important;\n    }\n    .aen-news-article-modern {\n      padding: 0 10px !important;\n    }\n  }\n\n  @media (max-width: 768px) {\n    .three-col-grid {\n      grid-template-columns: 1fr !important;\n    }\n  }\n<\/style>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#x1f3eb; School Notices \u2022 Official Correspondence Return to School: Letter to Parents &amp; Guardians from Minister Norma Foley 24 February 2021 \u2022 Department of Education Davitt College has published the official correspondence received from the Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD, regarding the phased timeline for the return to in-school teaching and learning. The letter outlines the Government\u2019s structured, public health-approved framework to safely transition students back to the classroom starting from March 2021. This phased approach has been designed in coordination with the Department of Health and the HSE to closely monitor community safety at every stage. Please review the core return dates, safety guidelines, and official public health advice outlined below. &#x1f4c5; Staggered Return Timeline Monday 1 March Return of final-year Leaving Certificate students. Monday 15 March Target Date Return of fifth-year Leaving Certificate students. Monday 12 April Target Date Return of the remaining post-primary students (1st to 4th Year) following the Easter break. &#x1f6e1;&#xfe0f; Essential Health &amp; Safety Reminders Symptom Check: Parents are requested to strictly monitor for any symptoms of Covid-19; children displaying symptoms must not attend school. School Gates: To support safety measures, parents are asked to be individually responsible and avoid lingering outside the school gates during morning drop-off and afternoon collection times. Social Bubble: While the return to school allows students to reconnect with peers, public health advice dictates that playdates or home visits should not be organised. &#x1f4c4; Official Letter to Parents &amp; Guardians Download Official Letter &rarr;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_angie_page":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"page_builder":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,107,92],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-calendar","category-core-news-information","category-school-news"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"William Rowan","author_link":"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/dev\/author\/wrowan\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/dev\/category\/core-news-information\/calendar\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Calendar<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/dev\/category\/core-news-information\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Core News &amp; Information<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/dev\/category\/core-news-information\/school-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">School News<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"&#x1f3eb; School Notices \u2022 Official Correspondence Return to School: Letter to Parents &amp; Guardians from Minister Norma Foley 24 February 2021 \u2022 Department of Education Davitt College has published the official correspondence received from the Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD, regarding the phased timeline for the return to in-school teaching and learning. The letter&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16930","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16930"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16930\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33224,"href":"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16930\/revisions\/33224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16930"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16930"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16930"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}