A year after schools closed for the first time, and as the phased reopening of schools takes place, the Ombudsman for Children\u2019s Office is asking students to share what school means to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ve heard from teachers and parents, from unions and the Department of Education. Now we want to hear directly from children and young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
School is not just about learning, it\u2019s about friends, it\u2019s about sport, it\u2019s about being part of a community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The #MoreThanSchool campaign will run online from Monday March 15th<\/sup> until Monday 12th April, <\/sup>when the final group of students go back to their classrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to get involved:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We are asking students returning to school to send us a video, a photo, a comment, a reel \u2013 anything that shows what going back to school means to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are they nervous? Are they excited? What is their favourite thing about school? How has school changed during the pandemic? Who is their Covid-19 school hero? What is the reality of homeschool?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Ombudsman for Children\u2019s Office Youth Advisory Panel will select four runners up and an overall winner of #MoreThanSchool. An i-pad and other great prizes are up for grabs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Entries are welcome from children of all ages and from all parts of the country. Students with additional needs or those who need help to get involved, should get in touch with the OCO and we will help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To take part email communications@oco.ie or Whatsapp 087 1029039. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t forget to keep an eye out on the Ombudsman for Children\u2019s social media channels, where we will be sharing some of the entries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Many children have only had 80 days of school since this time last year. They have missed their friends and all the fun that they can\u2019t get on Zoom. In normal times, I would be welcoming lots of students to the office but the pandemic means I haven\u2019t been able to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis has been a very strange year for all children. Many may have funny stories to tell, some will feel anxious about going back to school and others will take many years to recover from the impact of everything that has happened. It is important that we ask children how they feel, and that they get a chance to share their stories in their own words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cChildren are resilient but they are not bullet-proof. We know that school isn\u2019t just about exams and getting through the curriculum. We want to hear about it all. I look forward to seeing all the entries and welcoming students back to the office soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n