Dear Parents,
We are closing in on Hallowe’en now and all our staff are very pleased with how the pupils have settled back in to school. A particular word of praise for our junior infants who are doing super work and have really fitted in seamlessly. There is great excitement and anticipation among the children in the school at the moment as they look forward to the annual dress-up, dress down which takes place on Friday next, 25th October.
Dates for your diary
Hallowe’en Dress up/ Dress Down – Friday 25th October
Mid-term break: School closes on Friday 25th October and re-opens on Monday 4th November.
Primary Language Curriculum (in-service for all staff): School closed on Wednesday 27th November
Parent Teacher Meetings : Monday 18th November – Thursday 21st November
Grandparents Day : May 15th
Board of Management
Congratulations to Siobhán Malone and Gary O’Keeffe who will be the parent nominees on the next Board of Management 2019-2023. Many thanks to all those who voted and returned their ballots.
First Communion and Confirmation Dates.
Reminder; A meeting of children for First Communion will take place on this Thursday 24th October in the school @ 8p.m.
First Confession- Thursday 19th March St. Paul’s church, Emo @ 8.p.m.
Confirmation – Wednesday 1st April in St. Paul’s church, Emo @ 2p.m.
First Communion – Sunday 10th May in St. Paul’s church, Emo @11a.m.
Curriculum
The main emphasis in our School Improvement Plan this year is as follows:
1.Gaeilge
The review of our Gaeilge scheme has been completed.We have introduced a new supplementary reading scheme in the school.We are introducing an Irish section in the homework whereby parents are made aware of 2 oral phrases that are being taught in their child’s class that particular week. Ongoing in juniors and seniors and to be introduced in 1st and 2ndMaidin Gaelach at the senior end has been reviewed and changes made to structure.
2.Digital Strategy:
We have introduced computer classes for all classes from 3rd to 6th. We will extend these classes to first and second after Christmas. These classes are supported by funding from our Parents Association.
3 Science:
Our work on the School Improvement plan for science is continuing. Since we returned to school the science group have met together and we have also met with Luke Sweeney P.D.S.T. on two occasions. Our main target will be to develop the children’s scientific skills and teachers have set out their yearly plans to reflect this.
Educational Visits
- Portarlington Fire Brigade visited 3rd class in September
- Cycle Safety started in September. Once again we are delighted that this initiative is supported by our Parents Association.
- Psychologist James Soper visited the school on Wednesday last. He spoke to 3rd, 4th 5th and 6th classes about Maths and our brains. He had is key message was that our brains have evolved to do maths and we are all natural mathematicians.
Christmas Shoebox Appeal
See information at this link
Erasmus Art Project and Exhibition
Our thanks to Ms. Maher for organising and coordinating the event for the school. It was wonderful to see so many parents and grandparents visit the school to view the art.
Parent- Teacher Meetings
The annual Parent/Teacher meetings will be held from Monday 18th to Thursday 21st November. Please note that these meetings will be held after school hours on the above listed dates. Parents will receive a note with a designated time from their child’s teacher. The Parent /Teacher meetings provide a great opportunity to exchange information.
Child Protection and Anti Bullying
In accordance with the requirements of the Children First Act 2015, the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017 and Tusla Guidance on the preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements, the Board of Management of the school has agreed a Child Safeguarding Statement and Assessment of Risk. This document may be viewed on our website at this link . It is important that parents are aware of the content of this document. Parents who wish to make a comment/suggestion in relation to this document may do so by e-mailing: principal@emons.ie
The DLP ( Designated Liaison Person ) for the school is Cyril Duggan and the deputy DLP is Florence Fennelly.
Parents Association AGM
The AGM of the Parents Association was held on Tuesday 1st October where the three officers Gordon Reid, Miriam O’Shea and Catherine Moore stepped down. I would like to take this opportunity of sincerely thanking all three officers who along with a very active committee did wonderful work for the pupils of the school and helped out with so many school activities.
We wish the new officers (Ciara McMahon, Chairperson, Paula Crowley Secretary and Darren Brophy Treasurer) the best of luck in their work for the coming year. It was great to see new parents at the meeting and we look forward to their involvement over the next few years. Please see a list of the full committee below. See all the latest news as well as a schedule of events etc here
Parent’s Association Committee 2019/2020
Chairperson: Ciara Mc Mahon
Secretary: Paula Crowley
Treasurer: Darren Brophy
List of Class Reps. 2019/2020
Junior infants: Brian Fenlon & Brenda Wright Hoey.
Senior infants: Catherine O’Keefe & Darren Brophy.
1st class: Ann Pratt & Catherine Mc Hugh.
2nd class: Breda Goulding & Peter Donnelly.
3rd class: Edel O’Connor & Niamh Murphy.
4th class: Karen Allen & Miriam O’Shea.
5th class: Sharon Mitchell & Gordon Reid.
6th class: Fiona Kitchen & Denise Mc Cormack.
Full list of committee members:
Ciara Mc Mahon, Paula Crowley, Darren Brophy, Gordon Reid, Miriam O’Shea, Catherine Moore, Amy Mooney, Ann Pratt, Breda Goulding, Brenda Wright Hoey, Brendan Lynch, Brian Fenlon, Carol Murphy, Catherine Mc Hugh, Catherine O’Keefe, Damien McCarthy, Paul Young, Denise Mc Cormack, Eliza Shilev, Gail Merriman, Edel O’Connor, Kate Finane, Karen Allen, Niamh Murphy, Penyo Shilev, Sharon Mitchell, Sharon Crowley, Noreen O’Reilly, Fiona Kitchen, Peter Donnelly, Jo Whyte, Claire Lawlor & Antoinette Lawlor.