Dear parents,
There is great excitement and anticipation among the children in the school at the moment as they look forward to both the Cumann na mBunscol football finals which take place in O’Moore Park tomorrow and the annual dress-up, dress down which takes place on Friday next, 28th October.
Komeer
Most parents are now receiving notifications from the school via a new app called KOMEER. It is our intention to deliver notifications from the school through this app rather than by text. . If you have any difficulties downloading the app or viewing notifications please e-mail: help@komeer.com
School Calendar
School will close on Thursday 27th October at 12p.m. for religious in-service.
Mid-term break: School closes on Friday 28th October @2.30p.m. and re-opens on Monday 7th November @ 8.50 a.m. Parents are reminded that the full school calendar is published on our website.
Attendance
Our current enrolment is 209. The attendance for the school year 2015/2016 was 95%. We had 13 pupils with full attendance last year. Congratulations to those boys and girls.
Mathletics
Your child has been enrolled for Mathletics for the coming school year. It is used as a supplementary learning tool here in the school. If for any reason your child cannot access Mathletics please let us know.
First Communion
Our 25 children for First communion had their enrolment ceremony on Saturday night last in St. Paul’s church.
Meetings with Parents
Parent teacher meetings will take place in November and teachers will be in touch after the mid-term break to organise dates and times. We regard Parent/Teacher meetings as an extremely valuable opportunity for parents and teachers to get to know one another and to exchange information which enables us to do our best for your children.
Child Protection and Anti- Bullying Review
The Board of Management wishes to inform you that it completed the annual review of the school’s child protection policy at its BOM meeting of the 13th October 2016 . The review was conducted in accordance with the checklist as set out in Appendix 2 of the Department’s Child protection Procedures for Primary schools. At the same meeting the BOM reviewed the school’s anti-bullying policy. The review was conducted in accordance with the checklist as set out in Appendix 4 of the Department’s Anti- Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-primary schools.
Parents Association
The PA held their AGM on September 19th and the election of a new committee with Gordon Reid taking the position of Chairperson, Catherine Moore as Treasurer and Miriam O’Shea moving to the position of Secretary. There are 20 other people on the committee and a further 5 on a sub-committee who are willing to help out with events.To co-incide with a Jolly Phonics night for Junior Infant parents we organised a ‘coffee evening’ where new parents could get to know each other, followed by our first committee meeting, on October 4th. At the meeting it was decided that we would repeat the successful fundraisers of last year (Bonus Ball, Christmas Cards, BBQ/Sponsored Walk, Cake and Book sale, Dress-up days x3, Church Gate collection), and also a raffle at each of the Christmas Concerts in December. Our next fundraising event is a dress-up day for Halloween on Friday 28th October. Children will be asked to bring in €2 each and will be entered into a draw for a cinema voucher.
Curriculum
- Our School Development Planning work this year will focus on Gaeilge . This work has already started. We have engaged the help of a PDST ( Professional Development Service for Teachers) facilitator. Over the coming months we will review our current practice and devise a school improvement plan for Gaeilge .
- The involvement of volunteer parents and grandparents continues in the mornings with shared reading. At the moment the parents are reading with senior infants.
- Ms. Deffew and Ms. Hooban hosted a meeting with the junior infant parents on Tuesday 6th October. Our teachers explained the phonics programme and the school’s reading scheme. Our thanks to the Parents Association who provided a cup of tea.
Educational Visits
- Sixth class visited Emo Court as part of their history and 3rd class had a very interesting visit to Odlums in Portarlington where they got to see a baker at work and did some baking themselves.
Sports News
We wish both our boys and girls teams the very best of luck in their respective Cumann na mBunscol finals tomorrow In O’Moore Park. The boys will play Ballyroan at 10.30a.m. and the girls will play Portarlington at 11.30a.m. We are organising a supporter’s bus for pupils in 4th, 5th and 6th. Please bring €3 for the bus. Fourth class played a very enjoyable football blitz versus The Heath on Friday last.