Dear School Community, 18th December 2018
A note from Sinéad
We have had a very productive first term this year and are most impressed with all pupils and especially our junior infants who have settled in admirably and are absolute stars in their classrooms and in their yard. Leanne, Sharon and Niamh are very proud of their progress. Eoghan is delighted with their great strides in learning new games and in playing well together. Great thanks to 6th class who have been lovely buddies to junior infants alongside Eoghan in learning new skills & games.
Senior Infants & 6th class enjoy reading together each morning and great thanks due to those 6th classers that help each day. First class have also greatly benefited from daily reading with parent volunteers -thank you all so much. First class have made great strides in their literacy during their literacy lift off time. Senior Infants will take part in literacy lift in the new year.
6th class participated in swimming lessons this term and 3rd and 5th classes will commence swimming at the end of January.
Music Generation is in full swing in all classes 1st to 6th class. Many thanks to Karen & Tony in both instrumental & choral work in these classes.
Forest school was again thoroughly enjoyed by all involved-Alan and Kate’s 4th classes this term. Laura’s 3rd class will start forest school in February-Deepest thanks to all staff and volunteers who work hard to make Forest school happen
Science Week was a fantastic experience for our pupils this year and we feel that this is an annual opportunity to celebrate science in our school and in our wider environment
Intercultural Week will take place the week of 11th February, this was a very successful time of celebration in our school last year, and we are delighted to build on that success this year and thrilled to be in receipt of a grant to help celebrate the event and benefit our pupils.
It has been lovely for the senior pupils to participate in a variety of external sporting events this term including a GAA tournament in Bray Emmet’s GAA Club, the Avondale 3KM Trail Run, the 3rd & 4th class Girls Football 9 a side and a Cross Country Run last month.
Both 6th classes had the opportunity to visit the Wicklow Day Care Centre where they sang Christmas carols and chatted to some of the local elderly folk. This is a yearly tradition that proves beneficial to both the young and old. They also attended The Wizard of Oz Musical at the Dominican Convent last week. It was a great chance for them to see other young talent in Wicklow.
It was with great excitement and pride that we learned that the new second level school in Wicklow will be an Educate Together School. The new school will open this September (2019) in a location within the town. Sincerest congratulations and thanks to the startup group who worked tirelessly throughout the successful campaign, thank you all, and special thanks to Louisa Kellett.
The staff of the school are amazing and are so proud of all that the pupils learn and achieve. A heartfelt thanks to all staff for their hard work & loyalty to the school. A special congratulations to Caoimhe Devlin on the birth of her son Noah in November. And we look forward to Louise Nelson’s return to school in January, following maternity leave this year.
The Parents Teachers Association deserve high praise and gratitude in their ongoing supports to all of the parents of the school and to their noteworthy fundraising efforts during the term. Special thanks for your motivation, your dedication & hard work. The bake sale, NPC parent talks, school calendar and great Makers Festival are just to mention some of this term’s successes. Thank you Caoimhe and all of your team we greatly acknowledge & appreciate all that you achieve. Can’t wait for Strictly!!
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of the parents and guardians for the fantastic support you have given the school this year. You continue to provide valuable encouragement to all that goes on in the school and we are always very grateful to you for the kindness, goodwill and understanding you show us.
Wishing all our families and staff a very happy festive season. I hope you get the chance to enjoy a lovely holiday in the coming weeks, have a really happy Christmas and a great new year ahead.
All my best
Sinéad X
IMPORTANT REMINDER – Our school will close this Friday 21st of December at 12.30pm for all pupils. The Rathdrum, Brittas Bay & Ashford bus routes as well as the Arklow bus for Denise, Joe & Cathy’s classes will leave at 12.15pm, which will help alleviate some of the pressure in the carpark with the whole school finishing at the same time. School will reopen on Monday 7th January 2019 for all pupils.
Important advanced notice – The school will be closed on Friday 15 February as staff will undertake training in the revised language curriculum. We will have a limited number of places available in our new aftercare facility on that day.
Warm Winter Clothing – With the cold weather please remember to have your child suitably dressed. Children will play outside twice on dry days and may have other outdoor activities during the week. Even on what seems to be a nice day, it can be very cold in the yard so a coat, a hat, a scarf and gloves would be very beneficial to have in your child’s bag throughout the winter season.
END OF TERM CONCERT WEDNESDAY 19 DECEMBER IN THE SCHOOL HALL. All welcome, tea/coffee on the day. Mince pies donations in advance to serve on the day greatly appreciated (box in the foyer). We will have a raffle on the day, prizes displayed in the main foyer. Tickets available at the school office & at the concert. All proceeds will go to our school. Please be aware that siblings will not attend the concert on the 19th. All children will see the performance at the dress rehearsal today, December 18th, and will remain in their own rooms on the 19th. Class teachers often have nice activities planned for their classes at these points and it would be a shame for anyone to miss out!
| Class | Teacher/s | Times |
| Junior Infants | Leanne & Sharon | 9.15-9.30 |
| Senior Infants | Gina & Amy | 9.35-9.45 |
| 1st class | Ian & Sally | 9.50-10.05 |
| 2nd class | Paul & Michelle/Edele | 10.10-10.30 |
| 3rd class | Brian & Laura | 11.05 – 11.20 |
| 4th class | Kate & Alan | 11.20 – 11.40 |
| 5th class | Alison & Barry | 11.40 – 12.10 |
| 6th class | Rory & Eamonn | 1.00 – 1.20 |
Lost Property – Lost Property will be on display for parents to sift through and reclaim in the coming days. Unfortunately, though, we simply haven’t the facility to store items indefinitely, so anything not reclaimed by the end of the term (this Friday 21 December) will be donated to charity
Aftercare Opening Hours Extension – Our new extended aftercare facility will open on Monday 14th January. Our opening hours will be 1.30pm to 5.30pm Monday to Friday. If you are interested in utilising our aftercare facility, please complete a registration form which are available in the school foyer. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]
Aftercare/Homework Club December Billing – Reminder that our December aftercare and homework club fees are due this Friday 21st December. Bills will be emailed this Thursday. Please ensure prompt payment.
Extra-Curricular Term 2 will begin on Monday 21st January. You can register for term 2 on Tuesday 15th, Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th January. Further information to follow.
Aftercare (1.30pm – 2.30pm) – Our last day of Aftercare prior to the Christmas Holidays will be Thursday 20th December. We will reopen on Monday 7th January.
Homework club – Homework club will finish on Thursday 20th December and reopen on Monday 7th January.
Reading in the Junior Classes – Junior classes are currently working to coordinate a plan that will see every child have their reading heard every day. Needless to say, this will require lots of bodies to help out! 😊 If you have half an hour to spare at drop off each morning, or indeed any morning, and would like to volunteer, please contact Eileen on [email protected]. All volunteers will need Garda clearance prior to commencing reading with the children. Thank you to all the wonderful parents/guardians who are coming in to help. This is a really positive experience for the children and we are seeing a significant improvement in their reading as a result.
Lidl Colouring Competition – Congratulations to Summer in Ian’s 1st Class and Alfie in Amy’s Senior Infants class who won the individual prizes in the Lidl colouring competition. Congratulations also to Gina & Ian’s classes who won the class group prizes.
Our Wicklow Women Exhibition – Last Monday Rebeka, Niamh, Camilla, Molly and I went to the Council buildings for an exhibition on famous Wicklow Women to read out summaries of their lives. I got Anna Parnell, founder of the Ladies Land League, whilst others got the first woman to become a Ship’s Captain, one of the first Irish female Mountaineers, and the founder of British Ballet. Altogether there were 13 women represented. We did a dress rehearsal in an old meeting room, before milling about the exhibition. After a while, two reporters came to take our photos for the newspapers. When it was time, we went up to the podium to read our scripts. As there was only five of us, it went by very quickly. After that the Town Councillor read out a speech declaring the exhibition officially open. We all stayed chatting for a bit, then we went home. The experience was very interesting (and fun) and I would definitely do it again. Holly 6th Blue. See photo attached below.
Avondale – At 9.30am we got on the bus and went to Avondale to do a run (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th). Some people won in our school. We had lots of fun. Sophie, Alison’s 5th.
Forest School – “Forest school takes place in a lovely forest and has a series of beautiful trees including oak, beech, lime, sycamore and horse chestnut. If you’re quiet enough, you can maybe see or hear some squirrels or other animals. You can enjoy a nice forest trail and during the spring or early summer the smell of wild garlic. We did lots of fun activities. We made clay animals using natural woodland tools, measured trees, figured out their height and made parachutes. Forest school is so much fun – we have got to climb trees, build forts and just have fun.” Siofra Alan’s 4th class.
“This term Kate’s 4th class started going to Forest School in Rathnew every Friday. We learn about trees, leaves and animals that live in the forest. We do art, drama, science and other subjects. We also play games. Free play is a time after we eat lunch when we get to climb trees and build dens. The best thing about forest school is hanging off a tree and pretending to be a sloth! Last year there was a squirrel at forest school but this year I haven’t seen him. When he comes back let’s hope he has a letter of absence for the teachers!” Iona Kate’s 4th Class
Parent Training at Wicklow Primary Healthcare Centre – Middleton Centre for Autism presents parent training in Wicklow Primary Healthcare Centre, Knockrobin, Co. Wicklow. For more information or to book onto a training course event please visit www.middletownautism.com
PARENTS ASSOCIATION UPDATE
WETNS Strictly Dance 30th March 2019 – Adults only!!! – If you missed our meeting it’s ok we’re still recruiting dancers of all abilities from zero to professional! If you, your friends or family would like to learn to dance in 2019 and are willing to raise sponsorship to benefit WETNS please get in touch [email protected]. You don’t need a partner, our professional choreographer will pair you up! There will be 6 weeks of dance training, one night per week, prior to the show on March 30th. It will be great fun and if you even have a niggle to get involved please get in touch, you’ll be kicking yourself if you don’t when you see the fabulous show. We have a really eager line up of teachers who are going to dance in the show so let’s not let the side down – SIGN UP!!!!! It is adults only as it’s a night time event but we will also be working on some ideas to get the children involved in the run up to the event during the school day.
Parent Teacher Association Committee 2019 – Nomination forms will be sent out early in January for the new committee in 2019. A number of the current committee are vacating their posts after a number of years of service so it’s time for a new crew to come onboard! It’s a great way to have more involvement in your child’s school while having fun meeting other parents and organizing school events and fundraising.
School Calendar – We’d like to say a sincere thank you to all who purchased a school calendar and to our sponsors who generously supported our school. We wish our local businesses a very prosperous Christmas and all the best for 2019 and we encourage our school community to shop local this Christmas. Our combined efforts between sale and sponsorships raised €2000 to benefit our school. Thank you to our Calendar Sponsors:
GS Motor Services
Smarties Playschool
Lina’s Take Away
The Coffee Place
Derek Dunne Butchers
Wicklow Sailing Club
FYI Dance Club
Little Explores Childcare
Sheridan-Colohan Insurance Brokers
Dave’s Coffee
Knockrobin Pharmacy
Sean Connolly Menswear
And best of luck to all at Barretstown as they support children and families in 2019.
Best Wishes
Happy holidays and all the best for 2019 from your Parent Teacher Association Committee. Thank you for your support as we worked to benefit WETNS in 2018. Thank you to all who volunteered, baked, sold or bought in 2018.
Thank you to Sinead and all the staff in our school for making WETNS a warm and welcoming place for our children to spend their days learning and having fun.
We look forward to 2019 and our production of STRICTLY DANCE on 30th March 20
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Please keep up to date with information from Wicklow Educate Together NS which is available through weekly newsletter, texts to parents, school wide notices, notes in bags, homework diaries & school website wicklowetns.com. Wicklow Educate Together N.S. is not on Facebook, Twitter or any other social media. For any queries, questions or feedback please approach your child’s class teacher in the first instance or the school office Fran or Lisa (0404 62786) email [email protected] Please contact Sinead school principal for any further clarification or information on [email protected] Please note that we will only promote school sanctioned events or those that benefit a registered charity in our newsletter.
We would like to remind all parents/guardians that our enrolment policy is on a first come first served basis and would ask that you complete pre- enrolment forms for all younger siblings as early as possible. Our pre- enrolment form is available on our school website https://wicklowetns.com/
Please click on the Pre-Enrol tab and complete the Enrol Now form and submit.