Dear School Community, 30th August 2018
I hope you had a wonderful summer and the children are all set to return for the new school year ahead. Our school will reopen this Friday 31st August at 8.50am for all pupils. We extend a warm welcome back to all existing pupils and look forward to welcoming our new pupils and their families.
School hours are as follows:
Junior Infants – 8.50am to 12.30pm Friday 31st August until Friday 14th September. From Monday 17th September Junior Infant hours will be 8.50am – 1.30pm.
Senior infants – 8.50am to 1.30pm
1st – 6th Classes – 8.50am to 2.30pm
Please review the drop off/collection information in the latter part of the newsletter.
We are delighted to have received funding from the DES to purchase new furniture for the classrooms. All rooms have new pupil chairs and many pupil desks and desktops have been replaced. It is important that we mind this furniture and we will be talking with the children in class about how we can best look after it throughout the school year. We would ask that pupils do not bring compasses to school, they will be provided by the school as part of the maths programme.
Next week is positive behaviour week in the school. We will be focusing on our class rules, positive behaviour in class, around the school building and in the yard.
We welcome new teachers Amy Lawless, Aoibheann Dalton, Barry Gleeson, Kevin Higgins, Ian Lawler, Laura Kirwan and Mercedes Russell (covering maternity leave).
We send very best wishes to Damien, Isobel & Fiona Willis who are taking career breaks this school year.
Congratulations to Katherine Brophy on the birth of her baby boy in May and Paul on the birth of his son in June. Congratulations also to Brian on his marriage in April.
And finally, I would like to extend deepest thanks to Val, Magda & Amber for their wonderful work with the infant classes over the last number of years in aftercare. All your work and commitment over the years is greatly appreciated.
Sinéad, Principal [email protected]
Sundries Fees Now Due. – Our online payment link was sent to those who have not yet paid the 2018/2019 sundries fees. Please ensure this payment is made online or at the school office within the next week. The sundries payment is also utilised to purchase insurance cover. This insurance provides 24-hour cover for minor incidents and injuries that may occur and are not covered by any other insurances you may have. Details are available from Lisa at the school office. If you are paying the sundries by cash or cheque, please include the exact amount in an envelope with the consent form and return it to Fran or Lisa at the school office.
Drop off/Collection – In the mornings, your child should line up with their class in the designated area in the school yard at the back of the building, (enter through the gates on the left and right side of the building). At 8.50am the children will be escorted into their classroom by their teacher. You are more than welcome to bring your child into class, but we do ask if you could leave the classroom as quickly as possible as this allows the children to get settled with their classmates and the school day to begin. On the first morning, new children to the school from Senior Infants to 6th Classes will be met by support teachers who will direct them to their appropriate line after which all parents are invited to refreshments in our main hall. This will be organised by our Parents Association and is a great opportunity to meet new and existing parents.
At collection time, Junior Infant children will line up at the left-hand side gate (beside the logs) and Senior Infants will line up at the right-hand side gate. Junior and Senior Infant children will not be allowed out until the teacher can see you there.
At 2.30pm collection time, 1st class exit with their teachers at the main reception door. 2nd class children will be dismissed from the middle doors at the front. 3rd and 4th classes will exit the building from the left- hand side gates (at the logs) and 5th and 6th classes will exit from the right-hand side gate (nearest the Rocky Road).
Wicklow Educate Together N.S Safe Set Down – see attached map
Safe school set down & parking rules are in place to protect our children. Please don’t park inappropriately as you are putting children & other drivers at risk because visibility is compromised.
To safeguard our pupils and to reduce traffic congestion at the school, a team of parent & staff volunteers supervise the yellow set down zone every morning.
There is NO PARKING within the school grounds. Parking spaces are for staff and visitors with business in school only. Drivers will be asked to move their car and notices will be issued to illegally parked vehicles.
Vehicles are permitted to enter the school grounds for SET DOWN ONLY (i.e. driver does not leave the vehicle) & for a maximum stay of 2 mins.
Please do not stop or park on access or exit roads. Drive all the way through to the set down area. Please do not “double park” anywhere alongside vehicles in the set down zones. Please do not park on pedestrian crossings.
If you wish to accompany your child/ren to the rear of the school, please park OUTSIDE school grounds and walk in. This is a good opportunity to teach children valuable road safety skills which will be reinforced by the RSA during our annual road safety week.
When parking in the vicinity of the school, please be mindful of local residents and other road users. Driveways, junctions and roads must be kept clear at all times. Please be mindful that there are young children entering and leaving the school building, some of whom may not always adhere to the pedestrian crossings. Maximum speed within school grounds 10km per hour.
Some Updates and Notes
Pupils should bring in all items listed on the booklist on the first day
Wear comfortable clothes and footwear ready for yard play & PE & label all belongings
Be on time-this is an important life skill and helps your child to have a great start to their school day, collect on time also
Please keep a close eye on the homework diary
Class Welcome Meetings Class welcome meetings will give you an opportunity to learn more about the class routines and homework procedures. All meetings will be held in your child’s classroom, commencing at 9am sharp and should end by 9.30am. These meetings will commence the week beginning 10 September; we strongly encourage you to attend these meetings. Confirmed dates will be circulated shortly.
Contact details If your contact details have changed i.e. mobile number, telephone number, address, minder etc please amend them on the parent portal system for our approval. It is essential that we have emergency contact details for all children in the school.
Medical details If your child’s medical information has changed a new medical form must be completed, forms are available from the school office. If you require school staff to administer medication to your child throughout the school day an indemnity form must be completed annually, also available from the school office. The onus is on parents / guardians to check that medication held in school is in date.
Healthy Eating As the school encourages healthy eating we ask that children do not bring fizzy drinks, chewing gum or crisps to school. Pupils can bring in a small treat on a Friday if they wish. We ask that pupils bring home their own lunch waste.
Allergies Please be aware that some children in the school have a severe allergic reaction to nuts and strawberries please bear this in mind when you are preparing your child’s lunch. We encourage all children to eat their own lunch (no sharing/swapping), tidy away their own lunch waste into their lunch bag and regularly wash their hands. Please remind your child(ren) of these practices at home. Please note that due to some severe allergies, we must state that nut, nut extract & strawberries are not allowed in school.
Dogs are not allowed on school grounds with the exception of assistive dogs
Term 1 Swimming at Coral Leisure will be for both 6th classes this term on Thursdays at 12 o’clock during the school day starting on Thursday 6th September for 10 weeks. Children will walk to and from the pool with their class. Parents of children who are unable to swim for medical difficulties should contact the Principal immediately. On swimming days please make sure that your child has their swimming togs (no bikinis), hat and towel coming to school and dresses in clothes that are easy to manage. T-shirts, long/denim type shorts are not allowed in the pool. Remember no hat – no swim!
Homework Club – Homework club for term 1 will start on Monday 3rd of September and will be available Monday to Thursday each week from 2.30 to 3.30pm for 2nd to 6th class pupils at a cost of €5.00 per day. If you would like your child to attend homework club on specific days each week or on an ad hoc basis please complete a homework club registration form available in the main foyer or contact [email protected] for a soft copy on email. Please note we require 24-hour notice to book an ad hoc place.
Aftercare – Junior and Senior Infants – Our new aftercare facility for Junior and Senior Infants will be available from Monday 3rd September for Senior Infants (1.30pm – 2.30pm) and from Monday 10th September for Junior Infants (12.30pm to 2.30pm)
The cost for the hour each day will be €5.00. For those wishing to avail of the 2-hour Junior Infants slot for the week of 10th to 14th September, the cost for the 2 hours will be €10.00 per day. Malgorzata and John will be our aftercare staff for this school year.
If you would like your child to attend aftercare on specific days each week or on an ad hoc basis please complete an aftercare registration form available in the main foyer or contact [email protected] for a soft copy on email. Please note we require 24-hour notice to book an ad hoc place.
Extra-Curricular Activities Programme – our extra-curricular activities programme will return for a new term at the start of October with a registration day at the end of September. A detailed list of activities, days, times and term fees will be sent out by email mid-September.
W.O.W. (Walk/wheel on Wednesdays) – Welcome back! For those of you who are new to our school, here is what happens every Wednesday! We want as many children and staff as possible to walk/wheel to school on the day. There are lots of great reasons for this. Firstly, travelling by car causes lots of pollution, it also uses lots of resources and causes traffic problems too. By walking to school, you can stay fit and healthy, be wide awake for school & keep our planet green!
Children and parents don’t travel as part of a formal walk to school scheme like a walking bus, they walk their own route & at their own time. Don’t worry if you can’t walk on the day, there are lots of other ways to travel that are good for you and for the environment! You can scoot, cycle, use the school bus, car pool or “park ‘n’ stride”. So, if you do have to come to school by car, try stopping a little bit further from the school than usual and walk the rest of the way.
The class that scores the most points for coming to school by walking, scooting or cycling, car-pooling, “park ‘n’ stride” or by bus, will win the ‘Golden Boot’ Award! The winning class will be announced at assembly on the last Friday of every month! Be safe, be seen! Please wear hi-vis vests if you have them. So, get those walking shoes & helmets on and we will see you all bright and early on Wednesday September 5th! J
PARENTS ASSOCIATION UPDATE
National Parents Council Parent Courses – we have 6 places available on the National Parents Council course being held in school “Helping your child build healthy friendships and relationships” over three nights on 10, 17, and 24 of September. There is a €5 charge for a place on the course. Please contact [email protected] if you would like a place.
Coffee Morning Friday 31st August – all welcome to the first coffee morning of the new school year after drop off on Friday morning. All welcome. We will have a small toy corner for younger siblings.
Please keep an eye on the parent page of the website for information on upcoming events.