Friday 18 December
Dear School Community
In this extraordinary year it seems especially important to wish each other a very happy festive season and every best wish in 2021. I hope you get the chance to enjoy a lovely break in the coming weeks, have a really happy Christmas and that the year ahead fulfils the new hopefulness we are all beginning to feel.
On Monday 21st December you will receive your child’s class end of term celebration video, I hope you enjoy seeing some of the work and learning of the children, as well as some entertaining and humorous pieces that the children and staff have been working on over the last number of weeks. Many thanks to you all for these happy memories of our first term this school year.
Please find attached the school calendar for the remainder of the year, with a special mention of parent teacher meetings, which for this year only, will take the form of a mid-year written report which you will receive just ahead of the midterm break in February.
I would like to express particular gratitude to the staff of the school who have given their all in the past four months and have tirelessly maintained a positive and stimulating learning environment for all of the children. They are so proud of all that the pupils learn and achieve. We will be saying goodbye to Isobel O’Duffy who will retire from the school at the beginning of January. We look forward to a time when we can celebrate properly the enormous contribution that Isobel has given the school during her teaching career. Michelle Gilmore remains on parental leave until the end of the school year.
The children of the school have been simply amazing this term and are proving to all of us their resilience during these uncertain times, they have risen to the challenge of all the new practices we have introduced to school life and are thriving in all areas of school life.
I would also like to use this opportunity to thank our parents and guardians for the fantastic support you have given the school throughout this year. Our parents and guardians continue to provide a backbone to all that goes on in the school and, especially in 2020, we are always very grateful to you for all the kindness, goodwill and understanding you show us.
I will be taking a period of parental leave following the holiday and will return to my role as principal following the midterm break in February. During that time Sharon Hogan will be acting Principal and Eamonn O’Hanrahan will be acting deputy principal
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 Sinead
IMPORTANT REMINDER Our school will close next Tuesday 22nd of December for all pupils. Please note the collection times below
School will reopen on Wednesday 6th of January 2021 for all pupils.
Staggered Finish Time – Tuesday 22nd December To facilitate the exit of 420 children from the school on Tuesday 22nd December we will be operating a staggered finish time.
Parents/Guardians of children in 1st to 6th class, please do not arrive before your collection time as there will be no access to the school grounds until all of the buses have departed.
11.20 Junior Infants collection
11.30 Senior Infants collection
11.50 Buses leave
12.10 1st-6th classes first group collection
12.20 1st-6th classes second group collection
School Calendar Fundraiser – Thank you to everyone who supported our school calendar fundraiser. If you purchased a calendar it will go home in schoolbags on Monday 21st December.
Warm Winter Clothing With the cold weather please remember to have your child suitably dressed. Children will continue to be outside twice as much as possible. 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. Please remember to label all clothing.
Seasonal Cards & Gifts In line with our Covid Response Plan/Policy, we have reduced to a minimum items coming into and out of the school. We would ask for your continued support with this during the festive season by not sending seasonal or Christmas cards and gifts into the school for distribution. To this end we are suggesting that in lieu of gifts/cards being brought in for staff that children may wish to post a message, drawing or painting onto seesaw. Thank you
Important Note from the Board of Management As part of an initiative to assist communities and sports clubs in developing sports infrastructure, the Irish Government has established a scheme to allow joint applications from schools and sports clubs to apply for funding for planned projects. As we have areas we would like to develop at the rear of the school, we are eager to make an application with an interested local club in order to develop outdoor sports facilities which can be enjoyed by the pupils and also shared with the applying partner.
The deadline for registration is 1st February 2021 with an application deadline of 12th of February
We are seeking support from our community who have interests or knowledge in this area, in establishing a Sub-Committee to assist in the process. The aim of the Sub-committee will be to utilise local knowledge and actively seek support from an appropriate club through contacts and subsequently assist in the application process.
Please contact the Board of Management if you are interested in helping to drive this fantastic initiative! Please email to [email protected]