Diary
Wednesday, 30th September: informal ‘Open Classroom’ event for families of junior and senior infants, 1pm-1.30pm.
Thursday, 1st October: informal ‘Open Classroom’ event for families of 1st-6th classes, 2pm-2.30pm.
The above events are opportunities for parents and guardians to spend some time with their child’s class. All are welcome.
Thursday 1st and/or Thursday 8th October: Gorey Credit Union quiz night for local schools. 7pm sharp, Amber Springs Hotel. A number of the children in our older classes will participate in the event.
Sunday, 4th October: PTA Sponsored Walk, 2pm, Forest Park, Courtown. Sponsorship cards will be distributed later this week. All proceeds will go towards equipping the new School Hall (PE equipment, stage, microphones, etc.) Let’s hope for our biggest ever turnout!
Tuesday, 6th October, 1pm-1.25pm: Parents and Guardians of the new Junior Infants are invited to attend a short information meeting with Fergus and Chloe (daily routine in the infant classroom, lunches, clothing & footwear, homework.) The Junior Infants will be supervised by other staff during this meeting.
Wednesday, 7th October: Staff Meeting. Infant classes finish at 12.15pm, other classes finish at 12.30pm. (Families with siblings: infants will be supervised until 12.30pm.) The 15-minute separation helps the traffic-flow.
Thursday, 8th October: Our 5th Annual Breakfast Together morning. The children can enjoy breakfast together in the classrooms. Suggested donation: €1 or €2 per pupil, in aid of the ‘Childline’ charity. (Parent helpers needed: sign-up sheet on the noticeboard, or use the slip on the back page of this newsletter.) (Please remind your child about any cereal or fruit allergies they may have.)
October: (date to be confirmed) PTA Pub Quiz.
Friday, 23rd October: Mid-Term Break. Classes will finish at the usual times on Friday 23rd. School reopens Monday, 2nd November.
Thursday, 5th November: Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Annual General Meeting, 7.30pm. The evening will include a tour of the newly finished school buildings. All are welcome and invited to become involved. A new organising committee will be elected.
Volunteers
The short history of our school is filled with experiences and events that couldn’t have happened without the remarkable voluntary efforts of parents and staff. You are invited to continue that tradition.
We appreciate that people may only be available to help in different ways and at different times (of the day, week or year.) To help in the classrooms, please speak with your child’s teacher or keep an eye on the classroom door or the homework journal for notices.
To help at whole-school level, the following may be of interest:
‘Breakfast Together’ Coordinator and helpers: After 4 years of sterling service, Grainne needs to pass the baton to a new coordinator! S/he would organise the materials for the event (cereal, juice, bowls, etc.-Childline also provide an organiser’s pack.) Many other parent helpers will be needed on the morning itself.
Preparing the new building: We will need a team of volunteers to unpack, clean and arrange the new furniture. The new library will need to be arranged, and we will need help displaying the children’s art work along the new hallways. Dates to be confirmed-a few evenings or a Saturday near the end of October. (The children will begin using the new facilities immediately after the mid-term break.)
Van (or jeep and trailer): The school has applied to Wexford County Council for ‘free trees’ – as we hope to establish a woodland area to the rear of the school. If our application is successful, we will need a volunteer to collect the trees from the Council’s depot near Barntown.
Book Fair: We will need Cashiers each day of the event (2nd week of November.)
PTA Winter Fair, (December): At this stage, we need to establish a group of organisers. (Many more helpers will be needed on the day itself.)
Playground mural and backdrop (scenery) for the children’s end-of-year performances: We would like to hear from any artists (or budding artists) with ideas for the above two projects.
Sign-up sheet for all of the above on the noticeboard near Fergus’ classroom, or use the slip on the back page of this newsletter.
Wanted: Time Capsule!
The builders are preparing a small underground chamber, complete with lid. We need an ‘interesting or unusual container’ that can be used as a time capsule!
School photos, newsletters, etc., as well as the children’s drawings and writings will be placed inside.
To be opened as some date in the future…
If you have such a container, please speak with Jacinta (who teaches senior infants) before the end of the week. Size: no bigger than a small suitcase.
Other News:
Summer Camp 2010 (Ireland for 2 weeks and Spain for 2 weeks, private arrangements): Parents and children are invited to attend an information talk this Thursday, 24th September at 2.40pm. Venue: the 6th class classroom.
PTA After-school Drama: Classes begin on Thursday, 1st October. (A few places remain available for children in 1st-6th classes.) Supervising parents: please return your completed Garda Vetting form to the principal.
New teacher: A very warm welcome to Emma Kinsella, who joined the school today. Emma previously worked in primary schools in Tuam and Crumlin.
Gardening: Vegetable planting tomorrow morning (Tuesday) and Thursday morning – one or two more parent helpers would be very welcome. We will also need some help with tree planting during October/November.
Green Schools Committee: The work towards our 2nd Green Flag is just about to get underway. We will need a parent or two to join the children and staff on our organising committee. Please speak with Grace (who teaches second class) or use the slip on the back page of this newsletter.
No smoking on the school grounds. Thank you.
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 – ‘Swine Flu.’
The school is following the advice of the Department of Education and Science, as follows:
1. Raising awareness: information posters regarding Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 are displayed on the hallways and in all bathrooms. Some classtime and/or assembly time will also be given to the issue.
2. Respiratory etiquette: the school will promote the following advice – covering the mouth and nose with a paper tissue when coughing or sneezing; disposing of that tissue after one use; and regular hand-washing using soap and water. Paper tissues are available in all classrooms – however, we ask that parents also provide the children with their own tissue packs.
3. Hand Hygiene: the recommended hand-washing facilities are available throughout the school (water, liquid soap dispensers and paper towels.) Providing the children with hand gels is not necessary.
4. Routine cleaning: daily cleaning of the school (bathrooms, floors, desks, worktops, etc.) will continue as before, with extra attention being given to the cleaning of door handles (as recommended in the advice.)
5. Recognize the symptoms and plan response: In most children, the symptoms of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 are similar to the symptoms of regular flu. They include: Temperature over 38 ºC/100.4 ºF that begins suddenly and some of the following: Dry cough; Sore throat; Muscle aches and pains; Headache; Runny nose ; Severe weakness and fatigue; and, Vomiting/diarrhoea (in some cases.) If a child develops flu-like symptoms at the school, his/her parents will be contacted and asked to take the child home. (Arrangements will be made for the child to wait in an office or support room until his/her parents arrive.) The child should not return to school until 7 days from the onset of symptoms have passed. In the event of a cluster of flu cases the School Principal will seek the advice of the local Department of Health, and relay that advice to parents and staff.
All parents and guardians are asked to be aware of the symptoms of flu-like illness and to seek medical advice, as necessary. Children who are sick should always stay home from school. If they have Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza they should stay away from school for 7 days from the onset of symptoms. Parents are asked to keep the school informed of all such cases. The requirement that parents explain all school absences with a written note remains in place. HSE Flu Information Line Freephone 1800 94 11 00 or check www.swineflu.ie
Bulb planting 2009: many thanks to all the parent helpers.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Survey: Supervised Hour 1.30-2.30pm
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The PTA is currently investigating the option of providing a supervised hour from 1.30 – 2.30p.m. for parents/guardians who have children in both the junior and senior cycles. Initially the aim is to gauge the level of interest and demand for such a service.
There will be a charge for this service – however it is hoped to keep costs at a minimum. The service would be run by people employed by the school. I would be grateful if you could complete the questions below and return to the school office or any school mailbox by the end of this week.
Parent/Guardian Name: _______________________________________
Contact Number: _______________________________
Child’s Name/Children’s names in Junior or Senior Infants ____________________________________________
Are you interested in availing of the supervised hour for your child/children in (please tick):
2009/2010 School Year _______________
2010/2011 School Year _______________
How many days per week would you be interested in availing of this service (please tick):
1-3 days
_______________
3-5 days
_______________
Thank You,
Siobhan Smyth, PTA Committee Member
School Survey: Violin and/or Cello programme
Typical weekly costs (private lessons, Suzuki method): €11 individual lesson (15 minutes,) plus €11 group lesson (30 minutes.) Instruments: Violin €110 approx. Cello: €375 approx.
Any in-school programme would need to be as inclusive as possible, i.e. the children in a particular class (or classes) would have access to instruments purchased by the school, and their tuition costs would also need to be subsidised. (Notes: the Suzuki method would be used, by a qualified teacher: parents would be invited to join the children at their weekly individual and group lessons. The school would be able to secure discounts if purchasing, for example, 12-15 violins, and tuition costs would be negotiated downwards. No grant aid (Arts Council, etc.) would appear to be available at this stage.)
The programme could only go ahead if (i) a significant number of children and parents were interested, and (ii) a group of very committed volunteers agreed to raise the necessary funds.
Please return completed forms to the school by the end of this week, if interested.
Parent/Guardian Name (s) ______________________________________
Contact number _______________________
Child/children’s names _____________________________ Class(es) ______________________________
Please tick any that apply.
Yes, my child would participate _____
Yes, I would fundraise for the programme _____
Yes, I could make a donation towards the programme _____ (Amount: €__________) Send no money now – the aim at this stage is to assess the level of interest.
Instrument of most interest (please tick): Violin _____ Cello _____
Volunteers
Please let us know if you can help with any of the events mentioned in this newsletter (Breakfast Together, Green Schools Committee, Book Fair, preparing the new building, collecting and/or planting trees, PTA Winter Fair, End-of Year performances, playground mural, etc.)
Name(s) _______________________ Child’s name & class _____________________
Contact number(s) ____________________________________________________
I/We can help with ________________________________________________________________
Please return completed forms to the school office or any school mailbox by the end of this week.
