School Newsletter – September 2018
Parent-Teacher Meetings
We look forward to your help and co-operation throughout the year ahead. Parent-Teacher meetings will be held on Wednesday 24th October from 3.00pm to 8.00p.m. Each parent will receive a time to meet with the relevant teacher/s two weeks prior to the 24th October. At this meeting your child’s teacher/s will let you know how your child is progressing in his/her class. However, if at any stage there is anything you wish to discuss with myself, or any of the teachers, or if you have any concerns regarding your child’s progress in school please do not hesitate to contact the school secretary to arrange an appointment.
School Information Evening
Our annual school information evening will take place on Tuesday 9th October at 7.00pm. A member of the Parents’ Association, a member of the Board of Management and the Principal Teacher will briefly address the meeting. Information about the school will be outlined.
Our Parents’ Association Committee has invited Sr Helen Kelly as a Guest Speaker to address parents at this meeting. Her seminar will cover “Mental Health for All”. Sr Helen has years of experience dealing with Mental Health and in dealing with children and parents. Her presentation will be of great benefit to all parents and guardians.
Prayers Commencing in St Eunan’s Cathedral this week
Welcome back to school
It is great to welcome all the children back to school looking so well-rested and refreshed after their summer break and ready for the year ahead. We especially welcome our 69 new Junior Infants and all the other new pupils who have started in our school this year. We hope they will spend many happy days, months and years in Scoil Naomh Fiachra.
Junior Infant Parents
The parents/guardians of the Junior Infant children are invited to attend an information meeting with the Junior Infant teachers on Thursday 27th September at 7.00p.m. At this meeting your child’s teacher will outline school routines and what your child will learn during you’re; his/her first year at school. Parents/guardians will have the opportunity to speak with the class teacher if they so wish. Following this meeting parents/guardians are asked to go to the school hall for a short meeting with the Principal Teacher, Mr Kilcoyne and Deputy Principal, Ms Kennedy. This meeting will finish at 7.50pm with a cup of tea in the school hall which will be provided by our Parents’ Association.
School Information Evening
Our annual information evening is currently being organised. We expect it will be held in early October. A member of the Parents’ Association, a member of the Board of Management and the Principal Teacher will briefly address the meeting. Information about the school will be outlined. Our Parents’ Association Committee will organise a Guest Speaker to address parents at this meeting. Further details will be posted on our website nearer the date and a reminder text will be sent to all parents and guardians. One parent from each family is expected to attend.
Staff changes
A full staff list can be viewed at www.illistrin.town.ie. Any staff changes during the year will be posted to this list on our website.
Active Homework
Last year we were awarded an Active School Flag. As part of being an Active School, teachers will no longer give written homework to pupils on Thursdays. Instead pupils are asked to take part in some physical activity every Thursday after school. Oral homework e.g. reading and spellings will still be given on Thursdays.
School Accommodation
The Board of Management of the school had expected that a new prefab would be delivered and installed during the summer holidays. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, this did not happen. As a result, Ms Molloy’s 3rd class are being taught in the school hall. We have been informed that the new prefab will be ready for this class after the Halloween break. In the meantime the school hall will be unavailable for P.E. for all classes. Weather permitting, P.E. classes will be taken on the yard or the astro turf pitch.
Uniform
Full uniform must be worn every day. Pupils who are not wearing full uniform may be placed on detention during break time. P.E tracksuit should be worn on P.E. days. If your child has lunchtime training or is attending a sporting event during the school day, s/he must wear the school P.E. tracksuit.
Going Home Early
Children may only go home early if they have a medical appointment. Please let the teacher know in advance by writing a note in your child’s homework diary or a written letter to your child’s teacher. When you are collecting your child please avoid our busy break times at 11.00 and 12.30. Please go directly to the secretary’s office, “sign out” your child and wait there until the school secretary arranges for your child to leave class and meets with you at the secretary’s office. For child protection reasons visitors to the school are not allowed to go directly to classrooms. Our Early Collection of Pupils Policy can be viewed under the Policies and Enrolment tab of our website.
Child Safeguarding Statement
The Board of Management of Scoil Naomh Fiachra has approved our new Child Safeguarding Statement. This statement is in accordance with the requirements of the Children First Act 2015, the Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017 and Tusla Guidance on the preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements, The statement can be viewed under the Policies and Enrolment tab on our website and a hard copy can be viewed in the school office. The Board of Management has appointed Mr Luke Kilcoyne as the Designated Liaison Person and Mrs Doreen Kennedy as the Deputy Designated Liaison Person for Child Protection matters.
Pupil Personal Accident Insurance
Allianz have been providing Pupil Personal Accident Insurance to schools in Ireland since the mid 1980’s. Pupil Personal Accident Insurance is a benefits policy and covers Medical and Dental expenses following an accident. All pupils enrolled in our school are covered by this policy for any accident taking place in school or out of school. The cost is included in school book fees. Full details can be accessed via this link:
https://www.allianz.ie/schools/pupil-personal-accident/cover
Book Fees
Thank you to all parents who have paid book fees for this year. If you have not yet paid the fees, please arrange payment as soon as possible.
Contact numbers and addresses
It is vital that we have your contact number and address at all time in case of an emergency involving your child. If there is any change at any time in your contact details, please inform the school secretary immediately. You can email any change to our secretary at illistrin@eircom.net Instead of writing to parents we use our “text a parent” service. If you have not received any of our texts, please contact our secretary.
Communion and Confirmation
2nd class pupils who are making their First Holy Communion will celebrate the sacrament at 11a.m. on Saturday 6th April 2019 in the Cathedral, Letterkenny. Candidates for Confirmation from 6th class will celebrate the sacrament on Thursday, 14th February 2018 at 5.00p.m.
Car park
Please read the information sheet regarding the safe use of our school car park which is posted on our website. Please make anyone who is dropping or collecting your child/ren aware of the arrangements for the safe use of the car park. In the interests of pupil safety please be patient and careful when using the car park and please do not block the road between the school car park and the garage.
Administration of Medication
Staff members cannot administer medication to children without authorisation from the Board of Management of the school. This includes inhalers. Obviously, it is preferable that medical practitioners would arrange times for medication so that they don’t coincide with school time. However, if this is not possible and you require your child to be administered emergency medication in school please contact the Principal Teacher for a copy of the procedures which must be followed.
Closures
A reminder that a list of closures for the school year 2018.2019 was posted to our website in May on the calendar page under the parents’ info tab. We will leave the list on the website throughout the year. In addition to the closures circulated to parents before the summer holidays the school will also close for voting in the Presidential Election on Friday 26th October.
School Timetable, Attendance and Punctuality
Pupils should be ready to join their class line when the bell rings at 9.20a.m. This helps to ensure a smooth start to the school day. School opens to receive pupils at 9.00a.m. No arrangement exists for the supervision of children who arrive at school whether by bus, or otherwise, before 9.00 a.m. and therefore no responsibility is accepted by the school for pupils before that time. Pupils may be taken into the school hall (if it is available) on very wet mornings from 9.00a.m.
The school day finishes at 2.00 p.m. for infants and 3.00 p.m. for all other pupils. 1st class are walked to the school gates at 2.55p.m. to help ease congestion at 3.00p.m. The school accepts no responsibility for pupils after these times and it is the responsibility of parents/guardians to arrange the safe collection of their children at these times.
Regular attendance is vital to your child’s progress at school. Children should only be absent from school when they are ill. Please supply a written note to your child’s class teacher for each absence. I am legally obliged to report any pupil who is absent for 20 days or more in any school year to TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency. An Education Welfare Officer may contact a parent if such a report must be made.
Calls to the secretary’s office
Please let your child know every day who will collect him/her after school and whether or not he/she is going home by bus or car. Please always notify the class teacher, by written note, of any change in collection arrangements. We can not guarantee that the school phone will be always be answered during the school day and phone calls to the secretary’s office should be kept to a minimum. If you require a letter confirming your child’s attendance at this school please allow 2 days advance notice to the school secretary. You can email your request to illistrin@eircom.net
Swimming
Pupils from 3rd class are availing of swimming lessons in Aura Leisure Centre during the 1st term. Ms Ferry’s, Ms Devlin’s and Ms Molloy’s classes have started their weekly lessons. 4th classes will start later in the year.
Cross Country Athletics
We were delighted to see so many pupils from senior classes attend trials on our running track for our Cross- Country Athletics Team and well done to our Cross-Country Team members who participated in the Annual Cross-Country Schools’ Competition at O’Donnell Park on 19th September. They trained hard during lunch breaks and ran brilliantly. We are very proud of them. Check out the photos of team members and medal winners!
Gaelic Football Coaching
Mr Jim Clarke, our Gaelic Football coach, is back with us again this year. Jim has started his coaching with 5th classes. During the year every class will get the opportunity to avail of Jim’s coaching. We are grateful to St Eunan’s GAA club for providing this coaching free of charge to our pupils.
Healthy Lunches
I wish to remind you that children should only bring healthy options to eat and drink for lunch. Our Healthy Eating Policy can be read on our website. Items such as fizzy drinks, doughnuts and fruit winders are not allowed due to their high sugar content. Milk, water, fruit, breads and yoghurts are considered healthy options.
Allergies
Some children in the school have severe allergic reactions to peanuts/nuts. This allergic reaction can occur through ingestion of peanut/nut products, cross contamination and breathing peanuts/nuts in the air. Since this condition can be very serious, we have declared the school a nut free zone we are asking for your help in minimising the risk to these children by:
a) Avoiding giving children peanuts or any nuts in school lunches
b) Avoiding giving peanut butter sandwiches, other spreads containing nuts such as Nutella and snacks/bars containing nuts or labelled “may contain nut traces” in school lunches
c) Asking children not to share their lunches.
It is important that all parents carry out the suggested measures and reduce the risk of an allergic reaction to these children.
We also have a pupil who has an allergy to kiwis. Please continue to place fruit in your child’s lunch box but please avoid kiwis for lunch.
We thank you for your co-operation.
Yours sincerely,
Mr Luke Kilcoyne, Principal Teacher.
Relax Kids at An Craoibhin – Termon
Please follow the link below for more information:
https://www.craoibhintermon.ie/index.php/what-s-on/child-classes/103-relax-kids
CLG An Tearmainn Fundamental Course
St Eunan’s Family Fun & Health Day
