February 23rd 2010
Dear Parents/ Guardians,
Welcome to our February newsletter. We hope everyone had a pleasant mid-term break.
Parent Teacher Meetings - Our teachers have been instructed by their union not to take part in any Parent Teacher meetings after school hours. The Board has decided that such meetings are vital to proper communications between home and school and so has decided to facilitate these meetings on two half days in March. The meetings will be scheduled for Tuesday the 9th and Wednesday the 10th of March between 1.00 and 3.00. Children will go home at 12.30 on these days. Teachers will be in contact with families to organise appointments over the coming week.
Swine Flu Vaccination - The HSE will visit the school on Tuesday March the 2nd to administer the Swine Flu vaccine to all those who have returned the consent form to the school. The HSE have informed us that some children suffer a very minor reaction to the vaccine in the form of soreness around the arm area but for the vast majority of children there is no such reaction.
Confirmation - Ceremony of Commitment - As part of their preparations for Confirmation the sixth class children are invited to take part in a simple Ceremony of Commitment in St Maccullins Church at the weekend masses on the 27th/28th of February and the 6th/7th of March.
Sacrament of Penance - Our second class children will celebrate the Sacrament of Penance in the parish church on Wednesday the 10th of March at 7.30. We are very much looking forward to the occasion.
Sport - Congratulations to the Boys Senior Football team who won the Martin Finnegan Cup in the past month beating very stiff opposition in a gripping final. Well done to all involved. The football prospects certainly look bright this year.
ICT -We undertook a huge programme of work to continue the upgrade of our computer systems in the school over the mid-term. Four new Interactive White Boards and seven short throw projectors have been installed in classrooms. We now have thirteen Interactive White Boards and seven projectors in the school. A further four Interactive Whiteboards and twenty three new computers will be installed by Easter meaning that every class will have an Interactive White Board or projector and two computers as well as the computers in the computer room. We would like to thank Ms. White for all her hard work in co-ordinating this project.
Voluntary Contribution -The Parents Association collected a significant sum last month from families. A sincere thank you to all who have donated. As you can see the money is put to very good use. For example our ICT programme just could not happen without this fund. To those who have not yet donated we will always accept any contribution, however big or small, in the office.
IBM Donation -We would like to say thank you to IBM who donated three Little Tikes Young Explorer Units for use in our infant classes. We also say a big thank you to Mr. Damien McGettrick who gave a huge amount of time to install the units in the classrooms.
Special Education Cuts - Over the past year the Department of Education has introduced a series of changes to the manner in which resources are allocated to children with special learning needs in schools. The result of these changes has been to seriously reduce the learning support which can be provided to many children in our school. This has significant implications for children who would normally attend learning support or may in the past have accessed psychological assessments through the school system.
Bug Busting Programme - The HSE has selected us to take part in the Bug Busting Programme in the coming weeks. The HSE has provided us with free bug busting kits to allow us roll out the programme on a trial basis with our three second classes. We will be in touch with parents involved to explain the plan as soon as possible.
Communication - In January we asked parents to return a slip with up to date contact details to allow us introduce a text messaging system by the Easter break. We are still waiting on details for over a hundred children which we must have if the system is to be of use. We would ask all parents to ensure that they have returned the slip or contact the office to complete a new one. Many thanks to all those who have already done so
Maintenance -Over the mid-term break we carried out significant maintenance work replacing the floors in two classrooms, upgrading floors in offices, putting porches inside the entrances and repairing uneven ground in the yards in an effort to make the surroundings for our children both safe and comfortable.
Grandparent Visit - Over eighty grandparents visited us during Catholic Schools Week this month to share stories about their First Holy Communion with our second class children. Everyone seemed to enjoy the visit. Thanks to the second class teachers and Ms. Kelly for organising the visit and Grandparents don’t be surprised if we call on you again to help us with other projects during the year.
Quiz - Well done to our Under 11 and Under 13 School Quiz teams who took part in the Fingal Credit Union Quiz during the past month. Their behaviour was a credit to the school. A big thank you to Ms. Rochford for preparing the teams.
Dates for the Diary
Tues 2nd March - Swine Flu Vaccination
Wed 3rd March - Staff Meeting - Children go home at 1.50
Tues 9th/ Wed 10th March - Parent Teacher meetings - Children go home at 12.30.
Wed 10th March - Sacrament of Penance - St Maccullins Church 7.30
Regards,
Paul Comiskey.
Principal.
Principal: Paul Comiskey, B.Ed., Dip. Ed. Man., M.St.
Deputy Principal: Peggy O'Connor N.T., D.A.I.
