NEWSLETTER
Welcome to this week’s newsletter,
ETHOS The children are learning about Respect and our assemblies will be based on Respect for this month. We can hear the screams of Aretha Franklin around the corridors and were treated to a wild performance from Aodán’s class at assembly this morning.
Diwali is next Thursday. Best wishes to families celebrating this festival.
Thanks again to all who contributed to our Garden Art on Friday for Educate Together ‘One Day Together’.
MATHS WEEK begins next week, and the children will be enjoying lots of fun Maths activities.
SCHOOL CLOSURES & CALENDAR: The calendar on the website has been updated – apologies for delay. All closures for the year are on it. Our next closure is for Mid Term Break – school will close on Friday 27th October and re-open on Monday 6th November.
STUDENT COUNCIL will be taking a trip into the Dáil later in the month, and we shall be hitting a nice café for refreshments to thank all members for their hard work. It has been a great council, and myself and Hazel are really enjoying working with members. Our student council have also applied and been accepted to represent us at the Educate Together Conference later in the year.
Our student Council are working on many item – toys for yard, CWETNS mascot, Halloween survey – see next item
HALLOWEEN DRESS UP / STUDENT COUNCIL – Since we opened in 2013, we chose to have dress up days at our annual school disco and more recently for self-expression day. The student council believe that the child’s voice should contribute to this for the coming year, and are exploring a dress-up day for Halloween. They have surveyed the staff last week. They held a vote for the children at assembly this morning. CHECK OUT PHOTOS HERE.
They also want to survey the families. Be assured that the council have discussed this at length and understand that not all families celebrate Halloween, but they would like to explore the option of dressing up, where everyone can respect those who want to and those who don’t. It is not a ‘winner takes all’ vote – the survey will be considered and comments will be considered also.
(Student Council would like you to remember that “this affects your children more than it affects you!”)
HALLOWEEN DRESS UP SURVEY HERE
GREENSCHOOLS COUCIL are leading a Low Energy Day on Wednesday 18th October. We will be trying to use a lower amount of energy that day. We will be making a big effort to reduce energy consumption by reducing use of our Lights, devices, computers, screens, and interactive whiteboards.
SWIMMING – We are working towards bringing the children swimming in the New Year. We are exploring logistics and venues at the moment, and we shall be in touch with you on this in the coming weeks. The plan is to bring 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th over term 2 & 3.
GARDEN DAY – 21st OCTOBER A garden tidy up / pruning day is being organised for Saturday 21st October and we are looking for adult only volunteers for the day. Time: 9.30am – 12.30pm. No gardening experience required – please bring pruning tools and garden gloves. Let the office know if you can come – [email protected]
BOOK FAIR Next week we are having a school book fair. On Monday pupils will get an opportunity to browse the books with their class. The book fair will be open on Tuesday, Thursday and on Friday morning at 8.00 for pupils and parents to browse and buy books before school. Last year we raised € 1800 for the school to spend on new books.
60% of the money spent is credited to our school account and we can order class novels and reference books for pupils to use in school.
PARENTS ASSOCIATION AGM
Thanks to all who came to the AGM. The new Parents Association Committee was put in place with 12 members in total – 1 per class and 3 across the whole school:
- Junior Infants – Niamh’s Class: Phyllis Seale Foynes
- Junior Infants – Fiona’s Class: Eric Mooney
- Senior Infants Jenny’s Class: Deirdre Finegan
- Junior Infants Aodan’s Class: Darragh Doyle
- 1st Class Cian’s Class: Iseult Coffey
- 1st Class Simon’s Class: Brian Ward
- 2nd Class, Aileen’s Class: Mark Jordan
- 3rd Class Ciaran’s Class: Thom Malone
- 4th/5th/6th Doireann’s Class: John Crotty
- School-Wide members: Balkishan (Balu) Makwana, Carol Ballantine, Sandra Villegas
The parent’s representatives from the Board of Management (John Maher and Irenie Bacon) are automatically members of the Parents Association Committee. They are invited to all meetings.
The new committee will meet soon with the outgoing committee for a handover of roles.
PARENT AND TODDLER GROUP Meet up every Tuesday morning in the Community Room from 08:30am – 10:30am – all welcome!
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT The Board of Management thank the outgoing Parents Association Committee for their work and dedication, and would like to welcome the incoming Parents Association Committee. Spend on the garden to maintain trees was approved. Thanks to all the parents who manage and have volunteered for the garden over the year with particular thanks to Wilma. The Board pass on their thanks to the parents who contributed to One Day Together, the ET national fundraiser for our Patron Body ET. Update by the Chairperson regarding recent approval for upgrades to the building to ensure Fire Safety Standards are maintained and the Board discussed ongoing accommodation needs of the building.
Enjoy the weekend,
Dermot & Staff