November
Dates for your Diary:
Monday the 5th of November: School re-opens after mid-term.
Wednesday the 7th of November: Board of Management meeting at 8pm.
Thursday the 15th of November: Parent teacher meetings
Friday the 16th of November: Soccer coaching begins
Thursday the 22nd of November: School Photographer coming
Thursday the 20th of December: Christmas show
Parent Teacher Meetings: As a staff we have decided that formal Parent/Teacher meetings will take place in November from now on. (They usually took place in February). The date for Parent/Teacher meetings is Thursday the 15th of November, this year. Should you be in a position to meet on any school day (morning or evening) from the 7th of November to the 14th of November, please indicate this in your child’s homework journal or homework folder (infants) – by simply stating I am in a position to meet outside of the 15th of November. Please do this today so we can view responses tomorrow and organise for after mid-term. Gerardine will be in contact with you after mid-term to confirm a time/date. For those who can only meet on the 15th of November, you will be issued with your time slot on Wednesday the 7th of November. These are our formal Parent/Teacher meetings. They do not represent your only opportunity to meet with teachers. Should you have any concern re your child’s welfare, learning etc., you are encouraged to make an appointment with Gerardine to see your child’s class teacher. Your child is your business, it’s not the business or concern of others. Our school prides itself on doing its best by your children, part of that involves you communicating concerns or questions you may have directly to us and you can rest assured we will deal with them, as we always do.
Cumann na mBunscol: Congratulations to our football team on their Cumann na mBunscol victory. It proved to be a pulsating final which went right to the wire. Ballyboy showed themselves to be a fantastic team and were it not for the ‘never say die’ spirit which our boys and girls displayed, we would not have achieved victory. The team was lead brilliantly by their captain Jake Dooner. Well done to all. Míle buíochas to our Parents Association who organised food for the players after the game. The medal presentation will take place at a later date. You will be given ample notice of this. The boys and girls involved are a credit to our school and we are all immensely proud of them.
SSE/SIP: The school has its SSE and SIP in Irish Oral Language completed. These documents will be presented at our next Board of Management meeting for ratification and will then be published on our school website. I will speak about the School Self Evaluation process at the upcoming Parents Association AGM, where I will specifically speak about Oral Irish.
Anti-Bullying Policy: The Board of Management carried out an annual review of the schools Anti-Bullying policy at its most recent meeting.
ICT Spend: The school has spent €1900 on the purchase of 4 new i-pads. These will prove to be an invaluable resource. They are initially being used to compliment teaching and learning in the junior end of the school.
Parents Association AGM: The AGM of the Parents Association will take place in late November. The date and time of this meeting will be confirmed on the first week back after midterm. All families should be represented at this meeting as the Parents Association is the parent body for parents of all children who are going to the school. I will be addressing the meeting on the night and I look forward to seeing you all there.
Active Retirement Fundraiser: This proved to be a huge success with €1860 being raised on the night. 21 out of 37 (57% of families) whose children attend the school were represented on the night. Míle buíochas to all of those who supported the event. This money will be spent directly on your children to enhance their educational experiences in the school. We are deeply grateful to the Active Retirement Group, for the kindness and commitment they show towards our school.
Christmas Show: This will take place on Thursday the 20th of December at 7.00pm in the Parish Hall. All are welcome. We will be holding a full showing of the show at 11am on the day of the 19th. Incoming infants for 2019 and their parents are welcome to attend this showing. So if you are aware of any families who may wish to attend the school next year, feel free to invite them to come along on this day. Grandparents and all connected with the Active Retirement Group are also invited to come along to this showing.
Christmas Annuals: Please see information re Christmas Annuals attached. Should you wish to order an annual for your child, please return the slip with money in a sealed envelope with details written on the envelope. Christmas annuals are priced at €2 per annual. Slips/money are to be returned before the 7th of November.
County Photos: County Photos will visit the school on Thursday the 22nd of November. To allow for children having their uniforms in the best condition, if you wish you can send your children to school dressed casually on Wednesday the 21st of November. Also should you have requests to have your child(ren) photographed with friends or cousins, please send in a note to the relevant class teacher outlining this.
Birr Theatre : Children from Juniors to 2nd class will attend the Christmas Show ‘Elfie saves Christmas’ in Birr Theatre on Tuesday the 11th of December. The cost of the show is €10 per child, this can be sent in a sealed envelope with details marked on it, at your earliest convenience. The Board of Management and Parents Association will cover the cost of the bus for transporting the children. We thank them for their support.
Birr Community School Show: 4th/5th and 6th classes will attend the show ‘Oklahoma’ in Birr Community School on the night of Wednesday the 21st of November at 7.30pm. The cost of the show is €5 per child, this can be sent in a sealed envelope with details marked on it, at your earliest convenience.
Futsal Tournament: Children from 3rd/4th class will take part in a futsal tournament in Mucklagh on one of the days on the week beginning, Monday the 26th of November ( a day has yet to be confirmed). If you are in a position to attend this tournament and transport children, please contact Gerardine in the office.
First Holy Communion: First Holy Communion has been fixed for Sunday the 26th May at 11am..
Hurling/Camogie: All children from third class up are encouraged to bring in their hurleys, helmets, boots and a spare pair of socks each day after the mid-term break. If weather and conditions allow we will be going down to the field at lunchtime.
Primary Planets/Newsflash: Our 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th classes receive these magazines every month. The magazines are of a huge educational benefit to the children as they not only benefit from reading but they also benefit from learning about the most up to date current affairs. We wish to thank our Board of Management and Parents Association for funding these magazines.
Christmas Shoe Box Appeal: Those who wish to participate in the Christmas Shoe Box Appeal should have shoe boxes returned to the school before Wednesday the 7th of November
Monday the 5th of November: School re-opens after mid-term.
Wednesday the 7th of November: Board of Management meeting at 8pm.
Thursday the 15th of November: Parent teacher meetings
Friday the 16th of November: Soccer coaching begins
Thursday the 22nd of November: School Photographer coming
Thursday the 20th of December: Christmas show
Parent Teacher Meetings: As a staff we have decided that formal Parent/Teacher meetings will take place in November from now on. (They usually took place in February). The date for Parent/Teacher meetings is Thursday the 15th of November, this year. Should you be in a position to meet on any school day (morning or evening) from the 7th of November to the 14th of November, please indicate this in your child’s homework journal or homework folder (infants) – by simply stating I am in a position to meet outside of the 15th of November. Please do this today so we can view responses tomorrow and organise for after mid-term. Gerardine will be in contact with you after mid-term to confirm a time/date. For those who can only meet on the 15th of November, you will be issued with your time slot on Wednesday the 7th of November. These are our formal Parent/Teacher meetings. They do not represent your only opportunity to meet with teachers. Should you have any concern re your child’s welfare, learning etc., you are encouraged to make an appointment with Gerardine to see your child’s class teacher. Your child is your business, it’s not the business or concern of others. Our school prides itself on doing its best by your children, part of that involves you communicating concerns or questions you may have directly to us and you can rest assured we will deal with them, as we always do.
Cumann na mBunscol: Congratulations to our football team on their Cumann na mBunscol victory. It proved to be a pulsating final which went right to the wire. Ballyboy showed themselves to be a fantastic team and were it not for the ‘never say die’ spirit which our boys and girls displayed, we would not have achieved victory. The team was lead brilliantly by their captain Jake Dooner. Well done to all. Míle buíochas to our Parents Association who organised food for the players after the game. The medal presentation will take place at a later date. You will be given ample notice of this. The boys and girls involved are a credit to our school and we are all immensely proud of them.
SSE/SIP: The school has its SSE and SIP in Irish Oral Language completed. These documents will be presented at our next Board of Management meeting for ratification and will then be published on our school website. I will speak about the School Self Evaluation process at the upcoming Parents Association AGM, where I will specifically speak about Oral Irish.
Anti-Bullying Policy: The Board of Management carried out an annual review of the schools Anti-Bullying policy at its most recent meeting.
ICT Spend: The school has spent €1900 on the purchase of 4 new i-pads. These will prove to be an invaluable resource. They are initially being used to compliment teaching and learning in the junior end of the school.
Parents Association AGM: The AGM of the Parents Association will take place in late November. The date and time of this meeting will be confirmed on the first week back after midterm. All families should be represented at this meeting as the Parents Association is the parent body for parents of all children who are going to the school. I will be addressing the meeting on the night and I look forward to seeing you all there.
Active Retirement Fundraiser: This proved to be a huge success with €1860 being raised on the night. 21 out of 37 (57% of families) whose children attend the school were represented on the night. Míle buíochas to all of those who supported the event. This money will be spent directly on your children to enhance their educational experiences in the school. We are deeply grateful to the Active Retirement Group, for the kindness and commitment they show towards our school.
Christmas Show: This will take place on Thursday the 20th of December at 7.00pm in the Parish Hall. All are welcome. We will be holding a full showing of the show at 11am on the day of the 19th. Incoming infants for 2019 and their parents are welcome to attend this showing. So if you are aware of any families who may wish to attend the school next year, feel free to invite them to come along on this day. Grandparents and all connected with the Active Retirement Group are also invited to come along to this showing.
Christmas Annuals: Please see information re Christmas Annuals attached. Should you wish to order an annual for your child, please return the slip with money in a sealed envelope with details written on the envelope. Christmas annuals are priced at €2 per annual. Slips/money are to be returned before the 7th of November.
County Photos: County Photos will visit the school on Thursday the 22nd of November. To allow for children having their uniforms in the best condition, if you wish you can send your children to school dressed casually on Wednesday the 21st of November. Also should you have requests to have your child(ren) photographed with friends or cousins, please send in a note to the relevant class teacher outlining this.
Birr Theatre : Children from Juniors to 2nd class will attend the Christmas Show ‘Elfie saves Christmas’ in Birr Theatre on Tuesday the 11th of December. The cost of the show is €10 per child, this can be sent in a sealed envelope with details marked on it, at your earliest convenience. The Board of Management and Parents Association will cover the cost of the bus for transporting the children. We thank them for their support.
Birr Community School Show: 4th/5th and 6th classes will attend the show ‘Oklahoma’ in Birr Community School on the night of Wednesday the 21st of November at 7.30pm. The cost of the show is €5 per child, this can be sent in a sealed envelope with details marked on it, at your earliest convenience.
Futsal Tournament: Children from 3rd/4th class will take part in a futsal tournament in Mucklagh on one of the days on the week beginning, Monday the 26th of November ( a day has yet to be confirmed). If you are in a position to attend this tournament and transport children, please contact Gerardine in the office.
First Holy Communion: First Holy Communion has been fixed for Sunday the 26th May at 11am..
Hurling/Camogie: All children from third class up are encouraged to bring in their hurleys, helmets, boots and a spare pair of socks each day after the mid-term break. If weather and conditions allow we will be going down to the field at lunchtime.
Primary Planets/Newsflash: Our 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th classes receive these magazines every month. The magazines are of a huge educational benefit to the children as they not only benefit from reading but they also benefit from learning about the most up to date current affairs. We wish to thank our Board of Management and Parents Association for funding these magazines.
Christmas Shoe Box Appeal: Those who wish to participate in the Christmas Shoe Box Appeal should have shoe boxes returned to the school before Wednesday the 7th of November
