September 2024
Dear Parents,
Dates for your Diary:
Monday the 9th of September: Junior Infants finishing school @1.35pm from this day on.
Monday the 30th of September: Board of Management Meeting @ 8pm.
Fáilte Romhat go léir ar ais: Tá fáilte romhaibh ar ais i gcomhair bliain nua. In particular we extend a warm welcome to our new Junior Infants. May they all enjoy a positive experience during their time in Seir Kieran’s N.S.
Car Park and Safety: On arrival in the morning and on departure in the evening, the school is a real hive of activity. We would ask that all motorists take extra care when pulling in and out of car park spaces. Please take note of the following:
Parents of recent enrolments please take note of the following: A newsletter will be issued by the school within the first week of every month in order to keep you up to date with all which is going on in the school. Please read this newsletter and take note of what you need to know.
Seir Kieran’s Internet and Technology Use Agreement: This agreement was ratified at a recent Board of Management meeting. I will be writing to you specifically about this, in the coming week. You will be asked to consider fully the contents of this policy and then to decide whether you wish for your child to be part of this voluntary agreement.
School Contribution: You will hear all sorts of wonderful reports in the media about schools not needing to seek financial contributions as school books etc are now being paid for by the department. While such developments are very welcome, primary schools continue to be grossly underfunded. To give one practical example, we received zero euros in 2023/24 to pay for caretaking services. So, as you will be aware power washing, hedge cutting, grass cutting etc, etc all cost money. In this context we seek a contribution of €25 per child to help pay some of these costs. The €25 will also go towards paying 24-hour insurance cover for your child. All support we receive is much appreciated.
150 Year Celebration and School Garden: After holding our successful celebration to mark the 150th birthday of our school, as well as publishing a book to mark this milestone, the school has decided to develop our school garden into a learning and sensory space for all children as a way of adding something of real value to our school to mark 150 years in existence. Aideen O’Brien is kindly drawing up a plan for what the garden would look like. The plan is that we will draw on all the building, landscaping and artistic talents in the community to develop the garden. We also will set up an ‘I donate Page’ to help pay for the costs. Again, we will be reaching out to all in the community. This page was previously in existence and raised € to date. Mile buíochas to all those who have already contributed. We will be reactivating this page at a later date. Before the end of September, we will be calling a meeting of all parents, to outline what the plan of action will be to redevelop our school garden into an active learning and sensory environment. We will be in contact with you about this.
Junior Infants: Junior Infants will finish at 12noon each day up to and including Friday the 6th of September. From Monday the 9th of September, Junior Infants will go home at 1.35pm.
4th/5th/6th Class: These children will use the school field when it is anyway dry. These children can bring a spare pair of socks in a plastic bag in their school bags. They are also asked to bring an old pair of runners/shoes or football boots with them to school.
The Covering and Labelling of School Books: Most of the school books sent home are covered. All new books have been covered but where from a previous year a book wasn’t covered, we would really appreciate it if you would cover such a book, with a clear plastic cover. It is also important that your child’s books and copies are clearly labelled. A white label with your child’s name and subject should be affixed to the front of all books and copies. It would be very much appreciated if this would all be completed by Friday the 8th of September at the latest. Children can leave books that they do not require for homework in school each evening. We would appreciate it if you would regularly check your children’s bags to ensure that they are not carrying any unnecessary requisites or an accumulation of paper etc. to and from school.
Clothes/requisite labelling: This is a problem every year, where children’s belongings are not labelled. Please label clearly all your child’s belongings, in particular school jumpers. It is very important that anything belonging to your child is clearly labelled or marked so it can be identified as belonging to your child, and returned to your child should he/she mislay it.
Healthy Eating: In our school we have a Healthy Eating Policy. Crisps, fizzy drinks, sweets or junk food of any type are not to be included in your child’s lunch box. You are encouraged to include fruit and vegetable portions in your child’s lunch box. Healthy Eating is in the best interests of all. Please consult with the Healthy Eating Policy which is uploaded under the policies tab on our website.
Absences: Parents/Guardians are reminded that there is a legal obligation on the principal to record every absence of every child throughout the school year with the added obligation of reporting absences of over 20 days to the National Educational Welfare Board. Parents/guardians of children in 1st - 6th class are asked to fill in the absence slip in the back of their child’s journal. Parents/guardians of children in all remaining classes can simply email the school explaining the absence.
GAA: The boys and girls in the senior classes will participate in Gaelic football blitzs this term. As soon as we have the details, we will let you know. GAA coaching will also return at some stage in the term. Again, we will let you know, as soon as we have the details.
Head lice: If you happen to notice the presence of head lice in your child(ren)’s hair, please notify the school as soon as possible so that we can make all aware of the presence of headlice in the school as it spreads rapidly. Please find enclosed a sheet as how to treat headlice.
Working together in the best interests of your children: Should parents have worries or concerns regarding their children, it is expected that these would be communicated to the relevant teacher as soon as they arise. Gerardine can be contacted in the office from 9.30am to 1.30pm (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) and a phone appointment can be made with the relevant teacher.
Dates for your Diary:
Monday the 9th of September: Junior Infants finishing school @1.35pm from this day on.
Monday the 30th of September: Board of Management Meeting @ 8pm.
Fáilte Romhat go léir ar ais: Tá fáilte romhaibh ar ais i gcomhair bliain nua. In particular we extend a warm welcome to our new Junior Infants. May they all enjoy a positive experience during their time in Seir Kieran’s N.S.
Car Park and Safety: On arrival in the morning and on departure in the evening, the school is a real hive of activity. We would ask that all motorists take extra care when pulling in and out of car park spaces. Please take note of the following:
- All Infants should always be collected at the green school gate and escorted to their cars.
- If you have children in 1st/2nd/3rd class and they have no older siblings, you should also collect these children at the school gate.
- With the lack of space in the car park in the evening, we operate a staggered leave time in the evening. This year it will operate in two groups. Please see a list attached, to indicate what group you are in for collection. If you are in Group 1, please be in the car park at 2.30pm sharp, so as you can collect and leave promptly, freeing up spaces for the next group. If you are in Group 2, you can then arrive in the car park at 2.35pm sharp to collect your children.
Parents of recent enrolments please take note of the following: A newsletter will be issued by the school within the first week of every month in order to keep you up to date with all which is going on in the school. Please read this newsletter and take note of what you need to know.
Seir Kieran’s Internet and Technology Use Agreement: This agreement was ratified at a recent Board of Management meeting. I will be writing to you specifically about this, in the coming week. You will be asked to consider fully the contents of this policy and then to decide whether you wish for your child to be part of this voluntary agreement.
School Contribution: You will hear all sorts of wonderful reports in the media about schools not needing to seek financial contributions as school books etc are now being paid for by the department. While such developments are very welcome, primary schools continue to be grossly underfunded. To give one practical example, we received zero euros in 2023/24 to pay for caretaking services. So, as you will be aware power washing, hedge cutting, grass cutting etc, etc all cost money. In this context we seek a contribution of €25 per child to help pay some of these costs. The €25 will also go towards paying 24-hour insurance cover for your child. All support we receive is much appreciated.
150 Year Celebration and School Garden: After holding our successful celebration to mark the 150th birthday of our school, as well as publishing a book to mark this milestone, the school has decided to develop our school garden into a learning and sensory space for all children as a way of adding something of real value to our school to mark 150 years in existence. Aideen O’Brien is kindly drawing up a plan for what the garden would look like. The plan is that we will draw on all the building, landscaping and artistic talents in the community to develop the garden. We also will set up an ‘I donate Page’ to help pay for the costs. Again, we will be reaching out to all in the community. This page was previously in existence and raised € to date. Mile buíochas to all those who have already contributed. We will be reactivating this page at a later date. Before the end of September, we will be calling a meeting of all parents, to outline what the plan of action will be to redevelop our school garden into an active learning and sensory environment. We will be in contact with you about this.
Junior Infants: Junior Infants will finish at 12noon each day up to and including Friday the 6th of September. From Monday the 9th of September, Junior Infants will go home at 1.35pm.
4th/5th/6th Class: These children will use the school field when it is anyway dry. These children can bring a spare pair of socks in a plastic bag in their school bags. They are also asked to bring an old pair of runners/shoes or football boots with them to school.
The Covering and Labelling of School Books: Most of the school books sent home are covered. All new books have been covered but where from a previous year a book wasn’t covered, we would really appreciate it if you would cover such a book, with a clear plastic cover. It is also important that your child’s books and copies are clearly labelled. A white label with your child’s name and subject should be affixed to the front of all books and copies. It would be very much appreciated if this would all be completed by Friday the 8th of September at the latest. Children can leave books that they do not require for homework in school each evening. We would appreciate it if you would regularly check your children’s bags to ensure that they are not carrying any unnecessary requisites or an accumulation of paper etc. to and from school.
Clothes/requisite labelling: This is a problem every year, where children’s belongings are not labelled. Please label clearly all your child’s belongings, in particular school jumpers. It is very important that anything belonging to your child is clearly labelled or marked so it can be identified as belonging to your child, and returned to your child should he/she mislay it.
Healthy Eating: In our school we have a Healthy Eating Policy. Crisps, fizzy drinks, sweets or junk food of any type are not to be included in your child’s lunch box. You are encouraged to include fruit and vegetable portions in your child’s lunch box. Healthy Eating is in the best interests of all. Please consult with the Healthy Eating Policy which is uploaded under the policies tab on our website.
Absences: Parents/Guardians are reminded that there is a legal obligation on the principal to record every absence of every child throughout the school year with the added obligation of reporting absences of over 20 days to the National Educational Welfare Board. Parents/guardians of children in 1st - 6th class are asked to fill in the absence slip in the back of their child’s journal. Parents/guardians of children in all remaining classes can simply email the school explaining the absence.
GAA: The boys and girls in the senior classes will participate in Gaelic football blitzs this term. As soon as we have the details, we will let you know. GAA coaching will also return at some stage in the term. Again, we will let you know, as soon as we have the details.
Head lice: If you happen to notice the presence of head lice in your child(ren)’s hair, please notify the school as soon as possible so that we can make all aware of the presence of headlice in the school as it spreads rapidly. Please find enclosed a sheet as how to treat headlice.
Working together in the best interests of your children: Should parents have worries or concerns regarding their children, it is expected that these would be communicated to the relevant teacher as soon as they arise. Gerardine can be contacted in the office from 9.30am to 1.30pm (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) and a phone appointment can be made with the relevant teacher.