September 2021
Dear Parents,
Dates for your Diary:
Saturday the 11th of September: First Holy Communion at 11am.
Monday the 27th of September: Board of Management Meeting at 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. We also extend a warm welcome to Robyn (4th class) who has also joined our pupil population. During the summer Ms. Fiona Birmingham (teacher) and Ms. Brenda Collins (SNA) joined our staff. We also wish them well in their respective roles.
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.
Le Chéile Class and other works: : Summer 2021 was a very busy one in Seir Kieran’s NS. To have our ‘Le Chéile Class’ facility in place for the beginning of this school year was excellent. Also, there was extensive works regarding painting, fence repairs etc. carried out. While some may think all of this just happens, it can only happen with huge input from volunteers. In this case those volunteers are our Board of Management. We very much appreciate the efforts of John Kirwan (chairperson) and all other Board of Management members efforts in seeing that our school has the proper facilities in place. In the case of the ‘Le Chéile Class’ I also wish to acknowledge ‘Patrick McIntyre & Sons’ for their prompt delivery of the building project.
Covid Response Plan: As I indicated on a previous email to you, this plan is now up on our school website. We thank you for your co-operation on all matters Covid -19 related.
Book Rental/Insurance/Art/Photocopying: The school contribution pays towards the cost of book rental, insurance, art supplies and photocopying. The school contribution is €75 per child. Where there are three children from the one family, the first two children are €75 each and the third child is €50. If you could furnish us with this payment before the end of October, that would be great. Should anyone have any difficulties with it, please speak with me. This payment can be furnished by clicking on the school payments tab of our school website and in turn by following the instructions. Remember you can also pay the contribution in instalments, should you wish.
Dance Classes: We are delighted to have Lisa Hogan on board for the eight Fridays in the lead up to the Halloween break. Lisa is an accomplished dance teacher who will really develop our children’s dancing skills. We thank our Board of Management and Parents Association for fully funding this project.
Junior Infants: This is the final week of our Junior Infants finishing at 12pm each day. From next week, beginning Monday the 13th of September they will be finishing at 1.35pm. They really have settled in so well.
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 Car Park and Safety: On arrival in the morning and on departure in the evening, the car park is a real hive of activity. We would ask that motorists take extra care when pulling in and out of car spaces. Please remember if you have a child in 1st/2nd or 3rd class and they have no older siblings, you are to come to the school gate to collect them. The children are coming out in 3 staggered groups. If parents of these children could be in the car park at 2.30pm, they could collect their children and move off immediately, therefore freeing up space. The parents/collectors of 2 or more children are time enough being in the car park at 2.35pm. The bottom line is we are asking everyone to be extra careful and vigilant in the car park at arrival and departure times. Please take care everyone.
The Covering and Labelling of School Books: Children will bring home school books which are not covered. These books are to be covered using a clear plastic cover. All your children’s copies should also be covered. 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 this Wednesday the 15th 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: Please label clearly all your child’s belongings, in particular school jumpers. It is particularly important in the current environment that anything belonging to your child is clearly labelled or marked so it can be identified as belonging to your child.
First Holy Communion: We wish Cormac, Darragh, Stephen, Tadhg and Tyler all the very best as they get set to celebrate the sacrament of First Holy Communion on this Saturday the 11th of September.
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 Coaching: A block of GAA coaching will begin tomorrow Wednesday the 8th of September and run each Wednesday up to the Halloween break. Up to Halloween the children will be doing fundamental movement skills and football skills, therefore there is no need for hurleys or helmets. Children in 4th/5th and 6th can also bring a pair of runners/boots and socks as they will be on the field. All other classes need only to present in full school tracksuit on these days.
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.
Offaly Minor Camogie: The school was delighted to welcome back four past pupils to the school last Friday to wish them all the best in their All-Ireland camogie final. The game against Antrim ended in a draw and will be replayed in the next couple of weeks. We again wish Aoibhe, Faye, Denise and Trisha all the best in their quest to bring silverware back to the county.
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 & Thursday) and a phone appointment can be made with the relevant teacher.
Dates for your Diary:
Saturday the 11th of September: First Holy Communion at 11am.
Monday the 27th of September: Board of Management Meeting at 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. We also extend a warm welcome to Robyn (4th class) who has also joined our pupil population. During the summer Ms. Fiona Birmingham (teacher) and Ms. Brenda Collins (SNA) joined our staff. We also wish them well in their respective roles.
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.
Le Chéile Class and other works: : Summer 2021 was a very busy one in Seir Kieran’s NS. To have our ‘Le Chéile Class’ facility in place for the beginning of this school year was excellent. Also, there was extensive works regarding painting, fence repairs etc. carried out. While some may think all of this just happens, it can only happen with huge input from volunteers. In this case those volunteers are our Board of Management. We very much appreciate the efforts of John Kirwan (chairperson) and all other Board of Management members efforts in seeing that our school has the proper facilities in place. In the case of the ‘Le Chéile Class’ I also wish to acknowledge ‘Patrick McIntyre & Sons’ for their prompt delivery of the building project.
Covid Response Plan: As I indicated on a previous email to you, this plan is now up on our school website. We thank you for your co-operation on all matters Covid -19 related.
Book Rental/Insurance/Art/Photocopying: The school contribution pays towards the cost of book rental, insurance, art supplies and photocopying. The school contribution is €75 per child. Where there are three children from the one family, the first two children are €75 each and the third child is €50. If you could furnish us with this payment before the end of October, that would be great. Should anyone have any difficulties with it, please speak with me. This payment can be furnished by clicking on the school payments tab of our school website and in turn by following the instructions. Remember you can also pay the contribution in instalments, should you wish.
Dance Classes: We are delighted to have Lisa Hogan on board for the eight Fridays in the lead up to the Halloween break. Lisa is an accomplished dance teacher who will really develop our children’s dancing skills. We thank our Board of Management and Parents Association for fully funding this project.
Junior Infants: This is the final week of our Junior Infants finishing at 12pm each day. From next week, beginning Monday the 13th of September they will be finishing at 1.35pm. They really have settled in so well.
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 Car Park and Safety: On arrival in the morning and on departure in the evening, the car park is a real hive of activity. We would ask that motorists take extra care when pulling in and out of car spaces. Please remember if you have a child in 1st/2nd or 3rd class and they have no older siblings, you are to come to the school gate to collect them. The children are coming out in 3 staggered groups. If parents of these children could be in the car park at 2.30pm, they could collect their children and move off immediately, therefore freeing up space. The parents/collectors of 2 or more children are time enough being in the car park at 2.35pm. The bottom line is we are asking everyone to be extra careful and vigilant in the car park at arrival and departure times. Please take care everyone.
The Covering and Labelling of School Books: Children will bring home school books which are not covered. These books are to be covered using a clear plastic cover. All your children’s copies should also be covered. 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 this Wednesday the 15th 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: Please label clearly all your child’s belongings, in particular school jumpers. It is particularly important in the current environment that anything belonging to your child is clearly labelled or marked so it can be identified as belonging to your child.
First Holy Communion: We wish Cormac, Darragh, Stephen, Tadhg and Tyler all the very best as they get set to celebrate the sacrament of First Holy Communion on this Saturday the 11th of September.
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 Coaching: A block of GAA coaching will begin tomorrow Wednesday the 8th of September and run each Wednesday up to the Halloween break. Up to Halloween the children will be doing fundamental movement skills and football skills, therefore there is no need for hurleys or helmets. Children in 4th/5th and 6th can also bring a pair of runners/boots and socks as they will be on the field. All other classes need only to present in full school tracksuit on these days.
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.
Offaly Minor Camogie: The school was delighted to welcome back four past pupils to the school last Friday to wish them all the best in their All-Ireland camogie final. The game against Antrim ended in a draw and will be replayed in the next couple of weeks. We again wish Aoibhe, Faye, Denise and Trisha all the best in their quest to bring silverware back to the county.
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 & Thursday) and a phone appointment can be made with the relevant teacher.