Dear Parents/ Guardians,
Pupil Personal Accident Insurance
It is that time of year again when we consider the benefits of our children being insured for the coming year. The current scheme utilised by the school through Allianz provides a simple and effective claim system that is easy to access and utilise, if and when required. If you already hold a medical card, it does not preclude you from joining and using the scheme when an accident occurs inside and outside school.
Our Parents’ Association make a group application on the scheme on behalf of the school entitling them to a small discount which is put towards the purchase of classroom equipment. There are many excellent benefits in the scheme and these can be viewed at https://www.allianz.ie/products/schools/schools-insurance.html
The scheme will remain open until Friday 6th October 2023. The scheme offers cover for your child for 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year at a reasonable cost €9 or for the school hours only at a cost of €6 . Payment should be made via Aladdin.
HSE Vaccinations
Can Junior Infant parents please return their HSE forms as soon as possible please. Thank you.
School Attendance
As part of the Education Welfare Act 2000, The National Education Welfare Board (N.E.W.B), now know as TUSLA is required to ensure that every child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives an appropriate education. TUSLA has appointed Educational Welfare Officers to support regular school attendance. The school is obliged to keep a record of all student absences and the reasons for such absences.
The school is also obliged to make a report to TUSLA if a child is absent from school for more than 20 days in the year regardless of the reasons. Parents are required to notify the school, if their child is absent for any reason or part thereof. Letters are sent home at the end of each term to pupils who have missed 20 or more days. Receiving such a letter can come as a shock, especially at the end of the school year so please be aware of our statutory requirements in this regard. Parents can inform the school using the Aladdin app if their child will be absent in advance of the absence. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the office.
Punctuality
We ask parents to please have their children in their lines for ‘five to nine’. Punctuality is an important life skill for children to learn from a young ago. Aside from this, we want to ensure that pupils are not missing out on valuable learning time each morning. Being late often causes upset for our young pupils and we also wish to avoid this. Thank you for your understanding and co-operation with this
Home time
We would ask that if there are children being picked up by another adult or a creche, please inform the class teacher through the office at info@stthomasjns.com of the details.
The Lunch Bag Company
The Lunch Bag Company delivers fresh lunches to children for families who wish to avail of this service. They have a wide variety of healthy options and ordering of the lunches is processed through an App on the parent's phone. More details can be found on www.lunchbag.ie.
Lucan Girl Guides (CGI) meet at St Thomas school every Monday evening from 6pm to 7.30pm. Our Brigin section are looking for new girl members between the ages of 6 to 10 to join our group. For further information contact Eileen on 087 9188874 or Pamela on 086 8417781.
TESCO
We’re included in the current round of the Tesco Ireland Community Fund in Hillcrest Lucan. If you’re shopping in this store over the next few weeks, we’d really appreciate if you’d vote for us using your blue token.
After school clubs
Morning Club: A couple of teachers are considering starting a morning club again if numbers allow. If you are interested in having supervised care for your child from 8am to school starting each morning please email morningclubesker@gmail.com for more information. Flexible options will be available.
Speech and Drama club will begin Monday the 11th of September for 1st and 2nd classes at 2.45pm. Please email Ms O’Loughlin at eskerdramaclub@gmail.com for further information.
Smiling Soul Kids Yoga will start on Tuesday the 12th of September – 10th of October for 5 weeks in Room 19. Available for all classes.
Kids yoga gives children an opportunity to explore body and mind while gaining strength, flexibility and balance through fun positive and relaxing activities. They will benefit from learning life skills, which would help them to cope with stressful situations and build self-esteem and can enhance creativity. Children will also take part in:
- Mindfulness and relaxation
- Breathing techniques
- Art and journaling
For more details and to secure a place please contact Ms. Doherty
smilingsoulkidsyoga@gmail.com
Coding classes with Ms Foley and Mr Kelly will be running coding classes this year. Please contact coolcodingclub@gmail.com for more information.
Lego Club with Ms. Palmer will take place every Monday for 6 weeks. Benefits of Lego Club include; creative thinking, problem-solving and mathematics skills, fine-motor skills and hand-eye coordination, communication and language development, teamwork and social skills. This club is limited to 20 places, first emails received will be allocated places. Please contact Ms. Palmer at mspalmer.legoclub@gmail.com. Please include the following details in the email; child’s name, class and teacher’s name.
Art Classes: Junior/Senior Infant art classes will be held on Thursdays in Room 7 with Ms Barnes. Children will be given the opportunity to explore their artistic skills. Classes will be fun, instructive and encouraging. Children will learn and practice the basic skills, concepts and techniques of creating art. Please contact Ms Barnes at artmsbarnes@gmail.com for details.
Engineering club Young Engineers Lego technic classes. Classes start 11th September. €80 for 7 weeks 2.40pm-3.45pm. If interested please contact Sophie on 085 2867429 or at Klc@youngengineers.ie.
After School Art & Craft Classes: Ms. Brazil will be running after school Art & Craft classes again this term. Classes will run every Tuesday, beginning Tuesday 12th September, from 2.40 - 4pm. Please email msbrazilart@gmail.com for more information.
Sports Club: There are a few places left on Thursdays for 1st and 2nd class children. Please contact Ms O'Reilly on stthomassports@hotmail.com for more details.
Kids INC can provide a morning and currently provides an afterschool service on site to support working parents within our school community from 8am to 9am and from 1.40pm- 6.30pm. Please contact applications@kidsinc.ie or the office on 01 6215790 for further information.
All camps and after schools’ activities are run independently of St. Thomas’ JNS.
Hip Hop Break Dance Classes St. Andrew’s N.S. Tuesdays 3-6yrs 4-5pm, 7-12pm 5-6pm, 13-18, 5-6pm. All classes are pay as you go. For more information, contact Casey on 083 3939449 or Keasley on 085 2435339
Aladdin
If you are unable to download the Aladdin app and view notices. Please email details info@stthomasjns.com and we will assist you.
Many thanks and best wishes,
Teresa Moynihan
Principal