Newsletter 16/12/2021
Junior Infant Enrolment 2022: Enrolment for junior infants 2022 remains open until the end of January 2022. Please see our website for details -Admissions 2022 2023
Vaccinations for Junior Infants: The HSE health nurse has advised us that MMR and 4 in 1 vaccinations will go ahead in January 2022. However, due to Covid restrictions they will not happen on the school premises as previously planned. If you have registered for your child to be vaccinated, you will receive a text with details to advise you when/where the vaccinations will take place.
Unclaimed books from book week: We still have a number of unclaimed books that arrived from the book fair (with no name on the delivery). If you are still awaiting an order please contact the class teacher with the child’s name and the name of the book so we can get it to you asap.
Books being sent home: You may notice that your children come home with their school books in their bags on Friday 17th Dec. This is for contingency planning only in case of a sudden closure of schools in January. We have no reason or information to lead us to believe that schools will close early before Christmas or that they will not reopen in January. This is certainly not a situation that parents or teachers want to find themselves in again. However, as we all know things can change very suddenly during this pandemic and hence we are making adequate preparations.
SDCC have informed us that on Dec. 21st there will be no lollipop lady at Esker Drive, so please keep this in mind when planning your child’s journey to school that day.
Christmas Cheer
Panto week: The Children are really enjoying the online panto ‘Cinderella’ this week.
A special visitor -Ho Ho Ho will visit the school on Dec. 17th . Sincere thanks again to our PA who are organising this and the gifts to go along with the occasion.
Christmas Jumper Days: The children can wear a Christmas jumper/attire if they wish to do so, on the 17th and 22nd December.
Outdoor Carol Service: The children will partake in an outdoor carol service on the school premises this Thursday 16th December. Well done to all the boys and girls for learning all the words and to Mrs. McGowan for organising the event. The pupils can wear Santa hats if they wish to do so.
Christmas Holidays: The school will close for Christmas break on 22nd Dec. at 11:50am/12pm.
Staggered Collection Points/Times
Junior infants-main yard at 12pm
Senior infants-main yard at 11:50am
First classes-front of school at 12pm
Second Classes-front of school at 11:50am
If you are collecting siblings at different times and collection points, please collect at the earliest point first and then proceed to the 2nd point.
Covid Cases: We had one Covid case made known to us over the weekend from room 20 Mr. Kelly’s class. Please continue to remain vigilant for symptoms of Covid 19 in your children. HPSC isolation quick guideVIDEOhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LVQFBNf3b4&t=10s
Punctuality: Please ensure that your children are on time for school. Senior infants and 2nd classes should be in their line by 8:55am. Junior infants and 1st classes should be in line by 9:05. Siblings should arrive at the earlier time. Being repeatedly late means that your child is missing out on valuable learning time. 10 minutes late daily adds up to almost an hour weekly of missed learning time. This is also upsetting for the children if they are regularly late.
Attendance: At this time of year you may receive a letter stating that your child has missed quite a number of days. It is a requirement for all schools to report to Tusla, any child who has missed over 20 days. In some instances a report may need to be made to the education welfare officer.
If your child has been restricting movement due to Covid or has had Covid themselves, this is beyond your control of course and the days will add up quickly. Some classes we have asked to isolate. Please keep this in mind if you receive a letter and these are not the absences we are targeting. All absences need to be explained to the class teacher so a record can be kept.
Lost property: There are a number of coats, hats and other items in the lost property box at Maureen’s office. If your child has lost anything recently, please remind them to check the box. All unclaimed items will go to charity on Wednesday 22nd December.
Well done to the pupils in Ms. Ryan's/Ms. Daly's class who donated the above gifts to the residents in Elm Hall nursing home. The Christmas spirit of giving is alive in Senior Infants room 9.
Final Note
On behalf of myself and all the staff of St. Thomas’, I want to wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful and Happy New Year. I also wish to thank you for your support this term and always. We are very lucky to have such a wonderful parent body in our school.
Lorraine Murray
(Acting Principal)