Newsletter 08/12/2021
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
Christmas Cheer
This month we are using a kindness calendar.16 days of Christmas kindness. Each day we ask staff and pupils to try follow the advice outlined in the kindness calendar. Share a smile, use marvellous manners, help tidy at home etc. Thanks to Ms. Nolan who leads this initiative each year.
Panto week: Each class will watch an online Christmas panto during the week of the 13th-17th December. Thanks to Ms. Walshe for organising this for our pupils who deserve every bit of joy we can afford to them.
A special visitor -Ho Ho Ho will visit the school on Dec. 17th and the classes will zoom in to have a fun Christmas experience with the special visitor. 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.
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 11:50pm
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.
Author Workshop: On Monday, two of our 2nd classes were treated to a Zoom class with Irish author and illustrator Alan Nolan. He told them lots of funny stories about his childhood and how he became an author. He then showed them how to draw a picture of a hen and a sloth. He was very entertaining and the children loved listening to his stories and drawing along with him.
Room 19
Covid Cases: We had a number of Covid cases made known to us this week from Ms. Barnes’, Ms. Lawlor’s, Mr. Coleman’s and Mr. Mulhall’s Classes. Covid is going to continue to feature for us all throughout the year, so as always, we encourage parents to remain vigilant for symptoms. HPSC isolation quick guide VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LVQFBNf3b4&t=10s
Punctuality: We have a number of pupils who are still arriving to school late each morning. Please ensure that your child is in their line 5 minutes before the bell rings for each staggered time. Extra time may be needed for your journey on wet mornings. 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. 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.
Christmas Giving
SVDP: Each year we donate a Christmas Hamper from St. Thomas’ to St. Vincent De Paul. Our housekeeper Catherine Hayes delivers the hamper on our behalf. Thank you Catherine for being so obliging each year (and always).
Lions Club: Each Christmas the Lions Club kindly donate vouchers to the school which we pass on to families who may need some support at this time of year. Thank you kindly for this gesture which we really appreciate.
Ms. Ryan/Ms. Daly’s Class: are doing a collection of items such as chocolates, biscuits, soap sets, socks, etc. for the residents at Elm Hall Nursing Home. Thank you to all the children, parents and to Ms. Ryan/Ms. Daly for your kindness.
Lollipop ladies: Thank you to our lovely, hardworking lollipop ladies, who dropped in lollies last week for all of the pupils in our school. There were very happy children in each room.
Lorraine Murray
(Acting Principal)