September 2018 Newsletter
3rd September 2018
Dear Parents
Fáilte
Fáilte romhaibh ar ais ar scoil.
Welcome back to the new school year. It is great to have all the children back settling into new routines. A particular welcome to our new Junior Infants, Aaron, Drew, Molly-Rose and to Oran & Ariane our other new children enrolled in Gurraneasig.
School Opening hours
The Board of Management (BOM) wishes to inform parents that the school is responsible for pupils between the hours of 9.30am and 3.10pm in the case of Rang I to Rang VI and from 9.30am to 2.10pm in the case of the Infants’ classes. The BOM accepts no responsibility for any accidents outside these hours.
The internal door will open @ 9.15a.m.It is imperative children are delivered on time to school in the morning and collected promptly in the afternoon and the school be informed if a parent is running late. You are reminded to check your child’s sack each evening for notices/letters from the school or from their teacher.
*Junior Infants will finish @ 12pm until Friday 15th Sept.
Attendance, Punctuality & Teaching Time
The BOM wishes to remind parents of the importance of both attendance and punctuality throughout the school year. The BOM also asks parents to schedule pupils’ extra-curricular activities for outside of school time so as not to impose on teaching time.
Pupil Absence
Should your child be absent/late/early leaving from school please inform us in writing/by email/or by completing an absence note for him/her on return to school.
Schools obligations under Tusla (The Educational Welfare Services of the Child and Family Agency) guidelines specify that any child with 20 days absence (or greater) have to be reported to Tusla. As a forewarning on approaching that absence level, our school will send a notification to the parents of a child whom has reached 15 days absence.
Issues concerning illness would not ordinarily be notified to Tusla. The Sign-Out Register will be in operation again this year. Please sign out your child if they are leaving the school early for any reason. This register is located on the desk in the hall.
After School Club(ASC)
The BOM is in contact with several agencies in endeavouring to resolve some outstanding issues in relation to the ASC. The next BOM meeting is Oct 2nd.
Upcoming Events
Tennis
These weekly classes will commence with Alan O’Mahony of Bounce, starting on Sept 19th and finishing on 24th October.
Drumming Sessions
These weekly classes will commence with Patrick Naughton of African Drumming Ireland, starting on Wednesday November 07th and finishing on 28th November.
Christmas Cards for School Fundraiser
The children will design their own Christmas cards and they will be printed with their name, class and school name on the back. Parents will be able to order them in due course. More details to follow.
Christmas Performance
This year the school will perform a Carol Service / Christmas Songs, details to be decided, with a larger performance aimed for Christmas 2019.
Classroom Resources / Book Rental Scheme & Homework Diaries
Monies payable for these is to be given to your child’s class teacher.
Year/Term Costs
The school is ever aware of outgoings for parents and have strived to keep our yearly costs to a minimum. The cost for Tennis, Drumming, Table Tennis, Heritage Workshop, Gardening Project, Playball (Junior Room), Surfing (Middle & Senior Room), additional activities and Photocopying / Art material this year is €135 per child (or €45 per child per term.
Please also lobby your local politicians in relation to the retention of Minor Works Grant for small schools.
Payments to school
Some parents prefer to pay school costs etc on line. If you wish to do so, please note the schools bank details below: Allied Irish Bank South Main Street Bandon Co. Cork Account Name: Gurraneasig National School 1 Account IBAN: IE61AIBK 9340 4607 3040 47 BIC: AIBKIE2D For reference please put your childs name & item (Tour, Term cost etc) so we will know who the transaction applies to.
Teacher Contact
School mornings are a busy time and it would be appreciated that should a parent have any issue which needs clarification or discussion with a class teacher outside of PT meetings, please write a note on the child’s homework diary for the teacher’s attention. Additionally, an appointment can be made via the school office or school email address – secretary@gurraneasigns.com to meet the class teacher. This will ensure that all issues are dealt with diligently while still guaranteeing that teaching time is not interrupted or delayed.
If an appointment is requested with the Principal, please ensure that any relevant issues have first been discussed with the class teacher. As the Principal is a Teaching Principal, appointments may have to be arranged for outside teaching time.
Shared Teaching Post
Mrs.Rose O’Donovan will continue in the shared SET(Special Education Teacher) Post until end June 2019.
Parents Association (PA)
The PA is, year on year, a wonderful support to our school. It works very hard to help make Gurraneasig N.S. a better place for the children. The PA is also a wonderful opportunity for the parents of our school to get involved and feel part of the school community. This year the PA hopes to grow its committee and encourage parents to lend a hand and join.
Marilien O’Kennedy (Chair) and Lynn Farrell (Secretary) have both indicated they will be stepping down from their roles. Firstly, I would like to thank them both for their sterling service to the PA and school. Secondly, I would ask parents to consider stepping forward for a role in the PA. As a small school we are underfunded by the Dept of Education and we rely heavily on the support of our parents and the fundraising efforts of the PA. The PA will be in touch regarding this upcoming election.
The PA are hosting informal workshop for all the parents about lice prevention and treatment. It will be at the school on Monday September 17th at 2.10. The purpose is to create awareness of the problem and the need for all parents to check and treat for lice. They will demonstrate how to check hair and share some of their tried and tested treatment methods. They will bring various practical implements.
Well done to our parents who successfully applied for a LA21 Grant. A Food Proud initiative will commence shortly. Further details to follow from PA on this.
Pupil Accident Insurance
Please note the PA who organise payment of this invaluable insurance policy have asked that when you are paying your classroom resources costs could you please add on your payment for this policy €8 per child(24-hour cover).
Holy Communion
Parents of children in 2nd class who DO NOT wish their child to participate in the preparation for the Sacrament of Holy Communion are requested to inform same to Ms. McGrath asap.
Medical Conditions
Should your child have any medical condition / allergy that could possibly require intervention please furnish the details of same to Ursula so that we have up to date medical info where appropriate.
Healthy Eating/Allergies
Unfortunately we cannot accept birthday cakes,etc being brought into classes for other children to share due to numerous allergies that children have. Friday remains an individual treat day.
Personal Details
Text-a-Parent
Please ensure that you have given up-to-date phone & email contact details to the school office. Occasionally, parents change their phone/number and forget to inform the school. This is especially true of the mobile number required for our Text-a-Parent service. If there are any important changes in Personal contact details, please inform the school as soon as possible. Please download the free TextaParent App to your phone so that school messages and calendar updates can now be sent to the App. https://app.textaparent.ie/get/app
NEPS(National Educational Psychological Service)
Due to service rearrangements our school will not have access to NEPS service until January 2019 at least.
Secretary
Ursula works on Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays.
Primary Language Curriculum Training Day.
Please note as per DES requirements the school will be closed for 1 day for training - date to be decided
School Uniform
The official tracksuit uniform is
- Red polo shirt with crest.
- Navy tracksuit with red piping & a crest on the sweater.
- Shoes / trainers are to be plain, dark & flat.
Alternative Option from the tracksuit bottom
- Girls:- Plain navy skirt / pinafore (with red or navy tights or red or navy long socks) or Plain navy trousers / unbranded track bottoms e.g. Dunnes/O’Neill’s (soft shell).
- Boys:- Plain navy trousers e.g. Dunnes/O’Neill’s (soft shell).
- Plain navy shorts may be worn for all during the summer months.
- Other than the school crest, no decorations / patterns / other crests or logos please on any item of clothing.
- Alternative option to be worn ONLY WITH official school red polo shirt with crest and school navy tracksuit top with crest
Spare Uniforms are available at the front door.
Car parking & One-way system
Our informal one way system works well for the school during our start & finish times. If you don’t know about it, please ask. The one way is used by the parents of the school. Please be considerate to the locals, they are not party to this informal one way system, so be prepared to meet traffic. The local community use the road as normal. Please be aware and DRIVE SLOWLY & CAREFULLY.
- Always slow your speed in the vicinity of the school.
- Parents are requested NOT TO PARK IN THE ENTRANCE TO THE SCHOOL on the yellow box, but to park safely in the school vicinity. Please DO NOT PARK ON NEIGHBOURS GRASS.
- DO NOT BLOCK neighbouring entrances / laneways or any access areas.
Traffic / Speeding
Please be mindful of all others travelling to school. We have some families who walk and cycle to school, which as an Active & Green school, we encourage. School has over the past year received complaints of excessive speeding/dangerous driving at drop-off and collection times. School advises all to arrive and depart safely at school regardless of time and road/weather conditions. The school has contacted Cork County Council & Kilbrittain Garda Station in relation to road traffic. We will also liaise with local Gardaí in relation to applying for a special speed limit of 30kmph in the school vicinity. Thank you for your continued co-operation in promoting the health & safety of our school community.
Mar focal scoir
Finally, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your child all the best for the coming year and hope that they will have a fruitful and happy year with us in Gurraneasig NS.
“Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí”.
Is mise le meas
Eoin Fitzpatrick
Príomhoide
School Calendar 2018/2019 Please see the attached School Calendar for all School Closures.