Newsletter
6th September 2019
Dear parents, carers, staff and friends,
Welcome back!
With one week already done, it is great to see the children back at school, so ready to learn! Our staff have worked very hard to prepare the school and classrooms to be welcoming and inviting spaces for the children.
A special welcome to the children and families who are new to the school this year, especially our new Junior Infant children who are settling in so well.
Look out for a letter inviting you to our ‘Meet the Teacher’ meetings, which for most classes will happen during the week of the 16th September. This meeting will give you the chance to meet your child’s new teacher and find out more about their learning in their new class and we can work together to keep our children happy, safe and learning!
Morning Time – come on in!
We have made a small change in the morning time. Children are welcome at school from 8.40am and wait in the yard or go to breakfast club. School officially starts at 8.50am.
We want to give parents/carers more time to visit classrooms, so from now on, teachers will be waiting for the children in their classroom and parents/carers are invited to come into school and walk their child up to their classroom. We hope that this will give you a chance to see your child’s classroom and learning, have a quick word with the teacher if you need to and have a better feel for the building and our community.
School Books and Tracksuits
Thank you to all families who have already paid the €60 for books, copies and school resources. If you have not made this payment, please call into the school office or pay online. We are happy to take money in instalments if this is easier for you.
Tracksuits can be ordered with Liz and cost €22 each, or €24 for larger sizes.
Having spent so much money on new uniforms and tracksuits – please make sure your child’s name is clearly marked. Every day we find jumpers with no names and it is a challenge to return it!
Parking and Traffic
The small streets outside the school can be very busy before and after school. With lots of very small children, buggies and families coming in and out, I would like to remind all parents/carers to drive slowly and carefully around the school to ensure we keep our children safe.
Parent Classes
Síle, our Home-School-Community Liaison (HSCL) teacher has asked me to let you know that Cookery Class for parents/carers will be starting again in Mount Carmel Secondary School on Tuesday mornings. Any parents/carers who are interested, can call into Síle at 8.50 a.m. and she will show you where to go.
On Wednesday morning next week, we are hosting a ‘Roadshow’ for families. We have invited a number of local after-school clubs, family agencies and adult education support services to the school in the morning at 9.00 a.m. If you want to find out information about what is available for you and your child in our local area – this is your chance!
Secondary School Transfer
Parents/carers of children in 5th and 6th Class have been invited to a ‘Meet the Teacher’ meeting with their child’s class teacher in the classroom on Tuesday, 10th September.
Immediately afterwards, our local secondary schools will be available to talk to parents/carers in the school library about the choices available for children’s secondary school places. Open days are taking place in secondary schools this month – all of the information will be available for you on Tuesday so please come along.
If you are a parent/carer of a younger child but are interested in finding out more about our local secondary schools – please feel free to come to the library on the top floor on Tuesday morning.
Attendance and punctuality
We want all children at St. Mary’s to have excellent attendance and our target is at least 95% for each child (this is no more than 9 days of absence across the year).
Please let us know if your child will not be in school by calling the school office on (01) 8300841, emailing office@stmarysprimaryschool.ie or filling out the absence form on our website.
Dates for your diary
10th September – 5th and 6th Class ‘Meet the Teacher’ and ‘Secondary School Open Morning’ at 9.00 a.m. on the top floor
11th September – Roadshow for Adults at 9am
11th September – 6th Class to National Museum – Egyptian exhibit
Week of 16th Sept – Meet the Teacher
25th October – School closes for Mid-Term Holiday
4th November – School re-opens at 8.50 a.m.
Supervision in the Morning
A reminder that children are welcome at school for breakfast club and to wait in the playground from 8.40 a.m. Children should not arrive to school before this time and we ask that children are not left waiting unsupervised at the gate before this. We have staff available to look after the children from 8.40 a.m. but the school cannot take responsibility for children before then.
Updating Information
If your contact information has changed over the summer, please ensure we have your new address, telephone number or other details. This is particularly important if we need to contact you in case of emergency. You can update this information on the Aladdin app yourself, or call in to see Liz in the office.
…and finally…
It has been a very busy few days at school. I want to thank Colm our caretaker for his hard work over the summer, Liz our secretary who is finally emerging from a pile of tracksuits(!), and all our teachers and SNAs who have come back with their smiles, energy and enthusiasm. It’s going to be a great year!
Have a lovely weekend everyone,
Éadaoin Kelly
Principal
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