Newsletters 06/07

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  SEPTEMBER '06 INFORMATION SHEET

Welcome to another school year! In particular I would like to give a special welcome to all our new boys and their parents. We look forward to another successful year for the school and to all of us working together for the benefit of our pupils.

It is vitally important that your son attends school as much as possible. In June’06, 21 of our pupils were reported to the National Education Welfare Board for poor attendance. By law, I am obliged to report pupils who miss school on 20 or more days in a school year. I feel that now is a very appropriate time to give thought to your own son’s attendance and I encourage you to ensure that he attends school as much as possible. It will be to his benefit.

A reminder that it is school policy that an explanation is given in writing when a pupil has been absent. In the revised edition of our school homework diary you will find space between pages 98 and 104 to note explanations for absences. This should prove convenient for parents and teachers.

2^nd Class – Room 14 - Ms. Annie Hickey

2^nd/3^rd Class – Room 13 – Ms. Suzanne Crosbie

3^rd Class – Room 17 – Ms. Ann Marie Banville

4^th Class – Room 16 – Ms. Lynn Ruddock

4^th Class – Room 1 – An t-Uasal Tomás O’Concubhair

5^th Class – Room 9 – Ms. Erin Cleary

5^th Class – Room 10 – Br. Éamonn Kinsella

6^th Class – Room 11 – Mr. Bobby Cummings

6^th Class – Room 15 – Ms. Eileen Casey

Special Education Teachers – Room 3 – Mr. Noel Morris

Room 4 – Ms. Fiona Gilboy

Resource Teacher – Room 2 – Ms. Mary Turner

English Language Teacher – Ms. Hilda Kenny

We launched our Healthy Eating Policy in June of this year. A copy of the policy accompanies this newsletter. I ask that you read it through to remind yourself of the details. You can also refer to it during the year by checking the Policies section on the school website.

There has been a very good reaction to the changes being implemented as a result of the policy. Generally the boys have responded very well and they are now fully aware that sweets, chocolate and "bars" are not seen as a healthy option and are not allowed in the school from Monday to Thursday. On Friday only boys are allowed to bring in one treat.

There has been an increase in the amount of "cereal bars" being consumed in the school. Cereals are generally seen as being "good for you". However, I had a concern about the level of sugar in cereal bars and I sought advice from the H.S.E. (Health Service Executive). Dentists do not recommend cereal bars for children unless they can brush their teeth immediately after eating them. This would not be practical in school. Cereal bars will then be put into the treat category and can therefore be eaten on Fridays only.

The first Staff Meeting for this school year will take place on Thursday 28^th September with school closing at 1.50 p.m. In theory staff meetings take place on the last Thursday of each month. However there are exceptions and I would ask that you note the dates as listed below.

Thurs. 28th school closed at 1.50 p.m. - Staff Meeting

Thurs 26th school closed at 1.50 p.m.—Staff Meeting

Thurs. 30th school closed at 1.50 p.m.—Staff Meeting

Thurs. 14th school closed at 1.50 p.m.—Staff Meeting

Thurs. 25th school closed at 1.50 p.m.—Staff Meeting

Thurs. 15th school closed at 1.50 p.m.—Staff Meeting

Thurs. March 22nd school closed at 1.50 p.m.-Staff Meeting

Thurs. 26th school closed at 1.50 p.m.-Staff Meeting

Thurs. May 31st school closed at 1.50 p.m.—Staff Meeting

Thurs. June 21^st school closed at 1.50 p.m. –Staff Meeting

Information on school closures for the coming year may be found on the Calendar page. In addition to these dates there will be 7 other closures to facilitate teachers’ In-Career Development as part of the implementation of the Revised Curriculum. Teacher in-service is coordinated by Co. Wexford Education Centre and once we have been assigned days we will notify parents.

An insurance form accompanies the newsletter. You may like to take the option to insure your son in the event of an accident. Completed forms (tear off section only) to be put in an envelope with pupil’s name, room no. and amount of money on the outside.

Jos. Furlong

Principal

OCTOBER INFORMATION SHEET

There are quite a lot of new dates in this month’s information sheet.  Please take time to note them. 

FUN RUN

The 2006 Fun Run will take place on Friday of this week, 6^th October.  The boys will come to school as normal that morning.  They will change into their outfits after lunch and will be in the yard at 1.30 p.m.  When the judging of the best dressed classes has taken place the Fun Run will start (at approximately 1.50 p.m.) We would be delighted to see as many family members as possible on the day.

The boys will receive some fruit on their arrival back to the school. They will be free to leave at that time if they are in the company of an adult.  Those waiting in the school until 2.50 p.m. will be supervised.

PARENTS’ COUNCIL A.G.M.

The A.G.M. of the school’s Parents’ Council will take place on Monday 16^th October in Rooms 5 and 6 of the Old Building at 8 p.m.

STAFF MEETING

The next staff meeting will be held on the last Thursday of the month, 26^th October.  School will close at 1.50 p.m.

PARENT/TEACHER MEETINGS

Parent/Teacher Meetings will be held on Thursday 16^th and Thursday 23^rd November.  All parents will receive written notification of a suitable time. In line with the Department of Education and Science guidelines school will finish 15 minutes early on the 16^th and 23^rd of November, i.e. 2.35 p.m.

INSERVICE

School will be closed to pupils on the following dates to facilitate the holding of teacher inservice.

Friday 24^th November ’06 School Development Planning.

Friday 12^th January ’07 Drama.

Wednesday 16^th May ’07 Integration of Social, Environmental and Scientific Education.

Tuesday 5^th June ’07 Drama. (See Calendar Page)

There will be three further inservice days, the dates of which are not yet available.

CONFIRMATION CLASSES

Commitment Mass - Sunday 11^th February ’07 – Bride Street –10.30 a.m.

Service of Light & Pledge – Wednesday 25^th April ’07 – Bride Street – 7.30 p.m.

These are the Confirmation dates for the Parish of Wexford:-

Saturday 12^th May - Bride Street Church - 11.00 a.m.

Sunday 13^th May - Rowe Street Church - 12.30 p.m. (See Calendar Page)

The boys will have a choice in relation to their Confirmation Day.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

Introduction Sunday – Sunday 4^th February’07 – Bride Street Church – 10.30 a.m.

First Penance – Thursday 22^nd March ’07 – Bride Street Church – 7.30 p.m.

Picture Sunday – Sunday 29^th April ’07 – Bride Street Church – 10.30 a.m.

First Holy Communion – Sunday 27^th May ’07 – Bride Street Church – 10.30 a.m.

HEALTHY EATING

Next week we will send home a leaflet containing suggestions about Healthy School Lunches.  You can also find this information and the school’s Healthy Eating Policy on the Policies page.

ATTENDANCE

Traditionally the attendance for the month of September tends to be very good.  Last month’s attendance, 96.6%, was the best in over 30 years!  I stopped checking when I got to 1972!  It really is so important that the boys get into the habit of attending school on as many days as possible.  Thank you for your support.

MID TERM BREAK

The Halloween Break is not too far away.  A reminder that school will close as normal at 2.50 p.m. on Friday 27^th October.  School will re-open on Monday 6^th November (See Calendar Page).

Jos Furlong

Principal

  NOVEMBER  INFORMATION SHEET

FUN RUN ‘06

This year’s Fun Run was another great success.  Well done to all the boys and the teachers for dressing up and making it a real “fun” event!  As ever the boys deserve great credit for raising so much money, which will be used to improve on existing resources.  The amount raised to date is €10,016!  Thanks to you, the parents, for contributing to this total.

PARENT / TEACHER MEETINGS

This year’s meetings will take place on Thursday 16^th November and Thursday 23^rd November.  In line with Department of Education and Science guidelines school will finish 15 minutes early each day, i.e. 2.35 p.m.  The teachers will be notifying parents this week in relation to the meetings which will be held on Thursday 16^th November.  We ask that you confirm your appointment time in writing.

            We see the formal Parent/Teacher meetings as being very important.  The meetings will involve a sharing of information between teachers and parents, which in turn will be to the benefit of the pupils in our care.  I would like you to make every effort possible to attend.

INSERVICE

The next staff inservice will be held on Friday 24^th November.  School will be closed on that day.

STAFF MEETING

A reminder that the next Staff Meeting will take place on Thursday 30^th November with school closing at 1.50 p.m.

ATTENDANCE

October’s figure was, yet again, the best in over 30 years – 95.6%.  I encourage the boys and their parents to continue to work at maintaining these high percentages.

IMPORTANT CHANGE TO THE SCHOOL’S DISCIPLINE POLICY

Suspension is one of the sanctions in our school’s Discipline Policy.  Suspensions can be for one, two or three days.  The suspension of a pupil from school is a very serious matter.  Pupils who are suspended do not receive their Positive Discipline Stamps for those days.

            In recognition of the seriousness of the issue, the members of the school’s Board of Management unanimously supported the following change in the School’s Discipline Policy: -

Suspension of a pupil from school will result in the loss of 10 Positive Discipline Stamps, in addition to the loss of 2 stamps for each day of the suspension.

            In effect this means that a suspended pupil will lose 12, 14 or 16 Positive Discipline Stamps.  This could have a major bearing on whether or not a pupil would have enough stamps to go on the school tour or attend the end of year B.B.Q.

            This change will become school policy on Monday 20^th November. 

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

Last year 300,000 shoe box gifts were sent from Ireland to children in Eastern Europe and Africa.  Our pupils participated in the project and we are again encouraging as many boys as possible to put items together to make a nice gift for very needy children.  Leaflets containing all the details were distributed during the week.  The project is coordinated by Samaritan’s Purse.  You might like to check the website, www.samaritanspurse.ie  We ask that all shoe boxes be brought to school by Tuesday 14^th November.

RACKARD LEAGUE FOOTBALL TEAM

Well done to the boys on the school football panel for reaching the county Semi Final.  They will play Monageer National School on Monday 13^th November.  The game will be played at 3 p.m. in St. Patrick’s Park in Enniscorthy.  Thanks to Mr. Bobby Cummings for training the boys so well.  They are great ambassadors for the school.

PARENTS’ COUNCIL VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION

The members of the Parents’ Council organise two fund raising events each year – the Voluntary Contribution and the Christmas Raffle.  The Voluntary Contribution, at €30 per family, is a relatively small amount.  However, when many people contribute, it assists the school in building on the existing resources and facilities.

            The Voluntary Contributions over the past two years have been used to enhance our I.T. provision.  The members of the Parents’ Council have kindly agreed to set aside this year’s contributions for I.T. expenses, e.g. replacing older computers, a printer for each classroom, purchasing printer cartridges and ongoing maintenance and upgrading costs.

            The envelopes will be distributed shortly and I encourage you to contribute.  It will be to the benefit of your son.

HEALTHY EATING

Thanks to everybody for their support of our Healthy Eating Policy.  The boys have adapted to the change very well.  Hopefully you have seen the Healthy Lunches leaflet which was distributed last month. 

STAFF INSERVICE

Listed below are new insevice dates when school will be closed to pupils.

Friday 9^th February – Consolidation and Review of Irish, S.P.H.E. and Science.

Friday 16^th March – Drama

Friday 1^st June – Social, Environmental and Scientific Education.

A convenient way to view all closures in this school year is to check out the “06/07 Calendar” on the school’s website.  Holding the cursor over a symbol on the calendar will give you more information.

WEBSITE

Staff member, Noel Morris, continues to do excellent work on updating the website.  We all greatly appreciate his enthusiasm, expertise and commitment.  You might like to check out the feature on Past Pupil, Jim Halligan.  If you have some old photographs relating to the school we would be delighted to receive them.  All items will be returned after scanning.

Jos. Furlong

Principal

8^th November 2006.