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Newsletters 07/08
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September
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SEPTEMBER ’07 NEWSLETTER
Welcome to another school year! I extend a special welcome to
the new boys and their parents. I hope that your time with us will
be enjoyable.
We are well settled in at this stage having started
back on Wednesday last, August 29th. We took the decision to start
early in order to give us a full week off in May as well as
February. The final term, 13 weeks, would have been very long on
everybody without the week-long mid term break in May. Full details
of the school closures appear in this newsletter.
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NOEL MORRIS
On Tuesday 17th July we were deeply saddened to learn of the
passing of one of our highly respected colleagues, Noel Morris. Noel
started his teaching career in C.B.S. Primary on 1st July 1969,
completing 38 years service this year. He was greatly respected by
the pupils, their parents and his colleagues. |
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Noel would have experienced many changes in Irish
Education during his time in the school. He showed a great
willingness to adapt and he remained fresh and enthusiastic about
his work throughout his career. As a class teacher he would have
taught in excess of 1,000 “Boys of Wexford”. For the past few years
he had been working as a Learning Support Teacher with pupils who
were experiencing difficulties with English and Maths. His caring
nature allied with his excellent teaching skills meant that these
pupils received the best of attention and their self esteem was
enhanced under Noel’s guidance.
It was Noel who was the driving force behind the
establishment of the Computer Room in 1999. He taught all of us the
value of using Information Technologies in the primary school.
Always looking to improve on things Noel organised that computers
would also be put into classrooms and that all computers throughout
the school be networked. He also designed and updated the school’s
excellent website.
Another one of Noel’s great interests was music. He
always enjoyed preparing boys for school concerts, teaching music in
the class and he also had charge of the school choir for many years.
Noel Morris was an excellent teacher who gave
dedicated service to C.B.S. Primary School. He will be remembered by
many, many people in Wexford. It was a privilege for all of us to
have worked with Noel.
PUPIL ACCIDENT INSURANCE
You have an opportunity again this year to take out insurance,
at a reasonable cost. There are two types of cover-
School Activities only, €5
School and Leisure Activities – 24 hour, €8.
An insurance form accompanies this letter. Completed forms (cut off
section only) can be put in an envelope with the pupil’s name, room
number and amount of money on the outside. Forms will be accepted up
to and including Friday 21st September.
PHOTO-COPYING AND ART
Each year we ask for a contribution of €20 per pupil to assist
with the high cost of photocopying and art materials. To date that
has raised €3,560. Thanks to everybody who has contributed already.
We would appreciate it if the remainder of the money could be paid
by Friday 7th September.
ATTENDANCE
The beginning of a school year is a good time to take stock of
your son’s attendance. It is so important for him to attend school
as much as possible. I have used the following quotation on a number
of occasions to bring home the importance of regular attendance.
“It is important that parents realise that patterns of
non-attendance are habit- forming. In other words, a child who
misses school regularly in primary is more likely to go on missing
school in secondary and is also more likely to drop out of school.”
Eddie Ward, Chief Executive of the National Educational Welfare
Board (NEWB).
I have detailed below the number of absences in the last school year
and the average number of absences each day. The figures speak for
themselves.
2006/2007
Total Absences Daily
Average Total Absences Daily
Average
 Sept.
174 8.3
Feb. 266 17.7
Oct.
215 10.8
March 358 17.9
Nov.
215 11.9
April 193 17.5
Dec.
271 16.9
May 396 22
Jan.
245 14.4
June 577 32
Total
Days Lost 2,910
I am appealing to you to ensure that your son attends
school as much as possible. You are not doing him any favours by
allowing him to be absent when he is in a position to attend.
PUPILS’ MOBILE PHONES
“Except in exceptional circumstances, pupils having and/or using
mobile phones in school and in all school related activities is
discouraged. If there is a genuine reason for a pupil to have a
mobile phone in school a parent may apply in writing to the
principal for approval. If approval is given, parents will be asked
to sign a Declaration of Acceptance of the terms. If a pupil has a
mobile phone in school without permission the phone will be held by
the school principal for collection by a parent”. Extract from the
school’s Mobile Phone Policy.
STAFF MEETINGS
Staff Meetings will generally be held on the last Thursday of
each month. There are usually some exceptions each year. The full
list appears in the School Closures section of this newsletter. The
first Staff Meeting for this school year will take place on Thursday
27th September with school closing at 1.50 p.m.
CRESTS AND JOURNALS
School crests are now available in the secretary’s office at a
cost of €5. The crest is an important part of the school uniform and
we would appreciate it if all boys had one on the jumper as soon as
possible. Journals are also in stock and they cost €2.50.
HEALTHY EATING POLICY
I ask that you be mindful of the content of the school’s Healthy
Eating Policy. Details can be found on the school’s website, where
you will also find suggestions about what to include in your son’s
lunchbox. Copies of the policy and the “Healthy Lunches for
Children” leaflet are also available from the school secretary, Mary
Goodison.
FUN RUN
Our Annual Fun Run will take place on Friday 5th October.
SCHOOL CLOSURES
September
Thurs. 27th school closed at 1.50 p.m. - Staff Meeting
October
Thurs 25th school closed at 1.50 p.m.—Staff Meeting
Mon. 29th Oct. – Fri 2nd Nov. – Mid Term Break.
November
Thurs. 29th school closed at 1.50 p.m.—Staff Meeting
December
Thurs. 20th school closed at 1.50 p.m.—Staff Meeting
Fri. 21st Dec. – school closed at 12.45 p.m. for Christmas Holidays
SCHOOL WILL RE-OPEN ON MONDAY 7TH JANUARY 2008.
January
Thurs. 31st school closed at 1.50 p.m.—Staff Meeting
February
Mon. 11th Feb – Fri 15th Feb. – Mid Term Break
Thurs. 28th school closed at 1.50 p.m.—Staff Meeting
March
Thurs. 13th School closed at 1.50 p.m. – Staff Meeting
Fri. 14th March – school closed at 12.45 p.m. for Easter Holidays.
SCHOOL WILL RE-OPEN ON MONDAY 31ST MARCH.
April
Thurs. 24th school closed at 1.50 p.m.-Staff Meeting
May
Mon. 5th – 9th school closed Mid Term Break.
Thurs. May 29th school closed at 1.50 p.m.—Staff Meeting
June
Mon 2nd – Public Holiday
Thurs. June 19th school closed at 1.50 p.m. –Staff Meeting
Mon. 30th June – school closed at 12.45 p.m. for Summer Holidays.
COURSES FOR PARENTS
Co. Wexford Education Centre in Enniscorthy has been a fantastic
resource for teachers in the South East for many years. I’m
delighted to see that some interesting courses for parents are now
being organised. Details can be found by clicking here.
Jos. Furlong
4th September 2007.
OCTOBER currently unavailable
NOVEMBER currently unavailable
DECEMBER currently unavailable
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