Newsletter
17th November 2017
Dear parents, carers, staff and friends,
News this week
Monday was World Kindness Day and our children’s team of Anti-Bullying Ambassadors shared some ideas with children at assembly to help them show kindness. The children were encouraged to smile, wave and give high fives to their friends to be kind. The Anti-Bullying Ambassadors were taking note of these acts of kindness all week and one child from each class was chosen to go into the draw at assembly today to bring home our kindness bear. Saila from 1st Class was named as our kindest child this week – well done Saila!
Our Junior Infants were very brave on Tuesday when they had their vaccinations. They have their very own doctor’s surgery in their classroom this term, so they knew exactly what to expect!
Our 5th and 6th Class have been taking part in boxing sessions with our local boxing club and Dublin City Council’s Health and Wellbeing team. Some children have been selected for a special inter-school ‘Gold’ programme. We are very proud of them. Thank you to Mrs. Fay and Ms. Kilkenny who have been supporting the children each week.
Parent Teacher Meetings
We will be holding our annual, formal parent-teacher meetings next week. You should by now have received a date and time to meet with your child’s class teacher. It is a great opportunity to talk about how your child is getting on at school. Please do your very best to attend. If you are unable to attend at the time you have been given, please let your child’s teacher know well in advance so they are not left waiting for you. We will do our very best to accommodate everyone.
Project with DCU Institute of Education
Over the last few weeks, we have been working with student teachers from DCU Institute of Education who have visited classrooms across the school to support reading. 5th and 6th Class have done paired reading with Senior Infants, while other classes read poetry and take part in reader’s theatre. Our visiting teachers have been so impressed with the children’s engagement and commented especially on their manners and good behaviour – well done children!
DESSA – Empowering Parents’ Programme
We are delighted to be hosting the ‘Empowering Parents’ Programme’ run by a group called DESSA, who work with families with children with special educational needs. The course helps parents to find out more about the supports available for the children. It is funded by ABC Grangegorman and the first three weeks are taking place in Presentation Primary, Georges’ Hill. The final three weeks will take place in our school. If you are interested in taking part, please talk to Síle, our Home-School Community Liaison teacher.
Attendance and punctuality
Well done to Ms. Marron’s Senior Infant Class who have 100% attendance this week.
6th Class and Ms. Collins’s 2nd Class weren’t far behind with 99% – well done to all!
Dates for your diary
21/22 November – Parent-Teacher Meetings
21st November – Time to Read Launch
21st Nov – 5th/6th to Belvedere Urban Farm
30th November – School Closed for Staff Training in New Language Curriculum
14 December – Senior Infants to Imaginosity
20 December – 1st and 2nd to the Ark
Best wishes,
Éadaoin Kelly
Principal