CIRCULAR TO ALL PARENTS, No. 1, 1st September 2009

Dear Parents,

Fáilte romhaibh ar ais chuig an bhliain scoile nua. I welcome particularly our new Junior Infants and wish them many happy and fruitful years with us.
Calendar
A full calendar for the new school year will be circulated next week and published on our website. School will close at 1.20 next Monday 7th September.
School normally closes at 1.20p.m. on the first Monday of each month for staff meetings. Please ensure (where relevant) that your children are collected on time. The induction period for Junior Infants and Rang a h-Aon will finish on Friday 11th September. Normal closing times will apply from Monday 14th.

Security/Safety Issues
All doors will be closed after 9.00 A.M. Visitors (and latecomers!) should ring the bell on the front door for access after 9.00. For assembly period (8.40-9.00) all doors except the main entrance will be open. The main entrance has an internal release button and may be used for exit. (Please close the door after exit). The most practical entrances for pupils are as follows: Pupils in Rooms 9-12 use the laneway door near Trees Avenue . Pupils in Rooms 1-4 use the ramped side entrance near the prefabs. Pupils in Rooms 5-8 should use any entrance except the main door.
All doors can be opened from the inside in case of fire. Your cooperation in this is appreciated.
Parents are reminded that the school accepts no responsibility for pupils before 8.40 a.m. or after official closing time (1.20/2.20).  Parents of infants should ensure that their children are collected on time from the yard inside the school gate in front of the school. Parents of pupils in other classes who collect their children should wait outside the school gate. Pupils with bicycles must dismount before entering school property.

Policies
Please encourage your children to be punctual. “Formal Instruction” starts at 9.00 and latecomers interrupt the work in the classrooms. All pupils are expected to wear the school uniform. Pupils from Rang 3-6 are asked to have a plain blue shirt for formal occasions (choir, etc.) The school’s code of behaviour is published in the homework notebook and on the school website. Other policies (Healthy Eating, Anti-Bullying, etc.) are on our website.

Text Alerts
Please ensure that you have joined up to receive text alerts. To join the group, send the following text to 53215:

JOIN sstreasa 0872136018 Child’s NameF/M  (Insert your child’s name + F for father or M for mother)
One parent from each family is encouraged to join and both parents may join if desired. You can elect to stop receiving texts at any time.

Lost Property: All belongings must be clearly marked with the child’s name. The school accepts no responsibility for articles lost or mislaid.

Influenza A (H1N1)
All pupils will receive instruction on respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene this week. Please reinforce the message at home. All toilets have liquid soap dispensers  and electric hand drying facilities or paper towels. Further measures will be taken as appropriate. All pupils should have a supply of tissues.
If your child is sick in school you will be asked to collect him/her. Please ensure that you inform the school if your contact details have changed. If your child is sick, please keep him/her at home. More on this anon.
Information available on www.swineflu.ie , www.hse.ie , www.dohc.ie

Funding
Please see letter overleaf  re educational costs and annual maintenance/ improvements voluntary contributions.

Le buíochas agus dea ghuí,
Proinsias Ó hÓgáin. (Príomhoide)