Our Lady's N.S.: November 2018

Thursday, November 8^th 2018

Dear Parents/Guardians

Thank you

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all parents, students and staff for their wonderful hard work during our busy first half term in Our lady’s N.S.

Sponsored Walk raised €1150 and huge thanks to all for your support.
The Halloween costumes for our Dress-up Day were amazing. A great day of game playing, modelling and fun was had by all. We raised €405.00

Book Fair

· Due to the success of our Book Fair on October 15^th – 18^th, we received €900 worth of beautiful good quality books for our school library. Many thanks again to all families for supporting the book fair and helping your school with this exciting initiative.

· GOAL Jersey Day

Goal Jersey Day was held on Friday 12^th October, the children looked fabulous in their jerseys. We raised €190 for GOAL.

Christmas Activities

Christmas Shoe Box Appeal

We organised 20 shoe boxes for the Shoebox Appeal and children made a huge effort to make the boxes very exciting for all the children receiving them. This was much appreciated. No doubt they will put a smile on many faces on Christmas morning!

Thinking of Others:

As it is near the season of goodwill and a special time for thinking of others we have once again decided to organise a food collection for the “less well off” in our community and present it to a St Vincent De Paul member at our Christmas Mass on Thursday Dec 20^th at 11am. One contribution per family will suffice. Every little helps but please don’t feel under pressure at this time of year.

· Christmas Cards in Our Lady’s N.S.

This year we would once again encourage children not to bring in a Christmas Card for every child in their class. Instead each class is going to have a “Christmas Card Kris Krindle”. Each child will be given plain card and an envelope to bring home to make a card for a friend, whose name they pulled out of a hat. They must put this in the “Class Post Box” before Monday December 17^th and they will be “delivered” in time for Christmas holidays.

· Christmas Mass/Raffle

This year our Bumper Raffle will take place on Thursday 20^th December after the Christmas Mass. As always we have a huge array of fabulous prizes. Tickets will go home to all families on Monday, December 3^rd. All parents welcome to attend.

Christmas Annuals

Christmas Annuals are available to order through the school for €3.

Junior/Senior Infants – Carnival - 1^st / 2^nd Class – Fairground

3^rd / 4^th Class – Parade - 5^th / 6^th Class – Festival

Money needs to be in by Friday 7^th December.

Reminders:

Please ensure that infants are collected promptly at 2pm
As per our school rules students must wear full uniform to school except on gym days where they are obliged to wear the school tracksuit and appropriate runners for health and safety reasons.
Homework: Homework is given to all pupils on a regular basis. We ask you to ensure that it is done carefully and the child’s journal signed (1^st – 6^th) each night.
Requisites Reminder: If anyone has overlooked payment of requisites, €21 for 1^st – 6^th and €15 for infants, please forward to the school at your earliest convenience.

School Lunches

Please check Carambola website for updates/menu changes on school lunches. Please talk

to your child and change their menu choices regularly online. We encourage all children to eat their healthy lunches in school.

Dog Fouling

On Health & Safety grounds we are deeply concerned that some dog owners are entering school grounds and allowing their dogs to foul. This is extremely worrying as children can pick up various infections/diseases from dog faeces.

We would strongly urge all dog owners not to allow their dogs onto school grounds and to keep their dogs on a leash when walking past the school..

Upcoming Events

DATE	EVENT
Tues Nov 13^th	Taster Day – Presentation Convent for 5^th & 6^th Class
Tues 13^th & Wed 14^th Nov	Parent/Teacher meetings - all Classes
Mon Dec 3^rd	Hearing & Vision Screening –Jnr Infants
Friday 18^th Dec	Final swimming lessons for 3^rd to 6^th Class students
Thursday, December 20^th at 11am	Christmas Mass Celebration in School Library Bumper Christmas Raffle
Friday, December 21^st	Christmas Holidays – 12noon
Monday, January 7^th 2019	Return to school

Board of Management

The following is the Agreed Report from Board meeting held on Thurs 25^th October.

The Board is delighted to have 101 pupils in Our Lady’s N.S. this year and would like to take the opportunity to wish children, staff and parents a successful school year.

The Board wishes Mrs Meagher well on her retirement.

The Board congratulated the school on the Standardised Test reports.

The Board wishes to thank Parents Council, Parents, Pupils and Staff on recent fundraising

Ø Sponsored Walk - €1150.00

Ø Halloween Dress Up Day - €405

Ø Book Fair - €900 worth of free books for the School Library

Ø GOAl Jersey Day - €190

Your invaluable support is much appreciated and all monies raised will be put to good use for our school this year.

The Board congratulated our 3^rd to 6^th class students on their recent participation

and success in Athletics and wishes to thank Ms Mason and Mr Gleeson for their help in preparing them.

The Board is glad to announce the upcoming investment in the schools I.T. Two Mi Touch Interactive LED Multitouch Screen will be installed in the Junior Room and Mrs O’ Dea’s Room. Further investment will be made over the coming years

The Board wishes to express gratitude to all members of our School Community who helped to have our school looking so well on our return in September. Thanks to Pat our Caretaker, Evelyn our Cleaner and Michael Kavanagh who is in charge of the grass and Willie McGrath our “Safety Officer” who stored our benches over the Summer break

The Board thanked Catriona Geeves for her service to the B.O.M over the past three years and wished her and her family well. Áine McGrath who received the next highest number of votes at election time is willing to take over the role for the remaining year of the current Boards tenure.

The Board welcomed Áine on board!

Thanking you once again for your continued support.

____________________________

Sheila O’ Sullivan (Principal)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Members of Board:

Fr Derry Quirke Sheila O’ Sullivan Deirdre Egan Áine McGrath

Anne Croke Willie McGrath Tom Butler Tadhg Vaughan