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At the start of the new school year I would like to welcome back all of our pupils. A special welcome to our Junior Infants and other new pupils. Ms. C. Browne, Ms. A. Reynolds, Ms. O. McGrath, Ms. A. Shelton and Mr. P. O’Meara have joined the staff, Ms. Weber, Ms. Weber and Ms. McMurrough are on career break.
Personal Accident Insurance - Please find attached Personal Accident Insurance Policy application form. I encourage all parents to join the scheme.
Contact Information - Please fill in the attached Contact Information form and return it to the class teacher by Friday September 14th. Please provide your Eircode if possible, codes can be found on eircode.ie.
If your child has any medical condition we should know about please put details in a sealed envelope and staple to Contact form.
Time Keeping - Please ensure that children are on time in the morning and collected on time. Parents are not allowed to the classroom areas at any time -especially mornings- without the permission of the Principal or Secretary. Teachers report that a number of parents are in the habit of collecting older children at 1.40 when they are collecting infants. This seems to happen, most often on a Friday. Please do not do this as it is very disruptive and the children miss out on work.
Attendance - A significant number of children have poor attendance records. I believe that a child should miss on average about 5 days a year, unless he /she contracts a serious disease. I wrote to many parents last year requesting that the issue was addressed. This year we have appointed an attendance tracking secretary, who will monitor attendance, contact parents if necessary and support them in improving attendance.
Homework - Children get homework Monday to Thursday
Junior / Senior Infants – about 15minutes
1st / 2nd classes – about 20 – 30 minutes
3rd / 4th classes – about 30 – 40 minutes
5th/ 6th classes – about 45 – 60 minutes
Please sign homework every day. Particular attention should be paid to non-written homework such as reading and tables
Uniform - Children must wear their uniform at all times except on days of PE or when advised by the class teacher. There are some tracksuits in stock if parents want to place a late order. Some sizes are already out of stock.
Foroige Courses - Please visit our website to see the list of courses for parents. These courses are mostly free.
Traffic Management - Please continue to arrive at the school via Heatherview Drive and leave by Carrigmore Road. This facilitates the flow of traffic at peak times. Please do not park on the yellow lines at the entrance to the school or across residents’ driveways. There is no access to the school by the staff car park.
School Fees - Thanks to all those that have already paid their fees. All outstanding fees should be paid as soon as possible.
Sacramental Dates - We hope to have dates for First Holy Communion and Confirmation later in the week.
Lost Property - There is a lot of lost property – mostly coats - in the school. They will be on display this Friday 14th. Unclaimed items will be donated to charity of kept for clothes collection.
Homework Club - The Homework Club will be resuming next week. There are a limited number of places available for children from 2nd to 6th classes. If you wish to apply for a place, please send in a letter this week.
Notes / Bulletins - All important notes are posted on our website www.smdpns.com
School Closures
The school will be closed on the following dates:
Friday October 26th Presidental Election
Monday October 29th – Friday November 2nd Mid Term break
Monday December 24th – Friday January 4th Christmas Break
Thursday February 21st – Friday February 22nd Mid Term Break
Friday March 15th – Tuesday March 19th St. Patricks Break
Monday April 15th – Friday April 26th Easter Break
Monday May 6th Bank Holiday
Friday May 31st, Mon June 3rd and Tues June 4th June Bank Holiday
We close for the Summer on Friday June 28th at 12 noon.