October 2017
Arrivals and Departures
We welcome the pupils who have commenced in St Colmcille’s BNS, and we look forward to working with them and their parents during the coming years.
- We also welcome Ms Teresa Timmons and Ms Carol Barrett who joined our staff in recent months.
- We wish to thank Ms Sarah Reilly who transferred to a new school at the start of the new school year for her devoted service to our school, and we take this opportunity to wish her well for the future.
- We extend our best wishes to Mrs Mary McGee, School Secretary, who is retiring during the October mid-term break. We wish her well and thank her for her devoted service to our school and we hope that she will have a long and happy retirement. She will be missed by all sections of our school community.
- Mrs Margaret McKernan has been appointed to succeed Mrs McGee as Secretary. Margaret has a long association with our school and we wish her well as she begins her new role.
Good Wishes
We congratulate Ms Lisa Hoey and her husband on the birth of their son.
Attendance Awards
On Monday, 9 October Attendance Awards were presented to all pupils who did not miss a single day of school in the 2016-2017 academic year. Awards were also presented to pupils who missed no more than 3 days. It was fantastic to reward so many boys for their excellent attendance records.
Duty of Care / Behaviour prior to 8.50 a.m.
This is a reminder with regard to the commencement of the School’s Duty of Care. It is important to bear in mind that parents/ guardians are responsible for their children prior to 8.50 a.m. The boys should arrive in the school grounds between 8.40 a.m. and 8.50 a.m. They should walk directly to their lines and wait until they are collected by their teachers when school begins. Parents or an assigned guardian must remain in the Junior Yard with the younger pupils until they are collected from their lines. We ask the co-operation of parents/ guardians to ensure the safety of our pupils.
Traffic in School Grounds
Our insurers have asked that attention be drawn to the importance of preventing unauthorised access to the school grounds by people driving children to school. There is no permission for parents / guardians to drive cars into the school grounds.
Parking at entrances to the school grounds
Parents are asked to be mindful of local residents when parking their cars or dropping/ collecting their children. Local residents have expressed their frustration at being unable to move their cars from their driveways because of other cars blocking them.
Gate connecting ALDI’s car park to our premises
ALDI Property has not yet completed the works on their property adjoining our premises. The connecting gate will not be opened until these works have been approved by ALDI Property.
Fun Run
Our Fun Run was held on Wednesday, 18 October. The boys participated with great enthusiasm. Sincere thanks to the families who have returned sponsorship. We would ask those who have not yet returned the sponsorship cards, to please do so in the coming days. The money raised is used towards the cost of equipment and resources for our pupils.
Refurbishment of Toilet facilities
We have received funding from the Department of Education and Skills to refurbish the toilet facilities in our school. This work is due to commence in the coming weeks.
Administration of Medicines
Parents and Guardians are reminded that children are not permitted to bring medicines to school without the prior written agreement of the Board of Management. If your son needs to take any prescription medicine (including inhalers, epipens etc.) during school hours, you should ask for a permission form. Non-prescription medicines cannot be taken at school.
Cake Sale
The Cake Sale will be held on Friday, 27 October. Details have been circulated by the Parents’ Association.
Parents’ Association
We thank the members of the Parents’ Association for their support and co-operation during the past year, and wish them well for the coming year. We urge parents to become actively involved in the Parents’ Association.
Book- ‘Celebrating 50 Years of St Colmcille’s B.N.S.’
In June we launched our book celebrating 50 Years of St Colmcille’s Boys’ National School. This 80 page book describes the history of the school, includes interviews with past pupils from each of the five decades as well as interviews with past and current staff. It details many events of the school’s 50 year history. There are a small number of books still available. They can be purchased from the secretary’s office at a cost of €12.
New Language Curriculum
A new language curriculum for English and Irish is being introduced. During this academic year, teachers will begin to engage with the Oral Language element of the New Primary Language Curriculum for boys from Junior Infants to 2nd Class. There will be further training for teachers on the Reading and Writing elements of the curriculum later in the year. The school will be closed on that day. The date of the closure will be communicated to parents once the school has been notified.
Dates for your Diary
Mid-term break: 30 October – 3 November 2017 (inclusive)
First Penance: 6 February 2018
Confirmation: 19 April 2018
First Communion: 12 May 2018
2017 / 2018 Academic Year
Details of holidays and closures for the remainder of this school year are available on the school’s website www.colmcilles.net.
Focal Scoir
The school year is now well under way. We would like to thank all families for their courtesy, support and co-operation as we endeavour to do our very best for the boys entrusted to our care.
Ní neart go cur le chéile
