Newsletter Volume 25, Issue 1, 22.10.21
Arrivals and Departures
- We welcome the pupils who have commenced in St Colmcille’s BNS, and look forward to working with them and their parents during the coming years.
- We wish to thank Ms Claire Sweeney, Ms Denise Powell, Ms Aoibheann Tumbleton and Ms Sarah Louise Brogan for their service to our school and we take this opportunity to wish them well in their future careers.
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. Members of the Parents’ Association decorated the hall for Hallowe’en and packed 371 goody bags for the boys to enjoy today! They bought prizes for the Hallowe’en Art Competition which was judged yesterday. Congratulations to all of the entrants. The boys’ artwork will be posted on the Parents’ Association Facebook page. All of these events have made this an enjoyable week for the boys.
We encourage more parents to become actively involved with the Parents’ Association.
Sacraments
The boys in 3rd Class received their First Holy Communion on 12th October. The boys who finished 6th Class last June received the sacrament of Confirmation on 28th September. Congratulations to all of the boys and their families.
Please note: The parish has not yet set dates for the celebration of the First Penance/ Holy Communion/ Ceremony of Light/ Confirmation in 2022. Any updates will be emailed to parents/ guardians as they are received from the parish office.
Sponsored Jog
The boys participated in the Sponsored Jog on 14th October. We are very grateful to parents and guardians for their generous sponsorship of the event. To date, we have raised €4,377.80. This has allowed us to order another Promethean Touch Screen for a mainstream classroom! Thank you for helping us to provide this state of the art equipment for another class of children this year.
Junior Infants 2022
We are now accepting applications for Junior Infants 2022-2023. Application forms are available from the office at colmcilles@gmail.com / (01) 8405132 or on our website www.colmcilles.net.
Hallowe’en Camp
Sherpa Kids is running a camp next week for boys and girls who attend our schools. Further details are available from sk_colmcillesbns@sherpakids.ie
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 must not be brought to school at any time.
Collecting a child who is presenting as unwell during school hours.
If a child shows symptoms of Covid-19 or otherwise presents as unwell while at school, parents/ guardians will be contacted to collect the child without delay as per Department of Education guidelines. It is essential that the child is collected promptly. On a number of occasions, staff have been unable to perform their teaching/ SNA duties for periods of up to two hours as they were caring for children who were unwell and waiting to be collected.
Absence due to Illness
If your son is unwell and unable to attend school, please send the ‘Return to Educational Facility Parental Declaration’ to his teacher on his return. This can be done in one of two ways- either by clicking the link in Aladdin Connect (app or browser) or by completing the form available from the hpsc.ie website or by following the following link: https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/educationguidance/Return%20to%20Educational%20Facility%20declaration%20form.pdf
In addition, please send a note explaining the reason for his absence to his teacher. Again, this can be done through the Aladdin Connect app/ browser or by sending a physical note with your son, to give to his teacher.
If the illness is likely to affect other boys or staff (Covid-19, chicken pox, mumps, slapped cheek etc.) we would appreciate a phone call or email as soon as you are aware of the illness. From time to time, we have pupils and staff members who are receiving treatment for serious illnesses and this information may be important. In addition, there are a number of common childhood illnesses which can be harmful to pregnant women. We appreciate your thoughtfulness in this regard.
Further information on common childhood illnesses is available in our Illnesses and Medications policy available on our website http://colmcilles.net/.
Sporting Activities
Fingallians GAA club and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) will offer coaching to a number of classes, beginning after the mid-term break. Details will be shared with the classes involved.
Uniform
The boys should wear their school tracksuits on their two PE days each week. They should wear trousers, shirt, tie and jumper on the other three days.
Please write your son’s name on all of his belongings, including his jumper and tracksuit top in particular. We also ask you to check that your son has his own jumper, as they can sometimes be swapped accidentally following PE lessons, or playing outside.
Meetings with Teachers
If you wish to speak to your son’s teacher, please make an appointment in advance. If there is an urgent matter which needs to be dealt with immediately, please phone the school office on (01) 8405132.
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. Ideally, 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.
*Please note: we are continuing to allow the children to arrive between 8:50-9:05 to avoid crowds gathering before school.
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.
ALDI, Seatown Road - Car Park
Parents/ guardians are reminded that there is a gate connecting our school grounds with the car park at ALDI on Seatown Road. The gate is open for the school drop off each morning.
Bicycles and Scooters
For safety reasons, bicycles and scooters should not be ridden inside the school grounds. Pupils and parents who ride bicycles /scooters should walk with their bicycle or scooter until outside the school grounds.
Security Works on Campus
The Department of Education has approved funding to make a number of improvements to the school campus. The works to improve security will include new external doors with a fob system, CCTV on all external doors and gates, as well as a traffic barrier inside the main gate which will be monitored by both schools. The groundworks will begin next week.
Applications for Post –Primary School places
Parents/ guardians of boys in 6th Class are advised to make contact with their post primary school of choice. It is up to parents/ guardians to make contact and make the application directly. If your son has Special Educational Needs and you wish to enrol him in a special class or special school, it is essential to make enquiries as early as possible (a number of years in advance) as places are very limited.
Dates for your Diary
Mid-term break: Monday, 25 October – Friday, 29 November 2021 (inclusive)
Christmas vacation: School closes at 11:50 a.m. for Junior & Senior Infants and
at 12.00 p.m. for classes from 1st – 6th on Wednesday, 22 December
School re-opens at 8.50 a.m. on Thursday, 6 January 2022.
2021/ 2022 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
There has been a lovely atmosphere in the school since the boys returned in August. 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
