8th September 2016.
Parent Circular No. 1
Dear Parent(s)/ Guardian(s),
Fáilte mór ar ais ar scoil gach duine. Táimid ag súil le bliain iontach ar scoil i 2016/2017.
Welcome back and a very special ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’ to all the pupils who have enrolled in St.
Finnachta’s National School for the first time. This has been a particularly exciting week for the
eighty one new Junior Infant pupils and their parents.
As we embark on a new school year, I would kindly ask you to note the following information presented in
this beginning-of-year circular to parents.
Staffing
Firstly, I extend a warm welcome to all teachers who were appointed to our teaching staff this summer
particularly Ms. Melissa O’ Connell on her permanent appointment and Ms. Theresa Tierney (First Class), Mr.
Éanna Burns (Fifth Class) and Mr. Cillian Fennessy (Sixth Class) who join the staff for the first time.
Congratulations to Mr. Alan Kilcoyne on his appointment as principal of St. Senan’s NS in Foynes and we wish
him every success in his new role.
The School Day
School begins at 9.20am. Please ensure that your child is punctual. Children miss out on a
very important part of the school day if they are late.
The school is opened at 9.10am in the morning & children make their way into class when
the first bell rings. The school does not accept responsibility for children before 9.10am. Pupils should not
enter the school before then.
In order to foster independence in pupils and to reduce unnecessary crowding in corridors, we ask parents not
to accompany children to the classroom door and instead release the children at the school gate or relevant
building entrance.
Beginning next Monday 12th September school staff will greet infant pupils at the entrance to the building
and help them to their classrooms.
Morning Break is at 11.00am – 11.10am and Lunch Time is at 1.00pm – 1.30pm.
Junior & Senior Infants go home at 2.00pm. All other pupils finish at 3.00pm.
Please note that Junior Infants will finish at 12.30 p.m up to an including Friday 16th September.
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In the interest of pupil education it is important that class interruptions are kept to a minimum. Each
interruption means that the whole class loses valuable learning time. Items such as forgotten lunches can be
given into the secretary’s office. All meetings with class teachers or principal must be by appointment.
Parents/ Guardians Visiting the School
For security and safety reasons all visitors to the school are expected to enter the school via the main front
gate or back gate. Parents/ guardians who come to school during the school day, outside of normal pick-up
and drop-off times, must report to the main office in the first instance. Parents/ guardians are not permitted
to go directly to any classroom during class times.
Child Protection
In recent years, as a society, we have become very aware of the problem of child abuse through neglect,
emotional, physical or sexual abuse.
Each one of us has a duty to protect children and Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and
Welfare of Children (2011) notes that teachers, who are the main care givers to children outside the family,
are particularly well placed to observe and monitor children for signs of abuse.
In response to this, the Department of Education and Skills published Child Protection Procedures for Primary
and Post-Primary Schools (2011) in relation to child protection and welfare. These procedures promote the
safety and welfare of all children and are to be welcomed.
The Board of Management has adopted these procedures as school policy. Consequently, if school staff
suspect or are alerted to possible child abuse (neglect, emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse) they are
obliged to refer this matter to Túsla: Children and Family Service. Túsla will then assess the situation and
provide support for the child concerned, and his/ her family, if required.
Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children may be accessed on the website
of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (www.dcya.ie) and the Department of Education and Skills
Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools can be read on the Department’s website
(www.education.ie). Parents/Guardians are also welcome to look through the procedures and Child
Protection Policy here at the school.
The school’s child protection policy is available on the school website or from the school office. Mr. Gareth
Heagney is the designated liaison person (DLP) for child protection and Mrs. McNulty (Deputy Principal) is
the deputy DLP. The school has adopted in full the Department of Education and Skill’s Child Protection
Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools.
School Calendar
Before the summer holidays, parents were provided with the 2016/17 school calendar. This
calendar is available from the school office should copies be required. Please be advised
that pupils will be dismissed for a half day closure on three separate days during the year to
facilitate school planning and staff training. These days will be:
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Monday 21st November 2016
Monday 6th February 2017 and
Monday 15th May 2017
The school is also awaiting details of staff in-service (one day) in relation to the New Integrated Language
Curriculum which is being rolled out to all schools later this year. There will be no school for pupils on this
date and we will send the details to you as soon as we receive them.
Parent-Teacher Meetings & Communication
Ours is a very busy school so meetings with teachers or school management are strictly by appointment
only. Appointments can be arranged by contacting the school office on (061) 369544 or by writing a note in
your child’s homework journal. It can be helpful to say what it is you wish to discuss when making the
appointment.
The homework journal (homework folder for infants) is a key means of communication
between home and school. Parents’ circulars and other notices, along with messages from
your child’s teacher are sent home in the journal (or folder for infant pupils).
Please check and sign your child’s journal/ folder each night.
It is school policy that, if parents/ guardians wish to discuss an aspect their child’s education or a particular
incident involving your child the relevant class teacher is the first point of contact. A copy of the school’s
parental complaints & grievance procedure is available on request.
Formal parent-teacher meetings will be scheduled for mid-November and allocated times and dates for
these meetings will be allocated to you soon. However, parents are reminded that they are welcome to
meet teachers to discuss pupils’ progress or other relevant matters throughout the year.
School Uniform & Tracksuit
The school uniform should be worn every day except on PE days or official school outings. From
last year, a generic sky blue polo shirt is acceptable instead of the white crested polo shirt which
is being phased out. If for any reason a child is not wearing the full school uniform he/ she
should present a note to the teacher from parents explaining why this is. Minimal jewellery such
as a watch and stud earrings are permitted. Other items such as bracelets and drop earrings can
cause injury or distress when broken or lost and are not allowed. Make-up is not allowed.
Thank you to the Parents’ Association Committee for arranging a uniform sale before the holidays.
The trousers of the PE tracksuit must be plain navy – without obvious logos, slogans or designs.
In hot weather, shorts are permitted but must be plain grey, navy or black.
Mobile Phones
In general, children should not need to bring mobile phones or other personal devices to school. We
understand that sometimes there are some exceptions where this is unavoidable. In such cases pupils must
inform the teacher in the morning that they have a phone in their possession and it must remain switched
off for the full duration of the school day. Unapproved use of mobile phones in school will be treated very
seriously.
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Healthy Eating
Healthy eating is promoted in this school. The new Healthy Eating Policy has been introduced
to all pupils and will be implemented from next Monday 12th September (copy attached).
The following foods are not allowed: Nuts and foods containing nuts (e.g. Nutella); Fizzy
drinks/sweetened fruit juices; Crisps; Fast Food; Chocolate Spreads; Popcorn, Yoghurts,
yoghurt drinks or frubes; Chewing Gum. If your child comes to school with an item that is not
allowed in school, he/she will not be allowed to eat it.
On Fridays one treat is allowed (e.g. Chocolate bar; Biscuits; Cereal Bars; Sweets) which should be of a
reasonable size for a child.
*Parents of children with special dietary requirements must required to make an appointment with the
principal to discuss the matter before any exceptions can be made.
It can be challenging to come up with lunch options that are nutritious, practical and affordable, and most
importantly, that children enjoy. The food safety authority has provided some useful ideas which are
available at www.safefood.eu with a wide variety of foods recommended including one portion of each:
starchy foods, protein, dairy, and fruit. Water and milk are the most suitable drinks for children.
School Lunches
The school lunch scheme is optional for parents and is provided by Carambola Kidz. For a nominal cost pupils
can avail of healthy individualised lunches which are delivered to the school fresh each day. Menus are
available from the school office and the cost of lunches is €1 per day. The cost for September is €22 and is
payable to the office.
Personal Belongings
A large number of belongings are left unclaimed in Lost Property every year and are eventually given to
charity. Please, please make sure that all your child’s belongings are clearly labelled – coats, jumpers and
cardigans, books, schoolbags, lunch boxes.
School Attendance/ NEWB Reporting
Your child should attend school every day unless there is a good reason.
Under the Education (Welfare) Act (2000) the school must inform the National Education Welfare Board
where a pupils’ absence is 20 days or more. Upon your child’s return to school following an absence, the
purple explanation form must be given to the class teacher outlining the dates and reasons for the absence.
For safety reasons children will not be released during school hours to anyone except parent or nominated
adult, unless a signed note is provided to the teacher by the parent(s)/ guardian(s) in advance. Children
should only be collected early if it is absolutely necessary and you will be required to fill out the sign-out
form at the office.
If your child is ill, please do not send them to school. Take your doctor’s advice regarding rashes and
infections.
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Medical Conditions & Administration of Medication
The school takes seriously its duty to safeguard the health and safety of pupils. The Board of
Management has published the ‘Management of Chronic Illness & Administration of
Medication Policy’ on the school website.
Any requests to administer medication must be in writing and submitted to the school before
approval to give medicine can be given. Staff members are not required to administer medication.
At the beginning of each school year, parents/ guardians should ensure that teachers are made aware, in
writing, of any medical condition suffered by their child. Where children with potential life threatening
conditions or serious allergies, parents should clearly outline in writing, what should and what should not be
done in a particular emergency situation. The relevant forms are available from the school office and should
be completed and returned immediately if your child has a serious medical condition or required
medication.
Parents/ guardians are responsible for ensuring that the medication is ‘in date’ and replaced when needed.
There are some pupils at the school with serious issues whose health can be seriously affected by typical
bugs and infections. You should not send your child to school if they are sick and this year parents of Junior
Infant pupils should tell the class teacher if their child has/ had any viruses and infections including live
vaccines.
Anti-Bullying Policy & Code of Behaviour
An extremely high standard of behaviour, underpinned by the values of respect, empathy, trust and
integrity, is expected from all pupils. We are very determined to maintain the highest possible standard of
pupil behaviour in the school. We want to ensure that the well-being of pupils is protected and that learning
and teaching are not interrupted by unacceptable behaviour.
Bullying is repeated systematic aggression which may be verbal, physical, emotional or psychological,
conducted by an individual or group against others. Isolated incidents of aggressive behaviour, which will not
be condoned, cannot be described as bullying. Bullying will never be tolerated in St. Finnachta’s National
School.
At assemblies and in classrooms, the children are reminded to report bullying incidents immediately, or at
least before the end of the school day. If your child is too afraid or upset, for any reason, to report bullying,
you should make an appointment as soon as possible to meet with the relevant class teacher to make him/
her aware of the incidents that have occurred in the recent past.
The school’s Anti-Bullying Policy and Code of Behaviour have been published on the school website.
Contact Details
It is very important that you keep us updated with contact details in case of an emergency.
Remember to let us know in the office of you change your telephone number or home address.
You will not receive school texts/ letters etc. unless you tell us about your new contact details.
If any information, including emergency contacts, has changed please tell us.
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Cash for Clobber
There will be a clothes collection later this month and we hope that you can keep any unwanted clothing
until then. Details to follow.
Parent Contributions
Please find attached letter about Voluntary Contributions.
Like many other schools, the Board of Management faces difficulties in financing the day to day running of
the school. The Government grant for running the school is not sufficient to meet the basic expenses of the
school. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.
Road Safety
Clare County Council provides parents/ guardians and their children with a number of traffic management
resources including: free parking in the car park opposite the school drop-off in the morning and collection in
the afternoon; a dedicated disabled parking space; dedicated school bus area; and the junior
warden service which is operated by Ms. McMahon and her team of 5th and 6th class junior
wardens to help pedestrians cross the road safely. Please encourage your children to cross with
the Traffic Wardens as they have been put there for everyone’s safety. Lessons learnt in crossing the road
safely will stay with the children for life.
I strongly urge parents to park safely and ask their children to walk safely on the pedestrian crossing. In
order to protect the safety of children and other road users, and to avoid unnecessary interruptions to the
flow of traffic at the school and surrounding housing estates, parents/ guardians are asked not to park on
double yellow lines or footpaths. Cars should not be parked in the bus drop-off area. Please drive carefully
and respectfully.
The school cannot be responsible for reckless or dangerous driving and parking by parents and others
outside the school. Although there are significant parking facilities adjacent to the school, there have been
some concerns about unsafe driving and parking over the past number of years. Please be advised that the
school’s policy in relation to this will be to forward such complaints to An Garda Síochána.
Some Other Important School Policies
The school has also updated the following policies recently which has been published on the school website:
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Homework Policy
Acceptable Usage Policy (AUP)
Parental Custody & Separation Policy
Split the Pot
The Split the Pot fundraising activity has been a great success. A new ‘Split the Pot’ fundraiser for the school
has started. Each week there will be a draw where the winner will get half of the pot and the school will get
the other half. The draw will take place on Wednesdays.
You will find an envelope attached to this circular should you wish to enter next week’s draw. One entry
only costs €2 and envelopes are already available in local shops, post office, pharmacy and directly from the
school. Remember if you’re not in you can’t win!!
Thank you to everyone who has been organising and supporting the ‘Split the Pot’.
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Home Issues
If there are issues at home such as separation, family bereavement etc. it can be helpful for
the class teacher to be made aware the situation. Parental separation or family
bereavement can be traumatic for the child(ren) concerned if not supported. Any
information is treated confidentially. Teachers can then support the student at school or
help link the family in to suitable services.
It can also be helpful to notify the school of the involvement of any services with your child regarding their
learning such as psychologists, speech and language therapists or occupational therapists.
Teachers will approach the issue with sensitivity and with a focus on the well-being of your child.
Saving Scheme for Pupils
The School Saving Scheme for pupils, in co-operation with St. Francis Credit Union Ltd. Sixmilebridge, will
continue again this year. Setting up a savings account for your child and teaching them good financial habits
early is one of the simplest and easiest ways to ensure that your child is on track for a
bright financial future.
Credit Union staff will be available in a designated space in the school each Wednesday,
starting on Wed. 14th September, to open accounts and deposit money for pupils in 2nd –
6th classes only. Please see the attached notice and forms for further information.
Bicycles & Scooters
Children who bring bicycles or scooters to school must dismount at the gate and walk their bicycle/ scooter
to the rack. Cycling is never permitted in the yard.
School Transport
Some pupils get the school bus. Please encourage your child to exercise care, be of good behaviour and be
courteous to the driver and classmates while on the bus. Seat belts must be worn and children must remain
seated at all times– please remind your child. Any reports of misbehaviour will be passed to the Bus
Inspector who will deal with them.
Dates for Your Diary
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Mon. 19th Sept. – Junior Infants finish at 2pm
Mon. 31st Oct. – Fri. 6th Nov. (inclusive) – School closed for Mid-Term Break
The staff and management of St. Finnachta’s National School enjoy tremendous support and co-operation
from the children and their parents. It is this co-operation and support, along with the dedication of staff,
which makes our school atmosphere so pleasant and conducive to learning and growth. With that I wish you
all and your child(ren) every success and good fortune in the year ahead.
Le gach dea ghuí,
____________________
Gareth Heagney
Príomhoide
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