Back to School Email

Dear Parents/ Guardians, 

I hope you have enjoyed the summer. We are looking forward to welcoming our new Junior Infants and all our other classes back this September 1st. Just a few reminders before the new school year. 

Return Date:

Glounaguillagh National School will re-open on Tuesday, September 1st, at 8:50am.

Early Finish:

For the first 2 weeks (from 1st – 11th September inclusive) Junior Infants will have a shorter day i.e., the Junior Infant children will go home at 12 noon. Following this, school finishes for the Junior and Senior Infant Classes at 1:30pm. School finishes for the rest of the school (1st – 6th) at 2:30pm.

Junior Infants will not be receiving lunch from the Lunch Bag until their full days begin. We will be in touch with all details. 

Staffing Update:

Following the completion of our recent recruitment processes, we are delighted to welcome both new and returning members to the staff of Glounaguillagh N.S. for the 2026/2027 school year. Ms. Caitríona McCarthy has been appointed to the 6th Class teaching position. Ms. Deirdre Quirke and Ms. Aoife O'Sullivan will be on leave at the beginning of the school year. Mr. Niall Fenton Toms will cover Senior Infants and 1st Class, while Mrs. Emma Phelan will cover the Special Education Team job-share position for a number of weeks. We are also delighted to welcome Mrs. Deirdre Griffin to the school as a Special Needs Assistant. Mrs. Natasha O'Sullivan also joins us to partner Mrs. Juliet Russell in our SNA job-share position. We look forward to welcoming all of our staff, both new and returning, as we begin the 2026/2027 school year and wish everyone a happy and successful year ahead.

Class Groups 2026/2027:

Junior & Senior Infants – Mrs. Fiona Doyle

Senior Infants & 1st Class – Ms. Deirdre Quirke (Mr. Niall Fenton Toms)

2nd Class – Mrs. Emer Fleming

3rd & 4th Class – Ms. Ann O’Shea

4th & 5th Class - Mrs. Linda Galvin

6th Class – Ms. Caitríona McCarthy

SETs – Ms. Sinéad Pigott and Ms. Aoife O’Sullivan(Mrs. Emma Phelan)/Ms. Norma Tyther (job-sharing).

SNAs – Mrs. Juliet Russell/Mrs. Natasha O’Sullivan (job-sharing), Mrs. Joanne Falvey, Mrs. Deirdre Griffin.

Drop-Off:

• Mrs. Doyle’s Junior & Senior Infants, Ms. Quirke's/Mr Fenton Tom’s Senior Infants &1st Class, Ms. O’Shea’s 3rd & 4th Class and Mrs. Galvin's 4th & 5th Class will use the main front door.

• Mrs. Fleming’s 2nd Class and Ms. McCarthy’s 6th Class will use the side office door (pitch side)

 The school will open to accept pupils, and morning supervision begins, from 8:40am. Pupils should NOT be left unattended on the school grounds before 8:40am. To reduce congestion, parents are welcome to drop pupils between 8:40am & 9:10am.

Please remember that it gets very busy around the school in the mornings and evenings. Think about where you will park, park appropriately and walk with your child to the school gate. Parents can accompany our new Junior Infants to their door for a brief period initially. All other parents should let their child walk from the gate. Please do not linger around the gate at drop-off times. It is strictly “drop and go” to allow for other parents to park and drop their children to school. Junior and Senior Infant classes will be brought out to the yard by their teacher at going home time.

The Lunch Bag:

Don’t forget to order your child’s lunch by the end of the week, if you intend to do so. We will send the set up code to new parents in the 1st week of school.

Label Belongings:

Please put names on all jumpers and coats in order to reduce the lost and found for the year ahead. 

After-School Service:

For anyone who would like to avail of afterschool please contact Jade directly on Glounaguillaghafterschools@gmail.com or 087 458 0875. They are now offering Junior & Senior Infants their first hour of afterschool care FREE from 1.30pm–2.30pm!

Appointments:

There is an appointment system in operation in the school. Should you wish to speak with the Class Teacher please contact Jean in the office (066-9769402) to arrange an appointment or email office@glounaguillaghns.ie 

Communication – Aladdin App:

Please ensure you have downloaded the Aladdin App as this is how all school information is shared with parents throughout the year. If you are not connected or having any trouble with the App please contact Jean in the office. Junior Infant parents and new parents to the school will be receiving their log in details in the coming days. 

Stationery List/Books:

All Stationery lists have been sent out for September. If you have not received a stationery list for your child please contact Jean as soon as possible. 

Schoolbooks and copies will be provided for every child however you will receive a payment link in September for photocopying, pupil insurance, arts & crafts expenses, online subscriptions, School communications, etc. 

Calendar:

I have also attached the 2026/2027 school calendar. We have received confirmation of two of our whole school closure dates for the coming school year. We will receive confirmation of the other two Oide led closure days as well as confirming the school led closure day, in between the Oide dates, in Term 1. We will share an updated calendar once received.

We look forward to a great year ahead and look forward to seeing everyone. 

Kind regards, 

Sinéad