January Newsletter

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Dates for your Diary:

• Monday 3rd February - Public Holiday (school closed)

• Thursday 20th & Friday 21st February - February Mid-Term (school closed)

• First Confession: Thursday 27th February, 7pm

• Monday 17th March - Public Holiday (school closed)

• Confirmation: Friday 4th April, 5pm

• Monday 14th April - Friday 25th April (inclusive) - Easter Holidays (school closed)

• First Holy Communion: Saturday 17th May, 12 noon

Storm Éowyn:

We are aware of the status red weather alert that has been issued for Kerry which is valid from 3am until 10am on Friday morning. We are awaiting guidance from the Department and will update you as soon as we can.

HSE Dental Clinic:

The children in 2nd and 6th Class will receive a form from the HSE Dental Clinic this week. If you would like to avail of this service, please complete the consent form and return it to your child's class teacher. We will be returning all completed forms to the Tralee office next week.

School Photographs:

A photographer from "Memory Lane Photography" visited the school earlier in the week. The children had their photographs taken in school on this day. A proof of each photograph taken will be sent home for parents to view at a later date. Full details on prices and how to purchase the photographs will be included with the proof. There is no obligation on families to buy the photographs once they are taken.

Christmas Jumper Day:

Our annual Christmas Jumper Day raised a wonderful €310 for the fundraising efforts of Down Syndrome Kerry. Thank you for your support. Your generosity is very much appreciated.

School Swimming:

Swimming lessons commenced in 5th & 6th Class last week and will run for 6 sessions, finishing on Thursday 13th February (catch-up lesson due to the school closure). Lessons for 3rd & 4th Class will commence on Tuesday 18th February. They will attend for 6 sessions, finishing on Tuesday 25th March. Lessons will take place each Tuesday and run for 45 minutes per week at Killarney Sports & Leisure Centre. Thank you to the Parents' Association for their support with the swimming lessons.

Appointments:

We would like to remind parents that no adult should enter the school building, unless invited to do so/by prior appointment. If you need to call to the school/collect your child during the course of the school day, please press the doorbell on the wall outside the front door and wait for assistance. Your child will be brought to the door by a member of staff. If you need to contact the school, please do so by email or telephone and we will get back to you, as soon as possible.

Parking:

We continue to remind parents to please be mindful on approach to the school and to park responsibly when dropping your children to, and collecting from, school. Please be particularly careful in the immediate vicinity of the gates as you may block access to the gates for the children and also impair the line of sight for other drivers. If your child is dropped to school by another family member, please pass this information on and ask them to park responsibly in the area surrounding the school.

Absences:

While certain absences are unavoidable, such as when a child is sick, it is important to remember that the school must inform the statutory Educational Welfare Services of the Child and Family Agency if your child has missed 20 days or more in the school year. Following an absence, use the Aladdin Connect app to enter an absence explanation note. The absence notes at the back of the Homework Journal (2nd – 6th Class) can also be used. Further information can be found here.

Next Year:

It’s the time of the year when our attention begins to turn to September and putting plans in place for the new school year. To that end, if you know your child will not be returning to our school after the summer (other than 6th class pupils), please let the office know as soon as possible.

Kind regards,

Sinéad Pigott

Principal