October Newsletter

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Dates for your Diary:

• Monday 26th – Friday 30th October – School Closed for Mid-Term break

• Back to School - Monday 2nd November

• First Confession – Thursday 25th February, 7pm

• Confirmation – Friday 23rd April, 5pm

• First Holy Communion – Saturday 15th May, 12 noon

Fees:

As previously communicated, €60 per child is being collected to cover the following school costs: pupil insurance, art & craft materials, photocopying and communications. Payment links have been sent via Aladdin. For those who have paid, we thank you for your prompt payment. It is greatly appreciated. We ask that any outstanding payments are addressed in the coming days. Should you wish to speak to us in relation to the fees, please contact the office on 066-9769402. If you do not wish to use Aladdin for the electronic payments, please put the money in an envelope with your child’s name and class.

Parent-Teacher Meetings:

It is hoped that Parent-Teacher Meetings will take place in November. As Croke Park hours are currently paused due to ongoing industrial action, arrangements for this year’s meetings will be confirmed in due course. We will communicate details to parents as soon as possible.

Cumann na mBunscol Football:

What a journey our school footballers have had over recent weeks! Following three wins at the 6/7 Teacher Schools Blitz, the team went on to secure a fantastic victory in the County Semi-Final to earn their place in the County Final. Although it wasn't to be in the Final, we couldn't be prouder of their efforts. They showed tremendous determination, teamwork and school spirit, fighting right to the final whistle. Reaching a County Final is a wonderful achievement in itself, and the occasion was made all the more special by the fantastic support from parents and the wider school community. Our cheer squad played their part too, creating a brilliant atmosphere and getting behind the team throughout. A sincere thank you to everyone who helped prepare the team, supported the players and travelled to cheer them on. You did Glounaguillagh N.S. proud!

New Playground Markings:

Our playgrounds have received a lovely makeover with the addition of new playground markings and games for the children to enjoy. These will provide even more opportunities for active play, fun and interaction during break times. A sincere thank you to Wayne and our Parents’ Association for organising the paint and materials, and to Wayne, Muiris, Kieran and Freya who gave their time and effort to get the markings completed. We really appreciate the support and look forward to seeing the children make great use of them!

Special Visitors:

We are looking forward to welcoming members of the Bidwill Family from Chicago and Mary from the Irish American Partnership in Boston to our school on Friday, 23rd October. The family generously donated $5,000 towards the development of our outdoor space and garden, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to thank them in person. We hope to mark the occasion with some music and Irish dancing, refreshments and the unveiling of a plaque in recognition of their generosity. Their support is helping us to develop an outdoor space where children can relax, play and enjoy activities beyond the traditional ball games. We are very grateful for their kindness and interest in our school.

Student Council:

Our Student Council representatives have been elected for the new school year and have already been very busy planning and organising their first initiative! They organised a Halloween Costume Swap Shop, giving children an opportunity to pass on costumes they have outgrown and find something new to wear this Halloween. It is wonderful to see our pupils taking the initiative, sharing ideas and helping to make a positive contribution to school life. The children raised €160 from this initiative and look forward to getting started on their “wish list” of purchases over the coming weeks and months. Well done to all involved!

Active Flag & Amber Flag Committees:

Our Active Flag and Amber Flag committees are up and running again for the new school year. The Active Committee has already launched its Run Around the EU campaign, encouraging pupils to get moving while learning about countries across Europe. Our Amber Flag Committee will continue to promote kindness, inclusion and positive mental health throughout the school. We look forward to sharing more of their initiatives with you over the coming months. Well done to all the pupils involved!

European Week of Sport:

6th Class had a fantastic opportunity to visit Killorglin Rowing Club as part of European Week of Sport. The children enjoyed an introduction to rowing, learning about the sport and getting the chance to try out the indoor rowing machines with the help of club members. A huge thank you to the Club for the warm welcome and for giving our pupils the opportunity to experience a new sport for many of them.

Kerry Creamery Experience:

Our 2nd Class pupils thoroughly enjoyed their tour of the Kerry Creamery Experience last week, where they had the opportunity to explore the fascinating history of dairy farming and creamery production in Kerry. From discovering how milk was separated and processed in days gone by to seeing the old machinery and learning about the journey from farm to table, there was so much to see, learn and enjoy! A big thank you to everyone at the Kerry Creamery Experience for such an interesting and enjoyable visit.

Swimming:

Swimming lessons will commence for 5th & 6th classes on Monday 9th November.  The lessons will take place every Monday for 6 weeks (November 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th, Dec 7th, 14th). Lessons will take place from 13:00 – 13:45. Lessons will run for 45 minutes in total and will consist of 35 minutes teaching and 10 minutes play time. The children will attend swimming lessons by bus. We will leave the school at approx. 12:10pm and aim to be home at 2:30pm. The Parents’ Association are again contributing some of the cost in order to help us offer it at a very good rate. We thank them for their support and assistance in making this possible. 3rd and 4th Class will begin their 6-week block after Christmas. Details/payment links will be shared with parents closer to the time.

Enrolment:

Enrolment for September 2027 will open on Monday 30th November. For the 2027/2028 school year, applications for enrolment will be taken online via Aladdin. We will share the link with you closer to the time. The link will go live at 9am on Monday 30th November. If any have any questions in relation to enrolment, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Remembering Noreen Ahern:

We remember our former Principal, Noreen Ahern, who sadly passed away recently. Noreen gave 34 years of dedicated service to Glounaguillagh N.S., first as a teacher and later as Principal, leaving a lasting legacy within our school and wider community. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the many members of our school community who came together to form a Guard of Honour in her memory. The wonderful turnout was a fitting tribute to Noreen and a reflection of the high regard in which she was held by so many. We are grateful to everyone who took the time to pay their respects. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.

Enjoy the mid-term break!

Kind regards,

Sinéad Pigott

Principal