Dáta Eisiúna:  23.09.09.

 

Dear Parents,

 The new school year is well underway by this stage and the pupils have settled in well and are responding to the challenge.  A special welcome to a number of new staff members Ms. N. Ní Fhearghail and Mr. G. McEvoy.

 In late June, the Minister for Education and Science, Mr. Batt O’Keeffe T.D., visited our Junior and Senior schools and having seen at first hand the substandard nature of the prefabricated accommodation, he sanctioned the Boards of Management to proceed with the planning application for the proposed new school.  This application was lodged on 30 July 2009 and we are awaiting a response from South Dublin County Council.  Last week, another planning application was lodged to facilitate the temporary transfer of the Senior School to the Ballyboden St. Enda’s G.A.A. complex at Sancta Maria while the school is being redeveloped.  The Boards of Management of both schools are indebted to Ballyboden St. Enda’s G.A.A. Club for their community minded gesture of co-operation with the schools.  More details of this application are available on the school web site at www.stcolmcilles.org

 Other matters of a building/maintenance nature attended to over the summer include the insulation of all the classrooms in the Senior School.  This project cost of €125,000 was funded by the Department of Education and Science and will make a huge difference to the comfort levels of pupils and staff over the coming winter months and also hopefully cut back on fuel bills.  Minister Eamon Ryan T.D. gave invaluable support to the school on this issue.  Sanction has also been received from the Department of Education and Science to construct another classroom adjacent to the 6th class block.  It is our intention that this extra classroom will be available to us from September 2010, thus enabling us to create an extra 6th class, with a consequent beneficial reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio for our 6th class pupils from September 2010.  A planning application for this project has also been lodged.

 Cúrsaí Curaclaim:  Curriculum Matters

As always, pupil learning is central to our agenda in St. Colmcille’s S.N.S.  All of the activities we provide and participate in are geared towards enhancing the quality of pupil learning.  As they advance through the school we encourage our pupils to become active participants in their own learning and in particular they are encouraged to take full responsibility for their learning.  

Pupils cannot learn if they are not getting sufficient rest.  A minority of our pupils seem to be exhausted coming to school and we strongly recommend that all pupils should be in bed by 9.30 p.m. on the evening prior to a school day, including Sunday evenings.

 Over the course of the summer four more classrooms were fitted out with Interactive Boards with Internet access and the systems were upgraded in another four classrooms.  The finance for these purchases derived from the school fundraiser held last February.  A very significant donation from a friend of the school also helped the financing of this project. 

Cúrsaí Airgid: Financial Matters

As always there was an excellent response from parents to the request for Voluntary Contributions and to the payment of requisites.  The following is how the money has been distributed

Art/Craft            €7524.00           P.E.                              €5168.00

Music               €2584.00           Maths Equipment          €2907.00

Computers        €6840.00           School Equipment         €5168.00

Class Novels     €2052.00           Rental English/SESE     €6840.00

Photocopying   €6840.00           Science                                    €1615.00

            Environment      €1938.00          

As a staff, we are very conscious of the economic constraints some parents are experiencing at the moment.  Accordingly, we have looked at the overall operating plan for the school and we are making every effort to keep additional costs to the minimum.  Parents are encouraged to contact me directly and let me know in confidence of any financial or domestic pressures that a family may be experiencing.

Féilire na Scoile go dtí an Samhain: School Calendar to Hallowe'en

Staff Meeting     School closes Friday next, 25 September at 12.00 noon.

Referendum      School closed Friday 2 October.

Hallowe’en        School closes Friday 23 October at 2.30 p.m.

Re-opening  Monday 2 November at 8.50 a.m.

Please note that both St. Colmcille's Junior and Senior Schools will be closed on Friday 2 October 2009 as the school facilities will be in use for the Lisbon Referendum* The calendar for the entire school year is available on the school website at www.stcolmcilles.org. 

Cruinnithe do Thuismitheoirí Rang a 6:  Meetings for 6th Class Parents

As is customary at the beginning of the school year, the opportunity is offered to 6th class parents to come in for a short information meeting.  There was a very large attendance of parents on Monday evening last.  Many thanks to

Ms. Corcoran, 6th class Year Head and the 6th class teachers, Mr. Kearney, Ms. O'Brien, Mr. Patten, Mr. Casey, Mr. Ruddy and Ms. McCann for their attendance and input.

Tinreamh Iomlán: Full Attendance

Full attendance certificates will be presented this week to 50 pupils who managed to go through the school year 2008/09 without missing a day.  The average daily attendance in our school last year was 96%. This is an excellent statistic and equally encouraging is the fact that many other pupils fell into the category of minimal absences, missing just one, two or three days.  Parents are asked to note that pupils should not be in school if they are ill and the school has been advised by the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) that the practice of sending in pupils for a short period on a given day in order for them to be marked present is not acceptable to the NEWB. 

Cúrsaí Ceoil: Musical Matters

The school choir, for pupils in 4th, 5th and 6th classes, under the direction of Ms. O'Brien, Ms. O'Connor and Mr. Gearty, meets for practice each Monday after school (2.30 p.m.-3.30 p.m.).  Mr. Casey auditioned before the summer for his Contemporary Music Group and they are also up and running.  Our Grúpa Tradisiúnta is also in full flow under the direction of Ms. S. J. Woods and Mr. J. Brennan.

Captaein na dTithe: House Captains

After a detailed selection process, overseen by Mr. Gearty, the House Captains for the coming year will be announced this week.  The House Captains represent their House and the school on many occasions and perform many functions throughout the year.

Cúrsaí Spóirt: Sports News   

The first term is the school football season and due to the huge interest levels among girls and boys we have no fewer than 6 teams entered in the Cumann na mBunscol competitions.

 The commitment of all the staff members who give of their personal time on a voluntary basis to the coaching of teams, athletics and music adds immeasurably to the quality of education of our pupils.  Best of luck to all the girls and boys in their pursuit of glory and the achievement of their own personal goals.

 Athletics and Camogie have commenced for 4th class girls. Hurling has commenced for 3rd class boys.  Tag Rugby sessions are underway with the IRFU coaches for 6th class pupils.  Brian O'Regan and Paul McLoughlin, the Ballyboden St. Ends's G.A.A. Club Coaches, have commenced Gaelic Football with 3rd class girls and boys.  Ms. Warren has started the Irish Dancing module with 3rd classes. Badminton coaching for 4th classes is also up and running, as is Swimming for 5th classes.  Lots there to keep everybody busy. 

Ranganna Iar-Scoile: After School Classes  After-school activities in a range of areas will commence next week.  These classes will be held on the school premises after normal school hours.  If you wish to enrol your child for any particular activity or if you require further information you are invited to attend for enrolment tomorrow Thursday (2.30 p.m.–3.15 p.m.) 

Art & Craft Classes       Thursday (All pupils)                   Ms. O'Gara                

Computers                   Monday/Tuesday (3rd/4th pupils)  Mr. Casey

                           Monday/Thursday (5th/6th pupils) Mr. J. McConville*                                                                                                                                                                         

French                         (Open to all pupils)                    Ms. Synnott/Ms. Murphy           

Homework Club           Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday   Ms. Timmins/Ms.O'Regan

(All pupils)                                Ms. McAllister

Maths/English              Monday (All pupils)                   Mr. R. Sweetnam          

Spanish Classes          Monday (All pupils)                   Ms. Duggan *               

Speech and Drama       Tuesday/Thursday (All pupils)   Ms. Glennon/Ms. O'Brien Irish                           Monday (All pupils)                        Ms. Ní Reachtabhra

Gymnastics                  Friday (All pupils)                      Mr. N. Gissane *

*  External Teacher

Nuacht Eile: Other News

·         Sincere thanks to the Parents Association for the recent donation of €720 to our school.  This sum will be used to purchase equipment for our Learning Support and Special Needs Departments.

·         'Goal' is an organisation of sports people who raise money and assist with Third World Projects.  The annual Goal Jersey Day is scheduled to take place in our school on Friday 9 October 2009.  On that day the pupils may wear the school tracksuit and sports jersey.  Donations (€2) will be passed on to Goal.

·         The Mass for the commencement of the school year will be held tomorrow Thursday at 11.10 a.m.  Parents are very welcome to attend.

·         Sincere sympathy to Maurice Barrett, our Services Officer, on the death of his father in early July.  May he rest in peace.

·         Parent/Teacher meetings are scheduled to take place from Monday 16 to Thursday 19 November inclusive.  These meetings will be held after school hours.

·         Confirmation Dates are as follows:

Tuesday 23 March 2010 – 11.00 a.m. St. Colmcilles Church.

Ms. Corcoran's, Ms. O'Brien's and Mr. Casey's classes.

Wednesday 24 March 2010 – 11.00 a.m. St. Colmcilles Church.

Mr. Kearney's, Mr. Patten's and Mr. Ruddy's classes.

·         At our recent Tionóil (Assemblies) the issue of the prevention of the spread of the H1N1 virus was addressed.  Many thanks to all those parents who have supplied their children with hand towels and gels.  The advice from the HSE (ref. www.hpsc.ie) is that children should not be in school if they have any respiratory symptoms.  Watch out for a sudden onset of if your child has a 'whacked out' feeling.  Children should be kept at home for up to 7 days if they manifest symptoms of H1N1 flu.

·         If any parent has unwanted copies of the religion books Alive-O 5, 6, 7, or 8 please send them to the school.

Focal Scoir: Final Word 

Schools, in common with all sectors, are facing many challenges at the moment.  In addition to the loss of two teachers this year, the Department of Education and Science has also abolished the textbook grant for necessitous pupils and has also abolished the grant towards the provision of equipment for Learning Support and Resource pupils.  There are strong indications that an increase in the pupil-teacher ratio may be on the way, along with a drop in the level of capitation funding provided for Primary Schools.  In our school, the moratorium on the appointment to Management Posts within schools means that we are currently operating with two Assistant Principals and one Special Duties post unfilled.

 A high degree of resilience will be required on the part of teachers, parents and the general school community if we are to ensure that the quality of our pupils' education is not to be adversely effected.

                                                    Beir bua agus beannacht,      

                                                                  Pádraig O’Néill (Príomhoide)

 

The next Nuachtlitir (Deireadh Fómhair /October) will be issued on Tuesday,20 October 2009.

 

St. Colmcille’s SNS, Knocklyon, Dublin 16. Tel. 4942527

e-mail: colmcillesskl@eircom.net     Web: www.stcolmcilles.org

 

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