January 2012 update

Welcome back to school
Hope everyone had a healthy, happy holiday. So good to be returning in mild weather. For recession reasons we are hoping to alleviate things somewhat by subsidising the next block of swimming, yoga lessons and the usual bus to the Community Centre in the summer term. We also hope to purchase IT software, maths equipment, organise a homework club (more details later) and organise a parents’ event. All this is possible because of our annual DEIS grant. Let’s hope this isn’t the last year of support.

Whole School Evaluation
A Questionnaire for parents has been sent out. Please return as soon as possible, but by the latest Thursday the 12th of January.
Pre evaluation Meetings take place with officers of the Parent Association, the Staff and the BOM on Tuesday the 10th of January. Thanks to everyone for making themselves available and for your time and commitment. With the national re-election of BOMs there have been quite a few meetings this school year. Thank you again for your time. Much appreciated.

Staff Meeting
Please note the next Staff meeting involves a 12.30pm close as per the Calendar. Thank you all for your promptness in collecting children in time for our last staff Meeting.

ACT for Meningitis
Well done Gráinne and Rachael for your fund raising work for Meningitis. Wrapping presents, face painting and crafts for sale. Super ideas. Coverage in the local papers was excellent.

Activity Week.13-15th Feb (Afterschool Activities are cancelled for this week in February)
Our annual Activity week takes place this year on Monday the 13th, Tuesday the 14th and Wednesday the 15th of February. Plenty of time for planning the workshop you can offer us. All workshops are welcome. For new parents this is a three day break from the usual timetable. If you have an idea for a workshop or a speaker, please talk with your child’s class teacher re. age appropriateness and materials needed. Each teacher will fill in an Activity Week Timetable so get in early to select a specific spot. We will have a budget so expenses will be covered. Please agree any costs with the teacher first and then hold on to receipts. An opportunity for those hidden talents/skills to be showcased! We will down academic tools as usual for the three days Mon February 13th, Tues 14th and Wed 15th. Then we will have the Mid Term break for two days. Only five weeks away. We’ve had drama, creative writing, mask making, dance, fitness routines, talks by explorers, yoga, the Alexander Technique, Brain Training, science experiments, hands on maths, soap making, French, storytelling, poetry readings, textile work, journal creation, clay work, gingerbread houses, carbon footprints, skipping, launching rockets, cookie decorating, basket weaving, candle making, and gardening etc. in the past just to give you a flavour. Inspire us, we know we have a creative parent body. Teachers try to co-ordinate workshops so that the children do a good mix of hands-on activities as well as hearing speakers. Timetabling can be tricky so do bear with us. Parents don’t necessarily have to work in the class of their own child - if you have an ideal speaker for a senior group but your child is in Infants do run it by us and vice versa.

Towels Thank you to all parents and teachers who are now helping with the towels. As you know we have paper towels in all toilet areas (Since H1N1 outbreak) so we only use these towels for Art and in the staffroom. If you see a bag of towels in the foyer of the main building we would be delighted if you just take it and return them freshly washed. Many hands….


Book Club
The Student Council initiative to set up a book club was a great success. One book Kensuke’s Kingdom has been read and discussed. The next book, title a closely guarded secret, will be distributed this month.

Swimming
We will resume classes after the Mid-term break. Classes from 1st-6th will travel to the Kingfisher Club in Tuam as in Term 1. Cost will be €4 swimming pool and €3.50 for bus. All same as last term. Six weeks to from Feb 23rd to March 29th will be €45. With the subsidy (DEIS Fund) that will be €20 for each child.
Consent forms will issue very soon.

Car park
Please drive carefully in the turn around. Please do not park in the turnaround as the buses need clear access and other parents need to get through. Remember to drive slowly at all times at the front of the school for the safety of everyone and remind your child to walk at all times rather than run.

Attendance/Punctuality
It is widely accepted that there is a direct link between school attendance and pupil progress. Your co-operation with maintaining high attendance and punctuality (for a 9.20am start) is greatly appreciated.
As teachers have to fill in the category of absence when informing the NEWB it is essential that a note is sent in after every absence explaining it. Absence notes are available in the front hall on the Parent Association Notice Board.
Please note if a student is late it is better to come in and attend for the rest of the school day rather than miss the whole day.

Feedback and raising issues.
We welcome feedback and ask the school community to use the proper channels so that any issues are resolved as quickly as possible. A Flow chart was given to all families last year and to new families this year, detailing the steps. If you need a new copy these are available in the office. The main thing to remember is to approach the class teacher first and then allow time before embarking on the next step. Thank you all for your consideration in ensuring classes are not disturbed during teaching time. I particularly appreciate this, being as I am, a Teaching Principal. This is also true of phone messages. We check them at 11am and 12.30pm. We act on them as soon as we can. However we really need to know about major changes as early as possible. A message received after 1pm will not be received in time for a change to be made re bus etc.

Numeracy and Literacy Strategy
Our school will be putting in place recommended changes in line with the new strategy paper. For more info see www.education.ie.

Website Keep an eye on our website for news www.claregalwayeducatetogether.ie Thanks to Siobhán who updates the site regularly. We are hoping to get several policies on the website soon so keep an eye out. In the meantime the policy of the month is Maths, as it has been reviewed recently by staff and the BOM. It is now on display in the foyer of the main building. Please take it to read and return. All policies are available from the office- Deirdre is available on Wednesday and Friday mornings as usual and can download all you request.

Update to Parents from B.O.M. 12th December 2011
• Policies Reviewed: BOM reviewed and adopted the following policies:
Child Protection Policy
Mathematics Policy
Health and Safety Policy
• New members of BOM signed Declaration of Acceptance of Membership of the school Board of Management.
• Treasurers Report: Accounts are in order. Last payment made for construction of Modular Building.
• WSE: BOM discussed its role in the upcoming Whole School Evaluation.

End of Term Message

Slán go fóill. Feicfimid arís sibh sa bhliain 2012.

How wonderful to have an average December. Rain, wind, more rain and the odd day with a frosty start. Compared to this time last year temperatures are positively balmy.
We have had a lovely term. The buzz during the preparation for the Winter Celebration was incredible. Props and costume making, singing and dance routines in every class. It was magical and the laughs were superb. The children love performing and they shone on the night. We have a superb team of teachers who undertook the whole event with vigour and enthusiasm. Thanks to all who supported behind the scenes. Isabelle, Marlene, Emer, Midie and Chris with the face painting, all the parents who carried props to the hall, Matthew and Nick who did traffic management, Anne who helped with candles, Glenn who accompanied the Infants on guitar, Mary Lou, Simona and Christina who helped with make-up, Fr. Nohilly who put out the chairs and turned on the heating for us, all parents who stacked the chairs after the show, Philip and Cathal who got the sound system working. Apologies for the poor quality of sound on the night, it worked well during rehearsals so we were disappointed with it on the night. All told it was a huge success.
Other events this term were the Welcome Day for new parents, additional Afterschool Classes starting up, the Childline Big Breakfast, Dress Up Day, Parent Teacher meetings, Mr.Bug, Baboró, the Educate Together Ethos Conference, Parents’ Association AGM, New Board of Management elected and many exciting happenings in each class. All this and covering the Curriculum. Well done everyone. Niamh has been a wonderful support this year in her role as Acting DP. With two teachers on Maternity Leave we have done well to maintain the high standards we like so much. Tributes to both substitute teachers who have excellent classroom management skills.
Thanks to all parents for your support with homework and punctuality and events which we couldn’t run without you. You have been so generous in a year when Ireland has had to face a recession of enormous proportions. Unfortunately there is a threat over two of our posts as we face into 2012. Small schools are being hit. We may lose our English as an Additional Language Support Teacher and our Learning Suppoet teacher’s hours will be cut back to part time hours. These posts have allowed us to work with all children requiring support. It is unfair and very short sighted of our government to cut back in these areas. Please let your voice be heard in helping to maintain the system we have and indeed improve it. Our new school is part of this and the Board have it as their number one priority this year.
It is a privilege to have such a dedicated Board of Management to support and guide us through all the obstacles and good times ahead. Thank you for your time and interest. Frank is our new Chairperson and I cannot thank him enough for all those extra miles he goes.
Thanks too to our Parent Association. In the process of hand over at the moment. Thanks to all members for their time and commitment. Susan will be missed as Chairperson but I believe will stay on in a supportive role. Thank you Susan.

Safe driving to all over the holiday and enjoy the break in whatever way you celebrate at this festive time. Looking forward to working with you all again in 2012.

Terri

Winter Celebration

If anyone has any good photos of the Winter Celebration - can you email them to claregalwayeducatetogether@gmail.com & I can put them up here, thank you!

December Update

Winter Celebration
All are welcome to attend our bi-annual night on Wednesday next. Performance will begin at 8.00pm sharp. Children should be dropped to classrooms at 7pm for dressing and face painting. All volunteers welcome! Parents can park and take a seat in the SMA hall next door. Limited parking in the SMA grounds so please park in the Abbey. Staff will chaperone children across before 8pm. The running order of the night is as follows:
Jun and Sen Infants – Our Little Stars
1st and 2nd Class – The Blueberry Adventures
3rd and 4th Class – Cinderella (The modern version)
5th and 6th Class – An Fachtóir X
Children will have a reserved seat to watch each performance on the night or you may take them home immediately after their class finishes.
Bearing in mind the late hour and the young participants there will be no tea/coffee served, everyone can go straight home from the SMA house and get a well deserved rest!


WSE
The Department of Education and Skills have announced a Whole School Evaluation in our school for early January 2012. Please see attached leaflet.

Numeracy and Literacy Strategy
Our school will be putting in place recommended changes in line with the new strategy paper. For more info see www.education.ie .

New BOM
The community members of the BOM were selected on Tues Nov 29th . They were selected by the 6 members elected in earlier steps (2 patrons reps, principal, elected teacher and 2 parent reps). The new BOM meet on Mon 12th December at 8.30pm for the first time. Welcome aboard and we look forward to a successful 4 year term.
Chairperson and Patron Rep – Frank Clancy/ Patron rep –Ester Kiely/ Staff Rep –Suzanne O Brien/Parent Reps – Nick Plews and Anita Malone/ Community Reps – Hamed Newesser and Aideen Barry/ Principal – Terri Claffey

Return of CPMSA Handbook for BOM Members
If anyone still has these books at home please return for new BOM members.

Spikeball cancellation Dec 7th 2011

Update to Parents from B.O.M. Nov 29th 2011
• Parent Reps elected on 15th of Nov 2011
• 6 members sat to select Community Reps on 29th Nov 2011
• New Board now elected and will be constituted in 10 days
• Next Meeting: Dec 12th 2011 at 8.30pm.

Mr. Bug visit

November 2011 Update

Ethos Conference Saturday Nov 12th in the Carlton Hotel, Galway. (Sorry for short notice)
All in the community have been invited. In late October teachers in Educate Together schools, existing Board of Management members and confirmed Board of Management members for the new term were invited. An email was sent out.
On Monday this week we got word from Fionnuala Ward Primary Education Officer with ET that
“As a result of requests from non-Board of Management members, ET have decided to open the Ethos Conference to all within the Educate Together community. Tea / coffee will be served from 10.00 - 10.30. There will be separate workshops for teachers and parents / BOM members. Lunch will be served at 1.30”. To cover costs, participants will be charged a registration fee of €20 which can be paid by credit card, cheque or cash on the day.
To register for the conference, please see http://www.educatetogether.ie/school-support/2011/10/ethos-conference-2011/
BOM
Election for Parent Reps to be held at 8pm on the 15th of November. All welcome to the meeting which will be held in the school. Nominations on the night and voting will take place if there is more than one nomination for each position. Thanks to Aideen and Frank who are the existing parent reps. They step down as parent reps for the new term of the new BOM. Both have given of their time and energy for years. Frank will return as Chairperson. He was selected by our patron, Educate Together because of his experience. Well done Frank.
Mini Marathon Fund Raisers
Thanks to Roisín Mc Manus and Salene Murphy a friend of Susan McGrady’s who ran for the school this year. A total of €260 was raised for us. It is intended to purchase a printer for the senior class with this money. Well done ladies.
Waterproof coats
Please ensure your child is prepared for Irish weather. We endeavour to go outdoors every day right through the winter. The break may begin dry but often there is a shower during the break. If it is likely to stop we stay out so please ensure all children are warm and dry especially if you drop them to school by car- it can seem they transfer to a warm dry classroom so why send in a coat!! Coats and hats are essential as we have two breaks a day and one is half an hour long.
Photographs
Without consent we cannot put pictures of your children on the website or send to ET for use on the ET website. We sent out a General Consent form to all which covers this. All new students got these forms this year. Please ensure you have completed it. Forms are available in the office. Deirdre our secretary is in the office on Wednesdays and Fridays until 12.30pm.
Parent Teacher Meetings
Thanks to staff for making themselves available both after school and at night. Thanks to all parents for attending. Your interest in your child’s education will reap major benefits. They are a credit to you and many thanks for all the words of appreciation on the two dates.
Galway Science and Technology Week Wednesday Nov 23rd
All classes will be visited by Mr. Bug. Snakes, millipedes, cockroaches, tarantulas, scorpions and lizards will visit with him. “A close view allows the natural beauty of the animal to be seen”.
Welcome Day for Junior Infant Parents Thank you to the Parents’ Association for helping with refreshments. We had a lovely day and the treats were delicious. Well done Helen for a super Powerpoint presentation on the Junior Infant Curriculum.

Big Breakfast
Our Big Breakfast fund raiser for charity was a great success. €203 was raised on the day for Childline. Thanks to everyone for their generous donations during the recession. Thank you to all parents who baked treats and many who dropped in on the 7th to help out. Well done Niamh, chief co-ordinator on the day.
Mobile Phones
We understand that children may need to carry mobile phones for emergencies and changes of plan. However as per our policy all mobile phones are to be switched off during school time. Phones that go off will be confiscated and parents are asked to collect them from the office. Your child should know if they are staying for Afterschool classes and the arrangements for getting home before he/she leaves home each day
Afterschool Classes- Spikeball/ Multi-Sport/ French/ Spanish/ Trad Music/ Faith Formation
Reminder that all classes will take place unless notified otherwise. We will webtext if there are cancellations.
Voluntary Contributions €100 per family
Thanks again to all who have sent in the first instalment of €50 or both instalments in one. Please send in as soon as you can if you haven’t already done so. Do put into a recycled envelope, write your child’s name on it and what it is for and send to the class teacher. Unfortunately it is more than ever a vital fund for every school- it makes up the shortfall between what the DES grant us and what it costs to run the school.
Books
The Parents’ Association have kindly offered to help us create libraries in our senior classes. Since we became a four teacher school we have a shortage of good quality books for each class library in 3rd/4th and in 5th/6th. We will purchase books to augment what we have. If you have good novels to donate, which are suitable eg authors such as Louis Sacher, Michael Morpurgo....please send in to the school.
We have a few sets of old encyclopedias and a set of National Geographic Magazines if anyone wishes to take them. They are proving hard on space when we use computers more and more to do research and we need up-to-date information for project work.
Swimming
Classes begin on Thursday. Please remember swimming gear. The cost of the lessons and transport is €45. Please send in to the school as soon as possible. Buses will leave at 9.20am sharp.
Clarification for new parents- this is part of the Curriculum and as such it is not optional. Aquatics is on the Curriculum just as Mathematics is. It is seen by the department of Education as a life skill and it is hoped all children will get the opportunity to learn how to swim at whatever level they can manage. It is timetabled for during school time therefore does not involve any separate pick ups etc. All will be supervised by teachers.

Website Keep an eye on our website for news www.claregalwayeducatetogether.ie Thanks to Siobhán who updates the site regularly.

BIG BREAKFAST 2011