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.