Claregalway Educate Together N.S.

ACTIVITY WEEK - Junior & Senior Infants

2012-02-21T19:40:00.000Z

ACTIVITY WEEK - 5th & 6th

2012-02-21T07:24:00.001Z

ACTIVITY WEEK - 3rd & 4th

2012-02-20T22:56:00.000Z

ACTIVITY WEEK - 1st & 2nd Class

2012-02-14T20:14:00.001Z

February Update

2012-02-01T16:51:00.000Z

Whole School Evaluation
The Whole School Evaluation has now been completed and Post Evaluation meetings were held with the staff and the BOM on Tuesday the 24th of January. The school was highly commended for its quality of management, quality of teaching and planning, supports for pupils with learning needs and our standards in Literacy, Numeracy and Irish. The report will be published on the Department of Education and Skills website in a few months time. Thank you for your co-operation and support during the process. It was an invaluable process in terms of reflecting on our methodologies and our individual planning. While intense, it confirmed for us that what we are doing is of a high standard and this in spite of the temporary building, the lack of a gym, the fact that two of our teachers are on maternity leave. ‘Gold dust’ was the word used to describe our fine team of professionals. As their Principal I often boast about their commitment, progressiveness, dedication and their flexibility. To have it said by an Inspector whose standards are very high was the highest accolade. We are delighted it went so well.

Activity Week.13-15th Feb (Afterschool Activities are cancelled for this week in February) Slots are filling up quickly so if you had an idea for a workshop do get in touch soon. Thank you to all who have been back to us. The ideas already out there are very exciting.

ACT for Meningitis
The proceeds from last year’s Student Council Jumble Sale €303.03 have been forwarded to the Meningitis fund. It was originally meant to be for the Libyan children’s fund. Castleknock Educate Together had co-ordinated with several student councils in Educate together schools to raise funds. However their post-box was not working over summer and when the cheque was finally returned to us they suggested we give it to a local charity. Act for Meningitis are delighted and we are delighted to be of assistance with the invaluable work they do.

Cuts and how they will affect us in Claregalway Educate Together
Unfortunately we will lose a teacher this June. Our present set up is four mainstream classes with three support teachers. With the new guidelines we have to amalgamate Learning Support with English as an Additional Language thereby losing one of our support posts. School teaching posts are complicated by the fact that we are allowed to put a teacher into a mainstream class even if the post they are employed for is a support post. The last person in is the loser, not necessarily the holder of the post. No one wants to lose a post. Especially since the fact that we had that extra post meant we were able to co-teach Mathematics and give much needed support to children who needed interventions, the very things our Evaluation praised us for. It will be difficult to provide the same service with fewer personnel next year. Meetings are being arranged nationwide and parents are encouraged to write to local representatives to dissuade the government from going ahead. It did work with regard to DEIS cuts (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools). A U turn was made and the cuts in DEIS schools are under review.

Book Club
The Student Council initiative to set up a bookclub is a continuing success. The second book ‘There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom’ by Louis Sacher is being read.

Swimming Classes resume after the Mid-term break. 1st-6th classes will travel to the Kingfisher Club in Tuam as in Term 1. Cost will be €4 for the swimming pool and €3.50 for the bus. All same as last term. Six weeks from Feb 23rd to March 29th will be €45. With the subsidy (DEIS Fund) that will be €20 for each child. Please send this amount in an envelope, with your child’s name on it and their class, to your child’s teacher as soon as you can. No consent form will issue as this is covered by our General Consent form.

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 . Some of these changes include a new recommended report template which was discussed at the recent staff meeting and will issue in June this year. All children from 1st-6th class already do standardised tests, now the results of these will be on every student’s report. Up to now only 1st class and 4th class reports had the results as directed by the Department of Ed. And Skills.

Website
Keep an eye on our website for news www.claregalwayeducatetogether.ie Siobhán updates the site regularly. We are hoping to get several policies on the website soon. In the meantime the policy of the month is the Child Protection Policy, 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.

January 2012 update

2012-01-11T20:03:00.000Z

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

2011-12-21T20:15:00.000Z

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

2011-12-09T22:26:00.001Z

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

2011-12-02T23:06:00.000Z

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

2011-11-24T17:59:00.000Z

November 2011 Update

2011-11-10T19:22:00.000Z

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

2011-10-23T23:28:00.000+01:00

October 2011 Update

2011-09-26T17:19:00.000+01:00

New but not really new staff
We are delighted to have Helen covering Eimear’s Maternity Leave this year. A stint she is now well used to and thanks to both Eimear and Helen for the smooth hand over again. Congratulations to Helen on her marriage to Enda in July. Sinéad joins us in 5th and 6th (covering Hilary’s Maternity Leave) and is already fighting at staff meetings for privileges for her seniors. We are lucky to have two fine professionals, both qualified and hoping to complete the probation part this year. This entails demonstrating to an Inspector how well able they perform. It is a tough year for both having to have notes etc in order for inspection at any time. We wish them well.

Marathon Success
Well done Róisín for completing the Galway Ladies Mini Marathon in June. Róisín raised €200 for Claregalway Educate Together N.S.

Welcome Day for Junior Infant Parents 2pm Tuesday 11th Oct 2011
This is a day for new parents to meet each other and the team of professionals who work with your children. All Junior Infants and Senior Infants siblings will be supervised in Sinéad, Niamh and Siobhán’s classes while Helen outlines the Infant Curriculum and answers all those little questions. Refreshments will be served afterwards.Thank you to the Parents’ Association for offering to help with refreshments.

New Students and Parents
Welcome to all new students who started this term in all classes. Lovely to have you as part of the team. We look forward to working with you.

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.
We have recommenced our initiative to encourage attendance and punctuality (this worked very well last year). This involves each child receiving a tick each day for being present and another for being on time. If a child has ten ticks at the end of the week his/ her name is entered in a draw for a gift (prize given in each class).
The school is obliged, by law, to inform the National Education Welfare Board when a pupil is absent for a total of 20 schooldays in one school year. Obviously the whole idea is to miss as little time as possible, not to aim for a max of 20 days. 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.

Treats
In line with our Healthy Eating Policy we recommend a small sensible treat on Fridays only. Children will still need a nutritious lunch to get through the day. No hard sweets or lollipops as the treat please- choking hazard and no chewing gum please- cleaning hazard.

Big Breakfast Oct 7th
Our Big Breakfast fund raiser for charity was such a success last year we decided to have it again. All parents welcome to drop in first thing on the 7th. A leisurely breakfast will be had by all pupils. Proceeds to Childline. Any donation on the morning is greatly appreciated.

Parent Teacher Meetings
Two dates are now set aside – Wed 26th October from 3.15pm- 5.15pm and Thursday 27th October from 7.00pm-9.00pm. Thanks to staff for making themselves available at night to facilitate parents who cannot make it during the day. A note will be sent out soon. Please return this note asap to secure your preferred slot as we work on a first back first slot given basis.(The returned notes are numbered when returned) Parents are reminded this is a 10 minute slot with your child’s class teacher. Should a longer slot be required this can be arranged at a mutually agreeable time. Time slots will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Watch out for note after Mid-term and return asap.

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.

Spikeball and Multi-Sport
Thanks again to Matthew, Suzanne, Siobhán, Terri and Niamh who give up their time voluntarily to hold these sessions. Please collect promptly at 4pm after these sessions to allow all to leave and lock up at 4pm.

Voluntary Contributions
Thanks 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.

Art Supplies/Photocopying/Stationery Costs
Many thanks to everyone who has paid. There are still a small few, who have not sent this in. Remember it was €55. There was a cost of €5 (1st class)/€10( all other classes) to rent books. Obviously workbooks cannot be in this system as they are written on. We are building up a fine collection of re-useable books.

Swimming
Classes from 1st-6th will travel to the Kingfisher Club in Tuam again this year. Cost will be €4 swimming pool and €3.50 for bus. All same as last year. Six weeks to from Nov 10th to Dec 15th will be €45
Consent forms will issue very soon.

Pupil Personal Accident Insurance
Please ensure you return the €8 asap. Cover starts as soon as the €8 is received

Baboró
The International Arts Festival for children takes place once again in October. All classes have applied to attend a variety of performances and are awaiting confirmation of places. A note regarding cost will be sent out once we receive confirmation.

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

Winter Celebration
Dec 7th. All extended family invited to fill the SMA Hall. Put it in your diary!

Carpark
Please drive carefully in the turn around. With so many staff, (no complaints they are all vital) there will not be room for parking. However there is plenty of room in front of the school wall and across the road to park. 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.

B.O.M. Update
• Present BOM will meet at 7.30pm on Nov 15th 2011
• Turnover of boards nationally this year. New boards to be in place by December 11
• Election of Staff Rep has been held- Suzanne O’ Brien elected
• Patron nominees to be selected by ET
• Election for Parent Reps to be held at 8pm on the 15th of November

Welcome Back

2011-08-30T09:33:00.000+01:00

A warm welcome back to school. Looking forward to meeting everyone again and catching up. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday. A special welcome to our new students in Junior Infants, Alex and Chloe in third class and Edward in fourth class. We look forward to getting to know you all as we embark on another exciting year in Claregalway Educate Together. Thanks to Matthew and Nick who did great painting over the holidays. Thanks to Lina who has everywhere shining. Fair play to Asta who was in regularly to weed and tidy the garden during the summer. The sunflowers are beautiful. Well done Asta and her green fingered young gardeners.
Welcome back to our dynamic team. Niamh will teach 3rd and 4th class this year in the main building. Smallest classroom but also a smaller class than the others. Thanks for all the moving Niamh. She will also be Acting Deputy Principal in Hilary’s absence. Suzanne will lead the Support team again this year. No better lady. We have Siobhán with us again this year and hopefully for many years to come. Jenny is thankfully back in the parttime resource position again. Welcome back to Helen who will work with Junior and Senior Infants. Sinéad will take over in 5th and 6th for Hilary who had baby Síofra on the 13th of July. Beautiful. Congratulations to Hilary, John and Aoibheann.

Junior Infants will have two weeks of short days- going home at 12.30pm. This will ease them into their new routine. Do encourage independence. Helen will induct all the new Junior Infants with kindness and oceans of energy as always. Suzanne, Jenny and Terri are also in the wings for the new Infants and new students throughout the school.

New Students in all classes Because of the extra space, we have been able to open up places to new students in classes other than Junior Infants. Welcome to our new young students, Alex, Chloe and Edward and a warm welcome to their parents. I know everyone will make them feel very welcome.

Student Council Jumble Sale Well done to all who made sure the Jumble Sale in June was a great success. Thank you for the cakes, toys and books and for coming to buy. €303.03 was raised for children in Libya. We sent the cheque to Castleknock Educate Together who co-ordinated the collection.

Castle Field Weather permitting we will make great use of the new field this term for our P.E. sessions.

Afterschool Activities Plans to have French, Spanish and our regular sports sessions are advancing. All will begin soon. We will keep you posted.

Website Don’t forget to keep an eye on our website for news www.claregalwayeducatetogether.ie Thanks to Hilary our deputy Principal who set it up and Siobhán who updates the site in her absence.

Contact Details Please let us know if there have been any changes to the Contact information sheet which you completed for your child / children. Any changes in address, phone numbers, or your emergency contact person should be made known to the school immediately. If you wish to fill in a new contact or medical form, these are available from Deirdre in the office. Thank you for your co-operation.

Webtexts Please let us know if you wish to receive texts on a different mobile or are not receiving webtexts. If you have changed your mobile number we need to update the lists. Let Terri or Deirdre know or send in a note with your child.

Office Messages can be left on the school phone every day. We listen at 11 o’clock and lunchtime. However we cannot guarantee that messages left late in the day will be acted on to your satisfaction so do leave urgent messages as early as possible. It really helps if your child knows how they are getting home when they leave your house in the morning.

Voluntary Contributions In these times of recession it is with regret we ask for this contribution to funding but this is a vital fund to meet the shortfall between grants from the DES and what we need to run the school. We now have more rent going out. The DES pay 95% of all rent but we have to come up with 5% locally. We ask for €100 per family. This can be paid in total now or sent in two €50 instalments this term and in the New Year. If it works better for you to send it in in instalments of €10/€20 this is fine too.

Feedback We welcome all feedback. Please refer to the Flow Chart which has gone out to all families. Further copies available in the office.
Thank you to all who understand, that as a teaching Principal, I cannot be available without notice. Please feel free to leave a message or send in a note if you wish to meet and a mutally agreeable time can be arranged.

Do log on to www.welfare.ie or www.citizensinfomation.ie to see if eligible for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. I believe it covers all clothing not just uniforms. Not too late-Closing date is 30th Sept 2009. There has been a huge uptake this year but do not be dissuaded if it is needed.

Carpark Please drive carefully in the turn around. We have added a ramp to slow all incoming vehicles down. With so many staff, unfortunately there is no room for parents to park. However there are spaces in front of the school wall and across the road. 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.

Looking forward to working with everyone again this year in our brighter cleaner school.
Terri

End of Year Message June 2011

2011-06-27T20:43:00.000+01:00

Goodbye and thank you to the whole school community. The warm, kind feedback was so welcome. As the school continues to grow and develop we remember that first day in September 2005. Glorious sun. Exhausted but ecstatic parents, reporters, 29 children and two teachers. Complete and utter excitement as a dream became a reality. At the centre of all this was Keeva, the parent who’s idea grew into a school. Sadly Keeva Bradshaw, passed away this term. She will be remembered by many of our parents. Too young to die at 48 and yet so much achieved. Thanks to Keeva’s determination and vision, the school opened in 2005. Many of the earliest meetings to set up the school were in Keeva and John’s house. With their loyal group of friends, they worked day and night to ensure parents had choice. Life was put on hold until the dream was realised. We as a school community owe so much to Keeva and her core group of kindred spirits.

29 children has become over 90 for next September. With the addition of the two Modular Buildings life has certainly improved for all. The new Castle Field is being used for P.E. and coaching. All we need now is good weather to have little picnics and practise for our athletics ahead of Sports Day, thereby making full use of all our space.

Staff have risen to every challenge this year as always. I am proud of the exceptional staff we have in Claregalway Educate Together. All dedicated and so positive. Aoife our HSCL co-ordinator will no longer be with us in September. All HSCL personnel have been cut in rural schools. Aoife will now be fulltime in her base school, Scoil An Linbh Íosa. We are so disappointed to lose such a valuable member of staff because of the cuts. Hilary has gone on Maternity Leave. Aoibheann will have a little brother or sister soon. Eimear will go on Maternity Leave during the summer. Watch out Jake. All going according to plan we will have Helen and Sinéad take over for the duration. Both fully qualified and having worked here this year, we know and love them already.

With over 80 children in our care, soon to be over 90, we strive to ensure all students are valued, challenged and nurtured. Thank you for your support in addressing small issues early and in following the Flow Chart- great co-operation and support on your part. At our Spikeball Blitz this term one of the visiting teachers said “the children are a credit to you, so helpful and mature”. How wonderful to get such lovely feedback.

We couldn’t do it without your support. Thank you for your time in coming to Parent/Teacher meetings, being at the other end of the phone when we need you and for co-ordinating events. All help received for Open Day, Graduation etc was so welcome.

Thank you to all members of the Board of Management who are voluntary and give generously of their time to meet each month and then follow up on different tasks. Frank and John were so helpful when we were negotiating with builders last summer. I thank them sincerely. Unfortunately our wonderful Chairperson, Bern is stepping down as her daughter, Alice moves to second level. We will miss Bern at BOM Meetings and for all the sound advice. I’ll always remember her excellent turn of phrase. Thank you sincerely Bern, it was a privilege to work with you.

PA help with all the different celebrations has been fantastic. Very often this flustered Principal rang Mary Lou or Susan at very short notice asking for favours. Always and I say this in admiration and sincerity, I was met with kindness and superb organising skills. Fund raiser events were organised so effectively and efficiently.

We are proud of all our students.. We say goodbye to Ronán, Emily, Alice, Rachael, Christina and Oisín. May you be forever young.

We return on the 1st of September 2012. Looking forward to working with you all again and to welcoming our new Junior Infants and other new students in each class.

Thank you for your support.

Terri

What a week! Pet Day, Graduation, Jumble Sale & Sports Day

2011-06-24T18:08:00.000+01:00

A big thank you to everyone who brought their pets in, helped out at the graduation, donated food/items & organised games for the jumble sale & to all who came, participated & got soaked at Sports Day. Has been a fun week at Claregalway Educate Together!

Pet Day

2011-06-21T18:25:00.000+01:00

School Tour 1st - 6th

2011-06-18T09:57:00.000+01:00

Final Update of the school year 2010-2011

2011-06-17T20:37:00.000+01:00

Reports/calendars/booklists issued Friday last.

Please check that you received all.

BCG for 5th and 6th class recall if required on Mon June 20th

Pet Day Tues 21st June weather permitting 1pm-2pm

Pets with owners please are welcome to the playground at 1pm. All pets must be in a cage, kennel or on a lead. We have some students who have a fear of some animals. Children are welcome to leave with you at 2pm on the day. Please watch for a webtext cancellation before 11am on the Tuesday in question, if it is too wet.

Graduation Night June 22nd 8pm SMA Hall. All welcome. 3rd-6th class performing.

All classes and parents are welcome. Thank you to Roisín from the PA who will co-ordinate refreshments on the night and to Susan who has texted all parents for help. Emily will have a special treat for the graduates as she has done for several years now. Thanks Emily. On the night we will present Aoife with a token of our appreciation as she will not be back in September.

Student Council Jumble Sale Thursday June 23rd 1pm-2pm for parents

Bric-a-brac welcome. Please deliver to Siobhán’s room. Cakes on the day to the Staffroom please. Remember to send in bags and loose change with all children on the day.

Sports Day June 24th Claregalway Community Centre 9.20am-2pm

Full Schedule of events and directions for new parents issuing with this Update. All welcome to come on the day or join us in the field for a picnic at lunchtime. Remember it’s an early finish that day. Events will finish at 2pm.

School Books Please do not forget to leave us your core books (not workbooks) so we can loan them to the next class. Our Book Loan Scheme is now in place for next year. We will charge a nominal sum (for wear and tear and replacement) of €10 from 1st class up and €5 in Infants. For this nominal sum your child will receive core Maths, Gaeilge and English books as well as the novel where relevant. In Infants almost all books are workbooks but the readers will be provided as well as parallel readers from our class sets. This will have the effect of reducing everyone’s booklist cost. All information will be on your child’s booklist. Thank you for your co-operation in setting this up.

Update to Parents from B.O.M. May 31, 2011

· Premises: BOM to communicate with Dept of Education and Skills seeking clarification regarding progress towards a new school

· Book Rental Scheme: Stock take and ordering to be done before end of term for core books English, Irish and Maths

· Student Numbers: Enrolment of over 90 children expected for September

· Finance: Accounts in order

· Health and Safety: New Health and Safety recommendations being followed through

· Policies: Health and Safety Policy being reviewed. Staff to examine by September/October

· B.O.M. New Boards nationally will be formed for Dec 2011. Elections will take place in the first term of the school year 2011-2012

MAY NEWSFLASH

2011-05-24T09:51:00.001+01:00

Book Loan Scheme
We are in the process of doing a stocktake of core books (Irish, English and Maths textbooks - not workbooks) which will be available to the students in September 2011 as part of our Book Loan Scheme. The Loan Scheme operates on your goodwill. As this is the first year of the Loan Scheme, we are depending on your donations to keep costs for all to a minimum. We will presume that all students are donating their core books to this Loan Scheme unless you let us know otherwise. Please let us know if you are retaining your child’s books before Friday May 26th, as ordering has to be completed before the end of May to avail of discounts.

Wish List
A sturdy, compact table needed for the photocopier. Dimensions - Length 80cm x Width 60cm x Height 60cm. If no table is available/suitable please let us know if anyone is going to IKEA.

Thank you so much for your help.

May Update

2011-05-19T09:43:00.003+01:00

Playground Games
Thanks to Matthew, Mary, Lorna and Rachael for their super work in painting the games in our playground during the holidays. The children are really enjoying them. An excellent job.

Dance in Infants
Aoife, our Home School Liaison Co-Ordinator, is studying for her Masters in dance. The Infants have been having dance classes as part of their P.E. programme with Aoife. Thanks Aoife. We will miss you so much next year.

Spikeball Blitz – June 15th
We are hosting the friendly blitz this time. Five schools have been invited to bring teams. All will happen during school time. Last session of Spikeball will take place on Wednesday June 8th. The following Wednesday will be the blitz so no evening session.

Multi-Sport
Thank you Matthew for superb work all year. Last session will be on Monday May 30th.

School Tours
Infant School Tour June 8th €25 balance due as soon as possible
Senior School Tour June 16th €25 balance due at your earliest convenience

French Classes for Infants
Thursdays 2.15pm €49 per person for 7 sessions.

Spanish Classes
The school has been contacted to see if we wish to have Afterschool classes. We will send out notes to ascertain interest for next year.

Orienteering funded by DEIS grant
4th, 5th and 6th classes will attend an inter-school orienteering event in Renville Woods on Thursday May 19th. All will take place during school day, so no change in collection times.

Gardening
All classes were planting with Asta before the holidays so we look forward to seeing growth this term. Thanks Asta. I see weeds in the bin each week so I know Asta pops by to weed every now and then. Thank you so much. The children will check on weeds during these two months as well, weather permitting.

PE
PE classes for 1st–6th classes have commenced in the Community Centre. Thanks to Niamh for organising a varied programme of athletics, orienteering and GAA skills. Students need to come to school dressed in sportswear and wearing trainers every Thursday. The cost of the bus is €10 per child. Please pay this at your earliest convenience. Send to your child’s class teacher in an envelope marked with your child’s name.

Yoga
Yoga began for Infants on Thursday May 5th with Mags. A lovely calming session was had. Eimear fell asleep-not! Mags returns for five more sessions this Thursday May 19th and each Thursday after until late June. Children need to come to school dressed in sportswear and wearing trainers every Thursday for these sessions. (No charge as DEIS grant will cover).

Carpark
Recommendations from our recent Health and Safety Audit will be put in place before September. These include a small speed bump at the entrance to the school and painting In and Out on the tarmac at the entrance and exit, among others. All should ensure safety is uppermost in our minds. Thanks for your continued co-operation.

School Times
School begins at 9.20am. Reminder 9.10am is the earliest drop-off time as there is no supervision before this time. We are not insured unless there is supervision. Teachers provide supervision for the first ten minutes until class begins at 9.20am. Thank you for your co-operation with this.

Contact Details
Please let us know if your address, mobile number or email address has changed. We have emails frequently bouncing back to us.

Pencil cases
Please ensure your child is equipped coming to school. All children from 1st-6th class need to have 2 sharp pencils, a ruler (long), a red pen, an eraser, a sharpener, coloured pencils/crayons and a large glue stick. Please check regularly and replenish as needed.

Requests to travel on bus to play dates
Unfortunately insurance does not cover this. Equally we cannot ask drivers to accommodate students who travel with one service to go on the other bus for a party or playdate.

Standardised Testing
As said in the April Update, tests will be administered in May and results will be available in June. Please ensure your child is in school unless ill, on Tuesday May 24th and Thursday May 26th. We are legally obliged to convey the results of these tests to parents in written form for all in 1st class and in 4th class. The STEN score will be written on the report for the children in these two classes at the end of the year. An explanatory note will be included.
Results will be available verbally on request for all students in the other classes. It is important that the STEN score given is accompanied by a full explanation thus the care taken with the giving of these results. The testing is mainly carried out for whole school planning and to ensure children are achieving at their potential (we monitor that individuals do not drop hugely from year to year). The results help greatly in assessing children who may need support and deciding that some receiving support no longer need it.

School Books
Please do not forget to leave us your core books (not workbooks) so we can loan them to the next class. Our Book Loan Scheme is now in place for next year. We will charge a nominal sum (for wear and tear and replacement) of €10 from 2nd class up and €5 in Infants and 1st class. For this nominal sum your child will receive core Maths, Gaeilge and English books as well as the novel where relevant. In Infants almost all books are workbooks but the readers will be provided as well as parallel readers from our class sets. This will have the effect of reducing everyone’s booklist cost. All information will be on your child’s booklist. Thank you for your co-operation in setting this up.

Toys Old and New
Eimear’s theme for summer term is Toys. She would be delighted to invite parents and grandparents from all classes to come in with “Toys from their childhood” and /or talk to the children about games they played when they were young before Nintendos and the likes! Call the school or talk to Eimear to organise a suitable time. If you have old photographs at home of a toy, please send it in also.

April Update

2011-04-06T12:21:00.005+01:00

Dates for your diary - Summer Term
Staff have liaised with different bodies, e.g., the Committee of the Community Centre and Fr. Nohilly (SMA), in order to get dates for some annual events. Graduation Night for 6th class will be held at 8pm on Wednesday June 22nd. This is a big celebration night for our graduating sixth class so we invite the entire school community to come and celebrate with them. Sports Day will be on Friday June 24th 9.20am-2pm. Please pencil these dates into your diary. The annual Student Council Jumble sale will take place late in June as usual and Pet Day, which is weather dependent ,will take place in late June too.

Open Day Wed March 9th
A lovely day. Whole school community turned out in style to make it a day to remember. Thank you to Matthew for all his hard work with noticeboards and moving furniture in the Infant room. Thank you all for the tasty homemade treats, the help in chopping and preparing fruit, the tea making, the presence of so many parents to show people around, staff for looking after the Infants, our excellent senior students for helping all day and in the preparation beforehand. It all went off in style. We are still making a mark.

Seachtain Na Gaeilge 4ú – 18ú Marta
Craic agus spraoi ag an Trad session. Míle buíochas le Tony Campbell ar an basouki agus guitar, Michael Chang (from local Galway band “Timbertramps”) ar an fiddle agus viola agus Finbarr Naughton ar an fiddle agus mandolin. Thar cionn. Go raibh maith agat Eimear. Chuir tú an lá le chéile agus bhain gach duine an taitneamh as.
Bhi Tráth na gCeist agus Céilí Mór againn Dé Céadaoin. Maith thú Niamh.

HSCL Update Reminder as per recent note
Our Home School Liaison Co-Ordinator, Aoife will no longer be with us after June. All HSCL personnel are being pulled from rural schools in the cut backs. This is such a pity. Aoife has built up relationships with parents and has been working tirelessly to organise parent initiatives in the school. We will sorely miss her. Should you have forgotten to email all local representatives to see if this decision can be reversed we urge you to do so now. Email addresses are:
Derek Nolan (Labour) mail@dereknolan.com
Sean Kyne (Fine Gael) skyne@cllr.galwaycoco.ie
Brian Walsh (Fine Gael) brianwalsh100@eircom.net
Noel Grealish (Independent) noel.grealish@oireachtas.ie
Eamon O Cuiv (Fianna Fail) info@eamonocuiv.ie

Orienteering
This activity will be funded by DEIS grant. 4th, 5th and 6th classes will attend an inter-school orienteering event in Renville Woods on Thursday May 19th. All will take place during school day so no change in collection times.

Gardening
Thanks Asta for cheering us all up with your lovely shell pot and all the flowers recently planted. Asta is planning for student groups to begin planting soon.

PE
PE classes for 1st–6th classes will commence in the community centre after the break on Thursday May 5th. Children need to come to school dressed in sportswear and wearing trainers every Thursday. The cost of the bus is €10 per child for six sessions. Please send money in to school asap in an envelope marked with your child’s name.

Yoga
Infants will begin a block of six sessions of yoga on Thursday May 5th with Mags. Children need to come to school dressed in sportswear and wearing trainers every Thursday for these sessions. No charge as DEIS grant will cover this activity.

Carpark
A near accident on the road at the front of the school in early March should remind us all of the necessity to drive slowly at all times when at the school, whether inside the wall or outside. A child crossing the road was dangerously close to being knocked down by a parent pulling off after dropping their child. Slow driving is essential. It is also important to use the turn around correctly. As I’ve said in previous Updates please do not use it to park, however if setting down only, then please, do use the turn around. Doing u-turns on the road is dangerous and uncalled for since we have a turn around.

School Times
School begins at 9.20am. Reminder: 9.10 am is the earliest drop off time as there is no supervision before this time. We are not insured unless there is supervision. Teachers provide supervision for the first ten minutes until class begins at 9.20am. Thank you for your co-operation with this.

Contact Details
Please let us know if your address, mobile number or email address has changed. We have emails frequently bouncing back to us.

Pencil cases
Ensure your child is properly equipped coming to school. As per the booklists all children from 1st-6th class need to have 2 sharp pencils, a ruler (long), a red pen, an eraser, a sharpener, coloured pencils/crayons and a glue stick in school every day. Please check regularly and replenish as needed. The Student Council run an excellent shop that stocks most of these items.

Spikeball
A blitz will be held after the Easter Holidays so please make sure all attend practice ahead of this to make the team.

Swimming
If you haven’t already done so please return the €40 as soon as possible (in an envelope with your child’s name on it).

Standardised Testing
The annual standarised literacy and numeracy tests will be administered in May to all students in 1st-6th Class. Results will be available in June. Please ensure your child is in school, unless ill, on Tuesday May 24th and Thursday May 26th.We are legally obliged to convey the result of these tests to parents in written form for all in 1st class and in 4th class. The STEN score will be written on the report for the children in these two classes. An explanatory note will be included. Results will be available verbally on request for all students in the other classes. It is important that the STEN score given is accompanied by a full explanation thus the care taken with the giving of these results. The testing is mainly carried out for whole school planning and to ensure children are achieving at their potential (we monitor that individuals do not drop hugely from year to year). The results help greatly in assessing children who may need support and deciding that some receiving support no longer need it.

March Update

2011-03-21T21:26:00.005Z

Activity Week
A superb three days of entertainment and thinking outside the box. Thank you so much to all parents and visitors for your time and enthusiasm. Thanks also to staff for the smooth organisation of the rota. A film is being edited and will be available soon. Last year’s Activity Week film is still available in the office for €1 (to cover copying costs).

New Baby News
Lots of new additions - it must be Spring! Welcome Baby Dara Hardimann, a little brother for Cathal (Junior Infants) and Oisin (1st Class). A big welcome to Baby Kate McManus, a little sister for Luke (Senior Infants). Congratulations to all in both families! Karen had a new baby girl, Holly. We wish her and all her family the very best. We so miss Karen. Thanks Karen for all those days of voluntary work. Even after her stint as SNA came to an end Karen came in to help Eimear. Holly has already visited the school and met the students.

HSCL Update
Our Home School Liaison Co-Ordinator, Aoife is now working in Hilary’s class with Emer and Anita on a portrait project. If other parents wish to help you are always welcome.

Swimming
Swimming sessions resumed on Thursday March 3rd. Thank you for returning the €40 required to pay for pool, teachers and bus. We are travelling to the Kingfisher Pool in Tuam at 9.20am sharp(to be in time for the lesson) so please ensure you are on time for school.
If you haven’t already done so please return the €40 as soon as possible (in an envelope with your child’s name on it).

Write-A-Book
Well done to all our budding authors and illustrators. Books have now been submitted. Presentation night takes place on Monday June 6th.

Book Loan Scheme
Watch for letter re. changes to the “Help with Books Grant” this year. The Board of Management has discussed the best use of the now reduced grant in order to help as many families as possible.

Update to Parents from B.O.M. February 8th 2011
Welcome: New members to the Board of Management; Nick Plews, Patron Nominee and Hamed Newesser, Community Rep.
Finance: Treasurer reports that accounts are in order – some outstanding payments remain relating to the modular building
Snow Day/ ESB Day: B.O.M. agree as only two days were missed in the last term that they will not be made up this year. Calendar to be followed as published
P.E. Grant: BOM approve further investment in physical education and playground equipment. List being compiled and money to be spent asap in order that the present school community have most benefit.
Organisational Policies: Code of Behaviour reviewed and will be circulated. Also document explaining staff compliance with Croke Park agreement discussed.
Book Rental Scheme: B.O.M reviewed the present arrangement. Details to follow shortly.
Educate Together: Some conferences pending. For further information see the E.T. website/ CET facebook page
Next Meeting: March 29th 2011 at 7pm.

Claregalway Educate Together win the Junior B spikeball final in the County Championships held in Loughrea recently!

2011-02-14T18:04:00.002Z

Under the inspired captaincy of Oisin Corcoran, the team of Rachael Duggan, Katie Westbrook, Joshua Whelan, Thomas Kelly and Luke Adams gave a wonderful high energy performance. Emily Warren and Maik Lumpp also attended the blitz and were superb score-keepers. Well done to the full squad for attending training so consistently every Wednesday and to all staff who give freely of their time to transport and train the
children.

Check this out...

2011-01-25T10:56:00.002Z

Art work by 5th and 6th class is currently on display online in the Children's Gallery. We'll be uploading our modelling clay creations very soon so add this website to your favourites and watch this space!

5th & 6th Class Artists

Welcome Back!

2011-01-13T13:25:00.002Z

Everyone came back with such renewed energy. Hope you had a lovely break. We empathise with families who suffered burst pipe damage and water losses. It was such a relief to have a dull damp typically Irish winter day on our first day back. Who’d have thought we’d rejoice at a return to temperate weather.

H1N1 Preventative measures have been stepped up again. All systems are in place here in school since the last outbreak this time last year. We have gel dispensers in each classroom for all students after each break. (Matthew added two in the Modular Building. We changed to paper towels in all toilets last year. We regularly wipe surfaces and door handles etc. with anti-bacterial sprays and wipes-we have an excellent stock in place. The school is cleaned thoroughly each Tuesday and Thursday.
How can you help in preventing further outbreaks? Please keep your child at home if presenting with flu symptoms and please ensure you or a selected guardian is available to collect your child should they present with these symptoms during the school day. Keep an eye on updates www.hse.ie

Parents’ Association Fund Raiser-Bag for Life Reminder to send in payment if you haven’t already done so. Great response. Thank you all for your co-operation.

Activity Week Mon 21st Feb-Wed 23rd Feb (Afterschool Activities are cancelled for this week in February)
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 you 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 Monday February 21st, Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd. Then we will have the Mid Term break for two days. Only five weeks to prepare so please let us know what ideas you have. 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, 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 volunteers who are now helping with the towels. We have paper towels in all toilet areas (Since H1N1 outbreak) so we only use these towels for Art and in the staffroom.

Swimming
Swimming will recommence for all children from 1st to 6th on Thursday March 4th for six sessions. Various options were researched taking cost, facilities and location into account. This term we will attend for lessons in Aura swimming pool in Tuam and the cost will be €40. (This includes the extra lesson owed from the previous term.) We will review these arrangements again next September. More details to follow.

Sport
Sessions will run every week unless we specifically cancel them, so every Monday and Wednesday ensure your child is equipped with runners and loose clothing and knows how he/she is getting home. Please collect promptly at 4pm after these sessions to allow all to leave and lock up at 4pm. Thanks to Richard and Matthew for Multi-Sport sessions. Cup stacking has been added to their repertoire for wet days.

Spikeball Blitz February 2nd Loughrea
Our first competition of the year. The recent friendly with Corrandrum was a gentle preparation for the cut and thrust. This Blitz is an annual event. We play several schools who have mixed teams. Travel to and from will be during school time and undertaken by staff. Places will be limited so attendance at practice is vital in order to make the team.

Feedback
We welcome feedback and thrive on praise just like the children. Thank you all for lovely comments as we went on holiday. However should things arise that need to be addressed, better to do so as soon as possible. Please refer to the Flow chart on raising an issue. Always better to start with the class teacher and give it time, then ask to see the Principal if the issue remains unresolved. Remember to try to select a mutually convenient time if the issue needs discussing. 9.20am is never a good time and seriously impacts on the other students’ class time. Thank you all for your co-operation with this and your understanding that as a teaching principal, I cannot be available without pre-arranging a time.

End of Term Message

2010-12-22T14:41:00.002Z

As 2010 ends in Arctic temperatures, we wish everyone a peaceful, cosy holiday with lots of duvet days and family time. We’ve had a busy exciting term. At 2am on Sept 1st the new modular building was ready for occupation. The floor coverings and notice boards came next. A little mad in September but we are all so happy with our two new classrooms and our new Support room. The space and cosiness is just what we needed. We cannot thank our Board of Management members enough for all their work in accessing the very best learning spaces available for our children. See the children’s comments in this month’s Nuacht Chláir www.nuachtchlair.com It has been a pleasure working with Owen and John from Innovative Modular Buildings. They have given us party treats for our last day. Lovely touch.

The recent weather has reminded us of the beauty as well as the severity of winter weather. We have totally understood everyone’s concerns regarding driving conditions. Safety has to be the primary concern. In opening the school we have been very aware that not all students can access the school safely. This is a particular problem for our school community, being as we are, so scattered. I know the weather has tested everyone, particularly our drivers, Seamus and Tom.Thanks to everyone for your co-operation and for contacting the school to let us know what is happening.

As I write on the winter solstice it is with joy I think of the days getting longer from tomorrow. As an Educate Together Community of people we all celebrate differently at this time. Wishing you health and happiness in your special moments.

Our Board will change slightly in the New Year. Two members are retiring. John Le Gear has stepped down due to work committments. We wish him well and again thank him for seeing out the building project. Noreen who has given 6 years to the school is also stepping down and we wish Noreen all the very best. Her experience was highly appreciated all those years, from start up to expansion. Hamed and Nick will be joining the ranks as Community Candidate and Patron Nominee.
As Principal I lean on our Chairperson to a great extent. No better woman than Bern, a rock of sense and such a calm person in times of chaos. Thanks Bern. Couldn’t do it without you. Thank you also to Frank our Treasurer.

Our Parents’ Association have been very busy as you can see from their Newsletters. The Bag for Life has been a resounding success. Well done for all your work selling them. A super Christmas gift idea. It is a joy to liaise with Susan and Mary Lou. Thank you both for all you give to the school.

Well done to students, parents and staff who have helped our new students to become an intrinsic part of our school family. It feels as if they have always been with us.
As Principal the team I work with on a daily basis are vital. I extend my thanks for their dedication and enthusiasm. We are so lucky in Claregalway Educate Together to have such a class team. A special thanks to Hilary our Deputy Principal who shares the load so well. We are sad that Helen has finished her stint with us. I know she has a special place in everyone’s heart. Would that we had more posts to offer her. Thanks to Karen and Ann for volunteering throughout the term. Welcome back to Eimear who was on Maternity Leave.

Safe driving to all over the holiday.

Looking forward to working with you all again in 2011.

Terri

Brrr!

2010-12-20T13:24:00.002Z

Another cold and frosty day! School remains open for those who can make it here safely. A shared lunch will be held on Thursday to celebrate the holidays. Third and Fourth classes and Fifth & Sixth classes will be exchanging their Secret Santa gifts on Thursday as well. If you can't make it don't worry we will make sure that presents are exchanged after the holidays. Stay warm!

Spikeball Friendly

2010-12-16T10:58:00.002Z

Well done to all our Spikeballers who played so well in their friendly matches against Corrandrum N.S. yesterday. Such talent!

December Update

2010-12-09T14:26:00.002Z

Spikeball Match
Our first friendly Spikeball match will take place on Wednesday December 15th during our usual training session from 3-4pm. Please collect from Corrandrum National School at 4pm.

Emergency Closures/Webtexts
Recent hazardous conditions meant we had to close for one day. Our buses found secondary routes very dangerous and many who drive to school felt the journey was too dangerous. We keep in close contact with neighbouring schools and make decisions based on parental feedback, numbers in school and what our bus drivers report. Please do not take any risks as the weather continues. We expect late arrivals and absences on days like this. Keep an eye out for texts from the school and do alert us immediately if you change mobile number or if you haven’t received texts. Please do not reply to the webtexts as both mobiles for web texting are not in use. Students who travel by bus- Seamus and John have up to date lists of all students using their buses and they will alert you to any difficulties.
If you need to contact us please use the school phone- 091 798356.

Parents’ Association Fund Raiser-Reusable Bags Well done Róisín - in great time for Christmas presents. Bags are being sent home this week with each child and cost €5 each. More will be available from the Parents’ Association through the office. Just return what you cannot sell to the office or ask for more. Thank you all for your co-operation.

Dress for the Weather
Please ensure your child leaves for school with warm clothes. Coats, layers and warm socks essential. All children spend two breaks in the playground- 10/15 mins after small snack at 11am and 30 mins after lunch at 12.30pm. It is a miserable time if your child does not have warm wet-proof gear. We try to have the breaks outdoors when possible to give children fresh air. They love getting out of the classroom but if there is a sudden shower they need to be prepared. Weather changes so quickly in Ireland. Please ensure your child has a warm hat for these chilly days.

Carpark
Your co-operation is much appreciated. All parents are now using the spaces outside the wall and staff are, when necessary, parking facing out to ensure safety.
The turn around is mainly for the buses. Please do not block them in. If you arrive earlier than the buses you may use the turn around to turn your car-thus not doing a u turn on the main road. Also if you are not restricting others you can set down here. Obviously this is not possible if the buses are in the car park as everyone else is restricted then. If waiting for your child you need to be in a space outside the wall or in the Abbey car park. 9.20am, 2pm and 3pm are very busy times so please use your discretion to ensure safety and fairness to others. Reversing in the turn around is not safe. Please remain vigilant at all times.

Educational Theatre Group: Cups and Crowns Cups and Crowns will visit on Wednesday December 15th. Infants will have a workshop and there will be a performance for 1st-6th class. All will happen during school time. Looking forward to a wonderful day. Memorable performances by Cups and Crowns include “Grandad Says” and “A Stitch In Time.” The school will subsidise the visit using DEIS funds but will have to ask for €2 per child as well.

Parent Teacher Meetings
Thank you for attending the Parent Teacher meetings held on Thurs 11th November from 3.15pm-5.15pm and Thursday 18th November from 7.00pm-9.00pm. Thank you to staff who organised the afternoon and night. All went like clockwork for the greater part. Well done everyone. The interest you show in your child’s education by attending will show dividends in the future. The feedback we get is so useful for our planning.

Towels
Any volunteers who would like to help with the towels are more than welcome to take a bag from the front hall, wash and dry the towels and return to be stored in the hot press. Now that we have paper towels in all toilet areas (Since H1N1 outbreak) we only use these towels for Art and in the staffroom. More hands make light work.

Swimming
Our final session is on the 8th of Dec. We have extra because all families paid for 6 sessions- pool cleaning means 15th Dec had to be cancelled and snow day meant 1st Dec had to be cancelled. We will talk to the pool and the bus company and hold extra lessons until the next set of lessons. Talks are undergoing regarding a change of venue for the next set of swimming lessons. Niamh has done vital research on journey times, size of venue and number of instructors etc. We will let you know the outcome next term. Thank you all for your feedback.

Sport
Sessions will run every week unless we specifically cancel them, so every Monday and Wednesday ensure your child is equipped with runners and loose clothing and knows how he/she is getting home. Please collect promptly at 4pm after these sessions to allow all to leave and lock up at 4pm.

Home School Liaison Co-Ordinator – Aoife
Well done everyone on your participation in the varied projects organised by Aoife. Big Book Activities have now finished in Junior and Senior Infants. The same group of wonderful parents have now embarked on workshops in preparation for Numeracy Games. Thanks to Aoife for all her organisation. Next term Aoife will work with a group of parents to do portraits in 5th and 6th. 3rd and 4th will do a local community project with the support of parents too.

Voluntary Contributions
Thanks 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. (For new parents it is a €100 contribution from each family. €50 this term and €50 after the winter break in the second term).

Art Supplies/Photocopying/Stationery Costs Many thanks to everyone who has paid. There are still a small few who have not sent this in. Remember it was €55.

Pupil Personal Accident Insurance
We would urge you to have the 24hr Insurance in place. Please ensure you have returned the €8 asap. Cover starts as soon as the €8 is received.

Website Keep an eye on our website for news www.claregalwayeducatetogether.ie If you join as a follower you will receive an email when the site is updated. Dates for the Diary is an important one to keep an eye on.

Green Committee
The Green Committee are working on water conservation this current year. They have been busy taking readings from the school water meter and are now working on putting a strategy in place to reduce usage.

Student Council
The Council have rolled out their new initiative- Stationery Shop- for all who forget vital stationery eg red pens, rulers, pencils. Students can buy from the Student Council at appropriate times. Great idea from the Student Council.

New grassy playing area
On a recent visit to the new green area, all beautifully levelled and seeded, a child remarked “Oh, look at the 'Castle Field'.” What an apt name. Feedback welcome.

On the paper

2010-12-06T11:03:00.002Z

These images are on the front page of this week's Connacht Tribune and City Tribune.

Snow Days

2010-12-01T17:58:00.000Z

It might be difficult to get around but the country certainly looks beautiful. We are open again tomorrow, Thursday, so if you can get to school safely we will see you there.

Snowy Day at School

2010-11-29T09:26:00.000Z

Don't forget...Early Closure tomorrow - Tuesday 23rd

2010-11-22T09:30:00.001Z

Due to a Staff Meeting being held on Tuesday November 23rd from 2pm-4pm the school will close at 2pm. Buses will run at this time. Please make sure that Helen knows if your Infant child is taking the bus home.

November Update

2010-11-05T14:14:00.002Z

Wed 3rd Unplanned School Closure
Apologies for the unfortunate school closure due to electrical works. The ESB informed us that we would be without electricity until 3pm. With this weather we could not continue without light and heat. We did try to arrange for a generator but failed. So sorry for the inconvenience. Apparently this has affected many other schools up and down the country and is most unsatisfactory.

Carpark
Unfortunately there is no room for parking. However there is plenty of room in front of the school wall and across the road to park. Please do not park in the turnaround or at the entry or exit points as the buses need clear access and other parents need to get through. We have had instances of vehicles having to reverse in this space - very dangerous and unnecessary. Children will run in this space no matter how many times they are warned not to. Remember to drive slowly at all times at the front of the school for the safety of everyone and keep reminding your child to walk at all times rather than run (parents too).

Parent Teacher Meetings
Thursday November 11th from 3.15pm-5.15pm and Thursday November 18th from 7.00pm-9.00pm. Notes have gone out and slots given. Slots were given on a first return with note basis. Thanks to staff for making themselves available on the Thursday evening and the following Thursday night to facilitate parents who cannot make it during the day. Parents are reminded this is a 10 minute slot with your child’s class teacher. It allows teachers to meet everyone, which is really important. Thank you for your interest in your child’s progress. Should a longer meeting be required this can be arranged at a mutually agreeable time on another day.

Big Breakfast
Great response. Lovely morning in all classes. Pancakes/ smoothies/ scones/ tea brack/ potato cakes/ toast/ cereals etc. A real treat on a wet grey day. There was a such a buzz around the school. Thanks to everyone for their super efforts and thanks to Hilary for the inspiration. €225.91 in total raised for Childline.

Swimming
Our first lesson will be on Wednesday November 10th. There will be 6 sessions in total until the winter break in December. The last session will be on December 15th. Organise a bag the night before packed with swim-suit, towel, goggles and arm-bands if needed. Extra lunch is also really appreciated after the session. Thanks to everyone who sent in the €40 to cover all - bus and instruction.

Galway Science and Technology Festival Nov 8th-21st
Children will attend a show - we are being allocated a slot this week. Thanks to Hilary and Niamh for organising.

Welcome Day Success for Infant Parents in Oct
A wonderful afternoon was had. Well done to all who came. Your interest in your child’s education will have lasting results. Thanks to PA for organising treats. Nancy’s homemade cookies were a favourite. Thanks to all staff for staying on to meet everyone. A special word of thanks to Helen for her preparation and lovely talk on the day. Please refer to www.ncca.ie for further details on curriculum content.

Home School Liaison Co-Ordinator – Aoife
Well done everyone for the super response to Aoife’s requests to participate. Big Book Activities in Junior and Senior Infants are under way each Wednesday. A team of eager parents are in place. Science for Fun in 1st and 2nd class is ready for off. Thanks to Aoife for all her organisation.

Spikeball and Multi-Sport
Sessions will run every week unless we specifically cancel them, so every Monday and Wednesday ensure your child is equipped with runners and loose clothing and knows how he/she is getting home. Thanks again to Matthew, Suzanne, Siobhan, Niamh and Terri who give up their time voluntarily to hold these sessions. Please collect promptly at 4pm after these sessions to allow all to leave and lock up at 4pm.

Voluntary Contributions
Thanks 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 actually run the school. (For new parents it is a €100 contribution from each family. €50 this term and €50 after the winter break in the second term)

Art Supplies/Photocopying/Stationery Costs
Many thanks to everyone who has paid. There are still a small few who have not sent this in. Remember it was €55. There was a cost of €5 to rent books too in most classes. We did not charge classes for whom we had no books for loan – all classes will have this charge next year and we will have a stock of books to offer for this nominal fee. Obviously workbooks cannot be in this system as they are written on. We are building up a fine collection of re-useable books.

Pupil Personal Accident Insurance
Please ensure you return the €8 asap. Cover starts as soon as the €8 is received.

Baboró
All classes enjoyed their trips to the theatre. Behaviour was excellent. Lots of very positive feedback from people who met our groups. Well done to all students.

Student Council and Green Committee
Speeches were prepared and presented, elections were held and fine candidates were selected.
Green Committee: 5th and 6th Thomas Kelly and Christina Malone; 3rd and 4th Katie Westbrook and Dara Kiely; 1st and 2nd Oisin Madden Infants Luke McManus.
The Green Committee will motivate the whole school community to work towards achieving our third green flag. The theme for this falg will be Water Conservation.
Student Council: 6th Emily Warren 5th Dara Madden 4th Luke Adams 3rd Heather Losh 2nd Cormac Adams 1st Mia Lindey.
The Student Council members have already held their first meeting.
Thanks also to Terri, Hilary and Niamh who supervise the lunchtime meetings.

Dress-up Day
Well done to everyone who dressed up so wonderfully on the day of mid-term break. It was great to fun to see the wide range of characters that visited on the day – from James Bond to a Chilean miner and from Harry Potter to a little princess. We had some scary guests too who all enjoyed their turn on the cat-walk. Remember for next year the more home-made and creative the better – start gathering the cardboard boxes and recycling the old clothes now! Siobhan our 1st and 2nd class teacher upped the standard among staff this year. She was outstanding as a tree complete with eggs in her wig/nest. All homemade!!!! Thanks to all the staff for participating even poor Deirdre in the office who had to go to the bank afterwards. We had two future Junior Infants on the catwalk too - Jake and Ella. Thanks to their mums Eimear and Jenny for dressing them up too. 8mths and 10mths old. So cutesy. We also had Karen back for a visit. Karen worked as our fulltime SNA last year. We are so lucky to have her on a voluntary basis every Tuesday. Well done everyone.

Talk soon!

School Closure

2010-11-01T14:37:00.002Z

Due to essential works by the ESB the school will be closed on Wednesday November 3rd.

Don't forget...Swimming

2010-10-18T14:20:00.001+01:00

Swimming restarts for all pupils from 1st to 6th class on Wednesday November 10th. A letter about this was sent home last week. Please send in the €40 at your earliest convenience.

Parent Teacher Meetings

2010-10-18T14:11:00.000+01:00

Parent–Teacher meetings will be held on Thurday 11th November from 3.15pm - 5.15pm and on Thursday 18th November from 7pm - 9pm to facilitate anyone who is working and would prefer an evening slot.

You are reminded this is a 10 minute meeting with your child’s class teacher. Teachers will assign times as the forms are returned (first come first served basis) and every effort will be made to co-ordinate siblings. Where it applies Suzanne, Jenny and Terri will co-ordinate with the class teachers to ensure you get a meeting with them too at this time (Learning Support/ Resource and English as an Additional Language)

The aim of this meeting is for both parent and teacher to share information about their picture of the child, and plan to work together where possible. To achieve this, input is needed from both parent and teacher, and in preparation we would like you to think about the following points before the meeting:

Any information you would like to share with the teacher about how you think your child is getting on with the teacher, peer group and siblings.

How you think your child is getting on generally with school work, and where there are weak areas, how you might work with the teacher to improve the situation.

Any other problems which your child may be having in school, and any general concerns you may have.

It might be useful to make a note of any issues you wish to raise to be sure that everything is covered, given the pressure of time. If you feel that there is an issue which requires discussion for longer than the allotted ten minutes, please make an appointment at a mutually convenient time on an alternative day.

We look forward to meeting with you.

Childline Big Breakfast - Thank you!

2010-10-18T14:09:00.001+01:00

Thanks to all for the tremendous support of the recent Childline Big Breakfast. We raised €226 in our small school so well done everybody and thank you!

Childline Big Breakfast

2010-09-29T09:33:00.000+01:00

Dear Parents

The pupils, Parents’ Association and staff are organising a Shared Breakfast in the school for next Wednesday, October 6th, in aid of Childline. All pupils are encouraged to bring in some breakfast (bread to toast, some cereal etc.) and a small cash donation towards Childline. We will eat breakfast in the school from 9.20a.m. until 10a.m. All parents are welcome to attend and join in the fun. The more cereal the better as it would be nice to have a tasting buffet!

Thank you,

Pupils, PA and Staff

Latest Newsletter

2010-09-29T09:18:00.002+01:00

Welcome Day for Junior Infant Parents 2pm Tuesday 12th Oct 2010
This is a day for new parents to meet each other and the team of professionals who work with your children. All Junior Infants (and Senior Infant siblings) will be supervised in Niamh and Siobhan’s classes while Helen outlines the Infant Curriculum and answers all those questions. Refreshments will be served afterwards at 3pm. Thank you to the Parents’ Association for offering to help with refreshments.

New Students and Parents
Welcome to all new students who started this term in all classes. Lovely to have you as part of the team. We look forward to working with you.

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 is greatly appreciated. We have recommenced our initiative to encourage attendance and punctuality (this worked very well last year). This involves each child receiving a tick each day for being present and another for being on time. If a child has ten ticks at the end of the week his/ her name is entered in a draw for a gift (prize given in each class). The school is obliged, by law, to inform the National Education Welfare Board when a pupil is absent for a total of 20 schooldays in one school year. Obviously the whole idea is to miss as little time as possible not to aim for a max of 20 days. 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.

Home School Liaison Co-Ordinator – Aoife
Aoife Mc Clafferty was appointed last September to work on a shared basis with both the Mercy NS (Scoil An Linbh Íosa) in Galway and ourselves. She works with our school on a Wednesday. She is already very busy meeting new parents this year. She’ll work her way around to all. She is available in the school from 9.20am-10am should any parent fancy a chat when dropping off children. Her main focus is to provide a link with the school. She does home visits each Wednesday. Aoife is anxious to get started with Big Book Activities in Junior and Senior Infants and Science for Fun in 1st and 2nd class. These sessions will involve parents working in class with Aoife. It is a wonderful opportunity for parents to get involved in school life so do let Aoife know if you can assist. Thank you to the parents who have already returned the slip sent out by Aoife this month.

Treats
In line with our Healthy Eating Policy we recommend a small sensible treat on Fridays only. Children will still need a nutritious lunch on Fridays to get through the day. No hard sweets or lollipops - choking hazard and no chewing gum please - cleaning hazard.

Parent Teacher Meetings
Two dates are now set aside – Thurs 11th November from 3.15pm- 5.15pm and Thursday 18th November from 7.00pm-9.00pm. Thanks to staff for making themselves available at night to facilitate parents who cannot make it during the day. A note will be sent out after the Mid-term break. Parents are reminded this is a 10 minute slot with your child’s class teacher. Should a longer slot be required this can be arranged at a mutually agreeable time. Time slots will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Watch out for note after Mid-term and return asap.

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. 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 left after 1pm will not be received in time for a change to be made re. bus etc.

Spikeball and Multi-Sport
Our first sessions have begun. Thanks again to Matthew, Suzanne, Siobhan, Terri and Niamh who give up their time voluntarily to hold these sessions. Please collect promptly at 4pm after these sessions to allow all to leave and lock up at 4pm.

Voluntary Contributions
Thanks 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 actually run the school.

Art Supplies/Photocopying/Stationery Costs
Many thanks to everyone who has paid. There are still a small few who have not sent this in. Remember it was €55. There was a cost of €5 to rent books too in most classes. (We did not charge classes for whom we had no books for loan.) All classes will have this charge next year and we will have a stock of books to offer for this nominal fee. Obviously workbooks cannot be in this system as they are written on. We are building up a fine collection of re-useable books.

Swimming
Our first lesson will be on the November 10th. There will be 6 sessions in total until the winter break in December. Classes from 1st-6th will travel to Clarinbridge again this year. Consent forms will issue very soon with details of cost.

Pupil Personal Accident Insurance
Please ensure you return the €8 asap. Cover starts as soon as the €8 is received.

Baboró
The International Arts Festival for children takes place once again in October. All classes have applied to attend a variety of performances and are awaiting confirmation of places. A note regarding cost will be sent out once we receive confirmation.

Publicity
Read about us in Nuacht Chlair, Claregalway’s free local paper. www.nuachtchlair.ie

Carpark
Please drive carefully in the turn around. With so many staff, (no complaints, they are all vital!) there will not be room for parking. However there is plenty of room in front of the school wall and across the road to park. 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.

Claregalway Castle

2010-09-24T11:00:00.000+01:00

Everyone from 1st to 6th class visited Claregalway Castle this morning.

Staff Meeting

2010-09-10T10:51:00.002+01:00

There will be a staff meeting at 12.30pm next Thursday September 16th. The school buses will run at this time. Please let Helen know if your Junior or Senior Infant child is to get on the bus at 12.30pm.

Welcome Back!

2010-09-02T10:08:00.001+01:00

Welcome back to school. We hope everyone has had a wild, happy summer. Thanks to all volunteers who came at various times in the last few days to set up classes and move furniture. Some of our parents, Hilary and I will recall the evening before we opened in September 2005- even scarier but we made it. Well done everyone. Thanks to Asta and Matthew who popped in to weed and tidy the garden during the summer. It was so colourful all summer (well done Roisin and Becca for the layout) and our new green flag looked wonderful from the road.
We have grown to four teacher status (they only count the class teachers, not the Support teachers). We have nearly 90 students and some of our wonderful staff have returned with different status. We are delighted to have Eimear now as a permanent member of staff. After three years with us on a yearly basis she has more than earned the title. Siobhan is now with us on a yearly basis, we hope, into the future. Jenny has lots more hours this year so we will see more of her. A special welcome to Helen in Junior infants- Helen is well known to all the children, having covered for teachers last year on and off. Helen is holding the fort for Eimear who will be back in December. We have two new classrooms and a new Support room at the rear of the building.

Well done to the builders, Innovative Modular Buildings from Loughrea who worked night and day to complete on time. Planning was held up so they couldn’t commence until all was in order. Nail biting days, believe me. Special thanks to John and Frank from the Board of Management who shared the load with me over summer. It was wonderful to have three heads at meetings over the summer. Lovely bright new classrooms. Great space and the building has a very high energy rating, not the usual for a modular building! Our electricity bills will be reduced. A heat exchange unit has been fitted- cost borne by the builders and heavily discounted by the suppliers- Pro Air, as we could’t afford it on our budget. Pro Air have offices in the Corporate park here in Claregalway. Our contractors IMB tried where possible to source components locally and work with local tradesmen. We are setting a trend re energy saving. The Green committee can be proud of the school. As we monitor savings and the advantages of less dampness etc we will be making decisions for our new modern energy efficient school in the future. In the meantime this building will bring us forward admirably. The Department of Education and Skills financed 95% of all works but we used funds raised to cover the new play area, fencing and path to it, as they do not fund play areas. Thanks to valuable fund raisers we’ve had in the past we were in a position to do this without loans etc. Well done to all our parents who have made this possible. We have gained valuable playground space wth the removal of the other pre-fab. We would ask for your patience and co-operation as we finish off the final tasks- lino to be laid, outside painting etc. These will be done when the students have gone home.

Junior Infants will have two weeks of short days- going home at 12.30pm. This will ease them into their new routine. Do encourage independence and try not to transfer your anxieties on to your little ones. School life is such fun in 2010, especially in Claregalway Educate Together. Hands on experiences, buddy work, differentiated work, self expression encouraged, play emphasised and group work part of life. Trust your child’s teacher- Helen. We have a wonderful staff. Our Infant teacher Eimear has been in close contact with Helen and Siobhan to set up a seamless handover for this first term. She will be back in December. Suzanne, Jenny and Terri are also in the wings for the new Infants and new students throughout the school.

New Students in all classes this year because of the extra space, we have been able to open up places to new students in classes other than Junior Infants. Welcome to all our new young friends and their parents. I know everyone will make them feel very welcome.

Website
Don’t forget to keep an eye on our website for news www.claregalwayeducatetogether.ie Thanks to Hilary our deputy Principal who set it up and updates the site regularly.

Contact Details
Please let us know if there have been any changes to the Contact information sheet which you completed for your child / children. Any changes in address, phone numbers, or your emergency contact person should be made known to the school immediately.If you wish to fill in a new contact or medical form, these are available from the office. Thank you for your co-operation.

Webtexts
Please let us know if you wish to receive texts on a different mobile or are not receiving webtexts. Iif you have changed your mobile number we need to update the lists. Let Terri or Deirdre know or send in a note with your child.

Office Hours for forms etc.
Deirdre works part time twice a week. 9.30- 11.30 on Wed and Fri. Messages can be left on the school phone every day. We listen at 11 o’clock and lunchtime. However we cannot guarantee that messages left late in the day will be acted on to your satisfaction so do leave urgent messages as early as possible. It really helps if your child knows how they are getting home when they leave your house in the morning.

Voluntary Contributions
In these times of recession it is with regret we ask for this contribution to funding but this is a vital fund to meet the shortfall between grants from the DES and what we need to run the school. We now have more rent going out. The DES pay 95% of all rent but we have to come up with 5% locally. We ask for €100 per family. This can be paid in total now or sent in two €50 instalments this term and in the New Year.

Feedback
We welcome all feedback. Please refer to the Flow Chart which has gone out to all families. Further copies available in the office. Thank you to all who understand, that as a teaching Principal, I cannot be available without notice. Please feel free to leave a message or send in a note if you wish to meet and a mutally agreeable time can be arranged.

Do log on to www.welfare.ie or www.citizensinfomation.ie to see if eligible for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. I believe it covers all clothing not just uniforms. Not too late-Closing date is 30th Sept 2010. There is a bigger than usual backlog this year but do not be dissuaded if it is needed.

Carpark
Please drive carefully in the turn around. With so many staff, (no complaints they are all vital) there will not be room for parking. However there is plenty of room in front of the school wall and across the road to park. 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.

Looking forward to working with everyone again this year in our new bigger school.
Terri

A New Year...

2010-08-28T10:20:00.002+01:00

As Wednesday September 1st hurtles towards us, final works are being carried out on the two new classrooms. Its all very exciting as we become a 4 classroom school. We have come a long way in 5 short years. Hope all enjoy the last few days of the holidays and we look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday next.

Jumble Sale

2010-06-10T23:08:00.001+01:00

Just a quick reminder about the Student Council Jumble Sale next Tuesday June 15th. Please donate children’s toys and books (in good condition only please) and any yummy baked goods. You can send donations in from Monday June 14th. Please remember to give your child a euro or so and a bag for their treasures. If anyone has small change please send that in too. The sale is open to parents from 1pm-2pm. Please support this sale. All funds raised will be used to replace playground equipment for the yard.

Thank you

Student Council (Colm, Dubhaoigh, Azzurra, Joshua, Neo, Dara & Seth)

Write-a-Book Project

2010-06-10T23:05:00.002+01:00

Congratulations to Alice, Thomas, Grace and Dara, our award-winning authors. They attended a prizegiving ceremony in the Radisson Hotel on Monday night. Well done to all who took part in the project.

June Update

2010-06-03T20:42:00.002+01:00

TVs and DVD players on offer

No longer needed in the school as we will have two Interactive Whiteboards from Sept 1^st. If useful please take with you. A small donation to the school would be appreciated in return.

Open Day 27th May Thank you all so much for your help. It was a day to remember. Susan, chairperson of the Parents’ Association, was co-ordinating helpers from 11am, wonderful food - spanish omelettes, fruit salad and carrot cake, science experiments in the pre-fab, our seniors acting as ambassadors and tour guides, Noreen doing Fit Kidz for all, Aoife leading the dance routines and staff mingling. Fabulous. The children shone. Best Open Day ever and we will follow that format next year as it went so well. Plenty of super feedback.

Expansion Plans All going according to plan. Site will be taken over for renovations on 26^thJune. Exciting changes ahead. Please get your name down with any staff member if available to lift furniture on Friday 25^th June between 9.30am and 11am.

Spikeball Blitz in Corrandrum Sports Hall 11am on the 3^rd of June. Wish us luck. Team are Katie, Luke, Oisín, Rachael, Joshua and captain Colm. Well done to all Spikeball enthusiasts who came to practices all year. Match against teachers yet to take place and squad not yet selected for that match.

Voluntary Contribution Please remember to send in the final payment of €50 per family (€100 per family per year) this term.Thanks to all who have done so.

SMA Family Day Sunday June 6th. Our art work will be on display. The theme this year is the flooding. Come along and support.

Photographs

Please send back asap. No pressure to buy but do send back all if not purchasing. Many thanks.

Jumble Sale The Student Council are organising a Jumble Sale for Tuesday June 15th in the pre-fab. Please send in cakes, buns, cookies etc and children’s books and toys in good condition. No clothes or shoes thanks. If the items could be stored in your own homes until Monday June 14th, the day before the Jumble Sale, it would help greatly in school. Please remember to give your child a euro or so on the day to buy a bun or a toy. Also if they have a plastic bag or two they can carry the items home safely. All parents welcome to come from 1pm-2pm to the pre-fab to shop on the day. Your child will get an opportunity to shop during the day with his/her class. If anyone can donate some small change to assist the cashiers on the day we would be most grateful. Funds raised will be used to replace playground equipment used at all breaks. The Student Council spear headed a fund raiser for Haiti earlier this year. Thanks for your excellent support.

School Tours

Junior Tour to NUIG on Thurs June 10^th Cost: €30 9.10am - 4.20pm

1^st-6^th Tour to Clare and Limerick on Thurs June 17^th Cost: €30 8am – 7.30p.m

Sports Day 9.30-2pm Friday June 11th

Usual exciting day of fun planned. For new parents this involves active children all day and you are welcome to join in, help and bring a picnic for lunchtime. Some athletics as well as novelty races. Sack races for dads and mums, now that’s worth watching! Hope weather is sunny but whatever the weather we will proceed. All details will be sent out nearer the time. Just so you can plan, the practice is that all are dropped to the Community Centre on the morning not the school. The buses run to the Centre too. Children are collected from the Centre and all events will finish at 2pm so an early finish for all that day.

Student Council and Green Committee Treat

Every year Terri invites the committees to lunch in Subway. Unfortunately Subway is now closed so we will have a treat in Treat this year. No consent form is needed as we have the general consent form to cover all local excursions. We will head off some sunny day when it suits this month. Well done to both committees. Lots of hard work put in by both groups. The school is certainly a better place because of their initiatives.

Graduation Night

Monday June 21st in the SMA hall next door to the school. All parents and children are invited and some local people from the Community. The extra space means we do not have to restrict it to the graduates and their families this year. Thanks to Fr. Nohilly for letting us use the hall. All senior students will be needed for performances on the night.

Our new Green Flag...

2010-05-27T20:28:00.004+01:00

The two Oisins (Corcoran and Madden!) collected our brand new Green Flag on Thursday May 27th. Congratulations to all.

Open Day

2010-05-27T20:22:00.003+01:00

Thank you to all who came to visit today and helped make our Open Day such a special occasion. A huge thanks to the group of parents who helped with the catering, activities, face-painting etc etc!

OPEN DAY - THIS THURSDAY!

2010-05-25T21:51:00.002+01:00

Please call in and visit us this Thursday between 1pm and 3pm. Entertainment, games, science, dance, displays, FUN! See you there.

6th Class Victory at Library Table Quiz!

2010-05-12T15:07:00.005+01:00

Congratultions to our Fantastic Four - Aidan, Cian, Colm and Nada, who were victorious at the Ballybane Library Table Quiz 2010. They faced stiff competition from 15 other teams, all from big schools too. They were in the lead for almost every round and faced a nail-biting tie-break situation at the end. Thanks to their amazing general knowledge they came out on top! Nada was thrilled that there were two questions about Jedward; Colm took his time making sure that 'Harrington' was spelt correctly; Aidan knows that the World Cup AFTER South Africa will be in Brazil and Cian, well, Cian knows a LOT!! Well done to all of you! We're all feeling very proud today.

Televisions going a-begging...

2010-05-12T15:05:00.002+01:00

We're doing a Spring/Summer Clean and we have two televisions and a dvd player that we don't need anymore. If anyone would like them please come and collect. Maybe a small donation to the Buzz in lieu of actual payment?

May Update

2010-05-09T21:36:00.002+01:00

Art Auction
Thank you all for your support for the Art Auction Fund Raiser. Figure raised is close to €4,000 but not yet finalised as Ester and Lorna are still selling after the Auction. Fantastic work and it goes on largely behind the scenes. Ester’s first Auction and what a lady. The smoothness on the day was so impressive. We are so grateful to all artists who get involved every time. Many artists donated their works because they are so supportive of the school. Ester’s super human co-ordinating, Deirdre in the office on invites etc, our Security firm organised by Nick, Emily and Midie presenting the works, Shane’s auctioneering skills, Gerry on the spreadsheet, Jackie and friends providing the music, Bern, Alice and Aideen packing, Susan, Paula, Dara and Emer doing the raffles, Clare as runner, Noreen, Lorna and Cian on desk duty, Becca, Rachael, Emily and Nuala entertaining little ones, Ray, Birgit, Agnes, Dave, Mags, Frank, Mary Lou and all the staff making up the crowd and all of you supporting behind the scenes, liaising with artists etc. made for an Auction with class. Buyers were less in attendance than for previous Auctions but for a fund raiser during a recession we did superbly. Most importantly our school name was out there very visibly and we looked so professional. Thank you all so much.

Open Day May 27th 1pm-3pm
Open Day for everyone-all our students, all new students, all our present parents, parents of new children and other interested people, is on Thursday May 27th from 1pm-3pm. Thanks for all offers of help on the day–helping to set out fruit and drinks for the new children and tea/coffee for the parents, decorating the school with flowers, tidying before parents arrive, showing prospective parents around. We intend having Science displays, showing the Activity Week DVD and Noreen will have Fun Fitz Kids in the playground for our children (Infants 1pm-2pm and 1st & 2nd 2pm -3pm) and visitors. Spread the word that we still have places in all classes and invite possible future parents. This is a vital opportunity to get parents to see the school and meet everyone. Who better than our pupils to explain our vision.

Expansion Plans!
Got go-ahead to replace present pre-fab with a new two room modular building at the back of the school. Will be a busy summer but we’ll have a proper four teacher school next September. New enrolments coming in weekly. Do let all interested parties know about us and the additional room we have now that we are expanding. Once interested parents visit they always stay. We do have a particular magic thanks to our brilliant staff. Safe, exciting, creative, fun. All comment on the friendly atmosphere. Our new students have integrated well and have had a great year. Particular thanks to their teachers. It is truly commendable the work behind the scenes that goes on to ensure transfers work well.

Staff Meeting Tuesday June 1st at 12.30pm.
All staff meetings this year will take place at 12.30pm. Details in April Update.Thank you for your co-operation.

Spikeball
Blitz planned for Corrandrum Sports Hall 11am on the June 3rd. Wish us luck. Students dying to play in real competition!

Standardised Testing
Please ensure your child is in school, unless ill, on the Tuesday May 18th and Thursday May 20th. Please see April Update for details.

Religion
Thanks to Nora for preparing the children and we wish all who made their First Communion and Confirmation the very best. Congratulations to Oisín, Cormac, Méabh and Colm.

Green Committee
Congrats to all in the school community and especially the Green Committee. Assessment for the second Green Flag was on April 28th and we got our second Green Flag.

Student Council Petition
During May the Student Council plan to get as many signatures as possible and present the petition to the County Manager and our local public representatives. A very worthy cause. Safety always comes first. This will benefit everyone in Claregalway. If you can get media attention for the Student Council let Terri know. They plan to bring the petition to the village, outside Hughes, on Wednesday June 2nd from 10am -12pm. They will be emailing photographers and local representatives about it soon. The Parents Association have offered to help on the day. Thank you all for signing the petition especially the past pupils who brought it to their second level schools and the parents who took it to their places of work. Please request more pages if you need them. Plenty in the office. Well done to the Student Council.

School Tours
Junior Tour to NUIG on Thurs June 10th - Letter will be out this week re. costs etc.
1st-6th Tour to Clare and Limerick on the Thurs June 17th. The cost of €30 is very much lower than previous tours. We appreciate how strapped for cash parents are during the recession and encourage paying in instalments if needed. Thank you to those who have sent in deposits. Time to be at school: 8am; Home: 7.30pm.

Sports Day 9.30-2pm Friday June 11th
Usual exciting day of fun planned. For new parents this involves active children all day and you are welcome to join in, help and bring a picnic for lunchtime. Some athletics as well as novelty races. Sack races for dads and mums, now that’s worth watching! Hope weather is sunny but whatever the weather we will proceed. All details will be sent out nearer the time. Just so you can plan the practice is that all are dropped to the Community Centre on the morning not the school. The buses run to the Centre too. Children are collected from the Centre and all events will finish at 2pm so an early finish for all that day.

Student Council start petition for Footbridge!

2010-05-06T10:29:00.002+01:00

We are currently petitioning to get a footbridge at the bridge on the N17. It is a very dangerous bridge to walk across at the moment and children from our school have to walk across it every morning to get to school. We think that getting a footbridge would make it much safer to cross. Currently there is not even a footpath on the bridge. Please make sure and sign the petition. We will be petitioning the village of Claregalway as well as the school community as this bridge would benefit all. Please help get as many signatures as possible!

CETNS Student Council (Colm, Dubhaoigh, Azzurra, Joshua, Neo, Dara & Seth)

Our soccer team 2010

2010-04-20T12:20:00.003+01:00

We recently competed in the FAIS soccer tournament in Newbridge, Co. Galway. Thanks to Matthew for the coaching!

Art Auction

2010-04-18T20:29:00.004+01:00

Well done to all involved in making the fundraising art auction such a great success today and thanks to all who helped and supported us in this venture. Extra special thanks to Ester for all her time and effort in organising the event. More details of monies raised etc. later.

Enjoying History in the Sun

2010-04-13T21:37:00.002+01:00

Welcome back everyone! Hope you are all enjoying the sunny weather and that you had a great holiday. Please don't forget to support our Art Auction this Sunday, April 18th. Parents are still needed to help out on the day so please contact Ester and offer even an hour of your time. This is an essential fundraiser for your children's school so please help it be a success. Well done to Ester for her trojan work on this project.

La na Gaeilge

2010-03-23T22:33:00.001Z

Bhi an sport againn ar La na Gaeilge. Bhi ceolchoirm, leitheoireacht, cluichi agus ceili againn i rith an lae. 3rd to 6th Class performed "An Garbhan" - an Irish langauge version of "The Gruffalo". We had some very realistic animals and a very scary Garbhan!

1st to 3rd performed a rap based on the Story of Dick Whittington - "Dic agus a chat".

Dic agus a chat

2010-03-23T22:25:00.000Z

Ag leitheoireacht le cheile...

2010-03-23T22:20:00.001Z

Agus...an ceili!!

2010-03-23T22:15:00.001Z

Consent Forms Update

2010-03-16T22:13:00.001Z

Following feedback from the Parents’ Association regarding constantly filling in consent forms, the staff revised the General Consent Form to cover all local events. Thus we will no longer send forms for events held in the vicinity. S agreed that there seem to be many times when we send out notes whereas one form would cover your consent for all. Thus we did not issue a consent form for the bus to the Community Centre in the final term. We asked for €20 (in the March Update which is now also available online on our website), to cover the hiring of the bus but assumed you all understood that the General Consent Form would now cover this block of trips. Apologies for any misunderstanding in the changeover to the new system. Thanks to all who have sent in the €20 ahead of the commencement of these weekly trips after the Easter break.

March Update

2010-03-04T23:19:00.002Z

Activity Week A Major Success

Well done to all who organised their own workshop or cajoled others into doing talks/ workshops for us. What an array of talent and expertise. We had an excellent variety of events. Great atmosphere in the school and all enjoyed the magic. From Wishing Chair to trips to Pluto. Fabulous. Thank you so much for your time and preparation.

Staff Meeting Thurs 4^th March

All staff meetings this year will take place at 12.30pm. Every year up to now Primary School teachers nationally made themselves available every second meeting for time outside school hours as well. We held a staff meeting at 12.30pm which ended at 3pm then the next meeting was at 2pm and staff stayed until 4pm. On a national basis teachers are no longer doing this as a form of protest because of the ongoing effects of crippling cuts in education - less support staff, bigger classes, cuts in grants etc. We regret the inconvenience to you and the intrusion on your child’s school day but it is beyond our control. Thank you for your co-operation.

Write-A–Book

All children from 1st-6^th got an opportunity to write edit and publish their own books this week. All topics from super heroes to facts, from zombies to horses were covered. Well done to all for their hard work and dedication. Definitely authors in the making. Watch your local bookshop and library for familiar names in the coming years!

The Buzz

Second edition went out before the Mid-Term. Certainly learned more about farming and nesting boxes. Very impressive contributions from all in the Senior Room. Keep it up…Classified ads etc. for the next edition should also be sent in as soon as possible. This is a wonderful project and we really want to keep it going so your support is essential. Thanks to Nick for co-ordinating.

HSCL – Aoife

Aoife will be with us on Wednesdays from now on as she is planning classes for the final term which involve the Community Centre. Aoife is also continuing with home visits and hopes to have introduced herself to all families by the end of June. If she is nearby, she rings to see if you are in and calls. No fuss, just an introductory call. Aoife’s role is to increase parental involvement in the school and in your child’s education. She has an excellent background in teaching and so can answer most questions parents may have. On her behalf may I thank you all for your hospitality and kindness. Aoife is really enjoying this aspect of her role. Our first year to have a Home School Co-Ordinator and we are achieving great things. Well done all who attended classes for parents and brushed up on their Irish with Aoife.

Aoife hopes to start Science For Fun with parents from Niamh’s class. Training Workshops will begin Wednesday March 10^th at 9.20am. Then Aoife and the parents who attended will go into Niamh’s class after the holidays on Wednesdays from 11.15am to 12.15pm. It is intended to provide a 6 week block of lessons to Niamh’s class. Anyone interested please contact Aoife directly on 085 1121001

Sport:Swimming/ Multi-Sport/ Spikeball Two swimming lessons left for 1^st-6^th class. Please remember gear on Wednesdays to avoid disappointment. Multi-Sport and Spikeball will be on every Monday and Tuesday unless we notify you of a cancellation. The next cancellation will be during the Drama Festival. There will be no Spikeball on Tuesday next week March 9^th and none the following week Tuesday March 16^th. This is because of the Claregalway Drama Festival. We will get in a final session before the hols on Tuesday March 23^rd. Multi-Sport is unaffected and carries on unless we notify you of a cancellation. Thanks Matthew - so reliable and full of energy.

Religion: Same as for sport. Every week unless notified otherwise. Parents involved are in a group text arrangement so watch for texts. Thanks to Nora for her dedication and energy.

Expansion Plans! Continuing. Keep up the great work in spreading word about us. Enrolments coming in nicely. Leaflets available in the office for distribution. We need those numbers!

Green Committee

All working hard to earn our second green flag based around energy this year. Well done to Junior and Senior Infants who won the Inter Class Energy Awareness Competition. Thanks to all for completing the energy questionnaire also. We also welcomed Dr. Patrick Hartigan from ‘Wavebob’ who inspired us all to move from destructive brown energy sources to renewable green ones.

P.E.

Will continue after Easter Holidays in the Community Centre and Claregalway GAA Pitch. The facilities are free to us and block booked annually. Much appreciated. Unfortunately we have to ask for money to cover transport to the Centre for all in 1^st-6^th. Please send in €20 per child to cover transport to the Centre for the final term. Put in an envelope with child’s name on it please.

Art Auction

Please refer to the website for information and contact Ester if you can help in the lead-up and/or on the day itself. Sunday April 18^th Westwood Hotel, Galway.

Webtexts

We get the service free because the phones used are not in normal use so please do not respond. If you need to leave messages use the school number (091 798356) which can be checked from an external phone in a crisis. Please send in any changes such as new mobile numbers/lost mobiles, as soon as possible to ensure that you continue to receive these texts.

Staff Meeting March 4th

2010-03-01T18:22:00.001Z

Just a reminder that we have a staff meeting this Thursday, March 4th. School closes at 12.30pm and buses will run. Please let Siobhan know if Junior and Senior Infants are going home by bus.

The Buzz - Issue 2!

2010-02-23T21:46:00.001Z

Hot off the press: Nick delivered Issue 2 of The Buzz on Wed Feb 17th. Make sure and read all the interesting articles. Well done to our editors and Nick for doing such a good job. We really need to support this project so please use the Classified Ads facility to raise some much needed funds. Thank you!

Energy Green Flag

2010-02-23T21:41:00.000Z

Having had a very successful Energy Awareness Week (Feb 8th - 12th) our second Green Flag application is now being completed. Hopefully we'll be raising a spanking new Green Flag in June! We also have Patrick Hartigan from Wavebob Ireland coming in on Wed Mar 3rd to speak to 3rd-6th Class about the ocean energy project in Galway Bay.

CETNS Art Auction

2010-02-23T21:36:00.000Z

Planning for our third art auction is well underway. Have a look at the website here to see some of the fabulous art that will be sold on Sunday April 18th in the Westwood Hotel in Galway.