Dear Parents and Guardians/A Thuismitheoirí agus a Chaomhnóirí,

Policy Update

Please read this Bí Cineálta Policy.  A lot of work has gone into this by students, staff, parents and Board of Management.  This will replace our antibullying policy from September 1^st.  It is an excellent development.

Traffic Plan Update

Between now and 1^st of September please read this Traffic Plan which will come into effect from the 1^st September.  This is the finished work following observations by a traffic management engineer and there is one significant change:-

• From 1^st September Senior students and adults on bicycles can use the main wider entrance to enter and leave the school.
• Motorists must give way to cyclists always.

Attendance

You may have seen some publicity this week about the Government’s strategy to improve on attendance in the coming school year (some news articles examples here and here).  The Minister for Education’s statement can be read here in which she outlines the decline in school attendance, her plans “to deliver real-time attendance data for better decision-making and intervention”, and “to revise the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 to strengthen statutory supports for young children, including bringing children under 6 attending primary school within its scope to ensure earlier intervention”.

As in many other schools, in the past number of years we have seen a rise in the number of children missing days due to holidays during term time. We encourage all families to plan ahead, using the school’s calendar for 25/26 and to endeavour to book holidays within holiday time to maximise children’s time in school.

In the Aladdin App you can view your child’s attendance record, missing 15 days is equivalent to three weeks of school, missing 20 days is equivalent to a month of school. The school’s attendance policy can be accessed here. We will inform you of any changes required by the Department of Education as we are informed of them. Sorcha (Deputy Principal)

Home-based Summer Provision

This summer our school is running the ‘Summer Programme’ for children with a diagnosis of ASD and other complex needs.  Unfortunately, there is no more availability on the programme, so if your child is eligible for home-based tuition over the summer and you are interested in applying (click here to access the application form), please let the school know by Monday 9^th June at the latest.  Once we know, we will complete an application for each individual and you will receive a confirmation email with the next steps.

Our assembly this month was on the value of Happiness.  Senior assembly was led by Oisín’s class (see video below) and Junior assembly was led by Daniel’s Junior Infant class.

Reminder to Art Day is on 13th June – click here to Volunteer

Thanks to all the parents who are busy organising and preparing for Art Day 2025!

And More!

Max in second class published his first book in the library this week. He is both author and illustrator. It’s an exciting story, and available in the library to read now!

Outdoor learning in ALC Green – We have been taking advantage of the lovely weather lately to do some gardening and learn about flowers and bees! Our Sunflowers are doing really well, so far. We can not wait for the flowers to appear. Niamh

The girls had a great time today at the football blitz in Na Fianna! They got to play five games in total.

First Holy Communion

On the 24^th May we made our Communion.

Elodie – ‘I liked by special day with my friends and family’

Hannah – ‘At mass from now on I can receive my communion’

Pippa – ‘I liked singing on the altar with my friends’

Olivia – ‘I loved getting dressed up and getting my picture taken’

Nara – ‘I went to the Botanic Gardens after mass to get pictures!’

Leo – ‘It was a really special day and I did a prayer of the faithful’

Tymi – ‘I had loads of fun with my friends and family’

Ryan – ‘ I had a great day with everyone’

Texaco Art Competition – Kate from Senior Infants received the Special Merit award in the 6 years and Under Category for the Texaco Art Competition.  There were 126 award winners out of 20,000 entries! Congratulations Kate!

Some of the children in our school participated last Sunday to the All Ireland Judo Schools Championships representing GETNS. Claire in 3^rd class, Amelia in Snr Infatns and Patrick in 6^th class won a Bronze Medal and David Senan in Snr Infants won a Silver Medal.

6th class trip to the National Gallery of Ireland by Parker Murray and Lachlan Glynn

Last Tuesday, we went to the National Gallery of Ireland to do a workshop on sketching and art. It was very enjoyable because we got to do a lot of sketching and learn about art.

We did sketches of a wooden sculpture that looked entirely different depending on what angle you looked at it from. I personally liked that one a lot, because of how different it was from other perspectives.The sculpture was three loops of wood merged together, however, additional details could only be seen at different angles. It was interesting moving around the room and looking at it from alternative viewpoints. That particular sculpture was made out of different layers of wood, which were molded into different shapes and then reinforced with extra wood to create a different sculpture.

We also worked on drawing different characters from a painting called ‘The Wedding of Strongbow and Aoife’. During this particular drawing exercise, we would draw different characters in different ways: we drew characters in 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes and then drawing without looking at the page. It was an interesting exercise that got us all thinking about the way that professional artists would draw.

Both 3rd classes enjoyed our trip to the science museum Explorium yesterday. The gravity room was a huge hit as was the lightning show!

Reminder:

• School closed Monday 2^nd June to Friday 6^th June inclusive.
• School Tours  – As the classes will be going on school tours over the next few weeks, please do not drive into or park in the school grounds when collecting children at 2:20pm except for parents of children in the ALC classes. Please be careful when leaving the school grounds at pickup time.

• • Senior Infants Tour is on Tuesday, 27/05/2025
  • 3^rd Class School Tour on Wednesday, 28/05/25
  • ALC School Tour on Thursday, 29/05/2025
• School Calendar for Academic Year 2025-2026
• If your child is unwell or has been sent home because they are not well, please keep them at home for 48hrs and only return to school when better.
  When dropping or collecting your child early/late to/from school please ensure you close the pedestrian gate securely on your way in and out of the school.

Frása na Seachtaine:

“Cá bhfuil tú ag dul i gcoir do thuras scoile? Táimid ag dul chuig_________ (Flynn Park, Emerald Park, Squirrel Scramble).  Bain taitneamh as! Go raibh maith agat.”

“Where are you going on your school tour? We are going to ………. I hope you enjoy it.! Thank you.”

Le meas

Róisín Conlon

Príomh Oide