St Mary's NS Knockbridge

Newsletter No. 1 – 1st September 2011

School Information

1. Parents should always contact the class teacher by making an appointment with the school secretary. It is impossible for teachers to give parents their full attention if they arrive unexpectedly at the classroom door.

2. Any payments due to the school by cheque should be made payable to Knockbridge National School. School Expenses should be paid to the class teacher or school office as soon as possible.

3. If children are absent for 20 days or more in a school year the school is obliged to inform the National Education Welfare Board.

4. Please mark in heavy print items such as jumpers, cardigans, ties and coats with your child’s name. It makes identification of lost items so much easier, as each year dozens of garments are left unclaimed.

5. Medicine in School: If a child is required to take medicine during school hours, parents must fill in the ‘Administration of Medicines’ form in the office.

6. Milk: Milk is €15.00 for the 1 term or €35 for the full year. Please notify the school ASAP if your child is availing of this service. Please note that the supply of milk to the children is subject to numbers.

7. CTR Clothing Collection: Our bi-annual clothing collection has been arranged for Thursday, 29th September. Bags will be issued to each family and more bags can be obtained from the office. However, refuse bags can be used. Items such as clothing, towels, bed linen and matching footwear are all appreciated. We would ask parents to please leave the bags outside the main door of the school on the morning of 29th by no later than 9.30am.

8. Credit Union: Facilities for the children are available each Thursday in the school. Please put money into an envelope with the child’s name and the amount to be lodged written clearly on the front and leave in the office.

9. Community Centre Car Park: Cars should enter and exit clockwise, keeping to the left. Children must always walk alongside the Community Centre wall and the Graveyard wall inside the yellow line. They may cross at the double line only. Children are not allowed to walk through the car park. Please do not park on the yellow lines or in the spaces reserved for the school buses in the afternoon. Under no circumstances should cars be driven into the school yard or block the school gates.

10. Children waiting to be collected at 1.40pm and 2.40pm must wait inside the school gate. Please collect your children promptly.

11. Knockbridge N.S. is a ‘Greenschool’. school. We place particular emphasis in respecting and caring for the environment. We proudly fly our two International Green Flags at the front of the school and we will be raising a 3rd Flag before the end of term. Children are encouraged to save energy, water and dispose of and recycle as much of the school waste as possible.

12. Dogs: Dog owners should neither exercise their dogs in the school field nor allow them to run free. Dog dirt can transmit the infection toxocariasis to children.

13. Extra-Curricular Activities:

Swimming: - Mrs. Rankin’s & Mrs Greene's classes initially. Monday morning’s 9.30am to 11.00am. The cost is €7.50 per week/€45 for 6 weeks. Aquatics is part of the School Curriculum, absences should be certified.
4th & 5th(Mr. Clune & Mr. McClean) Classes to commence on 17th October for 6 weeks.
3rd Class to commence on 12th December for 6 weeks.
2nd Class to commence on Monday 6th February for 6 weeks.

Irish Dancing: - Enrolment for children from Junior Infants to 6th Class will take place on Thursday 8th September in the GP Room from 1.40pm. Infant Classes will take place from 1.40 to 2.40pm and from 2.40 to 3.40 for First to Sixth Classes. Classes will commence on Thursday 15th September for 10 weeks at a cost of €50. Places are limited and available on a first come first served basis. Please deal with the dancing teacher Mrs Carmel Connolly directly.

Speech & Drama: Speech and Drama with Bronagh Dorian will take place this term. Registration will take place on Tuesday 20th September in the GP room from 1.40pm. Pricces range from €80 to €140 depending on grade. Classes will then commence on Tuesday 27th September.

Hurling: - Training takes place on Friday evenings at 5.30pm in the St. Bride’s Field; training is for U-8, U-10 and U-12.

Gaelic Football: - A 6 week block of training will take place in the school field from 2.40pm to 3.40pm on Wednesday evenings starting Wed. 14 September (weather permitting)
2nd - 6th class only. The teachers of the school provide the service free of charge and extra help would be welcome and appreciated.

14. Pupil Insurance:
Enclosed is a pupil insurance form. If you wish to avail of this please return the enclosed form along with the appropriate fee to the office by no later than Friday, 23 September. No exceptions can be made.

15. Homework Club: A homework club for 2nd to 6th classes will recommence in Mr.Clune's class (4th) from Monday 12th September. The club will run for 1 hour from Monday to Thursday and Mr.Clune will issue further details and cost next week.

Openings/Closures 2011-2012

Monday, 31st Oct. – Friday, 4th Nov. Mid-Term Break
School Re-opens on Monday 7th November

Thursday, 8th Dec. Holy Day
School Re-opens on Friday, 9th December

Thursday, 22nd Dec. Christmas Holidays
School closes at 12pm. The school will re-open on Monday 9th January 2012.

Thursday, 16th Feb– Friday, 17th Feb Mid-Term
School Re-opens on Monday, 20th February.

Monday 19th March. Bank Holiday
School Re-opens on Tuesday, 20th March.

Friday, 30th March @ 12pm Easter Holidays
School Re-opens on Monday, 16th April.

Monday, 7th May Bank Holiday
School Re-opens on Tuesday, 8th May.

Monday 4th June. Bank Holiday
School Re-opens on Tuesday 5th June.

Tuesday, 26th June @ 12pm Summer Holidays

Dates for Holy Communion and Confirmation, Parent/Teacher meeting to be confirmed.