Thanks to everyone who supported our EP Raffle to raise funds for the school. Our thanks also to the Stradbally Electric Picnic Residents Committee who kindly allocated tickets to the school. The two winners are: Ray Killeen and Brenda Delaney. Congratulations to them and we hope they enjoy the music!

August Newsletter 2023
 
Dear Parents,
I hope this newsletter finds you and your families well and that you are having an enjoyable summer. Below are a number of reminders to assist parents in preparing their children for the new school year which commences on Wednesday 30th August at 8.50am. We look forward to welcoming back all our pupils, especially our new junior infants, and working with them in the months and years ahead.

Opening/Closing Times
There is no change to school opening and closing times. The school opens each morning at 8.50 and closes at 1.30 for infants and 2.30 for all other classes. Parents are asked to ensure that their children are not dropped to school before 8.50 and the school takes no responsibility for children left outside the school by parents before this time. Parents have twenty minutes from 8.50 to 9.10 in which to drop their children to school. After 9.10 children are late for school and will have to enter the school via the main door and office. Infants should be collected from their classes each day at 1.30. All other classes will finish school at 2.30 and parents should collect children at the school gate.

School Uniform
Parental support of our school uniform is always exceptional and sets a standard for our school. Please ensure that your child wears the school uniform correctly, which includes adhering to our policies on hairstyle and jewellery. All children should wear the school uniform on their first day back and details of PE days will issue in due course.
The school uniform remains unchanged (school jumper, grey shirt, school tie, grey trousers/skirt/pinafore, black socks/tights and plain black footwear). The school half zip with plain black unbranded bottoms and runners should be worn on PE days.  Remember to put your child’s name on their jumpers and tops.
With regard to hairstyles please ensure that your child’s hair is kept natural (no colour, dyes or designs/lines cut into the hair) and that long hair is tied back. With regard to jewellery only a watch and a single pair of stud earrings in the ear lobe are allowed.

School Books and Resources
Books have been purchased for all children participating in the school book rental and resources scheme and will be distributed when the school re-opens. The scheme this year will also provide all pupils with copies. Stationery is provided for infants but other classes will need to purchase their own as per the class booklists available on the school website. With the Department increasing the grant for school books the cost of our scheme this year is reduced to €80 which can be paid via the school app or in the office up to the 30th of September.

New Junior Infants
We look forward to welcoming our new junior infants, many of whom attended the recent summer camp. Parents are reminded to drop and go on the first morning and to remember that collection is at 12.00 until Monday 18th September.
 
School Attendance
Parents are asked to ensure that their child attends school every day that they are well. It should be exceptional that any child reaches 20 days of absence. The school calendar is available on the website and parents are asked to arrange holidays accordingly.

Electric Picnic Raffle
The school is currently running a raffle for EP tickets, the proceeds of which will go towards funding our Music Generation Programme in the year ahead. While parents are welcome to purchase tickets you can really help us by promoting and sharing the raffle with others outside of the school community. The link to the raffle is below or you can find the relevant posting to share on the Parents Council Facebook page.

https://www.idonate.ie/raffle/TheHeathNSElectricPicnicRaffle
​
Electric Picnic will bring increased traffic to the area and in particular to the road outside the school which is a designated route for buses. Parents are asked to take due care on the Friday and Monday when traffic will be at its heaviest.
 
Healthy lunches
The school will again promote healthy lunches in the year ahead. Fruit, vegetables, a sandwich/roll, a natural yogurt are all good lunches. No crisps, chocolate, sweets or high sugar foods please. Water is the best drink, no fizzy drinks please. Also please avoid nuts or nut products as we have children in every class who have nut allergies.
We hope to continue to work with The Lunch Bag to provide parents with a readymade lunch option. New parents can download the app through the app store and follow the in app instructions to register.
 
Communication
All school communications during the year will issue through the school app or text. Please ensure that you have downloaded the app to your phone. If you have any difficulties, please contact the school office by email or phone. 
 
Payments to the school during the year
A reminder that all payments for resources, tours, swimming, computers etc. during the school year should be made via the school app.
 
In conclusion I hope you enjoy the last days of the holidays and I look forward to working with you all in the months ahead.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
David O’Brien
Principal