News Updates for February

7^th February 2014

Dear Parents,

The following is our now regular monthly information and communication letter to keep all parents up to date and informed about the goings on in Kilcoskan NS.

Best wishes,
Mr.Ciarán Caulfield, Principal

• ·     Thanks to all who supported our recent annual “Fruity Fortnight”, it was a great success. Please continue to provide healthy lunches for your child with fruit and or vegetables included daily.
• ·     Parent-Teacher Meetings: To be held on the 17^th & 18^th February after school. Time slots have been allocated.
• ·     After School Activities: Tin whistle, chess club (both for 6 weeks) and hurling have started this week. Football starts next Wednesdays in St.Margaret’s GAA complex. Thanks again to our staff for their generosity in providing all after school activities free of charge. Note: footballers and hurlers for the foreseeable future must bring runners and boots to all sessions. Footballers must also bring gum shields.
• ·     Midterm break: School will be closed for midterm break on Thursday 20^th and Friday 21^st February and will reopen on Monday 24^th February for a full school day.
• ·     Sacramental Dates Confirmed by Parish Priest: First Penance will take place on 11^th March at 7pm. First Communion for 2^nd class will take place on 11^th May and Confirmation for 6^th class pupils will take place on 1^st May. All will take place in St.Margaret’s Church.
• ·     Uniform: Parents are asked to ensure that their children wear the correct uniform on the correct days. Full uniform is the norm and tracksuit days are Tuesdays and Fridays only. Also, many of the pupils have started wearing boots, shoes and runners that are very trendy indeed but are not part of uniform. Black or navy school shoes / runners only please.
• ·     Morning drop-off and signing the school register: The school drop off point is the school gate from 8.50am and unless there is an important matter that needs to be communicated to a teacher, between 8.50am and 9am there is no need for parents to accompany their children to line up or indeed into class in the mornings. This includes rainy days where pupils come indoors pre-school and are supervised by staff.  We do encourage good communication and parents may request quick meetings with teachers before school on important matters by asking staff at reception / on yard to check availability of the relevant teacher.    
• ·     Mobile Phone collection: We continue to collect old mobile phones at reception with the aim of getting a school iPad from Irish Autism Action.  Those who give their old phones and provide their details are entered into prize draws.
• ·     Parents Association: John Lonergan, former Governor of Mountjoy Prison will present a one hour “reflective and awareness look at parenting” talk on February 18^th next at 8pm. (See Parents Association newsletter attached.)
• ·     Reading groups: Thank you to all parents who have helped with our various in-class reading and activity groups. We really would like for more parents of children in our junior, senior, 1^st and 2^nd class groups to offer their time to go into their child’s class for just two 30 minute sessions a week for 6 week blocks, from 9am. This can help our younger pupils to realise that when mam’s and dad’s are involved in class and school activities, they must be very important.  It is school policy that such in-class volunteers be Garda vetted and sign a volunteer worker policy. Please make yourself known to Mr.Caulfield or Terri as soon as possible if you’d like to get involved.