November News

The school receives funding from the Department of Education and Skills (DES) in the form of a capitation grant for each student in the school (based on the previous year’s enrolment).  The capitation grant has been reducing year on year from €200 per pupil in 2009/2010 to €170 per pupil since 2014/2015.  The grant covers the general running costs of the school including educational resources, books, insurance, heating, electricity, telephone, cleaning materials, bank charges, waste charges, office supplies and general school maintenance.  As these main expenses exceed the capitation grant schools are left with a deficit.  Such a deficit is typical in all schools and is covered by a combination of voluntary contributions and fundraising activities.   Last year, due to very careful spending, the deficit was less that we had anticipated.  The generosity of the parent body both in the form of voluntary contributions and fundraising events meant that in addition to the deficit being covered the we were in a position to purchase books, ipads, P.E. equipment, musical instruments, science equipment, sensory materials, maths equipment and construction toys for the children.

This year we have decided to run a ‘Red Envelope Voluntary Contribution Appeal’. This will take place on Friday 18th of November.   A red envelope will be distributed to each child/family on Tuesday 15th of November, to be returned on Friday 18th of November.  The envelope will have details of how you can make a voluntary contribution (suggested amount is €75), should you wish to do so.  We understand that some people are not in a position to make a financial contribution and that people contribute to the school by giving support in many ways, however we ask ALL families to return their red envelope UNMARKED, even if empty.  Allowing for all envelopes to be returned ensures all families are treated equally and that every child feels part of the event.  When every family has returned their unmarked red envelopes, they will be opened by two members of the Board of Management (the treasurer, April Bracken, and I). This way the anonymity of the process is protected.   If you can give to the appeal this year please do so.  All amounts received are greatly valued and appreciated.

Board of Management

At the October Board of Management meeting the Anti-bullying policy was discussed and ratified.  The policy is attached for your attention.  Many thanks to the staff and parents who contributed to this policy.  The board were also happy to approve the sibling hour which is now running daily thanks to parent volunteers.

In class support

This year we are providing in-class support for both literacy and maths.  It is working extremely well and the results are very impressive.  An example of how it works in the Infants classes is that four adults work on literacy stations three times a week.  The children are divided into four groups and the adults rotate from one group to the next every ten minutes, teaching them specific learning objectives (oral language development, phonological awareness activities, hand strengthening activities and writing skills).  It is running like clockwork in all classes and it is exciting to see such highly focused learning taking place. 

Assemblies

Whole school assemblies started on 1st October.  These are a lovely opportunity for us to gather as a whole school.  We start with classes having an opportunity to perform a song, poem or read a piece of work for the rest of the school.  I talk about one of our Golden rules and a relevant topic for the week.    As part of our promotion of positive behaviour we give certificates to the children.  We also have a trophy for the line of the week to promote safe behaviour while exiting and entering the building. 

Maths Week

Each class enjoyed the Maths focus week in mid October.  The teachers integrated maths into all areas of the curriculum, getting the children to see everything with ‘maths eyes’.  Thank you to the parents who helped put together the Junior Infants Maths ‘party bags’ which will be used during the year as part of homework.  The children were so excited when they received them!

Sam Maguire

On Wednesday 26th one of the Dublin football team, Eoghan O’Gara, visited the school with our GAA coach, Pádraig,  Eoghan brought the Sam Maguire cup with him.  The Sam Maguire Cup, is the name of the cup that is awarded to winners of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, which is the premier “knockout” competition in the game of Gaelic football. This year Dublin beat Mayo in the final.  The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).  Our local club, St. Sylvesters, facilitates our children having GAA coaching throughout the year.  First class have completed their first round of sessions and it is Senior Infants’ turn this month.

Harvest Week

We finished up before the holidays with Harvest Week.  This was a week that was enjoyed by all the children.  Thanks to Matt who helped us to harvest the pumpkins, to Maureen for making pumpkin soup with all the children and to the parents who helped with the planting in the rain!  Another event during that week was the whole school trip to the Botanic Gardens.  The children got to see many varieties of plants and trees.  They looked for Autumn changes, completed maths trails and made their way through the tropical glass house .  The highlight for most was the exhibition of decorated pumpkins!

School Communication

There are many ways to communicate.  As a school we favour electronic means rather than putting notes in the school bags.  This is in keeping with our desire to be a ‘green’ school, it is cost effective and it also ensures that the information goes to all parents.  Text messages are sent out on a rare occasion but the regular form of communication is email.  In order to make it easier for parents who do not check their email regularly, I am going to try to limit my email sending to Thursdays.  Over the last while when I have had a few minutes spare time I have been working away on the school website www.mpetns.ie.  I have password protected a page for parents.  The password is ‘children’.  It will have the Thursday emails on it if you want to read back over anything.  In the coming weeks I will start posting school news in a News and Events section so keep an eye out for this!

Kind regards,

Emer

Focus Weeks and Events