September News

Welcome

On August 31st some very important children will be joining our school and others will be returning after their Summer holidays.  I hope that they are all excited about making new friends and learning lots this year.  From opening with nine children two years ago, we will have ninety children in our school this year!   Such growth is testament to the dedication of the whole school community and is to be celebrated.  To give children and parents an opportunity to meet before the school term begins, the Parents’ Association have organised a get together in the Gannon Park Playground on Sunday 28th August from 11am.

The number of pupils is not the only area of growth, we have many new staff joining us too.  For personal reasons, Sinead will not be back with us this year.  I would like to thank her for all her hard work during the time she spent with us. It was a pleasure working with her.  With sad goodbyes come exciting hellos.  I am delighted to announce the appointments of Chantal Freeman, Sorcha Maher, Vera Shanahan and Carol Feeney.  I am sure you are looking forward to knowing who the class teachers will be.  Chantal will be taking your child’s class and I will be teaching the other Junior Infant classes.  Sorcha will be teaching Senior Infants and Vera will be teaching First Class.  Carol is joining our support team as a Special Needs Assistant and will be working alongside Jean Reddy.  The growth of the staff does not stop there… Geni Fallon will be coming to our school twice a week from Belmayne ETNS to join Carolyn Read as a support teacher.  Ian Carey is continuing as cleaner/caretaker, Margaret O’Reilly is our school secretary and if you keep reading you will learn about one more addition!

Accommodation

The school building has been a hive of activity this summer.  The architect and builders have been working hard to create two more classrooms for our expanding numbers.  After a little negotiation these classrooms were made larger than the existing rooms and they have been fitted with ensuite toilets.  The Department of Education and Skills (DES) also sanctioned the renovation of two more rooms, one of which will be used as a library and the other as a support room.  In addition to the renovations that will be obvious to you, work was carried out on the roof, the heating system and two partition walls and doors were fitted to reduce heat loss to the reception area.  There was a delay with some of the works and the handover date is now due to happen this weekend.  This week is busy, with furniture being delivered, interactive whiteboards being installed, new laptops arriving.  If you have any availability on Thursday evening at 5pm to help put up notice boards or move or assemble furniture, please get in touch with me on info@mpetns.ie.  

Health and Safety in the school grounds

We applied for additional fencing along the wall at the front door of the school, along the walls and around the shrubs and trees in the playground area, but did not receive the funding.  There are two significant drops that can be accessed by climbing trees and walls and we do not want anyone to have an accident.  Once the current building works are completed we will look at other possible solutions to these issues but in the meantime please do not let your children climb trees or walls in the school grounds. .

Parking/Traffic

Last year, due to our smaller numbers we were able to provide parking in the playground at drop off and collection times.  At the end of the last school year I met with some parents and we drew up some suggestions to facilitate on-site parking for more parents and a drop off zone.  The DES do not normally provide parking in schools for parents’ cars, but given our location on a busy road they considered our suggestions.  Unfortunately none of the suggestions proved to be an option.  After much deliberation it has been decided that the best use of the school grounds this year, is to provide parking in the playground area and at the front of the school, for the parents of children in Junior Infants.  The last driver to leave the car park in the morning closes the gates so that the play area is safe for us at play time.  If you come after the gate has been closed please park to the front of the building and enter the school through the front door.  The Malahide Road is a busy road so I would ask you to give right of way to the people coming from the main road when you are leaving the school, where possible.

The fact that many of you will be walking or parking and walking to the school brings me to the newest addition to our school community.  After many communications with Fingal County Council, I am delighted to say that I have just got the news that a road crossing has been sanctioned for our school and we have been assigned a traffic warden.  Her name is Mary Mullen. The road markings are to go down this week.  I was informed by the engineer that a pedestrian crossing is also in the pipeline for St. Olafs which will be a help to some of you.

For safety reasons, all children will enter the school from the door in the playground.  As we are situated on a main road, the gates will be open to allow people into the school grounds before school starts but please stay with your child until the doors open, as the school is only responsible for the children from 8.15am.  Those who arrive early can wait in the area in front of the ramp. 

School day

As with other years, the school building opens at 8.15am and formal teaching starts at 8.25am.  Those ten minutes provide a valuable settling in time for the children.  Some children can get intimidated if there are adults in the classroom, so we would ask you to say your farewells at the classroom door where possible.  First Class children and some Senior Infants may want to say goodbye at the entrance door.

Junior Infants will finish at 11.15am for the first three days: Wednesday 31st August to Friday 2nd September.  From Monday 5th September they will finish at their regular time of 12.55pm.  Senior Infants will finish at 12.55pm from Wednesday and First Class will finish at 1.55pm.  

The year ahead and your involvement

A child’s first day at school can be an emotional one and it is nice for the parents of Junior Infant children not to have to leave immediately the children have gone to class.  For this reason I would like to ask for volunteers to host a tea/coffee session at drop off time.  Please contact me if you can help in any way (buying tea/coffee/milk/plastic cups/biscuits/cakes and making refreshments).  We will need extra kettles also! 

There are many ways you can be involved in the school.  People who are able to commit on a regular basis can help in class activities; library rota, maths activities, art classes, cookery, PE sessions  Some of you may like to give a presentation to the children about your profession, a hobby or your belief system.  Those amongst you with green fingers may like to form a gardening committee to help maintain the grounds and also do gardening with the children.

Many thanks must go to Matt Harrison for all his work maintaining the school grounds over the Summer, for making our two new planters and to Janine for providing the plants and doing the planting.

Focus weeks in the coming term:

Maths Week 17-21 October

Science Week 14-18 November

Parents’ Association

We have an active Parents’ Association in the school.  Every parent or guardian in the school is a member of the PA.  Elections for new committee members will take place at the AGM.  

In addition to the play date on August 28th, the PA are also organising a Welcome Celebration for Friday September 9th! This will run from 12.55pm for Junior and Senior Infants and from 1.55pm for First Class. 

The PA have been looking into organising after school activities.  Music classes will be running on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2pm-2.30pm, starting the week of September 12th. Soccer classes will be starting at the end of September. The PA are also interested in organising a sibling hour, where parents volunteer to take turns to do activities with the children from 12.55-1.55 when the First Class children finish.  Please email pa@mpetns.ie if you are interested in getting involved.

Welcome meetings

Each teacher will give a presentation for parents and guardians.  The dates and times for these meetings are as follows:

Junior Infants: Tuesday 13th September 12.30pm

First Class: Tuesday 13th September 1.30pm

Senior Infants: Wednesday 14th September 12.30pm

At these meetings your child’s class teacher will run through the curriculum, the general classroom activities and will notify you of PE days.  

For the first day back to school the children will need:

I look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday 31st August and to starting another great year in Malahide/Portmarnock ETNS.

Kind regards,

Emer