A thuismitheoirí /a chaomhnóirí,
Tá na cailíní agus na múinteoirí an-ghnóthnach sa scoil anois ag ullmhú don Nollaig! Is maith liom bheith ag éisteacht do na cailíní ag canadh.
Parents’ Association Sponsored Walk Friday 24th October
€5,999.00 was raised. Thank-you to all who came along and joined us (especially those in Hallowe’en outfits!)
St. Vincent de Paul Giving Tree Appeal
Thank you to all those who donated to our Giving Tree appeal.
You have been very generous and our gifts have been donated to the Vincent de Paul who are very grateful.
Parents may, of course, prefer to donate privately to a charity of their choice. No parent should feel under any pressure to donate.
GAA
Thank you Stephen for the enjoyable training sessions the girls participate in on the Astro Pitch.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception 8th December
Buíochas, to Fr. Larry our school chaplain who led our service for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The whole school attended and we sang hymns, with prayers and readings being read by Gabby Goldrick Kelly, Ella McNulty, Lucy Curran, Mary Ferguson, Ruth Lenihan, Isobel Conlon, Sophie Collum, Mairéad Hanratty, Mary Ruttledge, Cara Sharry, Clodagh Corr and Carys Lloyd.
Extradordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy
This year is an unusual year as it is an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. It started on 8th December and runs until 20th November 2016. Every 25 years the Pope announces a “Holy Year” which has special celebrations and pilgrimages. This year is only the third Extraordinary Holy Year ever! The theme for the Holy Year is “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful”. (Lk.6:36)
On the 8th December, one of the entrances to St. Peter’s Basilica, which is known as the Holy Door and normally bricked up, was opened so pilgrims could pass through it. The panels on the door are images from Holy Scripture. This Holy Door was opened with special keys by Pope Francis.
School Exit Vision Screening (HSE)
Please note the following information which I received in a letter from the HSE 1/12/2015
- “The national review committee for ophthalmology practice in Ireland have decided to discontinue school exit vision screening due to the low findings of any eye pathology detected in that age group. This means that we will not be routinely screening 6th class this year or in the future. However, if a teacher or a parent has concerns about a child’s vision we can screen that child with parental consent”.
- Kay Varden, Public Health Nurse
Ná déan dearmad
Always report if something/someone is bothering you. Remember the rules:
- Loud & clear – say STOP
- SlIders – let hurtful comments slide
- Be Funny & Creative
- Always Eye contact
Leabhar Power (Book club)
Míle buíochas to the parents who come in to help with the book club. There is now an area on our school website where you can see the suggested reading for the girls.
Minor Works Scheme
The grant has been re-instated again for this year and has issued to primary schools with permanent recognition. The rates payable are €5,500 per school plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil. Pupil numbers will be calculated based on the number of pupils on the rolls on the 30th September of the year prior to the issue of the grant. Thank you minister!
Carol Service
We are holding our annual school Carol Service in St Gabriel’s Church at 12.30p.m. on Friday, 18th December 2015. Parents are invited to join us as we prepare for the coming of Jesus. We will use the two middle aisles to seat the children, leaving the side aisles free for parents. The children will be returning to school afterwards with their teachers and collection is at the normal time of 2.20p.m.
Santa Hat Day
We are asking the girls to wear their Santa hats on Monday 21st December and to make a donation of €2 in aid of Temple Street Childrens’ Hospital please.
We will also have “Crannchur an Phríomhoide” on Monday 21st December – each girl is given a raffle ticket and is in with a chance to win a prize! Such excitement in the hall as they hope their ticket is the one pulled out from their class!! Each class will also receive a box of chocolates from the Parents’ Association J
Be safe on line
The following sites may be of help to you in keeping children safe online. We would also advise you to turn on the Safe Search feature on your search engine.
TUSLA (Educational Welfare Services Child and Family Agency)Established 01/01/2014
It is a requirement for schools to report absences of 20 days or more to TUSLA which now incorporates the National Education Welfare Board (NEWB). Under this arrangement, we must also categorise the reason for each absence, hence the importance of sending in a written note to the Class Teacher explaining why your daughter has been absent, on every occasion. The absence note should be on a separate page, and not in your daughter’s homework journal, because the Class Teacher will have to retain it for reference. There are four reporting periods in the year with reports for period 2 (end-Dec.) and Period 4 (end of school year) being mandatory. Please note that reports are cumulative from the start of the school year. As a matter of courtesy you will be notified in writing if your daughter is recorded on the Student Absence Report Form. Please see www.tusla.ie for further details.
- Holidays during term are not encouraged. Neither is it the policy of the school to set ‘holiday work’ for pupils. Attendance at school is very important and the work of the school continues right up to the end of June each year. If family holidays during term time are unavoidable, please inform your child’s Class Teacher in writing, in advance of the proposed absence from school.
JUNIOR INFANTS 2016
Reminder on behalf of St. John the Baptist Infant (Belgrove) Girls’ School
The closing date for enrolment applications for incoming Junior Infants is 31st January 2016. Please contact the secretary’s office of the Infant Girls’ School for application forms – 01 8332459
Dátaí Tabhachta / Important Dates
- Parent Talk: “Supporting Your Daughter’s Learning”
- Tuesday 19th January 2016 8p.m. Belgrove Girls’ Hall
- Standardised Tests
- Understanding STen scores
- Self-esteem/Promoting Resilience
Reminders
- Has your daughter lost an item of clothing? Please check our lost property box – Éadaí Caillte. Please label your daughter’s items of clothing.
- Converse runners are not suitable for P.E.
- Please note that bicycles and scooters brought to school are not covered by the school insurance, therefore you are strongly advised to insure them under your own insurance. We would also suggest that you have all bicycles and scooters marked with your daughter’s name in such a way that is not easily removed.
- School closes for Christmas at 12 noon on Tuesday, 22nd December and reopens on Wednesday 6th January 2016. Classes finish as normal at 2.20p.m.
On behalf of all of us here in Belgrove Senior Girls’ School, I would like to wish you and your family a very peaceful and happy Christmas.
NOLLAIG SHONA DAOIBH GO LÉIR!
Anne McCarthy, Príomhoide
