October Newsletter
18th October 2017
Dear Parents & Guardians
Please find below a list of recent and upcoming events.
• Dates to note for the school year 2017-2018.
 First Confession: Tuesday 19th March 2018
 First Communion: Saturday 26th May 2018
 6th Class Graduation Mass: Tuesday 26th June 2018
 Christmas Concerts: Wednesday 20th December 2017
11:30 – 12:00 – Infants
12:15 – 12:45 – 1st & 2nd
1:00 – 1:30 – 3rd & 4th
1:45 – 2:30 – 5th & 6th
 Parent-Teacher Meetings: Tuesday 21st November 2017 – 1.00 – 5.00pm
 Mid-Term Break: Monday 30th October – Friday 3rd November 2017

• Cycle Safe Ireland: 5th & 6th class children are being trained by 2 instructors from Cycle Safe Ireland for 4 weeks.
• Show Box Appeal: The leaflets for this year’s Christmas Shoebox Appeal are attached. The last day for returning the boxes is Friday 10th November.
• School Book Fair: This years’ school Book Fair will take place on the week starting Monday 20th November. Parents will be able to view the books on the day of the Parent-Teacher meetings on Tuesday 21st November. As always a percentage of the money spent can be used by the school to purchase new books for the school library.
• Lenrec Clothes Collection: Thanks to all the parents who brought in bags of clothes for the fundraising clothes collection. I will communicate the monies raised when known.
• Hurling and Camogie: Our school Hurling and Camogie teams participated in the Mini-7’s competitions recently. Both teams did their best and represented the school with pride. Both teams were also invited to Kilnadeema N.S. for a camogie challenge and the Sam Mitchell Hurling Tournament. Congratulations to the boys on winning the trophy, they played with great heart and determination. Thanks to Kilnadeema N.S. for organising the tournament and to Ms. Hayes for looking after the Camogie team.
• Bun & Biscuit Day: The children in 3rd and 4th class hosted their annual Bun & Biscuit Day on Friday 13th October. Well done to the children for their delicious recipes.
• S.E.S.E. Trail: 3rd – 6th classes will be going on their termly S.E.S.E. Trail on Wednesday 25th October. This term we are going to Deerpark Castle and Roxboro River.
• Halloween: The children will be allowed to wear Halloween costumes if they have them on Friday 27th October.
• Maths Week: The children participated in a shortened Maths week. They got to experience different activities like Maths trails, games, projects and catalogues. Thanks to all the teachers for making the event enjoyable for the children. I would encourage you to use Maths in everyday situations with your children.
• Friendship Week: Congratulations and well done to the 6th class children for organising a very successful Friendship Week in September.
• Liam McCarthy Cup visits Kilchreest N.S. We were very privileged to have David Burke and Conor Cooney bring the Liam McCarthy Cup to the school. Both are great role models for the young boys and girls in the community and we are very proud of their achievements.
• School Policies: A number of school policies are currently being reviewed and their draft format will be available for you to view on the school website or on request in the school office. The most recent policies reviewed were:
i. School Attendance Strategy
ii. Promotion of Marketing and Commercial Products.
If you have any recommendations for school policy, please bring these to the attention of the Parents Representatives on the Board of Management – (Caroline Niland & Vinny Mooney) or at Parents Council meetings. As per Department Guidelines the B.O.M. review the Child Protection and Anti-Bullying Policy annually.
• Bus Eireann/School Transport: In a further effort to try and alleviate traffic congestion in the school car-park, I made contact with the Divisional Bus Inspector to see if Bus Eireann would consider applications for Bus Tickets that are inside the Bus Catchment area. I was told, as the buses are currently not full to capacity that they would consider such applications but that they would be based on a case by case basis. The cost of the service is €100 per child annually up to a maximum of €220 per family. In order to make an application you can log on to buseireann.ie and click on the link about school transport.
• Congratulations to Ms. Kelly on winning another All-Ireland Golf title recently.
• Congratulations to Ms. Hayes and her husband Francis as they are expecting their first child in the New Year.
• In order to receive text-a-parent messages from the school, please ensure that you have provided the school with your correct mobile no.
• Congratulations to St. Thomas’ u18 Camogie team and all our former pupils on recently winning the county minor title.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any further questions in relation to any of the above.

Yours sincerely.

Francis O’Connor
Principal.