27th March 2023
Dear Parents & Guardians,
I hope this finds you all well. We are coming to the end of our 2nd term of the school year. It has been a very busy term with some great memories to look back on. Grandparents day, Engineers Week and Seachtain na Gaeilge to name but a few. I’m sure you and the children are looking forward to the Easter break and I hope you all enjoy some relaxing time together.
Below is a list of some recent activities and some upcoming events.
Child Protection/Homework Survey: A huge thank you to all who filled out the questionnaire on Homework and Child Protection Guidelines. The results of both surveys were very informative and positive. I will issue the full results of the surveys after Easter and the plans for future communication and policy development.
The R.S.E. programme is one of the areas that parents were unsure about and appear to need further clarification on. R.S.E. stands for Relationships Sexuality Education and it is taught as part of the SPHE curriculum. It is one of the compulsory programmes that schools have to teach. In order to give parents a clearer view of what is taught in the programme, I will attach the content overview for each class and the vocabulary taught. If you ae uncomfortable with your child learning this programme in school, then you do have the right to withdraw your child from the class when it is being taught. Arrangements can be made for the child to go to another classroom.
School Car Park Development: As you know we received funds of €50,000 through Clár earlier in the year to redevelop the school car park. The tender process for the works is almost complete and we will have the contractors ready to start hopefully over the Easter holidays. One of the conditions of the draw down of the money was that we had to raise €11,000 ourselves. Up to now we haven’t been in a position to fundraise but now that the works are starting we need to get the ball rolling. It was decided at the recent Board of Management meeting to ask each family in the school for €100 to try and collect half of the fundraising required. There are 60 families in the school and €100 each would bring in €6,000. We understand that this will be difficult on families but we are not in the habit of asking for money very often.
Everyone is anxious to improve the car parking facilities at the school and the grant will only cover a certain amount of the work. We would need to have money in before the end of the school year. You can pay by Cash, Cheque or Bank Transfer. You can also pay in instalment over the next 3 months. We thank you for your continued support as we try to develop a car park that will be safer for everyone.
School Trail: Our termly school trail for children from 3rd – 6th will take place on Thursday 30th March. We are going to the Windfarms in Sonnagh. Thanks to J.J. Donnellan of Corr na Gaoithe Teo for accommodating the visit. We will be getting a bus and we would ask that the children bring €2 to help cover the cost of it.
Anti-bullying Review & Policy Update: The annual review of the schools Anti-bullying procedures and Policy was carried out at the last Board of Management meeting. The policy can be viewed on the school website or on request in the office.
Hurling & Camogie Coaching: Lauran Solon, Galway Coaching & Games Development Officer is back coaching in the school. Lauran is coaching children from Infants to second class.
Standardised Tests in English, Maths & Gaeilge will take place at the end of May/start of June.

Below are the dates:

• Drumcondra English Thursday 25th May
• Drumcondra Gaeilge Tuesday 30th May
• Drumcondra Maths Thursday 1st June

Please make every effort to ensure you child is present on these dates as it can be unsettling for a child to complete the tests on their own at another time.

Sacraments:
First Penance for 2nd class children will take place on Tuesday 15th May at 7.00pm in Castledaly Church.

Communion: First Holy Communion for 2nd class children will take place on Saturday 20th May at 12pm in Castledaly Church

School Tour: This years school tour will be to the Lets Go Activity Camp in the Kingfisher NUIG Campus. The date is 19th June and it’s for all classes. We will be in touch with prices and details after the Easter holidays.

Seachtain na Gaeilge: Bhain na páistí an taithneamh as Seachtain na Gaeilge I mbliana. The children really enjoyed Seachtain na Gaeilge. There were lots of fun activities organised to celebrate our language and culture. We had a lovely ceolchoirm on the Wednesday before St. Patrick’s Day.

Engineers Week: As part of this years Engineers Week, Joe Mullen, a mechanical engineer from Valeo came to speak to the 5th and 6th class children.

Dates for closure:

Easter Break: The school will be closing for Easter Holidays on Friday 31st March at 12:30pm. Buses will run as normal. School re-opens on Monday 17th April.

• Monday 1st May School closed Bank Holiday
• Friday 2nd June School closed Annual Leave
• Monday 5th June School closed Bank Holiday
• Wednesday 7th June Staff Meeting – children go home at 1:45pm
• Tuesday 27th June School closing Summer Holidays.

If you have any queries regarding any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above number or by e-mail.

Yours sincerely
Francis O’Connor
Príomhoide