News Update – 05/05/2023
Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,
Covid Measures Relaxed – At a recent BoM meeting, it was decided to return to one Lunch Break instead of the interim split breaks introduced since the onset of Covid in 2020. Therefore, all pupils / staff will now take their Lunch Break from 1:25-1:55 pm from Monday next, 8th May. Small Break remains as is. Instruction also now finishes at 2:55 pm, when an extra bell will sound. Bus Pupils will first depart from the school at 3pm on the sound of the second bell.
Class & Teacher Allocation – An email will issue to all families later this evening, outlining classes and teachers for the upcoming academic year. This is a month earlier than usual this year with seven weeks of school remaining. This is a necessity, this year, as teachers have to be allocated to classes, for them to formulate booklists in line with the new Free Book Scheme. When the scheme is up and running, this will revert to a more traditional time.
Free Book Scheme – Staff is currently busy compiling booklists for September. The onus will be on the schools to supply; books, workbooks and copybooks for all of its pupils. Once this process is complete, families will receive a note from myself, indicating how the system will be run and list the remaining items which will be the responsibility of the family. It is envisaged that our successful Book Rental Scheme will end this June and that booklists will not be sent home with school reports, but published on our website instead.
Fire Safety – Members of Dungarvan Fire Service called to Rg 3 recently to educate them on Fire Safety in the home. Hopefully they brought home some tips on fire prevention.
GAA – Well done to our hurlers who were successful against St Joseph’s, Dungarvan in the Boys Shield this week. The final we are told, will be played at Dungarvan GAA grounds on a midweek evening in late May.
Basketball –. A huge congratulations to C.T.I. Clonmel, Basketball team on winning the All-Ireland Schools League championship during the week. Well done to all involved, including our own past pupils Thomas, Gavin & Rocco.
Rg 6 Hoodies – Thanks to Aoife and the P.A. for organising these lovely garments and furthermore, for subsidising 50% of the cost. They are very similar to the school uniform, by way of colour so children are permitted to wear them in school for Term 3 and also on Graduation night, provisionally pencilled in for the longest day, Wed 21st June.
Transition to Secondary Programme – Sheila Comerford, S.C.P., has commenced the ‘Transition to Secondary’ programme with Rg 6 on Thursdays. This continues for 3 afternoons. Ms Comerford works in a post primary setting and can answer queries our boys and girls may have. Mrs Byrne has handed out Education Passports to be completed by pupils and parents alike for us to forward to destination secondary schools by month’s end.
Holy Communion – Best wishes to our Rang 2 candidates, receiving the Sacrament of the Eucharist at FMW in the morning. Thanks to their teachers, Mrs Coffey and Miss O’Keeffe along with Fr Michael for their preparatory work. Families are asked to be at the church for 10:40 am.
Best wishes to all who plan to participate in the ‘Darkness into Light’ Walk early tomorrow. I hope you get to ‘watch the sunrise’ over the valley, but most of all, that the weather is favourable for all.
Is mise,
Michael J. O’ Ryan – Principal.