Dear Parent / Colleague / Board Member,

 

Junior Certificate Results

Congrats to all our past pupils who received their Junior Certificate results this week. We wish them well as they move to Transition Year or the Leaving Certificate phase of their education

 

Ethos.

A special mass will take place on Sunday in Ardfinnan at 12 noon to celebrate the feast day of St Carlo Acutis. Fr Michael has been instrumental in highlighting the Saint in our school and pastoral area. We encourage families to attend. We will be represented along with all parish schools at Prayer of the Faithful time. Aside from this, Bishop who will be in attendance, has written to all Rg 6 pupils in the Diocese to commence their confirmation process in earnest.

 

Food Dudes

Next week we will participate in the Food Dudes Healthy Eating Programme which aims to encourage children to eat more fruit and vegetables. The Dept of Health recommends that children eat 5-7 portions of fruit / vegetables each day. Children will receive 5 days of fruit and vegetables. The school will champion healthy eating throughout the week, through specially supplied videos and curriculum-based activities. Pupils in junior infants will be provided with a reusable Food Dudes fruit and vegetable lunchbox. You may wish to adjust the amount of food in your child’s lunchbox. Your child will automatically be included, however if you have any queries regarding allergies etc please contact the school 052-6136349 or your child’s teacher via Aladdin Connect. Miss Condon will co-ordinate this throughout the school next week. https://www.fooddudes.ie/

 

Budget 2026

We are glad to report that capitation funding increased in Budget 2026. Thanks to those who participated in the CPSMA petition to public representatives last week. Educational costs have spiraled these last few years and increasing the capitation per pupil is an acknowledgement by government that schools were struggling on the current rate.  https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/press-releases.

 

Photography

On Thursday our photographer called to take our biennial individual, family and class photographs. The plan is that Ray Power will have them back next week and we will then distribute to families. There is no compulsion to purchase, but if doing so, please complete and return so we can have them processed before Halloween, if at all possible.

 

Hot School Meals

Just a word of acknowledgement to Liz as she leaves us after almost a year managing the HSM at our school. She had a great rapport with pupils and staff alike and was very professional and thorough in her work. She treated the children today as she departed. Liz has been offered a position with Carambola. We wish her well in pastures new and wish her successor Catherine the best as she takes up her position, following training. We are very lucky to have excellent external staff associated to our school; whether it be Liz in HSM or Helen, Kayleigh and Shannon from the Breakfast Club / After school Service and indeed others who have filled the role before them.

 

Green Schools Committee.

We have just started working on our sixth flag with our newly formed Green School Committee. This flag is Global Citizenship: Litter and Waste. We ask you to please refrain from being plastic wrapping and foil packaging to school for lunch. (Our rap is no wrap) If you have any further recommendations regarding other areas for improvement, please feel free to contact us.

 

School Choir

It was great to hear our pupils sing at lunchtime during the week in unison as a choir, accompanied on the guitar by Miss Duggan and Mrs Byrne.

 

Bingo @ BMC CC

I have been informed by the P.A. that the Community Centre Committee has included us as one of the beneficiaries of its popular Bingo Nights. We will receive proceeds from their event to be held on Friday 17^th October. We appreciate the kind gesture. All are welcome to attend.

 

Upcoming Events.

HSE Vision & Hearing Screening. – Mon 13^th & Tues 14^th Oct (Junior Infants)

Cuman na mBunscol INTO GAA semifinals – Mon 13^th Oct

Running – Wed 15^th Oct

Bingo – Fri 17^th Oct

Plastic Bottle & Can Collection Day – Sat 25^th Oct 9-12 noon

 

Is mise,

Michael J. O’Ryan