Parent-Teacher Association Annual General Meeting

A reminder that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) on Wednesday, 26th October at 19.00 at the school.  All parents are kindly requested to attend.  The agenda is as follows:

  • Approval of new PTA Constitution (see the document attached to this newsletter)
  • Election of officers
  • Planning PTA events
  • A discussion about the vision and long-term plans for our school community

 

Mid-term Camp

A reminder that mid-term camp will take place in the school during the Mid-term Break, from Tuesday, 1st to Friday, 4th November, organised by Afterschool @ KETNS.  Full details are posted on the door to the school or you can speak to Wioleta any afternoon from 13.15 onwards.

 

Baboró

The Senior Infants and First Class will be going to see The Secret Life of Suitcases as well as visit an exhibition as part of the Baboró Children’s Festival on Friday, 21st October.  Permission forms will be sent home tomorrow in the homework folders.

 

Halloween and Mid-Term Break

Children are invited to wear fancy dress on Friday, 28th October, the last day before the mid-term break.  Dismissal will be as usual that day.  School will re-open on Monday, 7th November.

 

Visit to Barna Woods and Cappagh Park

We had a great time on our whole-school excursion last Monday.  The weather was perfect, and we had so much fun with nature activities, a story in the woods, games on the pitch and time to play at the playground.  Sincere thanks to all the parents who came along for the journey.  More photos are posted here.

 

Visitors from France

We had the privilege of having visitors from France in the infant classes this past Tuesday.  They were a group of education students.  They led a fun game with the children and taught some French words.  We were very pleased to learn more about France and to share information about our school community.

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The Firefighters’ Visit

Shortly after the French visitors left the school, another set of visitors arrived in a fire engine!  Several firefighters from the Galway Fire Brigade came to the school.  Each child got to see the inside of the engine, use the fire hose and try on the fire helmets.  Many thanks to the firefighters for coming to the school.  We’re sure the level of imaginative play in the Fire Station during Aistear time will be enhanced by this experience!  More photos are available here.img_5699

Knocknacarra Educate Together NS – Board of Management Meeting – 8th September 2016, 20.00

 

Present: Louise Shields (chairperson and patron nominee), Maggie Hall (patron nominee and treasurer), Lynn Morgans (female parent nominee), Áine Ní Chuinneagáin (teacher nominee), Paul Adams (community nominee), Elaine Keane (community nominee), Matt Wallen (principal and secretary)

Apologies: Waqas Khawaja (male parent nominee)

Louise chaired the meeting.

 

June Minutes

The minutes from June were ratified.

Welcome

Louise, on behalf of the Board, welcomed Elaine Keane to the group as the new community nominee.

Principal’s Report

Enrolment

  • There are currently 74 pupils enrolled.

Staffing

  • Margaret Wright was hired to teach first class.
  • We are the base school for a shared resource teacher. Vivienne will be teaching in our school, Lackagh NS (three half-days per week) and one hour in Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh.  Vivienne will be doing a postgraduate course.  She will be away from school in four blocks.  A substitute teacher will cover these days.
  • Clare Conry was hired as the 0.75 SNA in our school. There has been a delay related to Garda Vetting, and this remains unresolved.  A substitute is working in the school as the SNA until the Vetting is complete.
  • Claudia Ní Chúlain has been hired as the part-time secretary. She works 10 hours per week.  She is our first direct employee, and the necessary payroll process has been arranged.
  • We are entitled to have a new special duties post. Vivienne will coordinate special education needs.

Attendance

  • The attendance so far has been very good. Overall, the attendance rate since the start of the year to now is 97.7%, slightly higher than last year at this point.

Building Concerns

  • A follow-up letter to the Department regarding our short-term accommodation is ready for discussion.
  • The magnetic lock on the front door continues to not work properly.
  • A significant amount of storage space has been created, and we’re working to keep things organised even as the school population grows.
  • The Polish School will return starting on Saturday. An Arabic school is using the premises on Sundays.

Curriculum

  • The staff completed an introduction to the new curriculum.  It is the goal to have the school plans for English, Maths and Irish completed by the end of the year.

Policies

  • The Social Media and School Website Policy and the Afterschool Clubs Policy are ready for ratification.

Misc. Events/Information

  • We will have a visitor coming from Irish Dog’s Trust will visit the school later this month.
  • Senior Infants and First Class will attend performances at Baboró.
  • The school garden was very productive, and the children made different things with the vegetables.

Financial Report

  • A budget for the coming two years, as well as a summary of the spending over the previous two years, was reviewed and discussed.
  • The accountant will be contacted in order to certify the school accounts for the previous two years.

Policies

The revised Social Media and School Website Policy and Afterschool Clubs Policy were ratified.

Board of Management Training

The Board viewed and discussed the first part of the module of the online Educate Together Board of Management training module entitled The Board as a Corporate Entity.