Proclamation Day

On Tuesday, 15th March we will display our Irish flag along with all schools to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising, an important event towards the establishment of the Irish state.  Please join us at 9.00 if you are able.  We will read a new proclamation that expresses the hopes and wishes of the children of our school for Ireland’s future.

 

Cupán Tae agus Comhrá

All parents are invited to come to an informal parent gathering on the last day of the term, Wednesday, 16th March at 11.00.  This will be a chance for everyone to learn (or remember!) a phrase or two of Irish and to meet other over a cup of tea before the end-of-term assembly.

 

Seachtain na Gaeilge

All are invited to an end-of-term assembly that will take place on Wednesday, 11.30.  This will be an Irish-language event, with the children sharing songs and stories in Irish.  Please join us!

 

Spring Break and Seachtain na Gaeilge

School will be closed from Thursday 17th March and will re-open on Monday, 4th April for the Spring Break.  We will have an early dismissal on the final day of the term, Wednesday, 16th March, at 12.00, immediately after the end-of-term assembly.

 

Illness and Absences

There has been a significant amount of illness among the children this past week.  Many thanks to the parents who contacted us via the phone or email to inform us of these unexpected absences.

 

Spring Fair

The Parent-Teacher Association will hold a meeting tomorrow evening at the Clybaun Hotel at 19.00 to plan for the Spring Fair that will take place on Saturday, 16th April from 12.00 to 16.00.  If you can’t attend the meeting, please get involved by sourcing raffling prizes and bringing in gently used items for the school stall.

 

Gaeilge

Here are some helpful phrases that you might like to try out at home or on Wednesday at 11.00!

Ar mhaith leat __? (Air wah lyat) – Would you like __?

Ba mhaith liom (buh wah lyum) – Yes, I would like.

Níor mhaith liom. (near wah lyum) – No, I wouldn’t.

  • bainne (bon-yuh) – milk
  • tae (tay) – tea
  • siúcra (shoo-cruh) – sugar
  • briosca (bris-cuh) – biscuit
  • sú oráiste (soo uh-rawsh-tuh) – orange juice

Knocknacarra Educate Together NS

Board of Management Meeting

10th February 2016, 19.30

 

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

Apologies: Edward Joyce (community nominee)

Louise chaired the meeting.

 

January Minutes

The minutes from January were ratified.

 

Principal’s Report

Enrolment

  • There are currently 49 pupils enrolled. 18 children have accepted places for junior infants for September 2016.  The second round of letters has been sent via the post.

Staffing

  • The staffing arrangements for our general allocation hours will remain the same next year. The situation for resource hours remains open and will not become clear until after the allocation of resources in the late Spring.  We will have one developing school post, which will be applied for formally before the Spring break.

Attendance

  • With lots of illness, the attendance so far in February is much lower than previous months and slightly lower than last February with an average of 89.8% from the beginning of the month until now. Overall, the attendance rate since the start of the year to now is 93.4% as compared with 90% for the same time last year.  Five children have been absent for more than 20 days, and we must report this to Túsla.  A letter will be sent to these parents informing them of the requirement to report such absences.  On the positive side, seven children still have perfect attendance.

Building Concerns

  • We still haven’t received a reply form the Department to the letter that was sent regarding long-term accommodation.
  • The front door is locking properly again, which we resolved ourselves.

Curriculum

  • The current Aistear theme is transport.  This theme is being addressed across the curriculum.
  • The English school plan will be drafted by the teachers prior to the April Board meeting.

Policies

  • The draft Substance Use Policy is ready for review.
  • The Code of Behaviour and Anti-Bullying Policy will be ready for review at the next Board meeting following consultation with the Parent-Teacher Association.

Misc. Events/Information

  • Both classes made pancakes for Pancake Tuesday.
  • The PTA will meet to begin planning the Spring Fair, scheduled for Saturday, 16th
  • We had visitors from the Educate Together National Office come to the school on Monday.
  • Many thanks to the Board members who attended the Board of Management training.

 

Financial Report

  • The budget targets continue to be met.
  • We are still awaiting the electricity bill, so it is still too early to tell the impact of the capacity reduction.
  • The accounts for 2014-2015 need to be certified. Louise will contact an accountant.

 

Policies

The Substance Use Policy was discussed.  Several changes were agreed.  Matt will send out the indemnity form and revised policy prior to the next meeting.

 

Board of Management Training

  • The face-to-face training was well received by the Board members. There is now online training available.  Once everyone is registered we will all begin completing the online module and discuss it at the coming meetings.

 

Roles

In addition to the assigned roles of treasurer, secretary and chairperson, the following roles were agreed:

Health and Safety – Lynn

PR/Communications – Áine

PTA Liaison – Waqas