Bank Holidays

The school will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, 4th and 5th May.  Likewise, we will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, 1st and 2nd of June.

 

Spring Fair

Sincere thanks to everyone who helped make our Spring Fair such a great success.  While we were delighted to have surpassed our fundraising goal and succeeding in raising just over €700 for our school community, more importantly it was a great way to promote our school in the wider community as well as make welcome the families joining us in September and in future years.

Firstly, thanks to the parents and staff members as well as others who volunteered on the day and who baked so many things for the café.  Thank you to the stall holders in the craft market. A special thanks to Lisa and Amélie who gave fantastic and well-attended workshops.  A big thank you to the following generous local businesses who gave prizes for the raffle:

  • Elizabeth O’Connell at Hair Republic
  • all4baby.ie
  • Koztello
  • Evergreen
  • Boots
  • C.R. Tormey and Sons
  • D.K. Shoes
  • Bengal Food Stores
  • Cunniffe Electric
  • Penneys
  • Iva at Bikram Yoga Galway

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The bouncy castle on a bright, sunny day

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Delicious things in the café

 

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A circus skills workshop

 

Gardening

We have started a small garden in our yard.  We planted carrots, lettuce and potatoes.  Hopefully, we’ll be able to harvest some of the vegetables before the end of the school year.  This fits in with our current Aistear theme, the Garden Centre.

 

Homework Folders

Many thanks for quickly adapting to our system for homework.  Your child should bring in his or her folder daily.  Please sign the assigned reading each night.  We won’t send the folders home on a Friday.  Do continue to practice word-building using the letters as well as the assigned pages from the reader.

 

 

Board of Management

Our school’s Board of Management has been constituted and the report of the first meeting is below.  The Board’s term will be short as all schools must constitute a new Board of Management in the autumn.  Sincere thanks to the members of the Board for accepting this important role for our school community.

Board of Management Meeting – 25th March 2015, 19.30

Present: Louise Shields (chairperson and patron nominee), Maggie Hall (patron nominee), Vajeeha Ali (female parent nominee), Waqas Khawaja (male parent nominee), Áine Ní Chuinneagáin (teacher nominee), Matt Wallen (principal and secretary)

Introductions: The members introduced themselves.

Principal’s Report

Enrolment

  • We are in the process of enrolling the final children who will join the new junior infant class. In addition, there are several children who have accepted a place in next year’s senior infant class.

Staffing

  • Áine will teach junior infants in September. Matt will teach senior infants.

Attendance

  • At this point, 5 children have missed 20 days or more and this will be reported to the National Educational Welfare Board. Several of these children were out of the country for extended periods of time.  From the opposite perspective, 2 children have perfect attendance and 2 others have missed three days or less.

IT

  • We successfully got an internet connection in late January.
  • The website has been redesigned and is updated on a regular basis.
  • An interactive whiteboard was purchased. A computer was kindly donated for use in the classroom.
  • Six tablets with cases have been ordered for use during stations teaching. A visualiser was also ordered.
  • So far the technology requirements have not required hiring outside specialists as the staff has managed the set-up themselves.

  Building Concerns

  • The school building is being used extensively. We’ll do our best to preserve the Aistear (structured play) and open room for use next year.
  • The Department has informed us that the Galway Steiner NS is scheduled to move in to the first floor of the building. This means a shared entrance.  The long-term hope is that our school will move to permanent accommodation by the end of 2016.

Curriculum

  • As a new school, we are focusing our school development planning on establishing a strong infant programme. We have implemented Aistear, are using Jolly Phonics and Reading Zone readers and are following the Séideán Sí Irish programme.
  • Assessment of children will be completed using the Belfield Infant Assessment Profile designed for infants.
  • It has been decided to switch maths schemes. The majority of maths lessons will continue to be linked to two programmes, Ready Set Go Maths and Mathematics Their Way.

Other Policies/School Planning.

  • A number of statutory policies are being drafted and need ratification by the Board before the end of the year.
  • A three-year plan for writing other policies as well as reviewing existing policies will be completed before the end of the year.

Misc. Events

  • We have had three outings so far: Barna Woods, Teddy Bear’s Hospital at the University and B&Q. We will have two more outings in the final term.
  • The class has discussed ways to enhance our yard. We will look at getting some simple things that we can take with us when we move.  We’re also going to do some gardening.
  • A calendar must be determined soon for the coming academic year.
  • The Pupil Online Database (POD) of the Department of Education and Skills will be updated for the school soon. Forms will be sent to all parents.
  • A meeting for incoming parents will take place in May. A visit to the school by the children will take place the following day.

Financial Report

  • A four-year budget was proposed and February accounts were reviewed.
  • The signatories need to be changed on the bank account.

Co-opting Community Nominees

It was agreed that Matt will invite Lorna Siggins and Edward Joyce to join the Board of Management as community nominees.