PTA Meeting

A reminder that there will be a PTA meeting on this Wednesday, 18th November at 19.00.  We’ll look at planning a social event, writing a healthy eating policy, yard activities and developing a policy regarding birthday invitations and marking special occasions.  All parents are invited to attend.

 

Parent-Teacher Meetings

Parent-teacher meetings will take place on Tuesday, 24th November from 13.45-18.00 and on Thursday, 26th November from 17.30-20.30.  If you haven’t already signed up, please check with your child’s teacher.

 

Science Week

As part of science week, the classes completed several investigations around such areas as colours, buoyancy and states of matter.

 

Visiting Trainee Teacher

We are delighted that in February we will be welcoming a visiting trainee teacher from Spain.  She will be working in the school from mid-February until approximately the end of April.  She is in the process of finding accommodation.  If there is any family that would be interested in accommodating her, please speak with Matt.

 

One Day Together

To support our patron, Educate Together, we will be selling raffle tickets on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Each ticket is €2.  One person who buys a raffle line from our school will win a prize from Galway Leisure Centre.  Everyone who purchases a raffle ticket will also be entered into a national draw with many great prizes:

  •  1st prize – Tickets to see The Snowman in the National Concert Hall and an overnight stay in the Maldron Hotel in Dublin for a family of 4 on 19th December
  • 2nd prize – A pass to Fota Wildlife Park and an overnight stay in The Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork for a family of 4
  • 3rd prize – An iPad donated by Eversheds
  • 4th prize – An annual family OPW National Heritage Card

Please participate in this endeavour to help Educate Together support its network of schools as well as work towards opening primary and secondary schools across the country.

 

Knocknacarra Educate Together NS

Board of Management Meeting

14th October 2015, 19.30

 

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

Apologies: Lorna Siggins (community nominee), Edward Joyce (community nominee)

 

Louise Shields chaired the meeting.

 

September Minutes

The minutes from September were ratified.

 

Principal’s Report

Enrolment

  • There are currently 50 students enrolled, 28 in junior infants and 22 in senior infants.

Staffing

  • Timetabling for the resource and learning support teachers has been completed and seems to be working out well.

Attendance

  • The attendance continues to be excellent, with an average of 96.1% from the start of the year to now as compared with 92.2% for the same time last year. In fact, 54% of the children have perfect attendance up to this point in the year and 92% have missed three days or less.

IT

  • Microsoft Office 365 has been installed on all the computers belonging to the school.
  • The website continues to be updated regularly.

Building Concerns

  • There are a few new things in the yard. Many thanks to John who built our outdoor play kitchen.  Also, we put up two painted boards that the children are using as chalkboards.
  • A letter for the Department has been drafted to request information on plans for our long-term accommodation.
  • The request for a change in our electricity capacity has been accepted. From November we should see a marked reduction in our bills.

Curriculum

  • Both classes are continuing to follow the same curriculum plans. Great emphasis in maths has been placed on hands-on and physical activities.
  • Plans for our learning support time have been agreed. This is being done in a variety of ways including small-group, individualised, station and cooperative teaching models.

Other Policies/School Planning

  • Policies for development have been postponed until the new Board is constituted. Drafts of the following policies will be discussed at the next meeting: Substance Abuse and Data Protection and Management.

Misc. Events

  • The Polish School has begun using the premises on Saturdays. Interest in the afterschool programme has grown considerably.
  • We had a fantastic visit to the woods and park last week. Many parents kindly joined us for the event.
  • Matt attended a dance workshop as part of Baboró. Vivienne attended a seminar related to fine-motor skills and handwriting.
  • Matt, Áine and Vivienne will be attending the Educate Together Ethos Conference in November.
  • The senior infants will be attending a Baboró performance on Friday at the Black Box Theatre.
  • The open evening has been scheduled for Wednesday, 4th

 

Financial Report

  • The budget targets are being met. The timing of grants from the Department of Education and Skills means that the balance will drop until the first grant is received in January.

 

Constitution of New Board

  • Maggie and Louise will come to the school before the next PTA meeting to tabulate the votes for the parent nominees.
  • The next Board meeting will be held with the patron, parent and teacher nominees. Two community nominees will be chosen for the new four-year term.

 

Formation of PTA

  • The attendance at the first meeting of the year was excellent. This groundswell of parent support bodes well for the school community.
  • Officers are to be selected at the next meeting on Wednesday, 21st
  • A constitution will be drafted.
  • The Board has recommended the establishment of sub-committees to maximize parent participation.

 

Correspondence with the Department of Education and Skills

  • Two letters were reviewed. One related to the long-term accommodation and two concerns related to our current premises.  The other is a letter to the Minister to ask that schools be allowed to combine general allocation and low incidence hours.

 

Memorandum of Understanding for New Board

Louise drafted a letter to be signed by all future Board nominees.  It outlines the commitments and expectations.  Minor changes were agreed.  Louise will incorporate changes.

 

Thank You

Matt expressed sincere thanks to the members of the outgoing Board who have played a critical role in establishing our school community.

 

Next Meeting: Wednesday, 11th November, 19.30