Gaelscoil Chill Dara

Dear Parents/Guardians


Greetings from Gaelscoil Chill Dara! I would like to draw your attention to the following:


1. “Happy New Year”
I would like to wish you and your family every blessing for 2012. We have almost completed our first week back in the new year and we have settled down again. Thankfully the weather hgas been much kinder this year

2. Relationships and Sexuality Education
All children will be taught this course in the coming weeks. They will undertake the ‘Stay Safe’ programme just before the Easter holidays. The children learn important life-skills in these courses and you can find out more about them on our website www.gaelscoilchilldara.com

3. N.B. Change in the system we use to issue School Reports.
It has been our custom to issue school reports during the month of January and to use these reports as discussion documents at the parent-teacher meetings which will be held from 13-15 February. However the Department issued a circular directing all schools to issue reports at the end of the school year. We will therefore send out a report this year at the end of May. The parent-teacher meetings will go ahead as normal in February and teacher will give you an exact time close to the event.

4 Dates of Sacraments
The following are the dates of the sacraments organised by Gaelscoil Chill Dara this year:
First Penance(2 Class):
29/3/2012 7.00 pm School Hall
First Communion(2 Class):
26/5/2012 11.00 a.m., St. Brigid’s Church, Curragh Camp.(Note change of time, please)
Ceremony of Light(6 Class):
22/3/2012 7.00 pm School Hall
Confirmation(6 Class):
12/5/2012, St. Brigid’s Church, Curragh Camp.

Dear Parents/Guardians

Greetings from Gaelscoil Chill Dara! I hope you can find the time to read the following notes about the school

1. Children beginning in Junior Infants 2012
Recently our enrolment policy was amended in line with Government guidelines and now the names of all children due to begin in 2012 must be on our lists before mid December. This includes siblings. Therefore no names will be accepted after close of office on Friday next, December 16. If you are not sure whether or not your child is registered with us contact the office immediately. Our policy in full can be read on www.gaelscoilchilldara.com

2. Christmas Holidays
The holidays will begin at going home time on Thursday 22 December. There will not be a half-day on that day. School will re-open at 9.00 am on Monday 9 January 2012

3. 2012 School Calendars
Beautiful calendars are available at the very reasonable cost of €7 each, 2 for €12 or 3 for €15. They would make ideal Christmas presents. Every child in the school is pictured so get yours before stocks run out!

4. Irish Classes
A teacher is available to teach Irish classes after the Christmas break. If you’re interested please register with the office.

5.Book Fair 2011
Many thanks to everyone who helped us run a great fair this year. It was a great success. We sold €5,407 in books and the school will receive 25% of that for the library. Please read with your child and encourage him/ her to read.

6.Parking Matters!

I ask parents not to park on the footpaths in the carpark – it is dangerous for the children especially in this weather. Leave enough time for your journey to / from school and you won’t be under pressure!

7... Happy Christmas!

I am always encouraged by the helpfulness and kindness of the parents in our school. I am very grateful for all your help during the year and I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Is mise le meas

___________________
Seán de Paor, Príomhoide,

11th November 2011

Dear Parents/Guardians

Greetings from Gaelscoil Chill Dara! I would like to draw your attention to the following:

1. “Patron Day 2010”
We collected €404.00 from the children an Friday , 28/10/2011 and a cheque for this amount has been forwarded to An Foras Pátrúnachta. Many, many thanks to you all.
Photographs of the children in costume can be viewed here. A big thanks to Barbara who took the snaps and our usual thanks to the local horse trainers who were very happy to cooperate with us on the day

2. Acceptable Usage Policy
Computers are in use in every class in the school.
New parents please read the Acceptable Usage Policy attached which pertains to the Internet, sign it and return it to the class teacher.

3. Book Fair 2011-The Fair will be held from 6 -7 December. Everyone is invited to the school from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7 when we will turn on the Christmas lights, serve hot chocolate and have lots of events . The school will be closed on December 8, Feast of the Immaculate Conception and on Friday December 9th


4. Garda Vetting .Under the new Child Protection Guidelines all parents who work directly with children must be vetted by the Garda Vetting Unit. We have a new policy which can be read here. The Priomhoide, Seán de Paor, is the Designated Liaison Person for the school. All allegations or concerns about child abuse or neglect should be forwarded to him. Caitriona Ní Dhúnaí is the Deputy Designated Liaison Person

5.School Closures 2011/2012

The school closures are to be seen here. Parents are asked to refer to this list when booking family holidays so the children’s learning is not disrupted.

6. Gaelscoil Chill Dara Reads Together

.
The school is asking everyone to get involved in our reading initiative during this month, November 2011. Every child from 1 – 6 will get a present of a lovely book on Thursday next, 17 November. (Infants will get a book later on). Read the book with your child – come in and read in our library – read with us.

7.Operation Christmas Child.
All shoeboxes to be brought in on or before Monday next, November 14. Many, many thanks to you all.

25th May 2011

Dear Parent,

Greetings from Gaelscoil Chill Dara! I would like to draw your attention to the following:


1. Gaelscoil Golf Classic
This event takes place on the 01/7/11 in Cill Dara Golf Club.The price is €250 again this year. For this you get a great day’s golf and all meals for four people. All information re timesheets etc. from the school office

2. Summer Holidays - Change
I wish to confirm that the Summer holidays will commence on Wednesday, June 29 at 1.40 for Naíonáin and 2.40 for Ranganna 1-6.

3.Fun Field Day
The Parents’ Committee are busily organising this great event which incorporates the annual school barbeque. It all happens on Friday, June 24th from 5-9 pm in the school playing pitch. It promises to be a fun-filled event for all the family and I urge you to support it

4. Good luck!
Best wishes to the boys senior football team who will play in the county final on Tuesday May 31st at 4.00 pm in Hawkfield. The girls team have qualified for the semi-final at a date to be announced

5. Sacraments.
We extend best wishes to the pupils in Rang 2 and their teachers Eibhlín and Mairéad for the First Communion ceremony on Saturday next May 28. Congratulations to the pupils of Rang 6 who were confirmed on May 14 and thanks to teachers Norma and Aoife. A big thank you to Fr.Ruairí for all his kind help

6. School Tours
Every class (except 5) will go on a school tour between now and the end of the year. The teachers made every effort to keep expenses as low as possible, please remember unemployed parents need not pay.

7. Book Lists.
Each pupil will receive next year’s book list before June 14.

Seán de Paor, Príomhoide

23rd November 2010

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Greetings from Gaelscoil Chill dara! I would like to draw your attention to the following:

1. " Patron Day 2010"
We collected €483.50 from the children on Friday 22/10/2010 and a cheque for this amount has been forwarded to An Foras Pátrúnachta. Many, many thanks to you all. Photographs of the children in costume can be viewed on the website page Photos. A big thanks to Barbara who took the snaps and our usual thanks to the local horse trainers who were very happy to cooperate with us on the day.

2. Acceptable Usage Policy
Computers are in use in every class in the school thanks to the Parents Council and I am delighted to announce that the Department has given us €16,000 for computers in the school.
New parents, please read the Acceptable Usage Policy attached which pertains to the Internet; sign it and return it to the class teacher.

3. Book Fair 2010
The fair will be held from 6th to 7th December. Everyone is invited to the school from 6 - 9 p.m. on Tuesday, December 7th when we will turn on the Christmas lights, serve hot chocolate and have lots of events. The school will be closed on December 8th, Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

4. No-Uniform Day
Arising from this day on Friday 5th November, €251 each will go to Toys for Tubs and to Eva Nic Lochlainn, a past pupil who is performing a parachute jump in aid of Barretstown Camp. Many thanks for your help.

5. Mid-Term Break, February 2011
The school will be closed on Thursday 24th and Friday 25th February 2011.

6. Communication with parents
I wish to confirm that the school distributes one letter per child/family. In cases where a parent does not reside in the same house as the child, the parent/guardian who receives the communication should keep the other person informed of it.

7. Sacraments 2011
Dates for the sacraments have been arranged:
7/4/2011, 7.00p.m. First Penance(School Hall)
28/5/2011, 12.00 First Communion(Curragh Church)
31/3/2011 7.00p.m. Ceremony of Light(School Hall)
14/5/2011 2.00p.m. Confirmation(Curragh Church)
Many thanks to Fr. Ruairí and to Fr. McDonald in the Curragh.

Is mise le meas

Sean de Paor, Príomhoide

14th Oct 2010

Here is a picture of Comhairle na nDaltaí. They are working to make the school as good as it can be. As a result of their recommendation, the fee for Patron Day will be lowered from €5 to €2 per family this year. Well done to them!

Here is a picture of the main entrance. The school is looking lovely at present with the autumn colours in the trees, and the flowers planted by Mary and Susan.

9 September 2010

Dear Parent,

Welcome!
The school is settling down after the summer holidays. A big welcome to everybody, especially all our new pupils and their parents. I hope you all will be happy here in Gaelscoil Chill Dara. I am delighted that The Naíonra has opened here on site and we now have two streams at each class level. Therefore the school has stopped developing and won’t get any bigger than it is.

1. Parent – Teacher Meetings
These meetings will be held shortly in the various classrooms
Mon (20th): 7.00 pm: Senior Infanta: ( Clíodhna, Martina) . Rang 2 (Mairéad Ní I, Eibhlín) 8.00 pm: Rang 6 (Norma, Aoife) Rang 1 (Caitríona Ní Dhúnaí, Mairéad Ní Ghormáin)
Tues (21st): 7.00 pm: Rang 3 (Gearóid, Caitríona Ní Dhálaigh) Junior Infants (Niamh, Karen) 8.00pm: Rang 4 (Helen, Pádraig) Rang 5 (Jenny, Máire)
We apologise if meetings for members of the same family are held at the same time. Please make every effort to attend the meeting and meet your child’s teacher.

2. Just to Remind You!
All children are encouraged to bring healthy food to school. Therefore, with the pupils’ cooperation, chewing gum, crisps, fizzy drinks like ‘Coke’ and ‘7Up’ are not allowed. The children may not have a mobile phone in school and toys should be left at home! Parents are also asked not to use chewing gum on the premises and smoking is forbidden everywhere – inside and out.
3. Labelling of clothes, books, etc.
Please ensure that all your children’s’ clothes and books have their names on them.
4. Traffic in the mornings / evenings
The carpark is reasonably efficient at the moment. Please use buses if you can but if you must use the carpark please be patient and thoughtful with other drivers and avoid parking in bus bays and on the footpaths
5.No children are allowed in the yard before 8.50 a.m
6. Parents Association
The Comhairle is the best place for you to get involved in the school and to help your child. With this in mind I am delighted to invite you to a great event in the school on the 5th October at 8.00 pm. A guest speaker will address the gathering and a wine and chocolate reception will be held, along with the Comhairle’s AGM. Please put this date in your diary now!
7. Volunteers Needed! We need people to help with stewarding in the mornings and evenings. If you can help please give in your name
8. Good Luck! Finally I would like to wish everyone a successful new year in school

Is mise, le meas

__________________
Seán de Paor, Príomhoide