12.10.2018

A Thuismitheoirí, a Chairde,

Tá súil agam go bhfuil gach duine sona sásta ar ais i Scoil Raifteirí. Tá súil agam go bhfuil gach duine slán sábháilte tar éis na stoirme aréir agus inniu. Fíochmhar ar fad! Cuirimid fáilte speisialta roimh na Naíonáin Bheaga nua agus a dtuistí/Special welcome to our new pupils and their parents to our school. I encourage you to work with us, to enjoy and support your child in Scoil Raifteirí- the best start-tús maith- in primary education through Irish. It will open up many exciting doors!

• Fáilte to all! Parents Meet on Thursday 18/10/18 8pm in the school hall. 
• Child Safe Guarding Policy available on website, see diary p12/13. Buzzer Controlled Access on doors for safety sake. All access to classes will be controlled through the office from Monday 15/10/18. There will be a ‘Sign out and Sign In book/Leabhar Siniú Amach/Isteach’ in the office when children are collected at school to attend appointments etc. Parents are asked to fill out pages 20/21 in advance of collection for appointment/lateness, so that the teacher is informed and there is no disruption to class teaching times. 
• Dialann Scoile/School Diary Signatures-Class teachers requesting-Anti-Bullying Care Promise p10; Policies-GDPR-Signatures on p16/17 asap. 
• Parents are asked to fill out Reason for Absence slips on diary when child returns to class after school absence to inform teacher as to the reason for being absent. (20 days).
• GDPR: Cosaint Eolais/Confidential Information: Codanna faoi ghlas/files are locked; Computers are password protected; School software system is password protected to protect all information and locked every day at end of school day. 

• See link re information points to help to support your child in school- http://scoilraifteiri.com/policy2015School%20Diary.pdf
• Our past pupils have done us proud in recent examination results, the overall results were very good and we are delighted and proud to hear of the Irish results. We wish them well in their future studies. Coinnigh suas é! Beatha teanga í a labhairt! 
• Roinn Oideachais: School attendance and welfare.
• New Policies-Child Safeguarding-NEW DOOR ACCESS SYSTEM beginning Monday October 15-GDPR-Confidentiality for all school information Health and Safety-New Language Curriculum.
• Úsáid an charr chlós mar is ceart! Follow Car-Park lay-out, observe the text message advice, Drop-off and pick-up SAFELY SEE DIARY page 15! 
• We wish to thank sincerely all the people involved in making great improvements to our school building and grounds during the summer. 
• Cártaí Nollag (10) designed by your child- available for purchase-School Fundraiser-€7.
• Congrats to our Cailíní-footballers! See website!
• School Closed because of the Presidential Election on Friday 26/10/18.
• Whole School Christmas Concert and Fair in St. Mary’s Hall, GMIT THURS 06/12/18 5:30-8:00pm. 
• All dates in Diary-pages 14/15 for your information. 

Billí na Scoile:

• Book Bills- issued in June 2018. Full/Part-Payment of bills-Books, Swimming and Heating bills may be paid over the school year at a time that is financially convenient for families. 
• Swimming and Insurance/handouts/rental bill are due. Last date of Swimming Classes: 22/10/18
• HeatingContribution/Síntiús Teasa: €30 per family.
• All payments are made by putting the exact amount in an envelope with the child’s name written in Irish, nature of payment, and class printed on envelope for all monies to school. Eldest child brings it Laura, Rúnaí na Scoile, who will issue a receipt which the child brings home. Children are trained to bring the airgead to oifig in the mornings OR Electronic Facility.

Special Target for this term is on our Scoil Raifteirí reputation for Irish: 

1. Gaeilge líofa, Irish fluency at all times in school. 
2. Sainéide Scoile/Uniform and Track suit wearing 
3. Respect, courtesy, excellent behaviour at all times 
4. School work and Homework 

Gaeilge: Comhoibriú ag téastáil! Gaeilge le chéile!

We are actively working on our Irish fluency-which is improving with great efforts from everyone, and it is much appreciated. Maith sibh!

We are implementing our Rial na Gaeilge with enthusiasm, as we want our pupils to achieve the highest standards of fluency. To achieve this we are asking for your active support and participation. Irish is caught-USE IT! Children need to reply to our questions using full sentences in Irish. ‘Sea’ is not enough! 

We need to hear as many adults as possible in the school environs using their Irish. We encourage people to speak it as example for our children from the gate entrance, until children vacate through the gate exit daily. We will be in touch with you in the event of children being negative re. speaking of Irish.

1957079169091858700. some children from R1-R6 may receive a wake-up call-who are consistently speaking in English through receipt of lines, and after three transgressions, if there isn’t an improvement there may be a lunch-time detention of 20 minutes. 

· Amantaí Scoile: The school is open to receive pupils at 8:50am. No responsibility is accepted for pupils arriving before that time. All pupils assemble at the main front doors where we expect to hear Irish conversation at doirsí na scoile. Classes commence daily 9am. Classes end daily at 1:30pm for Naíonáin Bheaga agus Naíonáin Mhóra, and at 2:30 pm for R1-R6. Latecomers disrupt class, and we are asking that parents ensure that their children attend school daily and on time. The school cannot accept responsibility for looking after children after school hours.

• Making an Appointment to see Class Teacher: Keeping School Positive! Parents may contact us by e-mail, phone, to make an appointment. Contact will be made with you should there be any concerns re. school matters. Teachers will make contact with you only when necessary. W ask that parents who wish to discuss any issue concerning their child to make an appointment through Laura, Rúnaí na Scoile to see the class teacher in the first instance so that matters can be discussed in a spirit of openness and co-operation. Parnts are advised not to over react, or interrupt class, and are forbidden to approach a child of another parent to solve an issue, it is imperative that parents use the proper channels. We appreciate a word from any parent at any time in the best interests of our school re. school related matters that concern you. In th event of emergency, contact oifig by phone or e-mail, and we will make contact with you by phone/text, as needs determine. Inform us should there be any changes regarding three contact numbers, change of address,e-mail etc. by e-mail to Laura at [email protected] or to [email protected] for my attention. 
• Trealamh/Equipment: To avoid unnecessary hassle, eg. car trips etc. we ask you to make sure that the children wear appropriate attire and have their bags, books, lunches, swimming, sporting and musical instruments with them in the mála on the appropriate days, and be responsible for their stuff. Children have been asked to bring the min. req. with them to school-to promote walking/lightweight málaí scoile. (LABEL ALL SCHOOL ITEMS.)
• Keep Check on E-Mails/Letters/Texts re. IMPORTANT info. which goes out electronically and/or hard copy with the eldest child inserted into the school diary with the homework/obair bhaile pages in the school bag/mála scoile. Check diary Monday-Thursdays-signature of parent confirms homework is checked by them. 

• Clarú/Enrolment for School Years Ahead: 2019-2021 etc. Parents are asked to let interested parents know who may wish their children to attend Scoil Raifteirí that PLACES ARE OPEN and available in our co-educational primary school.THERE ARE NO WAITING LISTS!!

Prospective pupils and parents are welcome to join our school and experience a love of education through the Irish language by sending in an e-mail expressing their interest in enrolment and/or by making appointment with Lára, Rúnaí na Scoile so that Enrolment Form may be filled out. PPS number & Birth Cert are required. Prospective brothers and sisters are enrolled by advising me by letter/e-mail: Ainm an pháiste/Name, Dáta BreitheDOB, School Year Placement, Concerns/Resources applying to your child. Parents are also asked to inform me as a matter of courtesy, should children wish to be moving into the school or should they be leaving the area. 

• Imeachtaí Scoile: During our years in Scoil Raifteirí, fundraising has helped us through tough times, and is a vital necessity. We appreciate the connection and the attendance of at least one parent/family member/friend to support any event organised by our hardworking Coiste parent association members. People need people!
• Contributions/donations/sponsorship is greatly appreciated. Múinteoirí, páistí and tuistí appreciate the support since 1983.
• Rollai and Absences: See Dialann/Reports to TUSLA (20 days absences).
• Child Safeguarding Policy: NEW DES and NEW “Children First Guidelines” operate in this school. See School Website and page 12 of SR Diary. If there is a matter of concern in relation to the neglect/abuse of children we are obliged to report this matter to the Túsla authority. Child Abuse exists because of one or more of the following: Neglect due to lack of food, warmth, shelter, nurturance, safety, absences from school, whereby the child suffers significant harm; Emotional Abuse due to child’s needs for affection, approval and security being unmet by parent/carer; Physical Abuse where child is assaulted/injured deliberately; Peer Abuse; Cyber Abuse; Social Abuse; Homophobic abuse; Sexual Abuse/child is used for sexual gratification of another. Túsla is reaching out to families who need support for their children and family. Information evening held this week. Meitheal works with families needing support. 

• Imeachtaí Scoile/School Activities:

• Damhsa gach Céadaoin €2.50 an cheachta, €5 an clann Bernadine/Thelma-please give the girls their fees. 
• Snámh: 7 rang. R2-R6 Luan.
• Feadóg Stáin Múinteoirí R2-R6, see website for tunes for parade. 
• Ukele le Jamie R5-Generation Mayo Music; Cloigíní le Niamh R6.
• Iománaíocht: Foireann Scoile R4-R6 le Pádraig.
• Riamhairí Naíonáin-R6 lena múinteoirí féin.
• Cór agus Grúpaí Cheoil R3-R6: Gearóid agus Múinteoirí. 
• Ranganna Seach-Churaclaim/Extra/Optional Curicular Activities:

§ Scileanna Peile: Tar éis scoile, 2:30-3:30. Máirt-Gearóid R3 Audrey agus Máire agus cailíní R4, Céadaoin-Pádraig R4 buachaillí, R5, R6.

§ Cleachtadh Piano Máirt/Céadaoin/Deardaoin le Múinteoir Celine 086-3365103, €12 an cheachta, Ring Celine re. Lessons for pupils in R3-R6 and for R2-time permitting. Enquiries regarding spaces for R2 to Celine’s number, and parents are asked to confirm to Celine, if child is continuing piano classes. 

§ Ceol Ghaelach: Múinteoir Nollaig Kilkenny 087-7807983 gach Céadaoin €40 don téarma seo, R2-R6 Seomra Réamh-dhéanta, am lóin. 

Mo bhuíochas le: Fionntán Ó Murchú agus le gach baill ar an mBord Bainistíochta; Máire Uí Shúilleabháin /Foireann na scoile; 

Claire /Coiste na dTuistí, agus le páistí agus tuistí na scoile don chomhoibriú. “Ní neart go cur le chéile”. Your support is much appreciated. 

Beir Bua, Buíochas agus Beannacht, 

Máire Treasa Uí Dhálaigh.

Príomhoide.