Dear Parents / Guardians,
We hope you are all well. Our news is as follows:
- Mercy Day: We will celebrate Mercy Day on Wednesday 24th September. As Bunscoil Bhríde is a Mercy school, Mercy Day is a very important day in the calendar of our school. We are proud of our strong Mercy tradition and ethos. Children in all classes will learn about Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Mercy order and will hear of how the Mercy Sisters brought education to Rathangan. We might even get the night off homework to celebrate!
- Whole School Assembly: We will hold our first whole-school assembly in our halla on Mercy Day. This will be led by Ms. Coughlan’s Sixth Class and Ms. Gleeson’s Senior Infants. Each class will get the opportunity to lead our assemblies this year, which take place at the end of every month, and at which we get to hear all of the news from around the school, enjoy class performances and celebrate the birthdays from the month.
- Ukulele lessons: We are very excited to introduce ukulele to our Fifth and Sixth Classes. We will have two teachers from Music Generation; John and William, visit our school every Tuesday and Wednesday for the year, to engage Ms. Flood’s Fifth Class, Ms. Marrinan’s Fifth and Sixth Class and Ms. Coughlan’s Sixth Class in a 45-minute lesson on the ukulele. Our Board of Management will cover the cost of the ukuleles, and funds that our Parents’ Association have raised previously will be used to cover the cost of the lessons for the first term. We hope that further PA fundraising may be available to subsidise or fully fund the lessons for the second and third term. The lessons start next week and we look forward to hearing the girls’ progress.
- Tin Whistle: All children from First to Sixth Class are engaging in tin whistle lessons with their teachers during the first term. We ask that you support their progress by encouraging them to practise at home and ensuring they have their tin whistle at school every day.
- School Photographs: ‘County Photos’ (school photographers) have been booked to take individual photos of all of our Junior Infants and class group photos of our Junior Infants and of our Sixth Class girls on Monday 22nd September. There is no obligation for parents to make any purchase. Please see the flyer attached from County Photos for more details.
- 24-hour Accident Insurance: Friday 26th September is the final day for receipt of payment for Allianz Pupil Personal Accident Insurance. This is an optional fee of €10 and provides 24-hour cover for accidents occurring at home or at school. We would strongly recommend that all parents pay this insurance. Many of our parents have benefitted from having the policy in the past. If you ever incur any fees in relation to an accident e.g. fee for a trip to A & E, let us know and we will provide you with the necessary forms to recoup all expenses. Payment can be made via the e-payments system on the Aladdin app (this is a safe and secure means of payment). You must also return the completed form to the school. Let us know if you are having trouble accessing the e-payments via the app.
- Football & Camogie: Our U-11 Football League kicks off next week, with our girls taking on St. Evin’s Primary School, Monasterevin in an away game. It will take place on Thursday 18th of September at 11.30am. We wish the girls the very best of luck. The Camogie League will commence after Christmas, so this gives the girls plenty of time to practise their skills. Training will be held on Tuesdays after school from 2.30pm – 3.15pm. Thank you to Ms. Brogan, Ms. Fogarty and Ms. Marrinan for volunteering their time to train the girls.
- Homework Journals: All children from First to Sixth Class have homework journals this year. Please ensure that you check your daughter’s homework every evening and sign her homework journal. It is only by home and school working together that we can ensure the very best outcomes for all of our pupils.
- Uniform: Please ensure your daughter wears the correct school uniform. Our Uniform Policy can be found on our school website at www.bunscoilbhride.ie .
- Code of Behaviour: Our Code of Behaviour is available to view at www.bunscoilbhride.ie . I wish to remind you all that, as stated in our Code, jewellery is not permitted at school (with the exception of small stud earrings at the bottom of each ear and a watch). Children should not come to school wearing hoop earrings / dangly earrings / earrings that are larger than a small stud, which are in breach of the code and pose a health and safety risk. Please ensure that children are wearing the correct uniform and that long hair is fully tied up. Your cooperation in the implementation of our Code of Behaviour is very much appreciated.
- Party Invitations: As it may not always be possible to invite all children from your child’s class to birthday parties, we would ask that all children refrain from handing out invitations in school. This can instead be done outside of the school, in order to avoid upset to children not invited.
- Dates for the Diary: Please check out the calendar tab on the Aladdin app. A number of new dates for this term have been added. Please continue to keep an eye on the Calendar over the coming weeks and months, as all new dates will be added as new events are confirmed.
Kind regards,
Maria Rogerson