Bunscoil Bhríde Fortnightly Bulletin – 16th May 2024

Dear Parents / Guardians,

We hope you all is well with you this fortnight. Our news is as follows:

Eleventh Green Flag: We plan to hold a Day of Celebration in the school on Friday 7^th June, at which our newest 11^th Green Flag will be raised. I would like to congratulate Ms. Kelly, Ms. Geraghty, Ms. Garrahy and their fabulous Green Schools Committee on such a remarkable achievement. There are not many schools in the country that can boast having eleven green flags. We are so very fortunate to have an outstanding committee, as well as an extremely supportive whole-school community. Well done everyone! Next fortnight’s bulletin will contain further details of this celebration.

Letter to Parents regarding smartphones / social media: Yesterday every family received an important letter relating to serious concerns the staff and I have around children’s use of smartphones and social media. We are asking all families to acknowledge receipt of this letter and to confirm that they have read it, by signing it and returning it to school tomorrow.

Confirmation: Our 6^th class girls will receive the sacrament of Confirmation on Sunday 26^th May at 11am in Rathangan Church. We pray that the blessings of the Lord will come to the girls as they are strengthened in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We hope that they, along with their teachers, Ms. De Faoite and Ms. Marrinan, who have helped to prepare them for this sacrament, will have a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable day. I would like to thank the girls from third to fifth class who will be adding so much to the ceremony through their beautiful singing in the choir, directed by Ms. De Faoite, Ms. Dillon and Ms. Rowley. The photographer will visit the school on Tuesday 28^th May to take the Confirmation group and individual photographs. The girls should wear their Confirmation robes to school on that Tuesday morning.

Gaelic Football: Our wonderful senior girls, who won all three of their group stage games, represented our school in the Cumann na mBunscol senior girls football semi-final yesterday. This game was played at home in Rathangan as a reward for coming first place in their group, where they faced Scoil Bhríde of Naas. The girls showed tremendous skill, determination and teamwork in this difficult game against a very strong Scoil Bhríde team. While our girls did not progress through to the final, we are all so proud of our pupils who have represented our school so well throughout the year. They have certainly been wonderful role models for our younger students who will hopefully represent our school in the senior girl’s competitions in the future. I want to thank our coaches Mr. O’Sullivan and Ms. Marrinan who have given so generously of their time during this year in training the team and accompanying them to matches.

Active Schools Week: We are looking forward to celebrating Active School week from Monday 27th May to Friday 7th June. We have lots of fun activities planned for all classes. It promises to be a jam packed fortnight of fun and games. We are working hard towards receiving our 4th Active Flag in the upcoming months. As always, children will only receive Active Homework for the fortnight. All children will be encouraged to wear their school tracksuit (or navy shorts) and appropriate runners to school every day. Children will have the opportunity to visit our local tennis club throughout the fortnight for lessons with thanks to coach Gary Beresford. Please ensure your daughter has plenty of lunch and drinks packed and has sun cream applied each day. Don’t forget to keep up to date with the Active School events on our school website. I want to thank Ms. Rowley, Ms. Costello and their Active School Committee for organising Active Schools Week.

Our class Sports Days will take place on the following days:

Tuesday 28^th May (Junior Sports Day)	Wednesday 5^th June (Senior Sports Day)
 Junior Infants  Senior Infants  First Class  Second Class	 3^rd Class  4^th Class  5^th Class  6^th Class

Cycle Safety Training: Ms. Marrinan’s Fifth and Sixth Class and Ms. De Faoite’s Sixth Class will take part in a six-session block of cycle safety training, beginning on Thursday 23^rd May. The course is aligned to Cycle Right, the National Standard for Cycle Safety Training in Ireland, and is delivered by qualified trainers from the national register. As we are a Green School, An Taisce are heavily subsidising the course, with the cost to pupils reduced to €5. At the end of the course, each pupil will receive a digital certificate of participation. Bicycles and helmets will be provided, but if the pupils wish, they can bring along their own bicycle and/or helmet. The dates of the sessions are as follows:

23^rd May, 30^th May, 6^th June, 10^th June, 13^th June and 20^th June

Bicycles: We love to see children cycling/scooting to school. There is a covered bicycle shelter to the rear of the school available for the parking of bicycles/scooters. As bicycle/scooters are parked here at the owners’ risk, we strongly advise that they are locked while parked.

Names on Uniforms: Please ensure that your child’s name is clearly marked on her uniform and tracksuit jumper.

Oral Language: The theme for the month of May is ‘Debating’. All classes will be focusing on this theme for the month and we would ask that you support us at home, by questioning your child, asking her to justify her choices and to support her arguments. Oral arguments that cause your child to have to reason with you and formulate and deliver a response reflecting a point of view are always to be encouraged, even in Junior Infants!

Free Schoolbooks Scheme: With the Free Schoolbooks Scheme for Schools in place again this year (see more information at the following link http://www.gov.ie/schoolbookschemes), you will not be required to purchase any schoolbooks, workbooks or copies for your child or to cover the cost of book rental. All of these items will be purchased by the school and will be ready for your child when she joins us on 28^th August. Parents will be required to purchase only a small amount of items of stationery (list to be shared with parents in June) and will still be required to pay a small fee to cover the cost of photocopying and art supplies for their child (payment link to be shared with parents in June).

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 (with the exception of small stud earrings at the bottom of each ear and a watch) is not permitted at school. 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 tied up. Your cooperation in the implementation of our Code of Behaviour is very much appreciated.

Healthy Eating Policy: As you are all aware, we operate a healthy eating policy in the school. Chocolate biscuits / bars, cereal bars, sweets etc. are all prohibited. The policy is available to view at www.bunscoilbhride.ie We ask that all families adhere to the healthy eating policy and support us in promoting healthy eating with the children. Our Food Dudes Programme has been a big success and we hope the children will continue the habit of bringing fruit and vegetables to school.

Sixth Class Education Passport: The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has developed a suite of materials to support the reporting and transfer of pupil information from primary to post-primary schools. The materials are presented under the umbrella title of “Education Passport” and are available at https://ncca.ie/en/primary/reporting-and-transfer/education-passport/ . Schools are required to use the NCCA Education Passport materials to support the reporting and transfer of pupil information at the end of sixth class. The Education Passport will be sent to the relevant post-primary school following confirmation of enrolment. Parents of children in sixth class have today received the ‘My Child’s Profile’ sheet for completion by parents/guardians and the ‘My Profile’ sheet for completion by pupils. We ask that you and your child fill these out and return them to the school by Friday 31^st May. They will be sent, along with your daughter’s end-of-year report to her secondary school.

Party Invitations: As it is not possible to invite all children from your child’s class to birthday parties, we would ask that 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.

Sixth Class Graduation: Graduation Mass for our sixth class girls will take place at 10am on Tuesday 25^th June in Rathangan Church. All parents and family members are welcome to attend. All pupils will attend this Mass, which also marks the end of a busy school year. Our sixth class will participate in the ceremony and our school choir led by Ms. de Faoite, Ms. Dillon and Ms. Rowley will provide the music and singing. Following the Mass we will host a celebration for our sixth class pupils and their families, at which we will present the girls with their graduation certificates and t-shirts. As has been the tradition in the school over the last number of year, we are asking again this year that the parents from our current fifth class would help to host the celebration for us by baking for the event and serving tea and coffee.

Dates for the Diary: All dates for the diary for this term are marked on the calendar in the Aladdin Connect app.

Kind regards,

Maria Rogerson