Dear Parents / Guardians,
We hope you all is well with you this fortnight. Our news is as follows:
- Green Flag: I am thrilled and immensely proud to be able to inform you that we have just been awarded our 11th green flag. The focus of the work leading to the awarding of this flag was ‘Food and Biodiversity’. The Green Schools Committee would like to thank all the pupils, parents and teachers for their support of Green Schools. I would like to congratulate Ms. Aileen Kelly and the Green Schools Committee on this fantastic achievement. There are very few schools in the country that can boast having ELEVEN green flags. We are so very fortunate to have such an amazing committee and such wonderful support from the entire school community. We are currently planning a whole-school celebration of this remarkable achievement and will share these plans in the next Fortnightly Bulletin.
- Gaelic Football: Our wonderful senior girls were victorious in their game against Scoil Mhuire, Ballymany on Tuesday last. This was a very close and exciting game throughout. After normal time and extra time, the two teams could not be separated, finishing on a scoreline of 1-03 each. The game was settled through a 20 yard shootout, where our fantastic footballers outscored Scoil Mhuire by two points. The girls are now through to the semi-final with the opposing team, date and venue to be confirmed. Well done to the girls and their coaches, Ms. Marrinan and Mr. O’Sulllivan.
- Football in Second Class: Two of our past pupils and members of Rathangan Gaelic Football Club, Anna Mullally and Katie O’Loughlin have kindly volunteered to work on some footballing skills with our two Second Classes. Ms. Rowley’s Class engaged in football training last Monday and Ms. Garrahy’s will take part on this coming Monday. All Second Class girls should wear their school tracksuits and runners to school on Monday. I want to thank Anna and Katie for giving so generously of their time in working with our girls.
- First Holy Communion: Ms. Garrahy’s and Ms. Rowley’s second classes will be receiving the sacrament of First Holy Communion in Rathangan Church on Saturday at 11am. They have been busy preparing and practising and are very much looking forward to receiving their third sacrament. We wish them and their families a very special and memorable day. Ms. De Faoite and Ms. Dillon have also been doing fantastic work on preparing the choir for the big day. I want to particularly thank the girls from third to sixth class, who will be singing in the choir for the First Holy Communion ceremony. We are very grateful to them.
- Communion Photograph: The First Holy Communion group photograph and individual photographs will be taken in the school on Tuesday 30th April at 9.00am. We ask that the First Communion class come into school wearing their Communion outfits for the photographs on that morning and that they bring their school tracksuit in a bag to change into afterwards. Following the photographs, the class will embark upon the annual parade around the classrooms, which is always much-anticipated! I will send a text to parents of the children in the class when the parade concludes and they will have the option of coming in to help change their daughter and take home the dress. Only parents who are Garda Vetted by the school will be allowed into the classroom with the children (National Vetting Act), but a room will be provided for unvetted parents who wish to change their own child. There is no requirement for parents to come in. The teachers will ensure that the children are changed and the dresses are hung on hangers or placed into bags as specified.
- Final Farewell Fair and Bake Sale: I want to congratulate our entrepreneurial Sixth Class girls, who with the help of their wonderful teachers, Ms. de Faoite and Ms. Marrinan, organised the most wonderfully entertaining and successful Fair in our school hall last Friday. I am thrilled to report that they raised €1195.60; enough to fully cover the cost of their graduation hoodies and a small excess that they will donate to a charity of their choice. They are currently in consultation around the choosing of a charity. Thank you so much to all of our families who contributed to the Fair and who generously donated baked goods and items to be sold. Your support, as always, is greatly appreciated.
- Assembly: Our whole-school assembly for the month of April will be led by Ms. Geraghty’s Fourth Class and Ms. Gleeson’s Junior and Senior Infants and will take place in the halla tomorrow.
- 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. Mobile phones / electronic devices are strictly prohibited and should not be brought to school. Your cooperation in the implementation of our Code of Behaviour is very much appreciated.
- Library: Our school library has become a vibrant hub within the school, with weekly visits for all classes, allowing all children to take advantage of the huge array of books on offer. It has been well proven that reading regularly increases your child’s reading ability, improves academic ability, nurtures a love of reading for life and helps your child to learn about the world. Please ensure that your child treats the library books well and returns them for exchange as soon as she has finished reading them. A fee will be imposed to cover the cost of lost/damaged books.
- 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!
- Bus Éireann School Transport: Applications for school transport for the 2024/25 school year can be made online at https://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=256 and must be submitted by tomorrow, 26th April. It is important that applications for school transport are made on time as late applicants are not guaranteed seats.
- Dates for the Diary: All dates for the diary for this term are marked on the calendar in the Aladdin Connect app and we would ask you to keep an eye on this. Please note these dates are subject to change. Any changes to events will be recorded via the Aladdin Calendar.
- May Bank Holiday Closure: The school will be closed from Monday 6th May to Friday 10th May inclusive. School will reopen at 8.50am on Monday 13th May. We hope you all have a lovely mid-term break.
Kind regards,
Maria Rogerson