SEPTEMBER
2005 NEWSLETTER
BACK TO SCHOOL
Welcome back to school and a special
welcome to all the new children (and
parents) starting St.Mary’s for the
first time. We hope they all enjoy
their time here.
Why not come along and join us on
Thursday when Fr Peter celebrates
our Start of Year Mass in the
school. The service will begin at
1.30pm and all parents are
especially welcome. The younger
children will go home after the Mass
IMPORTANT DATES
Holidays Monday 26th
September
Monday 31st
October and Tuesday 1st
November
Thursday 8th
December
Friday 23rd
December(Half Day) - Monday 9th
January
Training Day Monday 17th
/Tuesday 18th October
(Numeracy )
School Photos Friday 14th
October (Morning)
Pantomime Wednesday 14th
December
REMINDERS:
School is intended to be a happy and
secure place for a child to be
educated in. The following should
encourage this:
We operate an “open door” policy.
However, any parent wishing to speak
to a member of staff about a serious
issue should do so by appointment.
If a pupil is absent or ill a
letter/phone call is required from a
parent or guardian.
The school has a discipline policy.
This policy expresses the
responsibilities imposed on pupils.
parents and staff for good
discipline and safety in and around
the school. A system of
rewards and sanctions is in place to
help
make this
policy work. Parents will shortly
receive a summary of this. Thank
You.
Thank You
Thank you to the parents who
organized and attended the
fundraising night in June. A great
night was had by all and £500 was
raised for the FOSA.
MILK:
Milk now costs 10p a day and must be
ordered on Friday for the week ahead
The Annual
Raffle
Raffle tickets shall be issued to
the children shortly. As this is the
main fundraiser of our year please
support this. The raffle will take
place at a function later in the
term. More details to follow
CONGRATULATIONS:
Well done to Glasdrumman Pipe Band
on repeating their achievement of
last year by winning the All
Ireland title in the recent
competition in Donegal.
CLUBSS:
After school clubs will begin on
Monday 12th September for
P4-P7children. Netball and Football
will run on Mondays, Orchestra will
be on Wednesdays. The attendance has
dropped in recent years. Please
encourage your child to attend these
sessions
P
Many thanks to the families who
returned the surveys at the end of
the summer term. Analysis of the
Parent School survey has proved very
useful in not only drafting the new
School Development Plan but also in
affirming to us that you are
satisfied with the way that the
school educates your children.
However we have taken on board your
comments and opinions and they will
inform future school planning
HEALTHY EATING
BREAKTIMES SURVEY
The results of the Healthy
Eating at Breaktimes Survey were as
follows
71% of respondents wanted Healthy
Eating on 5 Dayss
8% of respondents wanted Healthy
Eating on 4 Days
21% of respondents wanted Healthy
Eating on 3 Days
Please do not send
biscuits/crisps/yoghurt/cakes/nuts/chocolate/bars
etcc
Milk and Water are the only drinks
allowed.
Many thanks for your co-operation in
this matter. This only applies to
break times and shall begin on
Wednesday of this week.
Thank you to those parents who
responded to the Minibus
Questionnaire. The minibus will now
pick up outside Mairin’s house in
the mornings and the children will
be notified of their pick up time in
due course. Many thanks for your
help in this matter and hopefully
last years problems can now be
addressed. Many thanks to Patsy,
Mairin, Kathleen and Glasdrumman
Thank Youu
A special thanks to Mrs. Beeks for
having the school looking so well
for everyone coming back and a thank
you to every parent who ensured
that their children looked really
smart on Thursday and Friday
morning.
SWIMMINGG
Swimming begins on Thursday morning
for P4/P5 in Kilkeel. Swimming costs
£1. The lessons will continue for 15
weeks. Please make sure the children
have the correct costume and towel.
The children will not require any
other money.
Pupil Records Some parents
have not returned the data
collection sheets regarding mobile
numbers, medical information,
permission for trips and internet
use. We shall be sending them out
again. Please complete and return as
soon as possible. Thank You
DONATION
Thank you to Mairin for the
donation following the sale of Sun
Cream in the summer term.
GUITAR LESSONS:
P5-P7 children have the opportunity
of learning the guitar this year.
Further information shall be sent
out next
week.
WATER:
Educational research has shown that
easy access to water aids
concentration and learning whilst in
a classroom . We are encouraging
children to bring in bottles of
water to class. Research has shown
that tap water is excellent and that
the water should be in non spill
bottles i.e. bottles with the pull
up top. We can label the bottles in
school and they can be filled up at
home each evening. Keeping them in
the fridge overnight also helps
