Dear Parents / Guardians,
Our news for this fortnight is as follows:
- STEM Excellence: I take great pleasure in announcing that we have just received the news that Bunscoil Bhríde is to be awarded a Science Foundation Ireland Discover Science and Maths Plaque of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Excellence for the 2018/19 academic year. This is our sixth successive year to achieve this prestigious award. A Plaque of STEM Excellence is the highest award that a school can achieve and commends our school for deeper engagement, whole school involvement and external engagement in Science and Maths Programmes. I would like to congratulate all our pupils and teachers for engaging in such a wide range of activities and events every year. I would particularly like to thank Ms. Kelly, who coordinates all of our STEM activities. It is fantastic to see all of the science, technology, engineering and maths work being carried out in the school with such enthusiasm. Well done everyone – such a great achievement!
- Ninth Green Flag: On Tuesday 21st May Ms. Kelly, our Green Schools co-ordinator, Evelyn Kelly a parent representative on our Green Schools committee and two pupil members; Emma Flood and Olivia Kluczynska travelled to the National Green Schools’ Award Ceremony in the Helix, U.C.D., Dublin to collect our ninth Green Flag. Photos can be viewed on our school website www.bunscoilbhride.ie. We will raise our Green Flag at a ceremony to take place at the front of the school (in the staff car-park) at 11.30am on Friday 21st June. We would like to extend an invitation to all parents to attend and to celebrate with us as we raise our ninth green flag.
- Football: Congratulations to our Senior footballers who made it to the semi-final playoffs. They played two very strong sides and scored some lovely goals and points. Unfortunately they were unlucky not to come out victorious on this occasion. Football training finished up last Thursday and will recommence in September. Our in-school football blitz will take place in June for anyone from 3rd to 6th class, details to follow. We would like to commend and wish our current 6th class the very best as they progress into secondary school. They are a very talented bunch and we hope they continue playing football for many years to come. I would also like to thank our two wonderful coaches Ms. Feeney and Ms. Collum who have generously given of their time this year to coach our girls.
- School Tours: School tour season is almost upon us, with a busy schedule of school tours over the next three-week period. For details of the full itenary, please see ‘Dates for the Diary’ on the ‘Our News’ section of our website www.bunscoilbhride.ie. Our Junior Infant girls will enjoy a teddy bears’ picnic and a day of fun here in the school on Tuesday 18th June. More details of this to follow! We hope they all have a thoroughly enjoyable day and look forward to hearing of their experience. I want to sincerely thank all of the parent volunteers who will travel with the girls on their tours.
- 6th Class Heritage Trip: Ms. O’Halloran’s sixth class will visit the rath and the old graveyard on Thursday 13th June, weather-permitting, as part of their local history / heritage studies. On their trek through the town, they will examine all the Georgian buildings and learn about the history of our village. We hope they have a thoroughly enjoyable day and gain a deeper appreciation of the wonderful village in which we live.
- Open Afternoon for New Junior Infants: Next year’s Junior Infants (2019/20 school year) and their parents are invited to an open afternoon in the school on Thursday 6th June from 1.55pm to 2.40pm. The children will get the opportunity to visit their new classroom, meet their class teacher and mingle with their new classmates. We look forward to meeting with them and their parents.
- Stamped Addressed Envelope: It’s that time of year again when teachers are busy preparing the end-of-year school reports. We would ask you to please send in a stamped addressed envelope to your child’s teacher BEFORE Friday next, 7th June, in order for you to receive your child’s report. Please be advised that the end-of-year report is a document written by the class teacher for the attention of parents ONLY. It is important that teachers can be honest and open in this document with regard to the progress of your child during the year. For this reason it is inappropriate that your child should view this document, which also contains the results of standardised tests administered (1st to 6th classes only). I cannot reiterate strongly enough the upset and anxiety that discussions among children regarding these results can cause. I would urge you to support us in ensuring that such discussions between children cannot take place.
- 6th 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 www.ncca.ie/transfer. 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 on Friday 14th June. They will be sent, along with your daughter’s end-of-year report to her secondary school.
- Bake Sale: Our Sixth Class pupils will hold a fundraising Bake Sale in the school on Friday 7th June, at which all pupils in the school will get the opportunity to attend. The proceeds of the Sale will go towards the purchase of special graduation t-shirts for the class, which will bear the school name and signatures of all members of the class. The balance of the money raised will go towards a charity nominated by the sixth class girls.
- Code of Behaviour: We are currently in the process of reviewing and updating our Code of Behaviour. It is currently available to view on our website www.bunscoilbhride.ie. We would urge you to log on, read it and offer your feedback. It will be ratified at the next meeting of the Board of Management on 11th June.
- Anti-Bullying Policy: Our anti-bullying policy is currently being reviewed and can be viewed on our school website www.bunscoilbhride.ie. It addresses cyber-bullying, which as we know has become an issue of national concern. Thankfully we have had no incidents of cyber-bullying in our school. However I would ask you all to take responsibility for ensuring this remains the case. I’m sure you are all already aware that there are risks and dangers associated with your child using social media. If you allow your child to use social media, parental supervision is required at all times. I would like to make you aware of the fact that the legal age for using Facebook is thirteen. Our school has safeguards in place with regard to pupil internet/website access at school. It is important that all parents are aware that use outside school falls under parental responsibility.
- Bank Holiday: The school will close on Monday 3rd June (May Bank Holiday) and Tuesday 4th June.
Kind regards,
Maria Rogerson
