Dear Parents / Guardians,
We hope all is well with you this fortnight. Our news is as follows:
- Football & Camogie: I want to thank Mr. O’Sullivan and Ms. Marrinan who have kindly volunteered to coach our football and camogie teams again this year. After-school training for fifth and sixth class pupils recommenced on Tuesday last and will take place every Tuesday from 2.30pm-3.15pm. Our U-11 Football League kicks off next Wednesday, with our girls taking on St. Evin’s N.S., Monasterevin in a home game (time to be confirmed). The Senior Camogie League commences next week also, with our camogie team taking on Gaelscoil Chill Dara in Newbridge on Friday. We wish the girls the very best of luck in both matches.
- Mercy Day: We will celebrate Mercy Day next Friday, 22nd 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. Fr. Bill will celebrate a mass for the children of Second to Sixth Class to mark Mercy Day at 10am on Friday and we invite you all to attend. The children will sing on our choir, directed by Ms. Rowley, Ms. De Faoite and Ms. Dillon. We might even get the night off homework on the following Monday to celebrate!
- 24-hour Accident Insurance: Tomorrow 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). Let us know today if you are having trouble accessing the e-payments via the app.
- Green Schools: This year our school is working towards its eleventh Green Schools flag. The theme for this flag is Global Citizenship Food and Biodiversity. This theme explores how growing and eating our own food affects our personal health, and how it has knock-on impacts for local and foreign biodiversity. This involves growing and eating food that is produced on the school grounds and teaching children about the global impacts; such as the positive impact that these local actions can have, by interrupting the current global food production system, and the environmental problems associated with it e.g. by reducing the miles that food has travelled, or by avoiding the packaging waste associated with shop-bought foods. All classes will have the opportunity to explore these important topics throughout the year and also help in growing and maintaining our very own school garden. We are looking forward to meeting all of the new Green Schools representatives next week at the first Green Schools meeting. We are also looking for some parent volunteers to join our committee. Please contact the school office if you are interested in becoming a parent representative.
- Wellbeing School Improvement Plan: This year we are working on our School Improvement Plan in the area of Wellbeing. We will be introducing Wellbeing Wednesdays on the first Wednesday of every month, during which we will focus on wellbeing activities both at school and at home. We will also have a Wellbeing Committee made up of representatives from all classes from First Class upwards, whose role it will be to promote wellbeing in the school. We are excited to welcome mindfulness and wellbeing teacher, Úna Curran to our school next Monday. Úna will engage all classes in a wellbeing workshop. She will also present a session on wellbeing to the staff in the area of wellbeing.
- Parent Volunteers Wanted: As we are looking at the area of wellbeing this year, we were hoping there may be some parents who might have expertise in the area of yoga, and who would be willing to come in to the school to practise some yoga techniques with some of our classes (subject to Garda Vetting). Please contact the office if you would be interested in volunteering your time.
- National Fitness Day: National Fitness Day will take place on Thursday 28th September. To celebrate, all children will engage in fun, physical activities throughout the day. Classes will compete against each other in team games. Senior classes will share their dancing skills with junior classes. Photographs of the events will be available to view on our school website www.bunscoilbhride.ie
- 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 Tracksuits should not be worn on non-P.E. days (2nd to 6th classes).
- 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 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.
- Student Council: This year’s Student Council is up and running. The first official meeting will be held next Friday. We look forward to the Council’s valuable contribution throughout the school year.
- 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, including our Carol Service, Spooky Walk Day and Parents’ Day. Please continue to keep an eye on the Calendar over the coming weeks as all new dates will be added as new events are confirmed.
Kind regards,
Maria Rogerson