SCOIL COLM NEWSLETTERVolume 2, Issue 1October 7th 2011

Principal: Ms C Ní ChianáinDeputy Principal: Mr H Maune

Welcome Back to Scoil Colm2011/2012

Welcome Back to

Scoil Colm 2011/2012

Welcome back to all our pupils for the school year 2011-12, in particular our new pupils in second class. We hope that it will be another great year for our school. This year in our school we are making a special effort to keep classroom interruptions to a minimum so that we can maximise the amount of teaching time that your son receives. Parents/visitors can help us with this by making appointments to meet teachers outside of school hours where necessary. Communication between parents and school staff is very important and we actively encourage this. Appointments can be made through the office or a note in the homework journal.

We would also like to remind you that to ensure the safety of our pupils, please ensure that they are not in the yard area before 8.40am. Thank you.

Claire Ní Chianáin

PLEASE KEEP OUR PUPILS SAFEParking / Car Park:Parking in the school car park is for staff cars only. This measure is taken to limit the number of cars driving in the car park for the safety of our pupils. We ask parents/visitors to please help us to keep our pupils safe by not driving in to the staff car park or parking on the footpath directly outside the front of the school. Thank you.

Hot Chocolate and Coffee Morning Friday, 28th October 2011

Our school is hosting a coffee morning in Scoil Colm and we would love if pupils, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles would come along to have a cup of tea or coffee with us.

The cost is €3.00 per person and includes Halloween fancy dress for pupils. It will start at 9.30am in the Parents’ Room. Feel free to bake some buns or cakes for the day and put the date in your diary!!

Page 2 of 4 Information Page Scoil Colm Newsletter

First CommunionFirst Communion will take place on Saturday, 12th May 2012 at 11.30am.

A photographer will be available on Monday, 14th May 2012 for those wishing to have photos taken.

ConfirmationConfirmation will take place on Tuesday, 13th March 2012 at 11.30am.A photographer will be available on Wednesday, 14th March 2012 for those wishing to have photos taken.

Book RentalThank you to those who have already paid. We wish to remind some parents that the fee is still outstanding. Books, photocopying, etc, is very expensive and the rental fee is designed to reduce this cost for parents/guardians. Please ensure payment is made as soon as possible or arrange with the office to pay by instalments over a period of weeks.

School Uniform / Tracksuit / School Jacket

All pupils are expected to wear their full school uniform every day except on PE days. Uniforms, tracksuits and jackets are available from the Parents’ Room in the school between 9.15am and 9.45am each morning.

ENROLMENT FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2012/13Enrolment has now begun for second class places in the next school year. If you would like a place in Scoil Colm for your son, please pick up an Enrolment Form in the school office.School ShopCopies, pencils, pens, journals, etc can be purchased from the school shop every morning.

LunchesScoil Colm has a Healthy Eating Policy in operation. All pupils may choose their lunch at regular intervals from the menu provided.

Notice: On behalf of the whole school community, we would like to welcome our new teachers, Ms Murray, Mr Duffy and Mr O’Mahony and our new school chaplain, Fr Paul Tyrrell.

If you have any news you would like included in our newsletter, please let us know.

School starts at 8.50am and finishes at 2.30pm.

Page 4 of 4 Parents Page Scoil Colm Newsletter

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! If you have some spare time, even a half an hour, why not give it to our school? Call to the office or contact Ms Devaney on 086 3013632.

Sponsorship cardsIf you, or a colleague or friend, are interested in doing any sporting or novelty event for Scoil Colm, we have Sponsorship cards available, from Ms Caulfield, Room 5. E.g. 10km runs/walks, Triathlons, cycles etc.

Courses for ParentsComputers, back to Education English and Maths and Flower Arranging classes have started. First Aid, DIY, Cookery and Yoga classes will start soon.

If you would like any more information on any of these courses or would like to join, please contact Therese in Scoil Colm or on 086 3013632.

FUNDRAISINGDear parents/guardians,We would like to thank you for the support you gave to the fundraising events we organised last year. We hope to have similar success with our efforts this year.

The Parents’ Association are holding a Clothes Collection. Please drop off bags of unwanted clothes on Monday and Wednesday mornings between 9am and 10am to Room 2.Please bring any of the following: clothes, belts, shoes, handbags, ties.No duvets or curtains please.All fabrics must be clean or they cannot be accepted.Thank you.

Dates For Your Calendar

Mobile Phone collectionLast year, the Parents’ Association arranged the collection of unwanted old phones last year, which was a great success. Please send in any unwanted phones into Scoil Colm with your son. Remember to ask your siblings, aunties, uncles and neighbours to donate any unwanted phones also.

We have some second-hand school jackets, tracksuits and jumpers in good condition, to sell for a small fee. If you are interested, drop into the Parents’ Room, Monday-Thursday 9.00-9.30am and have a look.

Presidential Election. Closed Oct 27th

Mid Term Break. Closed Oct 31st, Nov 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th

Christmas Holidays. Closed Dec 23rd to Jan 8th

School opens on Jan 9th 2012Mid Term Break. Closed Feb 16th & 17th

St. Patricks Day. Closed Mar 19th

Easter Holidays. Closed Mar 31st to Apr 15th

School opens on Apr 16th

May Bank Holiday. Closed May 4th, 7th & 8th

June Bank Holiday Closed Jun 1st,4th & 5th

The last day of the school year will be Friday, June 29th.

The School Holiday Calendar is as follows

Page 3 of 4 Dublin Day Scoil Colm Newsletter

Dublin Day: On Friday, 16th of September, we held a “Dublin Day” to support the Dublin team in their bid for All-Ireland glory. Our pupils and teachers wore something blue and it seems to have worked as Dublin beat Kerry to take home the Sam Maguire. Congratulations, Dublin.

Pictures of some of the students and staff on Dublin Day