Newsletter April 1st 2014

 

Tuesday April 1^st 2014

Dear Parents,

I would like to take this opportunity to update you on a number of items.

 

¨     Staff Meeting Thursday April 3^rd. School finishes at 12.30 for Junior + Senior Infant classes and their siblings and at 12.45 for the rest of the school.

Most primary schools hold a staff meeting once per term. Here in Shanbally, we strive to reduce/minimise disruption to parents’ work schedules and child-minding arrangements. For that reason, we hold a staff meeting in late August before the pupils return to school. At this time of the year in particular, it becomes necessary to hold a further meeting to plan for the end of the school year. This year there is added necessity due to the following:

·       All Primary schools are to have completed and implemented a new anti-bullying policy by Friday April 11^th. We need time to review and assess our revised policy as a whole staff and school community before submitting it to the Board of Management for ratification.

·       We were recently informed that the Department of Education and Skills plan to conduct a Whole School Evaluation (WSE) during the week beginning May 12^th 2014.

 

¨     IT Installation

You will recall that Cork Lower Harbour Energy Group (CLHEG) granted us an IT bursary from the CLHEG Community Gain Fund to purchase new IT equipment for the school, including iPads. Over recent weeks, Stream Solutions have been busy installing the IT infrastructure necessary for the iPads. As a staff we are now ready to commence training. We are extremely grateful to school parents Graham O’Keeffe and Lynda Forde for helping us to get this project off the ground. We eagerly anticipate the enormous educational value that our pupils will accrue from these iPads.

¨     Pharmaceutical Visits

Our 6^th class pupils were recently invited to DePuy Synthes to demonstrate their recently installed wind turbine. Our pupils were shown an overview of the logistical operation to build the turbine and then proceeded to assemble and conduct experiments on wind turbine kits. We are extremely grateful for the warm and professional welcome we received from Donal Óg Cusack and his team on the day. The rest of 6^th class, who were on Quiz Duty, will visit the site over the next few weeks as well. Novartis’ Educational Team has invited our 5^th class for a tour of their plant and for activities in their laboratory on April 29^th 2014.

¨     School Uniform 2014-2015

95 out of our 158 families responded to our School Uniform Survey/Questionnaire. 85 of those respondents voted for a bespoke uniform option. 70 voted for a crest already on, 8 wanted a sew-on crest and 6 wanted an iron-on crest.

Based on the results of the survey and following discussions with various bespoke uniform suppliers I can announce that Laura’s Schoolwear of Unit C1, Dosco Business Park on the South Douglas Road will supply our uniform for the coming year. The costs are as follows:

School Jumper €25

School Tracksuit (O’Neill’s) €30 to size 11/12

(Option) School Regatta Jacket €30

For those enquiring about using local outlet, Finbarr Cahill, Brendan indicated that while his jumper would also cost €25, his tracksuit would be €5 or so more expensive.

In order to alleviate travel costs/inconvenience, Sinead Murphy from Laura’s will be in the school in a date to be confirmed in late April/May with stock for those who wish to purchase items. She will also be here on Friday June 20^th to sell uniforms to anyone who wants them. The shop will be open throughout the summer.

¨     Dates for your Diary April – June 2014

Thursday April 3^rd      12.30/12.45 finish for staff meeting

Friday April 11^th          Closing for Easter at 12.30/12.45. (+PA Easter Raffle)

Monday April 28^th      Re-opening after Easter holidays.

Wednesday April 30^th            Crosshaven Open Night for 5^th class pupils and parents (7-9pm)

 

Thursday May 1^st        3^rd/4^th class Shamrocks GAA Football Blitz

Monday May 12^th       Commencement of WSE

Saturday May 17^th      First Holy Communion

Tuesday May 20^th       Drumcondra English Standardised Testing

Wednesday May 21^stprovisional date for Cork City Sports

Thursday May 22^nd     Drumcondra Spelling Standardised Testing

Monday May 26^th       Lenrec Recycling Collection

Wednesday May 28^thDrumcondra Maths Standardised Testing

Thursday May 29^th     3^rd/4^th Class Shamrocks GAA Hurling Blitz

 

Thursday June 5^th       Incoming Junior Infants 2014 Information Night at 7.30pm

Wednesday June 11^thJuniors/Seniors/4^th Class School Tours

Thursday June 12^th     1^st/2^nd/5^th/6^th Class School Tours

Friday June 13^th          3^rd Class School Tour

Thursday June 19^th     6^th Class Leaving Night

Friday June 20^th          Incoming Junior Infants 2014 Introductory morning 9.15-10.30am

                                    High Street Books Text Books on sale in the school

                                    Laura’s Schoolwear School Uniforms on sale in the school

Friday June 27^th          Closing for Summer Holidays

 

Wednesday August 27^th         Staff return for Staff Meeting

Thursday August 28^th            School reopens after summer holidays

 

¨     Shanbally NS 50th Anniversary

2014 marks fifty years of the laying of the foundation stone for the new National School Building in Shanbally. To mark this special anniversary, the school plans to publish a Souvenir Booklet. While we have lots of information and photos from the past 25 years we would love to receive more photos, personal memories and memorabilia from the period 1964to 1984. Our retired principal Liam Shanahan is coordinating the project and would love to hear from anyone with material. All photos and documents will be returned safely. Contact Liam at liamshanahancork@gmail.com or 087-2930470 or simply contact the office here.  With the impending WSE any marking of the 50^th anniversary will be postponed until after September 2014.

 

¨     WSE

As part of the WSE, parent and pupil questionnaires will be used by the Inspectors to gather perspectives on aspects of the work of the school. Once the reporting inspector contacts us and carries out the pre-evaluation meeting, I will pass on all relevant information.

¨     Easter Egg Appeal

A reminder of this worthy appeal which is in its 4^th year. Liam Middleton in 3^rd Class is the face of this appeal which serves to reciprocate kindness he received while in hospital aged 5 years with a serious illness. Shanbally NS is a collection point for any Easter Eggs your family might like to donate. The Appeal runs until Friday April 11^th. Please support.

¨     Congratulations

I wish to congratulate the following on their respective successes and all others who participated:

·       6^th Class Quiz Team comprising Amy Carroll, Sean Flannery, Alex Sheehan and Allie O’Callaghan who came 2^nd in the recent Quiz in Monkstown School.

·       Finbarr Mulcahy, 6^th class, winner of the recent Schools Chess Tournament held in the Scoil Mhuire Lourdes, Carrigaline.

·       Cian Barrett and Anne Golden, 5^th class, prize-winners in a Cork Mental Health Foundation Poster Competition.

·       Chloe McGrath, 2^nd class, gold medal winner in World Taekwondo competition.

 

¨     Thanks

I wish to express sincere thanks to the following:

¨     Our Parents Association and parents who cleaned the Church for our recent Confirmation.

¨     Everyone who contributed (baking and buying) to our fabulous PA Cake Sale in February.

¨     All our pupils who brought a splash of colour to our PA St. Patricks Day Dress-Up.

¨     Michael Middleton, parent, who recently refurbished our Basketball nets and board in our yard.

¨     Jim Sheehan, parent, who through his company, Wisetek, recently donated a large amount of IT equipment to our school. More details of this generous donation will follow in an IT specific update.

¨     All our wonderful staff who contributed recently to events such as our fantastic Seachtain na Gaeilge, Cork City Sports Trials, and our Sciath na Scol Hurling and Camogie campaigns. Our next games take place tomorrow v Gaelscoil Peig Sayers at home in Shanbally at 12 noon.

 

¨     N28 Update

It’s been a while since we’ve communicated on this issue. Since the meeting on Monday February 17^th in the County Hall of the Carrigaline Area Roads Committee, there has not been any official announcement. You will recall at that meeting that despite our local councillors unanimously rejecting the proposals, council officials moved the issue to full council and there the matter still lies. The public consultation produced 102 submissions, 94 of which were against the project, 6 were in favour and 2 were neutral. Plans to signalise our Shanbally Roundabout were postponed. I would imagine that a redesign of such plans is currently underway, hence the lack of any communication. As soon as I receive updates I will write to inform you of any developments. A thank you to Garry Murphy, parent,,who through his company, Carrig Signs, designed and organised the signs you see in the vicinity of the proposed changes.

 

Thank you,

David Nolan