Kilgarriffe National School Weekly Newslette
Week 1 (02/09/26)
Welcome Back
As we start a new school year, we would like to extend a very warm ‘welcome back’ to everyone. We hope that everyone had an enjoyable summer and are ready for all the fun & activities in the new school year ahead.
New Pupils and Families
A special welcome to the new pupils & their families who have joined our school: Robbie, Symon, Adam & Aoife in Junior Infants, Amelie in 1st Class.
We hope that everyone will help them to quickly settle into our school life.
Junior Infant Home time
Reminder Junior Infants will now stay until 2pm each day from next Monday 7th September’26.
School Closure
Reminder School is Closed next Thursday 10th September’26 for Staff Training Day. There will be nobody at school as training is in Dunmanway.
Our Newsletter
Our school newsletter is issued every Wednesday & displayed on our notice board outside school as well as on our website www.kilgarriffens.ie
A mobile phone version is available for your convenience.
This is our main way of communicating & informing families what’s happening in school, so please read it each week & it won’t be as long as this one each week!!
In it we hope to keep all families regularly informed about:
● As many aspects of school life as possible.
● Any student achievements and/or successes both from within and outside
school, so let us know when they happen, otherwise we may not know!
● Information from our Board of Management (BOM) that they may wish to inform
parents of.
If anyone wishes to contribute news or information to our newsletter please submit via text or What’s Ap to our school mobile (083 0658096), or by email to kilgarriffens.office@gmail.com before 3pm on a Tuesday and we will do our best to include it in the next day issue.
School Books & Stationary
Each child has received their ‘Free School books & copy books’ provided by the Dept. of Education this year. Please ensure your child has the required stationary and indoor shoes in school as soon as possible, thank you.
Annual Contribution (per child)
Extras activities, art supplies & personal accident fees of €60 per pupil are due to be paid by midterm break at the end of October’26 please. Later in the school year there will be a charge of €50 per child for swimming lessons, but if you wish to pay both payments together, that’s fine. Please send cash/cheque in a named envelope, whenever convenient. Thank you.
Pupil Personal Accident Insurance
Once paid as part of Annual contribution (above) children are covered for all costs, should they be injured in any accidents at home, school & at after school activities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 365 days a year.
School Uniform Sweatshirts
Please could you ensure that all your children’s school sweatshirts are CLEARLY NAMED. Once they are taken off in school, they are all the same and it’s impossible to know whose jumper it is.
Drop-off and collection of children
Reminder that we operate a ‘Drive in drop off / collection’ system in the morning & at home times in the afternoon.
At home time, please allow the school bus to exit first at 3pm so the bus can depart quickly & easily, thus allowing plenty of space for cars to drive in, collect & drive out from school again.
Cars need to drive in from the hill above the school & exit out the lower part of the car park. If you need to park or queue for drop off/ collection, please do so above the school on the left hand side coming down the hill. Thank you for your co-operation with this to ensure the safety of all children coming to & departing from school. The few car park spaces outside the school wall are for teacher’s cars only.
School opening hours
Our school officially opens from 8:55am to 3pm. All pupils are expected to be in school to start class by 9.15am. Junior Infants and senior Infants collection will be 2pm from Monday 7th September.
After 9.15am the school doors are secured for the safety & security of the children and late arrivals will have to wait for the doors to be released again. This causes disruption to classes that have started. A big effort to be ‘on time’ is greatly appreciated.
Parents/ visitors calling to school during the day, please let us know beforehand, via the school mobile (083 0658096).
Please don’t drop children at school much before 8:55am and always ensure that a member of staff is there and your child has gone through the school gate, before departing.
Absent Notes
Please remember that absent information is required on each occasion that a child is out of school for a day or longer. Please ensure that absences & reason are logged on your family Aladdin account, on the day that your child returns to school.
Parent/Teacher Communication
As much as possible, please can communication be made to teachers through messages on our school mobile or through Aladdin. If a private, or more serious discussion is needed, please request a meeting with the Principal and/or class teacher and an appropriate time can be arranged, usually after school hours. Thank you for your co-operation.
Hot school Meals Scheme
Please ensure your child’s hot meal order for the next school week is put through your Carambola app by Friday Midnight the week prior. Also make sure they bring their empty lunch box with them every day if availing of the scheme.
Reminder that chewing gum & fizzy drinks are not permitted in school. Crisps & popcorn are also discouraged as they cause extra mess!!
To help preserve our environment, please can children use reusable drink bottles instead of a disposable plastic bottle every day!!
Indoor/ Outdoor Shoes
To help with the workload of keeping the school clean, all children are asked to have a clean pair of indoor shoes for use in the classrooms. These will stay in school & can be light canvas, trainers, crocs etc. but must have a proper sole, so they are safe & will not slip on floors & provide adequate support to young feet. Please also ensure child can easily put them on & off by themselves. Slippers are discouraged as they are often slippy & don’t support young feet.
Make up and mobile phones
Wearing of make-up & false eye lashes and using mobile phones are NOT permitted in school. If a child needs a mobile for walking home & after school communication, then parents need to inform the class teacher & the phone will remain switched off in the school office until after school hours.
Rugby Training
Some classes will start rugby lessons throughout the day assigned with Ian Rea, starting on Monday 7th September. (weather permitting).
Dates to remember
School Closed for Staff training on Thursday 10th September’26
School maintenance work day Sat 26th Sept'26 from 10am to 4pm. All help from parents would be greatly appreciated, even for a few hours. BOM organising. Thanks in advance.
Community Notes
Galley Head Lighthouse Open Day: Sunday 6th Sept’26 12 noon to 5pm.
Lyre Rovers Football Club: invites Girls born 2015-2018 to join. Training Saturday 10am. If interested contact: Stephane 086 8531791