Kilgarriffe National School Weekly Newsletter
Week 8 (22/10/26)
Midterm Break
Reminder midterm break is next week. School will be closed from Mon 26th Oct to Friday 30th Oct’26. Reopens Mon 2nd Nov’26. Happy Halloween all!
Halloween Dress Up
Tomorrow Fri 23th Oct’26 the children (and staff) are invited to dress in ‘Halloween Costume’ for the day in aid of Brú Columbanus.
All contributions (suggested €2 per child) welcome.
Costumes are to be age appropriate please (not too scary!) and lots of Halloween fun, games and treats will be had during the day.
Annual Contribution towards Extra Activities
Extra activities, art supplies & 24 hr personal accident insurance fees of €60 per pupil are due to be paid by midterm break this week, if possible please.
Thank you to those who have already contributed.
Christmas School Play/ Musical
This year our school will present ‘Rapunzel & the Barbershop Bros’ on stage on Fri 18th Dec’26 in the Parochial hall. Auditions are taken place this week for the lead roles.
The rest of the parts & scripts will be distributed to all after midterm.
Road Safety
Last Friday the RSA visited our school with the ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ in full costume, and thought all classes about the importance of Road Safety while walking, cycling & scooters, car & bus travel, including the use of safely belts, helmets, Hi-viz vests, crossing roads etc.
Team Hope Christmas Shoe Box Appeal
Team Hope Christmas Shoe box appeal, flyers have been distributed, please check schoolbags. Midterm break is a perfect opportunity for your child to get their gift box organised for a needy child throughout the world. Completed boxes can be brought into school immediately after the mid-term break.
Christmas Annuals
Christmas activity Annuals from educate.ie are now available to order for €2.50 each.
Samples of these are in classrooms for children to view. Orders can be made online
Star of the Week:
This month we are working on ‘Respect’ for our weekly ‘Star Awards’ which are awarded at assembly each Friday.
Dates to remember
Midterm Break: Sat 24th Oct - Sun 1st November’26. School reopens Mon 2nd Nov’26.
Parent Teacher meetings: Mon 9th-13th Nov’26 (if Industrial action is resolved)
Kilgarriffe NS Open Day: Tuesday 24th November’26 from 9:30am to 3pm
School Play: Fri 18th December’26
Christmas Holidays: Tues 22nd Dec (12 noon close) to Tues 5th Jan’27. Reopen 6th Jan.
School Closures for staff training: Thurs 14th Jan’27/ Fri 9th April’27/ Wed 19th May’27
Next Used Clothing Collection: Thursday 13th May 2027
Community Notes
Jamboree pop-up shop in Spiller’s Lane, Clonakilty, for all dress up & costume needs, Thurs 22nd & 29th Oct from 12-5pm.
Week 7 (15/10/26)
Industrial Action
Teachers and SNA unions continue taking industrial action as part of the national pay dispute. As part of the ‘work to rule’ which commenced on Monday 5th Oct, pupils are not to be dropped to school prior to 9:15am and collected promptly at 2:55pm.
Another full day strike, which would mean the school will remain closed, is planned for next Wednesday 21st October unless the dispute is resolved.
Diocesan Service
The annual Diocesan Schools Service will take place in St. Peter’s Church in Bandon next Thursday 22nd October for 5th and 6th Class during the school day. Full tidy uniform please. Collection to Sierra Leone charity. All 5th & 6th pupils will take part in the service.
Credit Union Art Competition
Credit Union Art Competition pictures on the theme ‘World of Colour’ will be submitted next week. Consent forms in homework files for completion please. These must be attached to artwork before submission. Thank you.
Annual Contribution towards Extra Activities
Extras activities, art supplies & 24 hr personal accident insurance fees of €60 per pupil are due to be paid by midterm break next week, if possible please. Thank you to those who have already contributed.
Road Safety
The RSA will visit our school this Fri 16th to talk to all classes about the importance of Road Safety while walking, cycling & scooters, car & bus travel, including the use of safely belts, helmets, Hi-viz vests etc.
Active Flag Run around Europe
Tomorrow is our last day participating in the ‘Run Around Europe’ running activity, as part of the Active Schools initiative. We’ve reached 15 countries so far. Well done everyone for fantastic participation.
Space Week
Lots of Space related fun and learning happening this week as we celebrate World Space Week.
Tag Rugby
Final Tag Rugby lessons will take place next week. Many thanks to Ian and Clonakilty Rugby Club for all the rugby fun and learning over the past 6 weeks.
Star of the Week: This month we are working on ‘Respect’ for our weekly ‘Star Awards’ which are awarded at assembly each Friday.
Halloween Dress Up
Next Fri 23th Oct’26 the children (and staff) are invited to dress in ‘Halloween Costume’ for the day in aid of Brú Columbanus. (Provides free accommodation for relatives of long term patients in Cork hospitals).
All contributions (suggested €2 per child) welcome.
Costumes are to be age appropriate please (not too scary!) and lots of Halloween fun, games and treats will be had during the day.
Team Hope Christmas Shoe Box Appeal
If your family would like to participate in the Christmas Shoe box appeal, flyers are being sent home today. Mid-term break is a perfect opportunity for your child to get their gift box organised for a needy child throughout the world. Completed boxes can be brought into school immediately after the mid-term break. Contributions of any individual items for the boxes are welcome too. See suggestions on the leaflet.
Dates to remember
Midterm Break: Sat 24th Oct - Sun 1st November’26. School reopens Mon 2nd Nov’26.
Parent Teacher meetings: Mon 9th-13th Nov’26 (if industrial action is resolved)
Kilgarriffe NS Open Day: Tuesday 24th November’26 from 9:30am to 3pm
School Play: Fri 18th December’26
Christmas Holidays: Tues 22nd Dec (12 noon close) to Tues 5th Jan’27. Reopen 6th Jan.
Community Notes
Courtmacsherry Harbour Lifeboat Fundraiser: Movie Night ‘Mathilda the Musical’ Fri 16th Oct’26 at 8pm sharp at Courtmacsherry Hotel. €10 adults €5 children.
Installation and Enthronement of Bishop Andrew Orr, in St Fachtna’s Cathedral Rosscarbery, Sun 18th October @ 3.30pm. All are welcome to attend.
Lyre Rovers FC is inviting Boys & Girls 2018, 2019, 2020 to play soccer. Training starts Sat Oct 10th@ 10am contact Barry Ryan for more details 086 8091147
Clonakilty Community College: Enrolment for Sept’27 open online.
Mount St. Michael Secondary School, Rosscarbery: Open night Thursday 15th October 6:30pm-8:30pm. Applications for admissions for Sept’27 online from 1st -22th Oct’26.
Week 6 (08/10/26)
Industrial Action
Teachers and SNA unions are taking industrial action as part of the national pay dispute. We ask as part of the work to rule which commenced on Monday that pupils are not dropped to school prior to 9:15am and prompt collection at 14:55pm.
Also a full day strike which would mean the school will remain closed is planned for Wednesday 14th and Wednesday 21st October or until the dispute is resolved.
School Survey
All families received an email through Aladdin with results of recent primary school specific survey.
Active Flag Run around Europe
As we continue Active Flag activities, all classes will participate in ‘Run Around Europe’. Each class will have an extra active break during every school day from Mon 28th Sept to Fri 16th Oct’26 to participate in this running activity. Each lap of course = 10km. We’ve reached 10 countries so far. Excellent running.
Diocesan Service
The annual Diocesan Schools Service will take place in St. Peter’s Church in Bandon. On Thursday 22nd October.
Credit Union Art Competition
All pupils are currently working on their art work to enter into the annual Credit Union Art Competition which must be submitted before Fri 23rd Oct’26.
This year’s theme is ‘World of Colour’
Annual Contribution towards Extra Activities
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. Thank you to those who have already contributed.
Star of the Week
This month we are working on ‘Respect’ for our weekly ‘Star Awards’ which are awarded at assembly each Friday.
Halloween Dress Up
On Fri 23th Oct’26 the children (and staff) are invited to dress in ‘Halloween Costume’ for the day in aid of Brú Columbanus. (Provides accommodation for relatives of patients in cork hospitals) Costumes are to be age appropriate please (not too scary!). All contributions (suggested €2 per child) welcome. Thank you.
Team Hope Christmas Shoe Box Appeal
If your family would like to participate in the Christmas Shoe box appeal, flyers are being sent home today. Mid-term break is a perfect opportunity for your child to get their gift box organised for a needy child throughout the world. Completed boxes can be brought into school immediately after the mid-term break. Contributions of any individual items for the boxes are welcome too. See suggestions on the leaflet.
Kilgarriffe NS Open Day
We are planning an ‘Open Day’ on Tuesday 24th November’26 for any prospective pupils and their parents. Families who are interested in enrolling a child for next September or in coming years are most welcome to come and visit between 9:30am and 3:00pm that day.
Parent Teacher Meetings
Parent Teacher meetings will be held the week of 9th -13th November slots will be available to book through Aladdin shortly.
Community Notes
Clonakilty Community College: Open Night at Clonakilty Community College Thursday 8th October 5:00pm-7:30pm. Enrolment open online.
Mount St. Michael Secondary School, Rosscarbery: Open night Thursday 15th October 6:30pm-8:30pm. Accepting applications for admissions for Sept’26 online from 1st October’26 to -22th October’26.
Lyre Rovers FC is inviting -Boys & Girls 2018,2019,2020 to play soccer Training starts Oct 10th@ 10am contact Barry Ryan for more details 086 8091147
Installation and Enthronement of Bishop Andrew Orr, in St Fachtna’s Cathedral Rosscarbery, 18th October @ 3.30pm. All are welcome to attend.
Week 5 (01/10/26)
School maintenance work day
Thank you to everyone who gave your time, energy and hard work on Saturday for school maintenance day. All help was greatly appreciated, and the school looks wonderful.
Active Flag Run around Europe
Active Flag activities continue for all classes as they participate in ‘Run Around Europe’. Each class will have an extra active break during every school day from Mon 28th Sept to Fri 16th Oct’26 to participate in this running activity. Each lap of course = 10km. Classes count their runs to travel to different countries around Europe. Good luck everyone & let’s see how many countries we can all reach over the next 3 weeks!
Tag Rugby Lessons
Tag Rugby lessons will continue from next Monday with Ian for all of 1st to 6th Class and will continue until Midterm break.
Diocesan Service
The annual Diocesan Schools Service will take place in St. Peter’s Church in Bandon on Thursday 22nd October.
Credit Union Art Competition
All pupils are currently working on their art work to enter into the annual Credit Union Art Competition which must be submitted before Fri 23rd Oct’26. This year’s theme is ‘World of Colour’.
Welcome
Welcome to two new pupils who recently joined our school. Ari in 5th Class and Amelie Mae in 1st Class. Let’s all help them to happily settle into our school community.
Annual Contribution towards Extra Activities
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. Thank you to those who have already contributed.
Star of the Week
This month we are working on ‘good listening skills’ for our weekly ‘Star Awards’ which are awarded at assembly each Friday.
Halloween Dress Up
On Fri 23th Oct’26 the children (and staff) are invited to dress in ‘Halloween Costume’ for the day in aid of Brú Columbanus. (Provides accommodation for relatives of patients in cork hospitals) Costumes are to be age appropriate please (not too scary!). All contributions (suggested €2 per child) welcome. Thank you.
Team Hope Christmas Shoe Box Appeal
If your family would like to participate in the Christmas Shoe box appeal, flyers will be sent home shortly which contain all the details. Mid-term break is a perfect opportunity for your child to get their gift box organised for a needy child throughout the world. Completed boxes can be brought into school immediately after the mid-term break. Contributions of any individual items for the boxes are welcome too. See suggestions on the leaflet.
Kilgarriffe NS Open Day
We are planning an ‘Open Day’ on Tuesday 24th November’26 for any prospective pupils and their parents. Families who are interested in enrolling a child for next September or in coming years are most welcome to come and visit between 9:30am and 3:00pm that day.
Parent Teacher Meetings
Parent Teacher meetings will be held earlier this year, during the week of 9th -13th November. Slots will be available to book through Aladdin shortly.
Community Notes
Bandon Grammar School: Open day takes place this Saturday 3rd October 26’ from 10:00am -1:00pm. Register on Eventbrite.
Clonakilty Community College: Open Night at Clonakilty Community College Thursday 8th October 5:00pm-7:30pm. Enrolment open online.
Mount St. Michael Secondary School, Rosscarbery: Open night Thursday 15th October 6:30pm-8:30pm. Accepting applications for admissions for Sept’26 online from 1st October’26 to -22th October’26.
Sacred Heart Secondary School Clonakilty: Open Night took place on 25th September. Enrolment open online.
Week 4 (24/09/26)
Rugby Blitz
Well done to all of 2nd to 6th Class who participated in the Clonakilty Primary School Tag Rugby Blitz yesterday at Clonakilty Rugby Club. A lovely day enjoyed by all. Thanks to Clonakilty Rugby Club for organising this event.
Tag Rugby lessons will continue with Ian until Halloween midterm break for all 1st to 6th Class to further skills progression.
Reminder School maintenance work day
The Board of Management is organising a school maintenance day this Saturday 26th Sept’26 from 10am to 4pm. All help from parents would be greatly appreciated, even for a few hours. Thank you in advance.
Active Flag Run around Europe
As we start Active Flag activities again, next week all classes will participate in ‘Run Around Europe’. Each class will have an extra active break during every school day from Mon 28th Sept to Fri 16th Oct’26 to participate in this running activity. Each lap of course = 1km. Classes count their runs to travel to different countries around Europe. Good luck everyone & let’s see how many countries we can all reach over the next 3 weeks!
Credit Union Art Competition
All pupils are currently working on their art work to enter into the annual Credit Union Art Competition which must be submitted before Fri 23rd Oct’26.
This year’s theme is ‘World of Colour’
Annual Contribution towards Extra Activities
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. Thank you to those who have already contributed.
Curious Minds After School Care
After school care has started since the beginning of this term & it’s great to see that it’s helping lots of parents & their children are enjoying it.
Please can parents remind their children attending, that school rules still apply during ‘after school care’ both outside & inside and the people in charge are to be listened to, respected and obeyed!
School staff have extended the ‘homework area’ to allow for a quiet area for children to concentrate & complete their assigned homework properly. Please can parents ensure that they check at home, that their child’s homework is fully completed to a good standard, especially reading & learning work, as this is not possible by the care workers. Thank you.
Star of the Week
This month we are working on ‘good listening skills’ for our weekly ‘Star Awards’ which are awarded at assembly each Friday.
Week 3 (17/09/26)
Rugby Blitz Details: Wed 23rd Sept’26
The Primary School Tag Rugby Blitz takes place at Clonakilty Rugby Club next Wednesday 23rd Sept’26 for all children in 2nd to 6th Class. All children in these classes are to be dropped to the Rugby Club between 9-9:15am and collected there between 2:30 & 3pm. Children who usually travel on the school bus will be taken & collected by their bus. Sports clothes, coat, lunch, water needed. Gum shield advised and rubber studded boots (if have), otherwise runners for footwear please.
Star of the Week
This month we are working on ‘good listening skills’ for our weekly ‘Star Awards’ which are awarded at assembly each Friday.
Board of Management
Agreed Report
· A warm welcome to our new students and families to Kilgarriffe N.S.
· Welcome back to Ms Elaine Buttimer
· Welcome too to our new afterschool service Curious Minds.
· A maintenance work day has been organised by Clive Buttimer (BOM/parent) on Saturday the 26th from 10-4. We hope to see lots of parents there to work, chat and enjoy some food together. Please give what time you can, it will be appreciated.
Dates to remember
Tag Rugby Blitz: All pupils from 2nd to 6th Class will take part in a Primary School Blitz at Clonakilty Rugby Club on Wednesday 23rd Sept’26.
School maintenance work day: Saturday 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
Clonakilty Guitar Festival: from 18th-20th Sept’26 at many venues this weekend.
Lyre Rovers Football Club update: invites Boys & Girls born 2018-2020 to join. Training begins early October.
If interested contact: Barry Ryan 086 8091147
Week 2 (10/09/25)
Tag Rugby Lessons & Blitz
All pupils from 1st to 6th Class will take part in some Tag Rugby lessons in school over the next few weeks, coached by Clonakilty Rugby Club. This will conclude with a Primary School Blitz at Clonakilty Rugby Club on Wednesday 23rd Sept’26 for 2nd to 6th class.
Annual Contribution towards Extra Activities
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. There will be a charge of €50 per child for swimming lessons later in the school year, but if you wish to pay both together, that’s fine. Please send cash/cheque in a named envelope Thank you to those who have already contributed.
Pupil Personal Accident Insurance
Once paid as part of Annual contribution (above) children will have this extra insurance which cover all medical & dental costs, should they be injured in any accidents at home, school & at any non-high risk 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. They all look ‘the same’ when unnamed!!
Star of the Week
This month we are working on ‘good listening skills’ for our weekly ‘Star Awards’ which are awarded at assembly each Friday.
Dates to remember
Tag Rugby Blitz: All pupils from 2nd to 6th Class will take part in a Primary School Blitz at Clonakilty Rugby Club on Wednesday 23rd Sept’26.
School maintenance work day: Saturday 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
Lyre Rovers Football Club: invites Girls born 2015-2018 to join. Training Saturday 10am. If interested contact: Stephane 086 8531791
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