KILGARRIFFE NATIONAL SCHOOL WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Week 5 (28/09/23)
School Collection at 3pm
In order to help with the flow of traffic at 3pm collection time:
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Allow buses to queue first in carpark. Teachers will let the children on these buses out first, so they can leave & allow more space for car users collecting.
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No parking at entrance/exit of carpark or on the road outside of the shrubbery.
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Park above the school, drive into the carpark from above & exit carpark from below school going downhill.
Thank you for your co-operation to ensure a safer & swifter collection for all.
Clothing Collection Fundraiser
A big thank you to all who donated their bags of used clothing for our fundraiser.
Space Week
Next week is Space Week and all classes will take part in lots of space related activities as part SESE lessons.
School Bingo
A bingo fundraiser will be held on Sunday 15th October at 3pm in the Parochial Hall, Clonakilty. It would be great if as many families as possible could attend. Donations of raffle prizes can be dropped to the school in advance and help will also be needed with providing food and with the running of the event on the day. Please contact Daphne Sutton on 087 7503786 if you can help.
Open Evenings
Clonakilty Community College are holding an Open Night from 5.30pm – 8pm on Thursday 12th October. Sixth class children received an information leaflet in school this week which details the enrolment process for September 2024.
The Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty are holding an Open Night for prospective students and their parents on Thursday 5th October from 5pm with the principal’s address at 7pm.
Help Wanted!
We are looking for parent volunteers who may be available to help teachers on school trips during the year. Please text the school mobile to request a form for Garda Vetting if you are willing.
Annual Contribution towards Extra Activities
Extra activities, art supplies & personal accident fees of €60 per pupil are due to be paid by midterm break at the end of October’23 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.
Dates to Remember
Bingo Fundraiser: Sun 15th Oct ’23 3pm.
Mid Term Break: Mon 30th Oct to Fri 3rd Nov ’23. School reopens Mon 6th Nov ‘23.
Christmas Holidays: Half day Friday 22nd Dec’23. School reopens Mon 8th Jan ’24.
KILGARRIFFE NATIONAL SCHOOL WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Week 4 (21/09/23)
Clothing Collection Fundraiser
Just one week left to drop your used clothing into school! The following items are welcome to be put into black sacks and delivered to school before Wednesday 27th September.
* Men’s / Women’s / Children’s Clothing
* Paired Shoes
* Handbags
* Belts
* Household Textiles (Curtains/ Towels / Bed linen / Cushion covers)
* Teddy Bears/ Soft Toys
Please Note: NO duvets / pillows / cushion inserts.
School Bingo
A bingo fundraiser will be held on Sunday 15th October at 3pm in the Parochial Hall, Clonakilty. It would be great if as many families as possible could attend. Donations of raffle prizes can be dropped to the school in advance and help will also be needed with providing food and with the running of the event on the day. Please contact Daphne Sutton on 087 7503786 if you can help.
School Mobile
The school mobile phone is checked at break and lunch times. Please be mindful that messages regarding changes in collection arrangements need to be left before 1.00pm.
Secondary School Applications
The Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty are holding an Open Night for prospective students and their parents on Thursday 5th October from 5pm with the principal’s address at 7pm.
Bandon Grammar School are holding an Open Day on Saturday 23rd September from 10am – 1pm. You can register for this event in advance on Eventbrite: Bandon Grammar School.
Parents of all 6th class pupils should be aware that the closing dates for applications for most secondary schools are this term. Contact the schools directly for more information on the enrolment process.
Pupil Mobile Phones and Smartwatches
Children are not allowed to use mobile phones or smartwatches that call, message, take photos or record audio/video while at school or on school trips. If parents wish their child to have such a device for travelling to and from school, permission should be sought from the school and it must be turned off and remain in the child’s bag during school time.
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’23 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.
The school personal accident insurance policy provides cover for medical fees following an accident 365 days a year. If you wish to make a claim, contact the school for the Pupil Personal Accident report form. More information is available on the Allianz website under ‘Primary School Cover’.
Dates to Remember
Used Clothing Collection Fundraiser: Wed 27th Sept ’23.
Bingo Fundraiser: Sun 15th Oct ’23 3pm.
Mid Term Break: Mon 30th Oct to Fri 3rd Nov ’23. School reopens Mon 6th Nov ‘23.
Christmas Holidays: Half day Friday 22nd Dec’23. School reopens Mon 8th Jan ’24.
Community Notes
Dúchas Clonakilty Earthquake Lecture: This evening (Thursday 21st), Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage will hold a public talk on the effects of the Lisbon Tsunami of 1755, which altered much of the coastal landscape of West Cork and other areas. The talk will be delivered by Dr. Robert Devoy, of UCC at the Clonakilty GAA Pavilion at 8.30pm. A €5 (cash only) charge applies on the door and there is no pre-booking. Attendees are advised to arrive early to get best seats! See Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage Facebook page for further information.
Clonakilty Fairtrade Town 20th Birthday: All are invited to The Green Dot Café, Pearse St., Clonakilty at 4pm this Saturday 23rd to join the local Fairtrade Committee to mark 20 years since being bestowed with the honour of being declared Ireland’s first official Fairtrade town. In conjunction with the Guitar Festival and thanks to the support of Cork County Council, there will be relaxing music by The Sus Four, a few informal speeches, a short talk on FT Chocolate-making, a birthday cake and complimentary Fairtrade tea.
Clonakilty AFC: Girls’ soccer for U11s & U12s (Born 2012 and 2013) will resume on Monday, October 2nd from 7-8pm at the Clonakilty Sports Complex Astro. If you would like to register your daughter for the coming season, which runs until next April, you can do so at this link: https://clonakiltyafc.clubforce.com/products/membership
If your daughter would like to try it out before committing, then she can come along and try it out on Monday 2nd Oct.
KILGARRIFFE NATIONAL SCHOOL WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Week 3 (14/09/23)
Farewell
This week we say Goodbye to Slava D (3rd class) as he moves back to Ukraine. The middle classroom held a farewell party on Wednesday. We wish Slava and his mum the very best as they journey home. We are glad you were part of our school community in Kilgarriffe and hope you can stay in touch.
Used Clothing Fundraiser
Donations for our used clothing collection on 27th September are very welcome and can be sent into school in black sacks at any stage before the collection date.
Annual Contribution towards Extra Activities
Extra activities, art supplies & personal accident fees of €60 per pupil are due to be paid by midterm break at the end of October 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.
Coats in School
As we enter autumn and more changeable weather, please ensure children are bringing a coat to school. We hope to have them outside playing as much as possible for break times.
Aladdin Absences
Under the Education Welfare Act 2000 parents must inform the school if their children will be absent from school and the reason for the absence. Please input absence reasons on Aladdin rather than via text on the school mobile. Many thanks.
Teaching Practice
Next week we welcome Nathan Kingston who will be completing a teaching practice placement with us. He will be working alongside Ms. Buttimer in the senior room over the next four weeks.
Dates to Remember
Used Clothing Collection Fundraiser: Wed 27th Sept ‘23
Mid Term Break: Mon 30th Oct to Fri 3rd Nov’23. School reopens Mon 6th Nov’23.
Community Notes
Clonakilty AFC: Girls’ soccer for U8s (Born 2017 and 2016) and U10s (Born 2014 and 2015) begins on Saturday, September 16th at 9.30am on the Clonakilty Sports Complex Astro. If you would like to register your daughter for the coming season, which runs until next April, you can do so at this link: https://clonakiltyafc.clubforce.com/products/membership
If your daughter would like to try it out before committing, then she can come along and try it out on Saturday, September 16th.
KILGARRIFFE NATIONAL SCHOOL WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Week 2 (07/09/23)
Junior Infant Home time
Reminder – Junior Infants will now stay until 2pm each day from next Monday 11th September’23.
Annual Contribution
Extras activities, art supplies & personal accident fees of €60 per pupil are due to be paid by midterm break at the end of October 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.
Retirement
Best wishes to our computer teacher Marlene on her retirement. A huge Thank You to her for her dedication to the job and the care she has shown for the children in Kilgarriffe NS over many years.
GAA Football
Conan has started coaching football skills to all classes this Monday 4th Sept. These lessons will continue every Monday morning, weather permitting.
Friday Fieldtrip 2nd, 3rd and 4th Classes
2nd, 3rd and 4th classes are off on a fieldtrip to Shannonvale Stone Circle, Ogham Stone and Early Christian Site this Friday 8th September. While there, they will try to locate the oratory, bullaun stone, soutterains, holy well and fulacht fia. They will also stop at Gullane Lake and see a few sites on the way. Many thanks to Garda Liam Ryan and the Community Bus service for transport. They will leave at 10am and return at approximately 1 pm. Children should wear sturdy shoes/runners and bring a coat and water bottle. Teacher will supply a Friday treat! Please ask your children what they learnt when they get home!
Robotics
As part of our school’s involvement in the Creative Clusters programme, 5th and 6th classes are working with our newly purchased VEX robotics kits. Working in small groups, the children have built their first robot and have got it moving. Our next step is to learn how to code!
Paired Reading
Our 6th class pupil have begun working with Ms. Hanbidge and the junior pupils on a paired reading initiative whereby they visit the junior classroom in the mornings and coach our younger readers. Please make sure children are in school in good time to avail of this opportunity.
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.
Used Clothing Collection (School Fundraiser)
Our next ‘Used Clothing Collection’ will be on Wednesday 27th September ’23.
The following items are welcome to be put into black sacks and delivered to school in advance of that date.
Your support with this fundraiser will be much appreciated.
* Men’s / Women’s / Children’s Clothing
* Paired Shoes
* Handbags
* Belts
* Household Textiles (Curtains/ Towels / Bed linen / Cushion covers)
* Teddy Bears/ Soft Toys
Please Note: NO duvets / pillows / cushion inserts.
Community Notes
Funday Sunday is back this Sunday morning 10th Sept ’23 11:15-12:30.
It’ll be a fun morning of games, crafts, songs and Bible stories.
It’s on as usual at the Parochial Hall, next to the Chunky Chip.
Art Hub run after-school classes throughout the academic year. Classes for children aged 8+ take place on Mondays from 3.30-5:00 in the Parish Hall, Clonakilty and begin on 11th Sept. You can contact Art Hub on 087 9622926 for more details.
KILGARRIFFE NATIONAL SCHOOL WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Week 1 (31/08/23)
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: Grace, Xaviera, Sam & Varvara in Junior Infants, Artem in 1st Class, Liam in 4th Class & Shira in 5th Class. We hope that everyone will help them to quickly settle into our school life.
Our Newsletter
Our school newsletter is issued every Thursday & 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!!
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 Parent’s Association and/or 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 Wednesday 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’23 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.
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. The children travelling on the bus will be let out of school first, so the bus can depart quickly & easily, thus allowing plenty of space for cars collecting to drive in, collect & drive on 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 teachers 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 finish at 12:15pm until Fri 8th Sept after which all Infant collection will be 2pm.
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.
Healthy Lunch Boxes
Children are encouraged to bring a ‘Healthy Lunch’ to school including some daily fruit and/or veg. Please keep sugary treats to a minimum.
Any cutlery required for your child to eat with, must be provided in their lunch box.
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 & help to keep the mud level coming inside to a minimum! These shoes 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 often slippy & don’t support young feet.
Next Used Clothing Collection (Fundraiser)
Our next Used Clothing fundraiser collection will be on Wednesday 27th September'23. Any bags of clothing, towels, sheets, shoes, curtains, bags, belts etc. can be dropped into school from now until 26th Sept'23. No duvets & pillows/ cushions please.