September Newsletter

Newsletter ...... 8^th
September 2014

       
Welcome / Welcome back to all. We hope that you all had an enjoyable Summer. A special word of welcome to the children in
Junior Infants, and to the other new children who have joined us from other
areas.

        
Uniform / I would like to compliment all on
the effort which was made with the new uniform. There are a few points which I would ask you to note:

(1)   The Uniform consists of (a) the official top/jumper (which can only be bought through the school (b) plain blue polo shirt (widely available at very low prices) and (c) plain navy tracksuit bottoms (not black and without stripes or logos of any kind).

(2)   We will be stocking extra tops / jumpers in all sizes right throughout the year.

(3)   It is advisable to have some identity tag/mark on the tops/jumpers.

Holiday Schedule / A Holiday Schedule for the year is attached. Please retain in a safe place for reference during the year.

     
School Fees / Thank you to all who have paid school fees to date. Fees can be paid in one full amount or in three instalments during the year i.e. 1^st September / 5^thJanuary / 13^th April. Details of fees are as follows :

1 Child ......€45 (or three instalments of €15).

2 Children ....€75 (or three instalments of €25).

3 or more children €120 (or three instalments of €40).

ALL THOSE WHO HAVE PAID FEES BY 30^th SEPTEMBER WILL BE ENTERED INTO A DRAW FOR A MEAL FOR TWO IN ONE OF OUR LOCAL HOTELS.

        
Green Schools / Please find attached the Green Schools Newsletter from Ms. Angela Gallinagh which contains details about Healthy Lunches / Clothes Recycling etc..

School Mass / A special Mass to mark the beginning of the new school year will be held in the Chapel on Tuesday 30^thSeptember at 11:15a.m.. All Parents, Families and Friends are invited to attend.

        
Parent Teacher Meetings / These meetings will be held on Wednesday 19^th / Thursday 20^thNovember from 3:15p.m. onwards. Details of times etc. will be sent home in the weeks after the Mid-Term Break.

       
Appointments / Those who wish to speak to teachers about any matter should make an appointment by contacting our Secretary, Pearl Davis, at the office. this avoids unnecessary disruption of classes. I am available to meet with Parents from 8:15a.m. daily by appointment.

        
Envelopes / We will be commencing our weekly envelope raffle during the week beginning Monday 15^th September. Each family is asked to contribute €2 per week. All those who pay will be entered in a draw on the Friday of each week ....1^st Prize €30/ 2^ndPrize €20/ 3^rd Prize €10. The prize fund will be increased on the week before each of the main school holidays. All funds raised will go towards purchasing resources for the children. This envelope system has been hugely successful since it was introduced after Easter and has generated much needed funds for resources.

       
Car Park / All those using the Car Park are asked to exercise care and caution at all times. The morning traffic can be especially heavy and patience may be required, especially on wet days. Please cooperate with the caretaker who monitors the traffic flow, leave all yellow boxes and clearways free and drive slowly.

        
Social Evening & Fund Raising Night

St. Mary's National School and Kee's Hotel with Living Vintage present an evening of fabulous, authentic
1940-50 vintage fashions and accessories in an atmosphere of fun and nostalgia
on the night of Saturday 11^th
October in Kee's Hotel, Stranorlar. A limited number of tickets are available
and these can be purchased through the school (€12 per ticket). Profits from the evening will go to St. Mary's School,
with a donation also being made to Cancer Research. It promises to be a fun
evening with many fantastic spot prizes on offer including 'Nights Away' in
Ireland.

        
Board of Management / Tuesday 16^th
September...Parish Centre....6:30p.m..

I hope that the children have an enjoyable year in school and I look
forward to meeting with you all at the various school functions during the
year.

The Annual General Meeting of the Parents' Association will be held
within the next few weeks. We would encourage as many parents as possible to
become involved in the group during the coming year. There are many ways in
which you could help out in school and we would encourage you to do so. It is a
positive experience and an opportunity to meet and to socialise with other
parents.

______________

Fintan Keating

Principal

           Please retain in a safe place for reference during the year.

       
September: -------

       
October: Closed for Mid-Term Break from Monday 27^th to Friday 31^st inclusive.

       
November: ---------

       
December: The school will close at 12noon on Friday 19^thDecember for the Christmas Holidays.

     
January: The school will re-open on Monday 5^th January.

       
February: Closed for Mid-Term Break from Monday 16^th to Friday 20^th inclusive.

       
March: Closed on Tuesday 17^th (St. Patrick's Day). The school will close for the Easter Holidays on Friday 27^th at 3p.m..

      
April: The school will re-open after Easter on Monday 13^thApril.

      
May: Closed on Monday 4^th (Public Holiday).

       
June: Closed on Monday 1^st (Public Holiday) and Tuesday 2^nd. The school will close for the Summer Holidays on Friday 26^thJune at 12noon.