April Newsletter 2023

Dear Parents/Guardians,
Welcome to our April Newsletter. I hope that you had an enjoyable and restful Easter.
It is hard to believe that we are now in our third term! I would like to welcome Ms Osborne back as she returns following her maternity leave. We are delighted to have her back. We wish to sincerely thank Ms Cotter who filled in for Ms Osborne during this time. We wish Ms Cotter every best wish in her future endeavours. As you will see below, we have a very busy last term planned.

1. Road Safety & Access
I wish to draw your attention once more to the following safety protocol regarding the children`s entry and exit from the school. In order to provide for the children’s safe entry to and exit from school, the following protocol is still in place. Junior Infants, Senior Infants, 1st and 2nd classes are to enter and leave the school grounds via the lower pathway on the village side. Senior children from 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th classes are required to use the upper pathway on the Aglish side.

2. First Holy Communion
The First Holy Communion will take place this Saturday, the 29th April at 11am in Clashmore Church. We wish the children every blessing on this special occasion.

3. Apple Green Art Competition
We were delighted to enter the Apple Green Art Competition in aid of Barretstown. In total, the school raised €156. Well done to all of the boys and girls and to you the parents for your contribution to this worthy cause.

4. Swimming & GAA Coaching
Swimming lessons for 3rd-6th class pupils concluded this week following 8 weeks of lessons in Aura Youghal. The children thoroughly enjoyed these lessons. I would like to extend my thanks to the Parents` Association who have arranged some treats for the children this coming Friday. We are delighted to have Mary O`Rourke back with us again to do GAA coaching with each class until the end of the school year. Please note that the session with Mary O`Rourke will be on Thursday of each week.

5. Gymnastics 3rd May-7th June
We have a 6 week block of gymnastics lessons planned for all classes in the school. Lessons cost €15 per child. However, if you have 3 children or more in the school there is a concessionary price of €30 in total for the family. As we are still in the process of setting up our new payment method with Aladdin, cash will be accepted. Please ensure that you put monies into an envelope labelled with your child`s name. We would be most grateful if the money for gymnastics could be paid in advance of 19th May.

6. Hurling Blitz
Pupils from 4th, 5th and 6th class will be taking part in a hurling blitz in Knockanore on the 4th May. We wish them the very best of luck on the day.

7. School Tours
This year, the following school tours have been planned for the children. You will be notified when the costings of these tours have been finalised.

• 6th June: Junior & Senior Infants: Fota Wildlife Park
• 6th June: 1st & 2nd Class: Fota Wildlife Park
• 20th June: 3rd & 4th Class: Let`s Go Summer Camp
• 21st June: 5th & 6th Class: Dunmore East Adventure Centre

8. End of Year Mass
Our end of year mass will be celebrated on Thursday 22nd June at 11:30am in Clashmore Church. We would like to extend an invitation to all parents/guardians to this mass.

9. Aldi Rugby Competition
I wish to thank all of the pupils and their parents who sent in the Aldi stickers for the rugby competition. We succeeded in filling 2 posters (300 stickers on each) and have submitted them for the competition. Fingers crossed-we might be a winner!

10. School Website
Our school website has been updated with lots of new content, so please visit it on.
www.clashmorens.ie

11. Food Dudes
The Food Dudes initiative is an award-winning curricular-linked evidence based healthy eating programme, developed to encourage children to eat more fruit and vegetables. This initiative gives the children the opportunity to taste many different fruit and vegetables and rewards them for their efforts. This programme will run in the school again for 1 week in May. We are very much looking forward to it.

12. World Earth Day 22nd April
This year World Earth Day took place on the 22nd April. This annual event aims to create more awareness about environmental issues such as global warming etc. Each year on this day, people take part in events that aim to lessen our negative impact on the environment. As a Green School, we wanted to do our bit for the environment. Therefore, all electricity usage ceased in the school for 30 mins last Friday evening (21st April). We will aim to increase this time next year.

13. Planned School Closure
Please note that the school will be closed for all pupils on Monday 8th May to facilitate Primary Language Curriculum training and training on the New Curriculum.

14. Important Dates

• Monday 1st May: May Bank Holiday Closure
• Monday 5th June: June Bank Holiday Closure
• Friday 23rd June: School closes for the Summer holidays

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support and co-operation.

Le gach beannacht uaimse,
Yvonne Uí Fhlaithimhín
Principal of Clashmore National School