May Newsletter 2024

Welcome to the May Edition of our Newsletter. It is hard to believe that we have reached this point already. As we approach the last few weeks of the term, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the hard-working and caring staff, as well as our dedicated Board of Management and wonderful Parents` Association. Equally, I would like to thank the parent body for all of your support. We are blessed to have so many people working so hard on behalf of the children, thus contributing to the success of Clashmore National School. As always, the school has been a hub of activity, please see important updates and upcoming events also listed below.

1. School Attendance: `Don`t be late, it`s going to be great! `
I am delighted to announce that once again our attendance for the month of April is up on last year. We had an overall attendance level of 94.9% for this April, an increase of 1.5% on last year!
We are delighted with this and we hope to have the same for June. Comhghairdeas (Congratulations) once again, to Naíonáin Bheaga & Naíonáin Mhóra (Infant Classroom) for achieving the best attendance for the month of April. This is their second month in a row being the winners of this category. Well done boys & girls!

2. Supervision
A gentle reminder that the school operates from 9.20am to 3pm. Infants finish at 2pm. To facilitate the children`s safe arrival to school, your child should arrive at school between 9:10am and 9:20am. There will be supervision in the yard in the morning between 9:10am and 9:20am. To Keep everyone safe, pupils are not permitted to enter the school grounds before 9:10am. Supervision will be provided until 3pm. However, the school accepts no responsibility for children before 9.10am or after 3pm.

3. Access and Road Safety
I wish to draw your attention 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.

4. First Holy Communion 20th April
Congratulations and well done to all of the boys and girls in 2nd class who received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion on Saturday 20th April. They were absolutely fantastic on the day.
Many thanks to Fr. Kelly for the lovely ceremony.

5. Clashmore National School Open Day 23rd April
We had our first ever Open Day on Tuesday 23rd April from 6-7pm. We were extremely heartened with the attendance on the evening. Míle buíochas, to The Parents` Association who provided refreshments and sweet treats on the evening.

6. Board Games & Jigsaws Needed- Please Donate
Our stock of in-class board games and jigsaws have completely dwindled. As a result, I am asking families to donate any unwanted Board Games and simple jigsaws (for the Junior room) that are fully intact (with all pieces) to the school. We would love the following games if possible: Guess Who, Monopoly, Scrabble, Connect 4, Hedbanz, The 5 Second Rule, Operation, Ludo, Cluedo, The Game of Life, Uno, Snakes & Ladders etc

7. Cumann na mBunscoil Camogie Final
We would like to wish our Girls the very best of luck in their Camogie Final against Whitechurch next Wednesday 22nd May in Dungarvan GAA Grounds. The time is yet to be confirmed, but it will be in the evening.

8. Green School News
I am delighted to announce that we have been awarded our 6th Green School Flag based on Global Citizenship- Litter and Waste. This is a huge achievement for our school. I would like to sincerely thank Ms O`Donovan and Ms Seward, as well as all of the children on the Green School Committee. We were presented with the flag at the awards ceremony in Kilkenny today, Tuesday 14th May.

9. Visit to Youghal Library on the 2nd May
The children enjoyed a lovely visit to Youghal Library recently. On the day they were read a story, they had the opportunity to browse the books, use their membership card to borrow books as well as play with Lego. It was a fun-filled day out.

10. Clashmore National School Parents` Association
As always our superb Parents` Association have been working extremely hard in their fundraising efforts on behalf of the school. Please note, that they are still collecting any unwanted clothes.

• Clothes can be dropped to the school between 9:10am-9:20am daily. The Clothes Collection will continue until the 21st June.
• There will a further PA fundraiser a `No Homework Night` on the 30th May, €5 per family will be the cost. This will be payable through Aladdin.
• Please note that all funds raised will go towards funding the cost of the buses for the school tours. We would appreciate it, if you could support these endeavours.

11. Student Council
I am delighted to announce that Clashmore National School`s first ever Student Council has been formed. The members of our Student Council are as follows:

• Ava Fielers, Harry O`Doherty, Harry McGrath, Paddy Roche, Finn O`Neill, Olivia Smiddy, Tadgh Roche and Molly-Jane Sinclair.
• They have been very busy already! They have just surveyed all of the students to see what things/activities the children would like to see happen in the school.
• They are also in the process of approving the design for an iron-on crest that will be available to parents to buy if they wish from The Parents` Association. More information will be issued about this in the coming weeks. I look forward to working with the Students Council in the coming days and weeks.

12. Extra-Curricular Activities
The children have been enjoying an array of extra-curricular events this term.

• Jnrs-2nd Class have just completed 2 pottery lessons with Cora Cummins. We cannot wait to see the finished products.
• Mary O`Rourke has been doing GAA training with the pupils each fortnight.
• James Lacey was here on 13th May to do GAA training with all of the children. He will return again on the 20th May for more GAA training.
• The boys & girls are still completing The Daily Mile as they plot their travels from Ireland across Europe to reach their final destination of Paris.
• The children will begin their first of 3 lessons in Tag Rugby this Friday with a Waterford Sports Partnership coach.
• The Road Safety Authority will be in the school on the 20th & 21st May to do road safety lessons with the children.

13. The Small Schools Pilot Project
As you are aware, Clashmore National School has been engaging in the Small Schools Pilot Project with The Dept of Education. We are part of a cluster with Kinsalebeg NS, Ballycurrane NS and Grange NS. This has afforded us a wonderful opportunity to collaborate, engage in professional develop and pilot new initiatives that will help small schools. We are delighted that The Department of Education has extended the project for a further 2 years. I will be issuing more information on this project in the coming weeks.

14. Standardised Testing
Like previous years, we will be doing standardised testing in English and Maths with the children in 1st-6th class this month. Please remember not to place too emphasis on the scores attained, as they are merely a snap shot of your child`s progress in primary school.

15. Planned School Tours
The following School Tours have been scheduled for the children and can be paid now via Aladdin

• 17th June: 5th & 6th Class Adventure Park Cost €14
• 18th June: Jnrs-2nd Class Leahy`s Farm Cost €12
• 19th June: 3rd-4th Class Airtastic Cost €30

16. The End of Year School Mass & Graduation 20th June
Please note that the End of Year School Mass and Graduation will occur on Thursday 20th June at 10am in Clashmore Church. All are welcome to this mass.

17. Important Dates

• Monday 3rd June: The school will be closed for the Bank Holiday.
• Friday 7th June: The school will be closed, as it is being used as a polling station.
• Friday 21st June: The school closes at 12:00 for the Summer Holidays.

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