October Newsletter 2023

Happy Halloween!

Dear Parents/Guardians,
Welcome to our October Newsletter! It has been a very busy few weeks since we returned to school. I wish to thank all of our families for their co-operation and support in setting up our administrative and communication system Aladdin Connect. The transition was seamless, so thank you all. Please note that all messages from the school moving forward will be through the Aladdin Connect App. Text messages will only be sent in exceptional circumstances. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of the staff of Clashmore National School, who have worked tirelessly this term on behalf of the school and the children. Your dedication and support is much appreciated. Please see below for all events to date and future updates.

1. School Attendance
As you are aware from the September Newsletter, as part of our DEIS status we are placing a huge emphasis on attendance moving forward. Our main aim is to increase the overall attendance in the school. As a result, our overall attendance will be analysed monthly. For September our overall attendance rate was 93.1%. While this is very good, we will be aiming to increase this as the year progresses. Please remember that all pupil absences can now be logged using The Aladdin Connect App. We have been busy in the school developing a slogan to encourage better attendance in school. The winning slogan was “Don`t be late, it`s going to be great!”. Congratulations and well done to all of the pupils in 1st & 2nd class who worked tremendously hard on this slogan. A further congratulations goes to 3rd & 4th class for the best attendance for the month of September-Comhghairdeas libh!

2. Scholastic Book Fair Monday 16th –Thursday 19th October
I am delighted to announce that we will be hosting the Scholastic Book Fair in the school for the first time in 15 years! The fair is beginning on Monday 15th until Thursday 19th October. This event is open to the entire community and will take place in the School Hall from 2pm-3:30pm daily (Mon-Thurs). We hope that you will support this event, as there will be free books for the school when you buy at the book fair. We look forward to seeing you all there!

3. Update on School Meals Scheme
We have concluded the procurement process in relation to securing a suitable food supplier for the school. Our new food supplier will be Glanmore Foods Ltd. We are hoping to have the hot meals scheme up and running after the midterm. There will be more details to follow in the coming weeks.

4. The Summer Stars Programme
The Summer Stars Programme is a programme run by the local libraries to encourage a love of reading in children. This programme acknowledges the reading efforts of children over the Summer break and children are awarded a certificate and medal. I would like to congratulate the children who participated in this scheme from our school. Maith sibh a pháistí! Utilising your local library, can be a truly wonderful inexpensive way of encouraging a love of reading in your child.

5. Ray Power Photography
Ray Power Photography was in the school on Monday 2nd October to take family portraits. If you wish to purchase portraits from Ray Power, please send in the form filled with the exact monies to the office by this Friday 20th October.

6. The Daily Mile
We are now up & running with Our Daily Mile initiative in the school. The aim of this initiative is to make our way steadily around the coast of Ireland. This is done by plotting kilometres completed as a whole-school on the map of Ireland. Over the last 5 weeks, as a whole school we have completed a total of 1487 kilometres! This has been plotted on the map in school beginning in Clashmore & travelling to Dungarvan. From there, we followed the Eastern coast line of Ireland around the Giant’s Causeway, around the Northern coast and we are now heading back down the Western coast from Donegal! Our journey will conclude when we follow the coastline back to Youghal and return to Clashmore. Well done to all of the boys & girls who are working so hard with this initiative daily.

7. GAA & Cumann na mBunscoil
The pupils were delighted to have a football session with Barry Dunne recently on 3rd October. Barry will be doing 2 more sessions in the school-dates to be confirmed. Well done to our boys and girls who played their semi-finals of The Cumann na mBunscoil on Thursday 12th October. While the boys were unsuccessful on this occasion, we are extremely proud of their efforts. Congratulations to the girls who will now progress to the Western Football Final. The final will be played in Dungarvan GAA grounds on Saturday 21st October from 11am-11:40am. We wish the cailíní the very best of luck on the day. We are equally delighted to have Mary O`Rourke returning once again to do GAA coaching with the children after the midterm break.

8. Cycling Lessons
We are delighted to have cycling lessons back in the school once more. Since 19th September, 5th & 6th class pupils have been enjoying cycling lessons. Pupils will receive 5 weeks of lessons in total. As we approach their final lesson, I wish to commend the children on the huge progress that they have made during this time. Well done boys and girls, keep up the cycling!

9. Soccer Lessons
I am delighted to announce that Clashmore Ramblers FC will be coming to the school to give the children a number of soccer lessons beginning on Thursday 26th October. We are extremely grateful to Gary Tobin, Paula Kelly-Carey and John Murphy who will be coming to coach the children.

10. Athletics with Waterford Sports Partnership
In conjunction with Waterford Sports Partnership, Pat Power will be coming to the school on Tuesday 7th November to do a range of Athletics with each class.

11. Well-Being &Transition Workshop with 5th & 6th Class
5th and 6th Class will be doing a well-being & transition workshop with Motus Learning on Monday 23rd October. This workshop is funded by the Seán Roche charity Mental Potential. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to this charity for funding this workshop.

12. Shoebox Appeal
In Clashmore National School we are familiar with the gift of giving and we will be putting this into effect again this year, by participating in the annual shoebox appeal. This is an annual campaign that delivers gifts to children affected by poverty. Since 2010 this campaign has delivered 2.5 million shoeboxes across the world. I would be most grateful if you could please send in shoeboxes by Thursday 26th October.

13. New Board of Management
There will be a New Board of Management coming into effect as of the 1st of December 2023. Information will issue in the coming weeks regarding Parent Nominee elections. I wish to sincerely thank the current members of the Board of Management of Clashmore National School who have been so giving of their expertise, time and support to both me and the school over the last 4 years, all in a voluntary capacity. Buíochas ó chroí libh ar fad, a heartfelt `thank you` to you all.

14. New Primary Mathematics Curriculum
There will be a New Primary Mathematics Curriculum taking effect as of September 2024, as a result staff in-service is currently being rolled out to support schools in planning and implementing the new curriculum.

15. Friday 27th October
The Boys & girls will be permitted to dress up coming to school on this day. We hope to have our annual Witches` Walk also on this day, weather permitting.

16. Important Dates for Your Diary

• Monday 30th October, midterm break begins, the school re-opens on Monday 6th November.
• Thursday 14th December 1st-6th class will attend the Christmas Panto- Jack & the Beanstalk in The Opera House.
• Saturday 20th April First Holy Communion will be celebrated at 11am in Clashmore Church.

Finally, I would like to wish you all a very Happy Halloween,
Le gach beannacht uaimse,
Yvonne Uí Fhlaithimhín
Principal of Clashmore National School