Parents

School begins at 8.30 am each morning.  Their teacher will collect the children from the yard each morning at that time.  The infant classes finish at 1.10pm. (Junior Infants – 11.45 – for the first fortnight) and 1st to 6th finish at 2.10pm

Parents are responsible for their children once they have been collected from the teacher.  It is important that children arrive on time so that they are relaxed and happy entering school.  Some children may be upset if they have to enter a classroom where everybody else is already at work.

If you wish to speak to your child’s teacher you are asked to do this after school when the other children have been collected.  If you have a message for the teacher in the morning it is a good idea to put it in writing as the teacher is very busy at this time and it is easy to forget what has been said.

The children may wear (navy) tracksuits to school on a day they have P.E.  Suitable shoes will also be needed for P.E. lessons.  A note will be sent out about P.E. day at the beginning of the year.  It is important that children wear safe, non-slip shoes which would be suitable for games and P.E. every day of the week.

A calendar outlining the holiday arrangements for the school year 2015-16 will be given to parents during September.  Although every effort will be made to adhere as closely as possible to this calendar, there may be some unavoidable minor changes during the school year.   Parents will be notified of these changes as early as possible by means of a note given to your child.

It is school policy that all children wear School Uniform.  The uniform may be bought in ‘Malones’ or Seán Connolly’s Wicklow or in any other shop. The school jumper must include the school crest. Sew-on crest patches will be available from ‘Malones’ to sew on to the appropriate navy jumper.

The School Uniform consists of:

Girls

• Kilt
• Navy V-necked jumper or cardigan
• White shirt
• Green tie
• Navy socks or tights
• Black or navy shoes
• Navy trousers

Boys

• Navy trousers
• Navy V-necked jumper
• White shirt
• Green tie
• Navy socks
• Black or navy shoes

All school notices are sent home by letter with the children. It is therefore recommended that you examine your child’s schoolbag regularly as young children may forget to deliver these letters.
It is also worthwhile looking at the notices that are occasionally put up on the school noticeboard.

The children eat their lunch in the classrooms under the supervision of the teachers.
Please note that we cultivate a ‘healthy lunch’ policy in the school, so we do not allow crisps, fizzy drinks, sweets etc. In the interest of safety children are not allowed to bring glass bottles or cans to school. It is not permissible to bring chewing gum to school.

• If you are unable to collect your child from school tell the name of the person collecting the child to both the child and the child’s teacher.
• It is a good idea to peel oranges before putting them in your child’s lunchbox.
• Help your child to be independent, choose shoes, coats, etc. which your child can fasten and unfasten unaided.
• Please put name tags on items of clothing.
• Your child must be able to use the toilet unaided.
• Your child should know his/her name, home address and telephone number.
• If you are worried about your child’s social or academic progress at school, please contact your child’s teacher as soon as possible.

We understand that the majority of children starting school will not have very much Irish.
We employ the ‘Total Immersion’ method in the Gaelscoil, that is we expose the children to Irish on a continual basis in everyday practical functional situations, so they can acquire an understanding and fluency. This is a gradual process as the children acquire this understanding and fluency in the same way as they acquired their first language at home.

Because of the cost of books, it is school policy that all books are covered and have the child’s name on them.

It is important that parents make an effort to speak Irish in the school, to the teachers and to the children.  It is also important that parents make an effort to speak Irish to other parents in the school yard.  If the children hear everybody speaking Irish they will also make a greater effort to speak Irish.  Even if you only have a few words try them.

You can:

• Encourage your child to use whatever new words/phrases he/she has learned.
• Use any words or phrases you may know from time to time, even one word will have significant impact.
• Below are a few helpful links to help you improve your own Irish: