Dates to Remember:
Opening of School Year Mass: 10am Thursday 15th
2nd Class Parents: First Communion meeting for parents Monday 19th 8pm-9pm. Room 17
Welcome back to everyone. It is wonderful to see everyone looking so refreshed and ready for work after the Summer Break. A special Céad Míle Faílte to our three new Junior Infant classes and the new pupils in other classes. We are all settling in to what we hope will be a happy and hardworking year for everyone.
Building
Our new building is a fantastic job. The mainstream classroom and autism class suite are more or less finished. There is still some interior furnishing to be done on the front foyer and office area. Once this has been completed, we will invite you in to see the finished product. There will also be an official opening sometime during the school year.
We are still fundraising for this project. All donations welcome. Please spread the word to all past pupils.
We will need to have our fire alarm and emergency lighting serviced on a contract basis. If you are appropriately qualified and would be interested in this job please contact me by Monday 19th.
Market Cross Fashion Show
We are delighted that this annual event will be held on October 26th as a fundraiser for our Autism Unit. Tickets (€10) will be on sale closer to the date.
Access to School
For the safety of the children all visitors and parents visiting the school should enter through the front door and report to reception. Please ring the doorbell and introduce yourself at the intercom. You will then be buzzed in.
School opens at 8.50. The yard is supervised from 8.40. Children can drop their bags in their “líne” and play in the play ground until lining up time when the bell goes.
As before, the area in front of the school is for Set Down Only. Please respect other parents/drivers and leave this area clear for dropping off pupils. It keeps the whole set up running smoothly.
Resource Classes: Resource, learning support and language support classes have now resumed. Team teaching continues in Senior Infants and will also take place in 4th class English on a rota basis. This year also sees the introduction of Peer Tutoring in 6th class reading, again on a rota basis. If you have any queries regarding resource or learning support, please make an appointment to meet Ms Kennedy or your child’s resource teacher. They are generally available Mondays and Fridays from 2.15 until 2.45.
Mission Money Every Friday we make a collection for deserving causes. Children are encouraged to make a small contribution each week. Thanks to Sr Brigid who organises these collections. If you have a charity/cause that you would like us to contribute to please contact Sr Brigid in good time as we have certain set collections that we make every year.
School Reports
There are some end of year reports from various classes left here since June. These were left with me for collection in the absence of a stamped addressed envelope. They may be collected by parents at any stage from Bernie’s office.
Sport
Camogie:Camogie for 5th/6th resumes on Friday.
Gaelic football: Two teams have been entered in the Girls’ football League will be up and running by the end of the month. There will be football training Mon., Wed., Thurs and Friday for 3rd to 6th class girls. Ms Gannon is organising the rota at the moment.
The boy’s in-school football league for 3rd to 6th classes has begun. Two teams have been entered in the Cumann na mBunscoil Leagues.
Please encourage your children to take part in these sports. Thank you to all the teachers who are volunteering their time to provide these extra-curricular activities. It is a great addition to our school.
Homework Hour Homework hour resumes this week. It runs Monday to Thursday from 2.45 to 3.45. Contact Mr Hanrick or Mr Crowley for details.
Music Lesson
Music lessons recommence this week. There will be access to the school until 4pm, after that the school is closed and doors are locked in order that the cleaners can clean all areas and wash corridors. Access after 4pm is restricted to the classrooms in which the music lessons are taking place. These are planned to be in rooms with a door to the outside. Neither children nor parents will have access to the rest of the school after 4pm so it is important that all pupils bring their schoolbags, gear, etc. with them to their lessons.

General
For new parents- an information sheet is sent out approximately once a month. A copy is given to the youngest child in each family. An email copy is sent to families who have sent in their addresses. If you wish to be added to the mailing list please send an email with the name of your youngest child to stcanicesnotes@gmail .com. A copy is also posted on the school website www.stcanices.net.
If any new child has come to 3rd to 6th class in the school, has not yet received First Communion and /or First Penance and wishes to do so, please contact Ms Comerford this week.
Please bring your queries/complaints/worries to your class teacher’s attention or to my attention. The majority of issues can be resolved speedily and to everyone’s satisfaction. If you need time to discuss an issue with your teacher or myself it is generally best to make an appointment first through Bernie in the office.
We look forward to an exciting and productive year.