Dear Parents,

As we reach the end of another school year I would like to bring the following notices to your attention:

End of Year Arrangements.

The school will close for the end of year on Tuesday next June 22nd. All children will finish at 12 p.m. and should be collected promptly at this time.

School Reports

School reports will be issued before the final day of term. Please ensure that you have supplied a stamped self addressed envelope to your child’s class teacher to facilitate delivery of the reports.

School Books.

We ask that all school books are returned in good condition to the class teachers. This includes book rental books and school library books/Class readers. Also please make sure that all Oxford Reading Tree books are returned by Friday June 18th.

First Communion & Confirmation.

As you are aware we had scheduled the First Holy Communion and The Confirmation ceremony to be held on June 10th and 12th respectively. However this was not possible as such gatherings were specifically listed as not permitted by NPHET and regrettably we had to postpone the sacraments. In consultations with Fr Stephen and with the diocese, we have rescheduled the sacraments as follows;

Confirmation: Saturday September 11th (all Current 5th & 6th Class Pupils) Venue & Time TBC

First Holy Communion: Saturday September 18th. St. Patrick’s Church Ballyhaunis @ 11 a.m.

Please note that these dates are to be confirmed. Keep a lookout for any updates on the Ballyhaunis Parish Newsletter for further updates.

Sixth Class Graduation.

We will hold a short graduation ceremony for our departing Sixth Class Pupils on tomorrow, Friday June 18th commencing at 11 a.m. Unfortunately it will not be possible to have parents present due to the ongoing restrictions around indoor gatherings. However we do hope to broadcast proceedings live over Zoom at 11:00 a.m tomorrow with a repeat at 8:30 p.m. tomorrow evening for parents who will not get a chance to log in for the live broadcast. Mr O’Brien has emailed a zoom link to all participant parents.

Reopening for 2021-2022 School Year.

The school will reopen to pupils on Wednesday August 25th for new JUNIOR INFANT pupils only. All other pupils will start back on Thursday August 26th. Please note that new Junior Infants pupils will finish daily at 12:00 p.m. until Friday September 10th. From Monday September 13th all infant pupils will finish at 1:55 p.m.

Booklists.

Booklists will be issued to all classes this week and will also be available on the school website.

Classes/Teachers for 2021-2022

The following is the list of class teachers for the 2021-2022 school year. Please note that there will be some minor movement of children from current classes due to a new configuration of classes.

• Junior Infants 1: Ms. Olivia Burke.
• Junior Infants 2: Ms. Emily Worden
• Senior Infants 1: Mrs. Marian Byrne.
• Senior Infants 2: Mrs. Annie Kelly.
• First Class 1: Mrs. Joanne Forde
• First Class 2: Mrs. Ciara Richardson.
• Second Class 1: Ms. Sharlene Ruane.
• Second Class 2: Ms. Lisa Watchorn.
• Third Class: Ms. Sheena Flanagan
• Fourth Class 1: Mrs. Karen Nolan
• Fourth Class 2: Ms. Caroline Campbell.
• Fifth Class: Ms. Dervla Phillips.
• Fifth/Sixth Class: Ms. Labhaoise Cunnane.
• Sixth Class: Mr. Dónall O’Brien.

Calendar – Term 1 2021-2022

• School Opens (Junior Infants): Wednesday August 25th
• School Opens(All other classes): Thursday August 26th.
• Confirmation: Saturday September 11th.
• First Holy Communion: Saturday September 18th.
• Mid Term Break, School Closes: Friday October 22nd.
• School Reopens: Monday November1st.
• Standardised Testing: Week of 8th-12th November.
• Parent Teacher Meetings: Thursday 25th & Friday 26th November.
• End of Term: Wednesday December 22nd.
• Term 2 Begins: Thursday 6th January.

Finally,

I must compliment our parents on the way in which they have supported the school over, what was a very different and at times an extremely difficult year. Online learning was a particular challenge for many and the way in which the children engaged made everyone’s job a lot more manageable. I particularly want to thank you all most sincerely for your help and support in assisting us in dealing with the recent Covid19 outbreak in the school which was unfortunate and sadly beyond our control. We have, however succeeded in ensuring that our school is , once again Covid free and that is in no small way as a result of the way in which parents erred on the side of caution and assisted us by keeping children at home until the threat passed. Hopefully we will not find ourselves in the same position again but it’s good to know that we have parents who can be relied upon to act appropriately should such a situation arise. On behalf of everyone at Scoil Íosa may I wish you all a good summer with hopefully the option to travel in the very near future.

With Thanks.

Kenneth Dennedy.