Dear Parents,

First of all I would like welcome our children new and returning back to school for another year. This year promises to be a new departure for our school as we will now be operating under the DEIS scheme. (more information below). On behalf of our teachers I convey thanks to our parents for the positive start to the school year.

Book Rental/Homework Journals.

Please forward remaining money for the book rental scheme where required and also for the homework journal (€4). Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Calendar Dates Term 1 2022-2023.

Friday September 30th: Staff Inservice Training Day (TBC)

Friday 28th October : School closes for Mid Term Break.(12 p.m.

Monday November 7th : School reopens.

Week November 14th-18th : Standardised testing (1st-6th Classes)

Thursday 24th & Friday 25th November: Parent Teacher Meetings (arrangements to be confirmed)

Wednesday December 21st: Final Day of Term. School Closes @ 12p.m.

 

Contact Information.

Thanks to all parents who have returned email addresses to Carmel. Where you have not had a chance to do so please send in your up to date email address as soon as possible as this along with a valid current mobile number as texting and Email  are our primary methods of contacting parents. All newsletters now go out by email and not in hard copy as previously. Newsletters will also be uploaded to our school website (www.iosaballyhaunis.com) where the content can be translated to a language of choice by utilising the Google translate tool on the webpage.

We also must have accurate and up to date mobile numbers on file as this is essential as a means of contact with our parents in an emergency situation. Please ensure that where a phone number has changed we are informed immediately. Where numbers are incorrect this will show up on our texting system.

Up to date Covid Procedures.

As you are aware, COVID19 is still with us. While the same procedures as were in place last year will no longer apply we are requesting that parents continue to exercise vigilance should your child show symptoms. Most importantly, do not send the child to school as the virus remains highly transmissible.

Head lice/Impetigo

In an era where we have become consumed to some degree with controlling the spread of Covid19 we must remember that head lice, impetigo and the ‘usual’ school ailments have not disappeared. We ask that you remain vigilant and check your children regularly for signs of both conditions and treat as appropriate.

Confirmation & Communion 2023

The Confirmation & Communion ceremonies have been provisionally fixed as follows:

First Communion: Saturday 6th May (Time to be confirmed)

Confirmation: Saturday 20th May (Time TBC)

Car Parking.

Please note that due to an increased number of teachers on staff and the demand for parking spaces, parents should not bring cars into the staff car park except where parents are dropping off a child with disability. We understand that Mayo County Council is providing extra parking spaces adjacent to the school. These should be completed in the next few weeks.

New Staff.

We welcome the following staff who have joined us for the upcoming school year: Eimear Finn, Claire Walsh, Sarah Scully, Carole Freeley, Emer Ryan, Séan Kenny, Breda Slattery, Emma Corr, Una McCabe and Roseanne Nolan. We wish all new staff well as we embark on the school year.

Swimming.

We have received extra funding under the DEIS scheme which will allow the school board to finance a number of activities/trips etc. for the children. It has been decided that this provides a perfect opportunity to reintroduce swimming to the curriculum after an absence of a number of years. Swimming will commence on Monday next, September 12th for all Sixth Class pupils. This will be ongoing for a period of seven weeks There will be no charge to the pupils as the cost of swimming and of transport will be covered under the DEIS scheme. This will fulfill the requirements of the Aquatics strand in the school curriculum.

School Meals

We have been informed that all children will receive hot school lunches commencing shortly. The Dept of Social Protection will finance this initiative. The board of management is currently sourcing suitable suppliers. Once we get the final go ahead from the Department, I will be in touch.

DEIS

As you may be aware the school has been designated as Urban DEIS Band 1. This scheme is dedicated to providing for children in  areas/towns that have been designated as disadvantaged and in areas where there is a need to ensure that children have every chance to complete the school programme. In practical terms this gives the school:

• Smaller classes with a reduction of average class sizes to 19 pupils.
• School lunches provided.
• Finance for school after school clubs and activities.
• Finance for in school programmes such as Athletics, Swimming etc.
• A Home School Community Liaison teacher, to link up with families where school attendance and attainment has become an issue. The HSCL will also provide classes and informal meetings for parents and will visit homes to meet parents with a view to putting together improvement programmes. The HSCL will also be the school link with TUSLA and with other social support concerns. This role will be filled by Ms. Sheena Flanagan.

This is a major boost for the school and will provide a great opportunity for all of our children to improve in terms of attainment and improvement in their overall school performance.

Note on Classes.

We apologise for the changed circumstances in which a number of classes have been accommodated. This is something that is out of our control and comes as a result of a failure on behalf of the DES in providing adequate accommodation in time for our pupils commencing the new school year. We are awaiting a new modular building as well as a temporary prefab building which will house five classes ( First, Third and Fifth class) . Due to these not being on site currently we have had to accommodate the children in the SET rooms and in the school hall which, though working well to date is not a satisfactory arrangement going forward. We hope that this will be rectified over the next few weeks and thank you for your patience at this time.

In the meantime I thank you for your continued support and cooperation. We have had a good start to the year despite the circumstances in which we find ourselves and hope to be full steam ahead in the not too distant future.

Mise le Meas,

K. Dennedy

Principal