Holy Family National School

Rathcoole

November 19, 2009

	Re Day of Action 24th November 2009
	Dear Parents, As you are aware, there is a day of action planned for Tuesday next, November 24th. Arising from this, the school will not be in a position to accept pupils on that day for Health and Safety reasons. It is not the intention of the Board of Management to interrupt your child's education and we very much regret having to take this course of action. Yours sincerely, James Walsh Chairperson B.O.M.
	Book Fair 2009
	Dear Parents, This year's book fair starts next week. Your child will be told tomorrow when they can look at the books. The school received a commission of €2,960 worth of books for class libraries last year. With the Government Book Grant cancelled, the book fair is our only source of new books. To avoid delays in receiving the books, all books must be paid for during the week after the book fair has left. The book fair is a great way of getting books for our classrooms and encouraging the children to read. Books also make a great Christmas present!

November 17, 2009

Dear Parents,

• Parent/Teacher meetings take place next Monday 23rd and Wednesday 25th November. By now you should have received an allocated time to meet your child's teacher.
• Christmas cards are now on sale in the school. This is a fund raiser organized by The Parents Association which I mentioned in an earlier newsletter. There are 14 cards with envelopes in each pack representing art work from every class in the school.
The cost per pack is €6.00 with 2 packs for €10.00. Numbers limited.
I think you will agree that this is excellent value for money and I would urge you to give it your full support as the money is needed to pay for tin whistle classes, computer classes, educational materials and swimming lessons which are heavily subsidized. Remember all grants have been withdrawn by the Department of Education.

M. Hoban
Principal.

November 3, 2009

Dear Parents,

Swimming lessons for children in 2nd and 6th classes (Ms Dempsey and Mr Manning) start back next Wednesday 11th October for 6 weeks. The sessions will be from 1.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. in Tallaght Leisure Centre so the children will be back in class by 2.45 p.m. The children will be accompanied by their teachers and will be taught to swim by 3 qualified swimming instructors. I would encourage all children to participate - this will be the only opportunity for children in those two classes to go swimming this year.
Swimming lessons are heavily subsidised by the Parents Association - €1000.00 last year. The cost per child will be €30.00 payable in advance.

M. Hoban
Principal.

October 19, 2009

Dear Parents,

Two children in the school have tested positive for Swine flu. The advice from HSE is the same as before - if your child has flu like symptoms they should be kept at home and you should call the HSE Flu Information Line Freephone 1800 94 11 00 for advice.
They should not return to school until 7 days from the onset of symptoms have passed.
All information relating to Swine Flu is available on our website.
Further information is available on the HSE website.

M. Hoban
Principal.

October 15, 2009

Dear Parents,

The Board of Management has decided to purchase a defibrillator for the school and this will be in place after Halloween. It is our fervent hope that this equipment will never have to be used in the school. However, if it has to be used, it is important that it be used properly.
Next Tuesday 20th October all the children will go home at 12.30 so that all the staff can receive training in the use of a defibrillator and also general training in First Aid.

M. Hoban
Principal.

October 7, 2009

Log on Learn your-number & Help us WIN

www.change.ie., the government's climate change awareness campaign has joined with An Taisce Green Schools to run a carbon calculator primary school challenge between now and 23rd. October '09.
Our school has entered this competition and with your enthusiastic help we stand a great chance of pulling off the €500 prize available in the Dublin South County area.
The Holy Family National School has set up as a group on the www.change.ie website. What you have to do is to simply log on to the site, fill in your details and so find out your carbon number.
The more families who log on and register with the Holy Family group on www.change.ie the greater our chance of winning that prize. As our group may include families, friends, relations and any member of the wider community please get as many as you can to log on and join our group.
But hurry as only those who register before 5 p.m. on Friday 23rd. October '09 will be counted.
When logging on please remember:

Login

• The school name is the Holy Family, Rathcoole, County Dublin
• The school email address is hfrathcoole@eircom.net
• The group password is hfrathcoole.

So Log on Learn your number & Help us WIN

October 6, 2009

Dear Parents,

We have organised a Skipping Workshop for children this Wednesday and Thursday for every child in the school from Junior Infants to 6th class in which they will learn a selection of moves - individual, double-dutch, long rope and partner skipping. On Thursday, to finish off the day, there will be a demonstration of the skills learned, performed by children chosen from each workshop. The cost of the day is being funded by The Parents Association. Children need to wear tracksuits and runners to participate. Speed skipping ropes will be on sale on the day at a cost of €6. These are high quality ropes as used by the national display teams.
This Friday 9th October is Goal Jersey Day - children and adults wear their favourite sports jersey instead of their uniform and contribute a small amount (usually €2) to the well known Third World Charity Organisation "Goal". We look forward to seeing an array of colourful jerseys on the day.

M. Hoban
Principal.

September 14, 2009

Dear Parents,

All the children in the school will go home at 12.30 p.m. this Friday 18th September due to a staff meeting.

M. Hoban
Principal.

September 8, 2009

Dear Parents,

A Personal Accident Insurance Policy is now available for individual pupils in our school from the school's Insurance Company-Allianz. The following points should be noted:
• All pupils who are attending our school are covered by insurance from 9.00 a.m. to 2.45 p.m. and children participating in after school activities when they are accompanied by a teacher from the staff are covered by insurance.
• A Personal Accident Insurance Policy provides cover in the form of a series of benefits such as medical and dental expenses. A schedule of the benefits is available from the secretary's office in the school.
• School activities only cost €5.00 per pupil.
• 24 Hour Cover costs €8.00 per pupil.
• I will arrange cover for pupils who have returned the required fees to the school by Friday 25th September 2009.
• After that date it will be up to parents themselves to arrange cover for their children.

M. Hoban
Principal.

September 2, 2009

Dear Parents,

A warm welcome back to all the parents and children after the summer holidays and a special céad míle fáilte to the children who have started in Junior Infants. They are already well settled in with their teachers Ms McKelvey and Ms Meegan.
I'm sure you are all aware at this stage of precautions that are being put in place in schools to help reduce the spread of the swine flu virus. We have taken the precautions as advised by the HSE to schools and colleges.
Dispensers have been put in place in each classroom and at all entrances.
Children are being taught the proper technique to cover their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing and encouraged to have their own tissues and hand towels.
Hard surfaces such as worktops, door handles and hand rails are routinely cleaned.
If your child has flu-like symptoms they should be kept at home and you should call the HSE Flu Information Line Freephone 1800 94 11 00 for advice.
If pupils develop flu-like symptoms in school they will be isolated from the other children and an eye kept on them until they are collected by their parents. They should not return to school until 7 days from the onset of symptoms have passed.
Further information is available on the HSE website www.hse.ie .

M. Hoban
Principal.

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