February 2012

Spring Begins

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Dear parents,

I hope you all had a lovely mid-term break and that you got loads of cards on Valentine’s Day! It’s been a busy start to this half term and I hope I can fill you in on what’s been going on for the last month. If you have a Facebook account be sure to “like” our page and you’ll get all the news from our web site straight to your wall.

Parent Teacher Meetings are coming up next week so I just wanted to outline how they work for anyone new to the school. You have been

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given a 10 minute slot with your class teacher. In this meeting, the teacher will tell you a summary of how your child(ren) is/are getting on. If you want to discuss anything at all, feel free to do so. However, we ask if it is likely to need more than the 10 minutes that you arrange a separate meeting at a time that suits both you and the teacher. Please don’t be offended if the teacher has to stop a meeting but, as you can understand, there are lots of parents to see and only a limited time to do it in.

We’ve a number of policies that will

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be reviewed this month by our parents’ council – Behaviour and Absences are on this month’s list. Please get in touch with the Parents’ Council if you’d like to help out.

In the newsletter, I’ve decided to outline who’s who in the school’s new Board of Management and Parents’ Council. I also want to outline what policies are available in the school.

Until next month, keep happy, safe and learning!

Simon

Dates for your diaries: • February 27th – 29th – Parent Teacher Meetings • February 29th – Parent Council Meeting • March 5th – 9th – Friendship Week • March 14th – 18th – Visit from German and UK schools • March 19th – School Closed Bank Holiday

Newsletter

Carlow Educate Together NS Unit 5, Shamrock Business Park

Graiguecullen, Carlow Town

Tel: 059-9179453

Mob: 087-3128166 Email: simon@carloweducatetogether.ie Web: www.carloweducatetogehter.ie

Carlow educate together newlseter

February News

Story Sacks Project. Children and Parents work with Helen from the Story Sacks project in Samantha and Clare’s Class.

Friendship Week Don’t forget Friendship Week begins on 5th March. Clare has been busy organising fantastic events throughout the week and we’d love for parents to come along. Starting off on Friday, 24th February, we have an art workshop for parents and children.

We also need a photograph of children for a display for the week. Please send in a photograph if you haven’t already.

Keep a look out at our electronic noticeboard in the foyer of the school or on the noticeboard blog (cetnsnews.blogspot.com) for more information over the coming week.

Good luck to Ollie, Ali, Ruaidhrí, Asha, Tyreece, Evelin and Zoe who will be representing out school in a science competition in the Dolmen Hotel on Friday, 24th February with their Wind Turbine Project.

What Scares You?

Some of the boys and girls from 3rd to 6th class have been discussing their fears. We created a survey to find out about what scares people. We asked Michael’s class the question “What are you most afraid of? See the results on our web site, http://www.carloweducatetogether.ie

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GAA Coaching We are delighted to announce the start of GAA coaching in our school. Led by Erin and Teresa, two teachers in our school, children have the opportunity to learn GAA skills from two highly experienced GAA players. Both Erin and Teresa have won major awards at county level and we are very lucky to have them on our staff. To sign up, drop in in the morning or call to the office.

Welcome to Ireland! Pictured are our three student teachers from Spain who arrived this week. They will be working with the children in our school for the next two months. Patricia, Irene and Christina – you’re very welcome!

On 14th March we will be welcoming teachers from the UK and Germany to the school as part of our Comenius programme and we hope you will come in for coffee to meet them when they arrive

Shared Reading – 5th/6th class with Senior Infants Today Adrian was sick so Conor, Jason, Alana, Kiaza, Josh and Daniel spent the day in 5th and 6th class. They worked really well and their behaviour was excellent. It was a treat for us all to have them with us for the day. The children from 5th and 6th were very welcoming and helped our visitors during the day. Here are some lovely pictures of 5th and 6th class helping our friends with reading activities. If you have any news to share with the school, please email it to simon@carloweducatetogether.ie before March 19th.

Current Policies Online

• Absence and Punctuality

• Administration of medicines

• Anti Bullying

• Assessment

• Behaviour

• Child Protection

• Complaints Procedure

• Data Protection Policy

• Equality of Access and Participation

• Enrolment Policy

• Exceptional Closures Policy

• First Aid

• Garda Vetting

• Health and Safety Statement

• Homework

• Integration Policy

• Internet AUP

• Mobile Phone Policy

• Parking

• Special Education Needs

• Substance Use

• Swine Flu

• Work Placement Policy

All policies are available on our web site. If

you need a printed copy of any policy, please

ask in the office and it can be printed out for

you.

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Chair: Eleanor Peters Treasurer: Sinéad Tynan Secretary: Simon Lewis Teacher Rep: Michael Ryan Parent Reps: Debbie Gibney / Séamus O’Leary Community Reps: Mary White / Thomas Farrell

DLP: Simon Lewis, Deputy: Emer Byrden

Chair: Paula Polland Secretary: Denise Harkin Treasurer: Ian Pelly Fundraising: Mary Broderick Second Level: Ruth Curtis Church-Liaison: Debbie Gibney (tbc)

Deputy Principal: Samantha Ryan Behaviour Manager: Emer Byrden Media Liaison: Emer Dowling SEN: Samantha Ryan Attendance: Michael Ryan Resources: Michael Ryan Literacy: Samantha Ryan Learn Together: Emer Byrden

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After Schools: Emer Dowling

Led by Samantha Ryan.

Led by Michael Ryan.

It’s easy to stay in touch with everything going on in the school. We communicate with families in lots of different ways:

• By Letter • School Website • Facebook Page • Twitter (@carlowetns) • Our Mobile Phone App for

Android and iPhones • Texting Service • Email • Class Blogs • Electronic Noticeboard and

its blog for those who can’t come in to see it

If you need help subscribing to any of these services, please drop in and we’ll show you how!

Who’s Who?

The Student Council Meet