Dear Parents/Guardians,
Well done to all pupils on a great week.
Some reminders and messages:
We ask parents to please collect pupils at the right time every evening because it will reduce traffic in the carpark.
Roadworks continue in the area to upgrade footpaths and lighting. It is great to see these developments. We ask parents to be patient and to park in the church to make it safer for our pupils.
Will Cusack, photographer, will be here on Thursday Oct. 21st to take individual/family photos.
Hallowe'en holidays begin on Friday Oct. 22nd at 3pm. On that day there will be a Non Uniform Day - a Halloween Dress Up as a fundraiser for a charity to be chosen by our Student Council. Stay tuned!
Our first pupil committee meetings will take place next Friday Oct. 15th. We look forward to hearing the pupil voices and opinions and getting some activities and events re-started in our school.
Our next Board of Management meeting will be held in the school, as permitted by the Dept. of Education, on Tues. Oct. 12th at 7.30pm.
Please see today's article re: Flu Vaccine clinic here in the school next Friday Oct. 15th: http://ballymittyns.ie/News/Flu-Vaccine-Clinic-coming-to-school/363485/Index.html
Please see today's article re: Fundraiser on Sunday evening in Carrig Hall at 8pm. Thanks to all for their kind donations so far: http://ballymittyns.ie/News/FUNDRAISER--SUNDAY-EVENING-CARRIG-HALL-8pm/363594/Index.html
We remind parents to pay for book bill and insurance promptly.
Uniform Survey: In the next two weeks we plan to survey the parents to see if parents would be happy to change from the more formal uniform (shirt, tie, trousers/skirt/pinafore) to a less formal uniform of a half zip and tracksuit. We are the pricing this option at the moment and we are aware of other schools doing similar. We will send a link through the app to fill out the survey over the coming weeks. The main aim is to keep costs down for parents.
To discuss Erasmus projects for the pupils of this year's 4th and 5th classes, there will be a meeting for parents on Monday November 15th at 7pm in the school. This will be an opportunity for parents to hear about the Erasmus projects that are planned - virtually and physically - with other schools in Europe and it will focus on the plan for the pupils so that we can give them the best opportunities for these European projects. We will send out information forms early in November and it will be important that each child is represented at this first meeting. Stay tuned!
The Scholastic School Book Fair returns to school the week of November 15th - 19th. This is a showcase of wonderful books and pupils get to see them over the week and can purchase books and stationery. We will tell you more over the coming weeks.
Finally, news from the Department of Education issued on Wednesday in a Circular 0050/2021 outlining Covid-19 operational supports that will be in place for the current school year. One of these supports is in relation to sub teachers. Last year, due to Covid, if there were subs not available we could put in a Special Ed teacher into the classroom and we could bank the days until a sub became available. This ensured that pupils who lost time were given the time back. There is currently a sub crisis in our schools. The Department are saying now that they will not allow schools to bank days. This will have a detrimental effect on the continuity of learning for pupils with additional needs. The Department's suggestion for us to find subs for the classes is in the following sequence:
The sequence for covering all teacher absences are: (in brackets see my response to them)
Supply panel if the school is part of a supply panel cluster arrangement - WE ARE NOT
School’s own panel of regular substitutes - WE HAVE ONLY ONE SUB ON OUR LIST
National substitute service - IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A SUB ON THIS
Administrative Principal if applicable - THIS CAN BE DONE WITHIN LIMITS
Local arrangements - NO CLARITY ON WHAT THIS IS
Thankfully, having to get subs is happening much less than last year and our teachers are rarely absent.
However, the reason we communicate this is to let you know that we have to put a teacher into a classroom if a teacher is absent for obvious reasons. This will be one of the Special Ed teachers in our school. This could mean that your child who gets extra support loses that support. While this is very frustrating for teachers, parents and pupils, we are left with no other choice. Perhaps if you are ever in touch with local politicians, social media groups or organisations that you can put forward your frustrations about this matter. Pupils with special or additional needs have already lost out on so much. Your support with this matter is greatly appreciated.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend,
Audrey and staff