A Thuismitheoirí,

An Extraordinary Year

As this term draws to a close, I would like to thank everyone for their patience, understanding and support over the past 3 ½ months. Thank you to the staff for their work to facilitate remote learning to support the children in our classes. Thank you to parents who were thrust into the role of teachers overnight and had to juggle your own job with home-schooling of children who missed the routine and socialising of normal school life.

Farewell

We say a fond farewell to Ciarán O’Boyle for his dedication and professionalism this year and wish him all the best in the future.  We also welcome back Catriona Lynott who is looking forward to the year ahead. 

Re-opening Primary Schools

Critical to the planning for reopening is the engagement of the Department of Education and Skills with the Department of Health and the HSE in relation to infection prevention and control in a school setting. It is expected that the guidance will provide a broad overview of the requirements necessary to ensure a safe return to education for children and staff.  We will advise you of the new routines to be established and bedded within schools as we become informed of them.  We will strive to see that the new academic year is as safe and as normal as possible while following these guidelines.

Mixed Classes

In reducing class sizes the school is ensuring the number of children in each classroom is as low as possible following Health and Safety Guidelines in relation to Covid 19.  A letter in relation to pupils in Second and Fifth Class for the academic year 2020/2021 has been sent to ensure the school is following the DES’ objective whereby class size should be as equitable as possible across all class levels. 

Class Allocation for 2020/2021

Junior and Senior Infants              Mrs McAnearney

First and Second Class                    Mrs Meeneghan

Second and Third Class                  Mrs Lynott & Ms Lynn

Fourth and Fifth Class                     Ms Brogan

Fifth Class and Sixth Class             Mr Brennan

SET Support                                        Mrs Mulhern

Stationery Lists & School Calendar

Please look at the post on our School Website to see the Stationery Lists for the academic year 2020/2021.  In addition, the School Calendar for 2020 – 2021 can be found on the School Website under the Parents Information section. 

New School Extension

A big thank you to Mary Foody and the Board of Managament of Kilglass National School, Declan Hallinan of Halquar Construction and Orlagh Cawley of OMD Design for the completion of our lovely new mainstream classroom incl. ensuite toilets, revised entrance hall, office and universal WC.  This extension will be a great addition to Kilglass National School.  This is particularly the case when the physical size of our schools, and the number of individual classrooms within them, represents the most significant constraint in minimising Covid 19 risks according to the Department of Education and Skills.

Summer Works – Playground Extension

A big thank you to Mary Foody and Kilglass Board of Management for the great work they completed behind the scenes while we were in “Lockdown” in ensuring we were sanctioned and partially funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the Summer Works Scheme for an upgrade to the external play area including fencing, tarmacadam and other external works.  This upgrade has been made possible as a result of parental contributions over the last few years.  Míle Buíochas.  We are once again thankful to Declan Hallinan of Halquar Construction and Orlagh Cawley of OMD Design who will be completing this project over the Summer months.  This will be of great benefit to the children of Kilglass National School.

Aladdin ePayment System

We will be rolling out the Aladdin ePayment system to parents/guardians of children in our school in September.  Our school uses the Aladdin software service for administrative purposes and the ePayment system will give you access from an internet browser on your computer, phone or tablet to make secure payments to the school using your credit or debit card.  The purpose of the ePayment system is to facilitate the easier payment of school money collections for parent/guardians and to reduce the amount of cash and cheques being sent into our school in line with recent FSSU guidelines.  In addition, this is part of our preparations in reducing Covid-19 risks within the school building.  We hope that you will find the Aladdin ePayment facility useful and that it is a very successful system for all.  We will inform you of the practicalities in using this system in September. 

Slán le Rang a Sé

We send our very best wishes to all of the children in Sixth Class. Kilglass National School is where you have been making friends, working together in teams, discovering your talents and developing them to the best of your ability.  You have shown a great sense of community as a class, by being kind, supportive and generous.  As you now say goodbye to your primary years, and look forward to your first year in secondary school, we wish each and every one of you every happiness as you continue your educational journey.  This year marks the end of a chapter for the Duffy family who are finishing their association with Kilglass National School after a long number of years. I would like to thank Michael and Nicola for their support and wish them well.  Beir beannacht d’on todchaí.  

Green Schools

Congratulations to the whole school community, and in particular Mrs Mulhern and the Green School Committee, who have worked tirelessly over the last two years to achieve our new Green School Flag Award.  Check out our video which accompanies our application for our SFI Discovery Science and Maths Award 2020.

Message to our New Junior Infants

On Monday 31st August we will have an induction day for all our new Junior Infants between 9.30a.m. and 11.00a.m. This will give the children the opportunity to meet their new teacher Mrs McAnearney and acclimatise to their new classroom in a safe and reassuring way before the return of the other classes in the school.  We will be in touch and we are all looking forward to seeing you in September.  

Blúiríní / Snippets

• On completion of our new extension the whole school will receive a deep clean from top to bottom.   
• Thank you to Patrick Cleary who sprayed all of the weeds which appeared around the school grounds since Spring.  
• Thank you to Brendan Henry and Lisa Maxwell for the Easter Eggs which they donated for distribution to children and parents on the day of our book collection.
• A Confirmation date will be confirmed by the Diocese in due course.  September is the month that they are aiming for; the current Sixth Class by themselves or both classes depending on guidance they receive in relation to social distancing.

Finally

Thank you once again to all our parents for your ongoing support, cooperation and understanding over the last few months and as we settle in to the rhythm of another school year. 

Le gach dea-ghuí,

J. Brennan (Príomhoide)