Staying Safe

Dear Dads, Mams, Pupils and Staff,

We are spending a lot of time at the moment talking about staying safe. It is important to do that because when we all work together, it helps to keep everyone safe and well in all sorts of ways.

Thanks to Mrs. Shanahan and the Road Safety Authority, every girl in the school now has a high-vis vest. It is wonderful to see so many of the girls wearing them to school – well done on your good example Rang VI. The high-vis vests make it much easier for staff to see the children in cars, it makes the children easier for drivers to see at drop off and pick up times, and for the girls who walk, scoot or cycle, it makes it safer for them on their journey to and from school.

During this first term, teachers will teach the Stay Safe Programme to each class from Junior Infants to Sixth Class. Mams and Dads are encouraged to check out the programme through these websites:  http://www.staysafe.ie/parents.htm  https://www.webwise.ie/parents/  and www.pdst.ie/staysafe  We also encourage you to discuss the lessons with your children.

One more way to keep safe right now is by washing our hands. Our Junior Infants have been learning how to handwash with the help of Rufus and families with younger children might like to pass on the message at home through this little video. https://www.safefood.net/food-safety-kids/handwashing

Finally, thank you to all the Mams, Dads, Grandparents and Staff who work so hard every morning and afternoon to keep our drop off and pick up running smoothly. We ask for your continued patience and co-operation as we try to keep all our girls safe.

Yours sincerely,

C. O’Reilly – Principal

Homework

We have had a homework-free September to allow everyone to settle back into school. When we surveyed parents last year, one of the preferred forms of Homework was ‘Reading’. For the month of October, the girls from First Class to Sixth Class will be asked to do a little bit of reading every night. It is amazing the difference that just 10 minutes of reading every day can make so do your best girls!

Well Done!

Well done to Zoey (First Class) and her team who had a great win against Glenmore in their Camogie match.

Reminder

Now that we have been back at school for a few weeks, it is time to remind ourselves of the simple school rules that apply to all the girls.

General

Be polite at all times.

Arrive on time for school.

Present yourself for school in a tidy manner.

Respect yourself and your belongings.

Respect others and their belongings.

Complete all schoolwork and homework to a high standard.

Uniforms

Wear your full school uniform every day, except on PE days.

Pinafore/skirt, school shirt, tie, jumper, navy or white socks /tights, flat shoes

Wear your tracksuit on PE days (or when asked to do so by your teacher).

For your safety, your shoes/runners must be fastened properly at all times.

Hair

Keep your hair neat and tidy, in a plait or a bun, at all times. (This helps to prevent the spread of headlice)

Make Up

Remove make up and nail polish before you come to school

Jewellery

For your safety, you may wear only one pair of stud earrings in your earlobes and a watch.

Mobile Phones

If you must bring your mobile phone to school, switch it off outside the gate and give it your teacher before class begins.

Healthy Lunches/Green School Policy

Bring a healthy lunch to school every day. You may bring a small treat on Fridays.

Use reusable tubs and containers for your lunch and your drink.

Keep the school and the school grounds clean and tidy.

Make sure that you do not bring chewing gum onto the school grounds.

Bullying                  

Make sure that Our Lady of Good Counsel GNS is a ‘bully free’ zone. At school, tell a teacher if you are being bullied or if you know that someone else is being bullied.

Rewards

As a school, we encourage and reward positive behaviour in many ways, and especially through our Good Counsel Good Citizen Award. Any pupil can be nominated by any member of staff and we have weekly, monthly and annual badges and certificates.

As a pupil of Our Lady of Good Counsel GNS it is your responsibility to make our school a happy, safe place for yourself and for everyone else.

A Blessing for the Autumn Equinox

Some of you may have noticed the beautiful harvest moon in the sky last night. During this Season of Creation, here is a little blessing for the Autumn Equinox.

Embrace this time the change of light,

With shorter days and longer nights.

The wheel has turned, the time will change,

The darker side of the earth remains.

There’s magic in the lunar light,

With intuition at its height.

The alchemy of Mother Earth,

From birth to death, will come re-birth.

The cycle of nature unbroken and true,

Bestows peace of mid and well-being to you.

European Language Day

European Language Day takes place on Sunday 26th of September. It marks the 20th Anniversary of European Language day across the EU. The aim of the day is to celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity within the EU.

In our school we are marking it on Friday 24th  The girls from 3rd to 6th class have been very busy over the last week creating and designing posters to celebrate this day. The girls from Junior Infants to Second class are going to have a story read to them in another language. Thank you to Hanna and Marta’s Mam and to Laura, Korina and Paula’s Mam, Ms. Evans, Ana in 6th Class and Miss Finnucaine who will share their time and linguistic skills to read a story in another language.  This is a wonderful experience for all the girls and their teachers to have the opportunity to listen to a story in another language. Thank you to all involved in making this day special for us all.

Miss Kelly

Winners

Congratulations to pod 3 from Fifth class who won some P.E. equipment for our school last week. This Friday is European Schools Sport Day and we were set a challenge to be creative with the letters ESSD using sport equipment. The girls spelt out the letters using cones, skipping ropes and sports vests. To make our entry stand out, the girls signed the letters ESSD using Irish sign language. All classes will get up and be active during their Daily Mile on Friday. Check out our entry. Well done girls!