Dear Mams, Dads and Good Counsel Girls,
The summer holidays are almost over and we hope that you had an enjoyable break from school. The new school year will begin for all pupils on Thursday 1st September and we are looking forward to seeing you again.
To help you to plan for Thursday, here is some information that may be useful for you.
- Our ‘Stop, Drop/Pick Up, Go’ system has been very successful over the last two years as we dealt with Covid-19. The girls have told us that they enjoy being greeted by the staff as they arrive every morning, and it has helped to create a calm start to the school day so we will continue with that practice.
- Mams and Dads, if you are dropping or picking up by car, please do not get out of your car. The staff will take the children from the car in the morning and bring them back to the car in the afternoon. The system operates really well when everyone works together so we are relying on your ongoing co-operation.
- School starting time is 9.10a.m. (There is a separate timetable for Junior Infants for the first two weeks of school). Staff will be outside the gate to receive the children until 9.20a.m. and the gates will then be closed. On wet mornings, to allow for more traffic, the girls should arrive no later than 9.30a.m.
- School finishes at the following times:
- Junior and Senior Infants @ 1.50p.m. (Separate timetable for J. Infs. for two weeks)
- First and Second Class @ 2.45p.m.
- Third to Sixth Class @ 2.50p.m.
It may take us a little while to get back into the swing of things, but if we all have patience, then we will get everyone moving as quickly as possible. As far as possible, we encourage the children to walk, scoot or cycle safely to school. We have a covered bicycle rack and we would love to see it being used!
Girls, whether you come to school by car, on the bus, walking, scooting or cycling, help to keep yourself safe by wearing your hi-vis jacket to school every day.
During the school day,
- We will no longer have staggered lunch breaks and all the children will return to being on the yard at the same time. The yards are divided so that Junior and Senior Infants, First and Second Classes, Third and Fourth Classes, Fifth and Sixth Classes will each have a separate area for play.
- The girls have been so diligent about hand hygiene over the past two years. We will continue to emphasise hand hygiene and cough etiquette to help minimise the spread of coughs, colds and Covid-19. https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/how-to-clean-your-hands/
- We will continue to make use of the CO2 monitors in classroom to ensure adequate ventilation.
Mams and Dads, please keep your child home from school if she is unwell and be sure to send a note/email to your child’s teacher to explain any absence. Teachers email addresses should only be used to provide information about illnesses, absences or appointments with doctors, dentists, etc. If you need to speak with a teacher about any other matter, please contact the school office and the teacher will get back to you as soon as possible.
It is very important to make sure that your contact details are up to date in case of emergency.
- If your mobile phone number, address or email address have changed please let us know. You can contact the office on 051 832984.
Our newsletter ‘The School Bell’ is uploaded to the school’s website every second Thursday during the school year so be sure to check in regularly for all the latest news. The calendar for 2022/2023 will be included in the first newsletter on Thursday 8th September.
Thanks to your wonderful support and the hard work of our staff and the Board of Management, we managed our way successfully through two very challenging school years. As we move past Covid-19 restrictions, we look forward to working with you for the benefit of all our wonderful Good Counsel Girls.
Enjoy the next few days girls, get back into your school bedtime routine and remember, on Thursday morning be nice to Mam or Dad as they help to get you out to school.
With kind regards, Miss O’Reilly and the Staff of Good Counsel GNS
