The School Bell
9th November 2017
Have You Downloaded Yet?
Dear Mams, Dads, Pupils and Staff,
As you know, we use the Text a Parent service to keep in touch with you. It is a very useful service for reminders, notifications about special events and in case of emergencies. A new Text a Parent App has been developed. The App is easy to download and is available for both Apple and Android devices.
It would be a huge help to us if everyone would download and use the App. The cost of sending a message to the App is half the cost of a regular SMS message so you can see why it is important to us that as many people as possible start using it. The App may be downloaded from:
https://app.textaparent.ie/get/app
Of course, we cannot send you any message if we do not have your current phone number on our messaging system. Please make sure to let us know if you change your number. We want to keep in touch.
Yours sincerely,
C. O’Reilly – Principal
Attendance Awards
The classes with the best attendance in September and October were First Class and Third Class.
Being Active
We hear a lot these days about how important it is to keep fit. There are many ways to be active and the girls in this school are trying lots of different forms of exercise. Second and Third Classes began their swimming lessons this week. They had great fun and are looking forward to next Monday’s lesson. Sixth Class will begin a six week programme of Yoga lessons on Thursday afternoon.
Fourth Class will shortly begin their Safe Cycling Lessons. This is a 5-6 week programme where the girls learn how to cycle safely. Of course, all the girls have their weekly PE and dancing classes so all in all they are a pretty fit bunch! Well done girls.
Congratulations
A huge ‘Well Done’ from everyone here at the school goes to Ms. Finucane, who completed the Dublin City Marathon during the Hallowe’en Break. Part of Ms. Finucane’s role at school involves promoting healthy living, and she certainly leads by example. Congratulations Ms. Finucane.
Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO)
As part of its discussion with Waterford City and County Council about the impact of the CPO on the traffic situation in and around the school, the Board of Management has requested a dedicated car park and set down area for parents/guardians and pupils, and a separate parking area for school staff. As you know, the existing car park outside the gate does not belong to the school, and at present staff members have to park on the school yard. This reduces the play area for the children. The Board of Management is very happy with the proposals to date. When the work is underway, there will be some disruption, but the end result should be a positive one. All of the planned work is conditional on the Council’s acquisition of the land so we will keep you informed as time goes on.
Important Note
School will close for all pupils at 2p.m. On Wednesday next, 15th November. This is to facilitate staff training with the Professional Development Service for Schools.
Peace Proms
In March 2018, the girls in Third and Fourth Classes will take part in the Peace Proms Concert at The Hub in Kilkenny. The girls will have the chance to sing with choirs from lots of other schools, and to sing with the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland. We have been notified that our school’s concert will take place at 2p.m. on Sunday, March 4th . If you want to go to the concert yourself, you must buy your tickets through the Peace Proms website, www.peaceproms.com . Tickets are not available for sale through the school. Tickets will go on sale on 17th November 2017. Please be aware that they sell out very quickly. The girls who are in the choir do not need tickets. The girls will need to wear a plain, white polo shirt (no logos) and black leggings or trousers for the concert. We are letting you know this now so that the girls will have plenty of time to be organised. The songs for the concert are lovely and the practising has already begun here at school. There is no doubt that the girls will really enjoy themselves and that they will remember the Peace Proms for a long time to come.
Zumba Fundraising Event
A fundraising event will take place @ FerryFun on 10th November 2017. Proceeds will go to Helping Hands Waterford. The Zumba class for adults will run from 7p.m. To 8.15p.m. and the cost is €10.
Beat the Street
Well done to all the girls who got involved in the Beat the Street programme. All over Waterford, children and adults walked 92,835kms or 58, 022 miles during the six week event. Wow!
Frása na Coicíse
Gabh mo leithscéal – Excuse me
26th October 2017
Here Fishy, Fishy
Dear Mams, Dads, Pupils and Staff,
This week, we wish Tracey, our fantastic School Secretary, the very best of luck as she sets off to South Africa tomorrow morning. Tracey will be representing Ireland at the World Shore Angling Championships. We are all so proud of her and wish her and the Irish Team a safe trip and the very best of luck. What a fantastic role model she is for all the girls here. We hope the fish are biting Tracey!
Yours sincerely,
C. O’Reilly – Principal
Congratulations
Congratulations to Mrs. Mary Ryan who will celebrate her graduation with a Diploma in School Leadership next week. We hope you will have a wonderful day Mrs. Ryan and enjoy your well-deserved success.
Mission Week
As always, Mission Week has been a great success. The girls and their families have been so generous and the money collected will be put to very good use. We will let you know the total amount when it has been counted and we are looking forward to amazing entertainment at the Talent Show tomorrow.
Important Note
With the Board of Management’s permission, the school will close for all pupils @ 12.30p.m. tomorrow. School re-opens for everyone on Monday 6th November. Enjoy the Hallowe’en Break and remember to keep yourself safe.
Mayor’s Visit
On Tuesday 24th October, Cllr. Sean Reinhardt, Mayor of Waterford Metropolitan District visited the school. Congratulations to the girls who received certificates for full attendance – Amélie, Mia, Tiffany, Dara, Méabh, Emily, Angel, Sophiat, Amy, Olivia, Sarah, Lorraine, Favour, Lorna and Miah.
A sincere well done goes to all the other girls who received certificates for missing no more than 3 days at school last year.
Maths Week
Miss Anderson’s class organised some great activities for Maths Week. The children in the other classes were invited to the GP Room to take part in all sorts of games based on a Maths theme. What a fun way to learn about number!
Car Park
For the safety of all of our pupils, please make sure to observe the one way system in the car park outside the school gate. Please do not stop or park your car directly outside the school gate as this causes congestion on the road.
Swimming Lessons
The girls in Second and Third Classes will begin their swimming lessons on Monday 6th November, which is the day we return to school after the Hallowe’en Break. Remember to bring your swimming gear to school that day.
Diwali
Last week, at Assembly, we talked about Diwali. Diwali is the Festival of Lights and is celebrated by the Hindu and Sikh faiths. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that people light outside their homes. On the first day of Diwali, people consider it good luck to spring clean the house and shop for kitchen utensils. On the second day, people decorate their homes with clay lamps and create design patterns called rangoli on the floor using coloured powders or sand. The third day is the main day of the festival when families gather together for Lakshmi puja, a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi followed by mouth-watering feasts and firework festivities. The fourth day is the first day of the New Year when friends and relatives visit with gifts and best wishes for the season. On the last day of Diwali, brothers visit their married sisters who welcome them with love and a delicious meal.
We hope that anyone in our school community who celebrated this special feast had a happy time with family and friends.
The School Bell 26th September 2017
Date for Your Diary
Dear Dads, Mums, Pupils and Staff,
It’s that time of year again and teachers are busy preparing for the General Information Evening for parents/guardians. On Thursday October 5th, you will be invited to a meeting with your child’s teacher. The teacher will talk to you about the curriculum for the year and give you some ideas about how we can all work together to help the children progress. You will receive more information about the meeting before then, but for now, please save the date!
This year, at our meetings, we will be launching our new school website, which has lots of exciting features. We will also launch a fantastic ‘Shape and Space Dictionary’ developed by our school’s Action Team and the staff. It is very impressive and you will receive your free copy at the meeting. We look forward to meeting you.
Yours sincerely,
CO’Reilly – Principal
Good News!
Congratulations to Mrs. Shanahan and her husband Liam on the safe arrival of their baby boy on Wednesday last. We were all delighted to hear the good news.
St. Dominic’s Credit Union
During the last school year, we promised to set up a Savings Scheme for the children, so that they could save towards the cost of a school tour later in the year. St. Dominic’s Credit Union (SDCU) has offered to work with us and your child brought home a letter from SDCU earlier this week.
We would like to get the school Credit Union up and running as soon as possible so please return the forms to your child’s teacher. Each child who opens an account will have €10 (FREE) lodged to the account and she will receive a piggy bank to help with saving at home. The Credit Union will visit the school every fortnight to take lodgements from the children. This is a great way to encourage the girls to save and hopefully it will make it easier for everyone to manage the cost of a school tour.
Abbey C. C. Open Night
Abbey Community College is having an Open Night on Tuesday October 3rd at 7.30p.m. All pupils in Fifth and Sixth Class are invited along with their parents/guardians to see the wonderful facilities that are available right on our doorstep.
If your child will be going to Abbey C.C. this is a good opportunity to visit the school. It is important to note that even though Our Lady of Good Counsel GNS is a feeder school for Abbey C.C., your child still needs to be enrolled. If you haven’t already done so and your child is in Fifth or Sixth Class, it might be a good idea to contact the Office at Abbey C.C. as soon as possible.
Good Counsel Girls in the News.
Our lovely Junior Infants looked wonderful in this week’s News and Star. We’re delighted that you have settled in well into school girls. Well done to your Mums and Dads for preparing you so well for school.
School Attendance
If your child is absent from school for any reason, you are required to send a note to her teacher when she returns to school. All absences and reasons for absence are recorded electronically. If we do not receive a note, the absence is recorded as ‘unexplained’.
If your child has an appointment with a doctor or a dentist early in the morning and she will be coming to school afterwards, please let her teacher know the previous day so that your child is not marked absent.
If you need to collect your child early from school for a doctor’s/dental appointment, please send a note to the teacher in advance.
An Crann Comhrá
Tá crann nua ag fás sa scoil. A new tree is growing in our school.
An Crann Comhrá ata ann. It is The Conversation Tree.
Cuirfimíd frása nua ar an gcrann gach coicís. We will put a new phrase on the tree each fortnight.
Bainfaimíd go léir úsáid as an bhfrása i rith an lae. We will all use the phrase during the day.
Congratulations
At Assembly today, the girls who took part in the Summer Reading Challenge at Ferry bank Library were presented with their certificates. Congrautlations to everyone who took part and we are happy to welcome Karyn, the new librarian in Ferrybank, to our school. Ferrybank Library is a fantastic resource to have on our doorstep and we are very grateful to all the staff there who are so good to us.
Did you know that it is FREE to join the Library?
Beat the Street
We hope that all the girls are out and about with their families and taking on the Beat the Street challenge. Beat the Street is a fun, free, real life walking and cycling game. You earn points and prizes by tapping special cards onto sensors known as Beat Boxes. The Beat Boxes are all over Waterford (there are 3 in Ferrybank – have you found them yet?) This challenge is for everyone – children and adults – so why not join in the fun?
Check out beatthestreet.me/waterford to see how our school is doing.
