Our Lady of Good Counsel Ferrybank
Return to School – August 2023

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I hope you are all well and that you had a lovely summer. Like every year, the time to return to school is
fast approaching. As you already know, school will reopen tomorrow morning, Thursday, August 31st. I
would like to inform you of some changes and important points to note on your daughter’s return to
school.

Opening Times and Drop Off

The school day here in Good Counsel starts at 9.10 am – classes start at this time. The school gates will
open at 9.00am for the coming year which is ten minutes earlier than last year. It is your duty to bring
your child to the school gate whether you travel by car or walk. You are welcome to drive into the drop offarea outside the school gate. It is requested that you do not block the lanes of traffic in order to keep
traffic moving.
It is vital that your child’s arrives to school and is collected on time so please do your very best to ensure
this occurs daily.
Parents are not permitted to enter the yard in the mornings – please bring your daughter to the
gate and she can go to her class area in the yard of her own accord.
Your daughter is welcome to enter the yard at this time and play until the bell goes. The yards will be
appropriately supervised from 9.00 am. Please note that there will be no supervision before this time and
your daughter is not permitted to be on the yard due to health, safety and insurance issues.
Note; Please avoid dropping your daughter to school before the above times especially on
wet/very cold mornings.

Collection at end of school day

Collection times remain unchanged from last year.

Finishing times:
Junior Infants; 12.30pm (for the first 12 school days) 1.45pm from Monday September 18th

Senior Infants; 1.45pm
1st and 2nd class; 2.45pm
3rd, 4th,5th and 6th class; 2.50pm

Collection procedures will be the same as last year. If collecting by car, you may wait in one of the three
lanes in the drop off area. When your child’s class comes out, the teacher or another member of staff will
bring your child to your car. Please remain in your car during collection.

New Car Park

We are delighted that our staff car park is just about finished and ready for use for the new school year.
Please note that this is a staff only car park and is not to be used by parents or people dropping
children off to school. A barrier will be in place in the coming weeks to ensure this is the case. You are
still very welcome to drive into the drop off area that has always been used – please stay in lane to
ensure easy access and exit for all.

New pupils on the first day of school

We are delighted to welcome new pupils in many classes across the school. On the first day of school
we will meet you and your parent(s) at the gate and you will be all shown where to go and where your
class is. You are all very welcome here in Good Counsel and we are delighted to have you.

School Book Scheme

As communicated at the end of the last school year, the Department of Education have provided funding
to all primary schools to buy books for all children. You do not have to buy any books as they will be
provided here. Your daughter is asked to bring her school bag and lunch to school. She is also welcome
to bring a pencil case/pencils/colours etc although she will be provided with them if required.

Photocopying
Although all of the books are provided, you are required to pay for photocopying for your daughter for theschool year. The amounts are below and payment is by cash only please. Your daughter may give this
amount to the class teacher in an envelope with her name on it or it can be given to Tracey our secretary.
Junior and Senior Infants: €30
1st class – 6th class: €25

School Uniform

As ever, the girls are required to wear a full school uniform coming to school every day. The girls may
wear a tracksuit on P.E. day which will be assigned by their class teacher.
A full uniform consists of:

A pinafore/skirt
School shirt
Tie
Jumper
Navy/white socks or tights
Flat black shoes

Junior Infants

We are delighted to welcome our incoming Junior Infant class for the coming year. For the parents,
please remember that school for the incoming Juniors starts at 9.30am for the first day of school. You are
welcome to walk your daughter into the yard/to her class for the first day of school.
The Junior infants will finish at 12.30pm for the first 12 days of school. We will be in touch to remind you
when time changes.

New Staff

We are delighted to welcome three new staff members to our team here in Good Counsel for the coming
year. Ms Alice Hutchinson will take up the position of Senior Infants class teacher and Ms. Aoife White
will be the Special Education Teacher (SET) for the coming year. Mrs. Aine Morrissey will take up the
position of SNA for the coming year also. Best wishes to all in your new posts!

North Quay Traffic

It is great to see such activity along the North Quay. Please bear in mind that with such activity and
progress comes disruption. There will be traffic disruption in Ferrybank and around our school for the
foreseeable future. I will endeavour to update the school community on any information provided to me
regarding such disruption. It is important that you give yourself extra time in the morning and afternoons
and please be patient as delays are expected.

Wishing you all a happy return to school and an enjoyable school year.
Yours sincerely,
J. Nagle
Principal